Clive Hitch

[BOBBATH]

Anyone know what Clive is up to these days-remember him as middle order rider for Middlesbrough in Prov. League I think-and then maybe Swindon after that-solid middle order guy. Always used to think he and Stan Stevens were about equal in performance. Anyone have memories of Clive and know where he is now. These guys were the backbone of speedway-always triers and put on a good show whatever the conditions.

[Sidney the robin]

Bobbath Hitchy was one of my favourite ever riders a real racer had a real upright style.His divebombs on the inside at the Abbey were legendary he was no world beater but for me that was what speedway was all about a great team man.Remember him riding in the same team as his son Martin that was quite amazing as well.If i remember right he unluckily missed out on two championship medals Swindon 67/ Coventry 68 because of the points limit.

Edited October 4, 2016 by Sidney the robin

[frigbo]

He missed out on 3 league wins. Rode for Halifax in 1965 and joined Swindon in 1966 - Halifax won the league in 1966.

 

Left Swindon in 1967 to join Coventry - Swindon won the league in 1967.

 

Returned to Swindon in 1968 - Coventry won the league in 1968!!

[Sidney the robin]

He missed out on 3 league wins. Rode for Halifax in 1965 and joined Swindon in 1966 - Halifax won the league in 1966.

Left Swindon in 1967 to join Coventry - Swindon won the league in 1967.

Returned to Swindon in 1968 - Coventry won the league in 1968!!

Unreal that fact to be honest how unlucky was he "frigbo can also remember Hitchy riding for Rye House at the end of his career.

[Ovalman]

Rode with Briggo first heat I ever saw at Blunsdon 1968 v. Belle Vue. Great trier and crowd fav, with his spectacular style. Like Robins stalwarts such as Keener Munday Bouchard etc great clubmen. Was at the so-called Abbey Farewell last year.

Edited October 8, 2016 by auntie doris

[customhouseregular]

I used to watch Clive Hitch regularly on Sunday afternoons at Rye House 1960-1964. A very approachable man...my Dad bought a van off him (1961 I think).

Clive was a Red Devil regular along with Geoff Mudge, Len Silver, the McGillivrays and Tommy Sweetman. I remember them all.

[BOBBATH]

Interesting posts, glad to hear of other memories of Clive. Just one point ,chr, was Geoff Mudge a regular at Rye house-I never realised that , thought he had started riding League speedway as soon as he arrived from Oz.

[customhouseregular]

He was a regular at the time I was watching.

[BL65]

He was a regular at the time I was watching.

I believe Geoff's first appearance at Rye House was in the Stadium Trophy meeting in May 1960, followed by the Whitsun Trophy, a 4TT representing Poole, the Gerry Hussey Trophy, the Ronnie Moore Trophy, the Rye House Championship and a few appearances in the Rye House team in challenge meetings, so he certainly was a regular,

 

Geoff Mudge, Clive Hitch and Tommy Sweetman were involved in two run-offs to decide first place in the 1961 Easter Trophy after all three scored 14 points, with Tommy winning both. Geoff took part in most of the meetings at the track in 1961, winning the Whitsun Trophy and Gerry Hussey Memorial Trophy, both with maximum points. He would probably have added the Ronnie Moore Trophy but for machine trouble in his first ride, winning his other four.

 

In the Easter Trophy in 1962 Geoff lost a run-off against Ron Bagley for first place, but won the Ace of Herts Trophy and the Promoters' Trophy, both with maximum points He was runner-up to Peter Jarman in the Rayments Rose Bowl, then lost a run-off for first place to Tommy Sweetman in the Whitsun Trophy before retaining the Gerry Hussey Trophy. There were further team appearances at the track for Rye House and Poole, before Geoff lost out to Roy Trigg in the Ronnie Moore Trophy, with Colin Pratt in third place. Peter Jarman then won the Rye House Championship, with Geoff beating Martin Ashby in a run-off for second place.

 

Although making only a handful of appearances at Rye House in 1963, Geoff was runner-up to Colin Pratt in the Gerry Hussey Memorial Trophy. In a rare appearance at the track in 1965 Geoff teamed up with Tyburn Gallows to win a Best Pairs Trophy with maximum points.

 

His record suggests that Geoff Mudge was one of the top performers at Rye House in the first half of the 1960s.

[customhouseregular]

Thanks for that BL65. All my Rye House programmes are long gone and trying to remember things I saw as a 12-15 year old is a task.

As an aside and maybe something you could confirm. I mentioned to Len Silver (1968 I think) having seen him ride at Rye House. He told me he never rode there but I'm sure i had a black and white photo of him taken at Rye, with him wearing the Red Devil body colour. This would have been taken some time between 1960-1964.

[BL65]

Thanks for that BL65. All my Rye House programmes are long gone and trying to remember things I saw as a 12-15 year old is a task.

As an aside and maybe something you could confirm. I mentioned to Len Silver (1968 I think) having seen him ride at Rye House. He told me he never rode there but I'm sure i had a black and white photo of him taken at Rye, with him wearing the Red Devil body colour. This would have been taken some time between 1960-1964.

Len rode in two meetings for Ipswich B at Rye House in 1960, the first on 31st July when he scored 11 points from 5 rides and the then again on 2nd October when he scored 2 points from 3 rides.

 

There was a third occasion in 1960 when he rode at the track, which was possibly when he may have worn a Red Devil body colour, on 14th August in the Gerry Hussey Memorial Trophy. The meeting was run over 12 qualifying heats, in which Len recorded a fall followed by two heat wins. He won the second semi final, beating Eric Hockaday, Pete Sampson and Geoff Mudge, but both he and Jimmy Gleed fell in the final, which was won by Tommy Sweetman from Eric Hockaday.

 

I don't think Len rode at Rye House after that season, but I believe he made an earlier appearance, in the Consolation Scratch Race on 15th April 1956, finishing second behind Jim Chalkley.

[customhouseregular]

Len rode in two meetings for Ipswich B at Rye House in 1960, the first on 31st July when he scored 11 points from 5 rides and the then again on 2nd October when he scored 2 points from 3 rides.

 

There was a third occasion in 1960 when he rode at the track, which was possibly when he may have worn a Red Devil body colour, on 14th August in the Gerry Hussey Memorial Trophy. The meeting was run over 12 qualifying heats, in which Len recorded a fall followed by two heat wins. He won the second semi final, beating Eric Hockaday, Pete Sampson and Geoff Mudge, but both he and Jimmy Gleed fell in the final, which was won by Tommy Sweetman from Eric Hockaday.

 

I don't think Len rode at Rye House after that season, but I believe he made an earlier appearance, in the Consolation Scratch Race on 15th April 1956, finishing second behind Jim Chalkley.

Very many thanks. I wish I still had that photo.

[BOBBATH]

Thanx folks for clearing up Geoff Mudges' appearances at Rye. That's the great thing about this forum because I was under the misconception that Geoff came over from Australia and immediately started riding League Speedway. Does anyone know whether while he was appearing at Rye did he also ride for Poole in the PL or was he basically second-halfing at various tracks??

[BL65]

Thanx folks for clearing up Geoff Mudges' appearances at Rye. That's the great thing about this forum because I was under the misconception that Geoff came over from Australia and immediately started riding League Speedway. Does anyone know whether while he was appearing at Rye did he also ride for Poole in the PL or was he basically second-halfing at various tracks??

Your original thought was correct BOBBATH, Geoff first rode for Poole in the 1960 Provincial League. He was one of several riders who also appeared regularly at Rye House as well. Although Rye House was a training track in those days Provincial League regulars from 1960 to 1964 included riders such as Tommy Sweetman, Peter Jarman, Colin Pratt and Roy Trigg as well as Geoff Mudge. Geoff was of heat leader standard throughout his 11 years with the Pirates.

[Guest]

Your original thought was correct BOBBATH, Geoff first rode for Poole in the 1960 Provincial League. He was one of several riders who also appeared regularly at Rye House as well. Although Rye House was a training track in those days Provincial League regulars from 1960 to 1964 included riders such as Tommy Sweetman, Peter Jarman, Colin Pratt and Roy Trigg as well as Geoff Mudge. Geoff was of heat leader standard throughout his 11 years with the Pirates.

 

I think that Rye House was more than a training track in 1960. That era ended for the club IMO when they entered the old Southern Area League in 1954, a competition originally designated as a training league but because of the fairly high standard of both the riders and the racing became a recognised structure. In those days, the 'Speedway Star' gave much publicity to the league.

I remember the riders you named very well as SAL starters BL65, and other experienced riders who competed at Rye House - and also Eastbourne - on a regular basis on Sundaysincluded Vic Ridgeon, Al Sparrey, Mike Broadbank, Frank Bettis, Pat Flanagan, Ross Gilbertson, Gil Goldfinch, who were all well above 'training track standards.'

A better description of the speedway at both Rye House and Eastbourne in this era would have been 'open licence.'

Edited October 27, 2016 by Guest

[BL65]

 

I think that Rye House was more than a training track in 1960. That era ended for the club IMO when they entered the old Southern Area League in 1954, a competition originally designated as a training league but because of the fairly high standard of both the riders and the racing became a recognised structure. In those days, the 'Speedway Star' gave much publicity to the league.

I remember the riders you named very well as SAL starters BL65, and other experienced riders who competed at Rye House - and also Eastbourne - on a regular basis on Sundaysincluded Vic Ridgeon, Al Sparrey, Mike Broadbank, Frank Bettis, Pat Flanagan, Ross Gilbertson, Gil Goldfinch, who were all well above 'training track standards.'

A better description of the speedway at both Rye House and Eastbourne in this era would have been 'open licence.'

Yes, I agree, most meetings did feature riders with experience at that time.

[Guest]

 

I think that Rye House was more than a training track in 1960. That era ended for the club IMO when they entered the old Southern Area League in 1954, a competition originally designated as a training league but because of the fairly high standard of both the riders and the racing became a recognised structure. In those days, the 'Speedway Star' gave much publicity to the league.

I remember the riders you named very well as SAL starters BL65, and other experienced riders who competed at Rye House - and also Eastbourne - on a regular basis on Sundaysincluded Vic Ridgeon, Al Sparrey, Mike Broadbank, Frank Bettis, Pat Flanagan, Ross Gilbertson, Gil Goldfinch, who were all well above 'training track standards.'

A better description of the speedway at both Rye House and Eastbourne in this era would have been 'open licence.'

 

 

Yes, I agree, most meetings did feature riders with experience at that time.

 

 

Others 'with experience' who raced at Rye House and Eastbourne circa 1960 who I should have included were Ron Swaine, Brian Brett, Gerry King, Eric Hockaday, Bob Thomas, Pete Jarman.

Edited October 27, 2016 by Guest