Colin Pratt

[steve roberts]

Steve - MIDDLETON was his best year with the Hawks or your /Rebels he was a genuine no1 in both years.

Cassius' best year, statistically, was as a 'Rebel' in 1972. As a matter of interest he generally had the beating of Briggo that year but had problems with 'Crash!'

 

Shame that he and Dave Lanning never really hit it off because I would have liked him to have continued the following season at Cowley together with Hasse Holmqvist...they would have made a great spearhead in my opinion!

 

Middleton after his year at Coventry was never quite the same force again...there was talk that his business interests took over from speedway in his priorities.

[Sidney the robin]

Cassius' best year, statistically, was as a 'Rebel' in 1972. As a matter of interest he generally had the beating of Briggo that year but had problems with 'Crash!'

 

Shame that he and Dave Lanning never really hit it off because I would have liked him to have continued the following season at Cowley together with Hasse Holmqvist...they would have made a great spearhead in my opinion!

 

Middleton after his year at Coventry was never quite the same force again...there was talk that his business interests took over from speedway in his priorities.

Holmqvist to me was like Jan Simensen with a bit of luck could of done alot more.

[steve roberts]

Holmqvist to me was like Jan Simensen with a bit of luck could of done alot more.

Jan Simensen's a name I'd forgotten have to admit...saw him ride for Coventry.

[BOBBATH]

I well recall Colin Pratt being at his peak in the mid 1960s, including his final year at Stoke in 1963 (averaging over 9.5 in the Provincial League), his first season at Hackney (average over 10 again in the PL), then averaging between 8.5 and 10 in the first four years of the British League. Colin was 31 when he joined Cradley Heath in 1970. Two test matches at West Ham spring to mind, paid 15 points and a retirement from 6 rides against the USSR in 1966 and 13, including 4 heat wins, in the 39-69 defeat of GB by Poland in 1967. In that meeting Colin fought a lone battle as his team mates struggled - Nigel Boocock 8 from 6 rides, Luckhurst 7, McKinlay 5, Betts 3, Eric Boocock 3, Hedge 0, Norman Hunter 0. Colin often started the season slowly, such as in 1965 when he dropped to reserve for a short time before hitting top form. At Cradley Heath in 1970 he again started slowly and was hitting top form by mid-summer, although he had already shown he was still a top rider when defeating the high flying Ivan Mauger twice in the league meeting with Belle Vue. At his very best Colin was certainly a top rider, not someone I would describe as merely 'solid'. Comparisons with other riders mentioned must take into account age differences, some of the younger ones such as Hedge blossomed later but could not live with Colin in direct competition with him at his best.

Thanx BL65 -great post as always-I was about to make a post on the same lines-I was at the 1967 GB v. Poland test at West Ham and well recall Pratty's outstanding performance-he really liked that track!! As regards the comparison to Monk ,Hedge, Genz, Trigg etc. I would have to say I would put Monk ahead of those mentioned including Colin. Ditto Roy Trigg who seemed more of a fighter from the back-and compared to Colin always did better at Somerton Park as I recall. I would rate Colin along the lines of , as mentioned, Dave Younghusband and perhaps also Jack Kitchen, Wayne Briggs and Peter Vandenberg(but behind George Hunter). I know Colin was a star in PL but am not sure he ever made the PLRC Final. What say others??

[norbold]

I bumped into Colin on the platform of Oxford Circus Station about 12 years ago. We chatted a bit till his train came in.

 

Just thought I'd mention it......

[steve roberts]

Always remember Colin shaking his head and waving his arms about at the start line when Hans Nielsen would get yet another fast start from the tapes beating his be-loved 'Heatherns' to the first bend!

[Red Flag]

Jan Simensen's a name I'd forgotten have to admit...saw him ride for Coventry.

Watched them both at Wolves

[britmet]

Watched them both at Wolves

.

As has been said, most of the time he was a v.good rider, but what's not been mentioned is his dislike of wet tracks. Colin Pratt was a double-figure or zero points rider, though double most of the time in the '60s .

[BOBBATH]

.

As has been said, most of the time he was a v.good rider, but what's not been mentioned is his dislike of wet tracks. Colin Pratt was a double-figure or zero points rider, though double most of the time in the '60s .

I agree with this, looking back at my old programmes -on Friday October 9th 1964 (another dark and stormy night) Newport beat Hackney in the PL 51-27 at Somerton park. Poor old Colin got zero points from 3 rides and in Heat 9 was tactically substituted and replaced by Roy Trigg. Roy won that heat, scored a 15 point max. then won both his races in the second half. Colin pulled out of second half. In the second half final Roy, beat Dick Bradley while both Jon Erskine and Geoff Penniket had e.f.'s.

This always stuck in my mind even without consulting the programme and that was one of the reasons I always preferred Roy to Colin. I also reckon Roy deserved to get to a World Final and think he would have perhaps performed better than Colin in his only appearance. Roy trig a great trier and fan pleaser!!

[BL65]

I agree with this, looking back at my old programmes -on Friday October 9th 1964 (another dark and stormy night) Newport beat Hackney in the PL 51-27 at Somerton park. Poor old Colin got zero points from 3 rides and in Heat 9 was tactically substituted and replaced by Roy Trigg. Roy won that heat, scored a 15 point max. then won both his races in the second half. Colin pulled out of second half. In the second half final Roy, beat Dick Bradley while both Jon Erskine and Geoff Penniket had e.f.'s.

This always stuck in my mind even without consulting the programme and that was one of the reasons I always preferred Roy to Colin. I also reckon Roy deserved to get to a World Final and think he would have perhaps performed better than Colin in his only appearance. Roy trig a great trier and fan pleaser!!

Colin Pratt and Roy Trigg were team mates at Hackney for three seasons, followed later by a season at Cradley Heath. Records show that in 1964 in 44 meetings Colin was the higher scorer in 20, Roy was higher in 20, with the same scores recorded in 4 meetings. In 1965 Colin was ahead 20-16, with 5 tied and in 1966 it was Colin again by 29-7, with 10 tied. In 1970 at Cradley Heath Roy was ahead 15-12, with equal scores on one occasion.

 

Incidentally, just looking at scores from those seasons, for Hackney in 1964 Colin recorded 12 point maximums home and away against Glasgow, beating Charlie Monk on the three occasions they met. In 1965 Colin missed the meeting at Glasgow, but recorded 12 point maximums against Glasgow at Hackney and in a challenge when he rode for King's Lynn, beating Charlie twice in both meetings. In 1966 Charlie won their encounter at Glasgow, but Colin won their clash at Hackney in the process of recording another 12 point maximum. In 1970 Colin rode in the Cradley Heath home meeting against Glasgow, beating Charlie in their two races.

 

A quick look at results from other seasons, excluding individual meetings on neutral tracks,showed that Charlie beat Colin in their two races in 1962, Colin was ahead 9-4 in 1963 and 3-2 in 1967, they won a race each in 1968 and Charlie won their only clash in 1969.

Edited April 17, 2017 by BL65

[iris123]

Think your assesment was spot on Sid.He was at the level of a Genz,Monk,Trigg etc.He wasn't a Betts or Ashby or Hedge

Does seem that those who were arguing Colin had been wrongly assesed are actually now confirming the point that he was around the same level as the riders suggested!!!!

[BOBBATH]

Colin Pratt and Roy Trigg were team mates at Hackney for three seasons, followed later by a season at Cradley Heath. Records show that in 1964 in 44 meetings Colin was the higher scorer in 20, Roy was higher in 20, with the same scores recorded in 4 meetings. In 1965 Colin was ahead 20-16, with 5 tied and in 1966 it was Colin again by 29-7, with 10 tied. In 1970 at Cradley Heath Roy was ahead 15-12, with equal scores on one occasion.

 

Incidentally, just looking at scores from those seasons, for Hackney in 1964 Colin recorded 12 point maximums home and away against Glasgow, beating Charlie Monk on the three occasions they met. In 1965 Colin missed the meeting at Glasgow, but recorded 12 point maximums against Glasgow at Hackney and in a challenge when he rode for King's Lynn, beating Charlie twice in both meetings. In 1966 Charlie won their encounter at Glasgow, but Colin won their clash at Hackney in the process of recording another 12 point maximum. In 1970 Colin rode in the Cradley Heath home meeting against Glasgow, beating Charlie in their two races.

 

A quick look at results from other seasons, excluding individual meetings on neutral tracks,showed that Charlie beat Colin in their two races in 1962, Colin was ahead 9-4 in 1963 and 3-2 in 1967, they won a race each in 1968 and Charlie won their only clash in 1969.

Despite your excellent post BL65 I still reckon Monk had it over Colin. If I may retort (as Samuel L. Jackson said in "Pulp Fiction"!) in PL days Charlie bested Colin in most seasons-the averages I will be quoting are from Matt Jackson and may include K.O Cup , regional leagues as well as Prov. League . In 1962 CM ave. of 7.8 (Neath) v CP 6.6 (Stoke), 1963 CP9.7(Stoke) v CM 9.1 (Long Eaton). 1964 CM 10.9 (Glasgow) v CP 10.1 (Hackney). Also in the PLRC Final, Charlie was runner up to Ivan Mauger and Colin scored 7-note also Roy Trigg came 3rd in that meeting. Also in that year Charlie apparently beat Ivan more times than any other PL Rider. Further in the Prov. League averages published in the "Star" on November 13th 1964 Charlie was second to Ivan with an average of 11.60 (although I recognise that these averages excluded bonus points and were straight points divided by meetings -not CMA's). Colin was 8th, just ahead of Jack Kitchen.

Now to the great year of 1965 where the Prov. League riders were up against the top NL riders for the first time.. Charlie was easily the top ex -PL rider with 10.3 average(Matt's figures again). After Charlie the ex-PL guys were placed as follows in order-Eric Boocock, George Hunter, Ivor Brown, Bill Andrew, Dave Younghusband , Pete Jarman, Jack Kitchen and only then Colin. Interestingly Ronnie Genz was just above Eric Boocock.

Also that year of course Charlie won the Internationale (what a surprise that was) at Wimbledon-not a track he was particularly familiar with and missed out on the World final by a fall in the British Final at West Ham-after going thru' all the qualifying rounds without dropping a single point. Colin didn't make the British Final that year. I realise Colin had some good years post 1965-although in 66 he and Charlie were just about even-also that Colin's best year was 1967-his World Final year.

Thus -very good rider though Colin was - I rest my case for Charlie, I would also put Ronnie Genz up there considering his years in the NL.. Great debate though and I enjoy greatly remembering these super years of the mid sixties.

[Sidney the robin]

Mike Broadbank/Ken Mckinlay who for me were two great stalwarts for Great Britain Broady in my eyes was a legend for the Robins.Both similar i suppose in prophile,14 world finals between them five for Broady 9 for Ken a close call but Ken just edges it as the better rider.

[norbold]

Mike Broadbank/Ken Mckinlay who for me were two great stalwarts for Great Britain Broady in my eyes was a legend for the Robins.Both similar i suppose in prophile,14 world finals between them five for Broady 9 for Ken a close call but Ken just edges it as the better rider.

What about Nigel Boocock, Sidney?

[Sidney the robin]

What about Nigel Boocock, Sidney?

Yes of course "Norbold" didnt mention him because he was a great of the 50/60s better than the two mentioned.Well you are about "Norbold" what is your valued opinion about Ron Mountford,Eric Boothroyd,George White.?