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Wimbledon Dons 1935.


Sidney the robin

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I have just been doing some research on the 1935 Wimbledon Dons team god they finished bottom of the league.Looking at a photograph i have which included Norman Pritchard ( manager)- Gus Kuhn - Wal Phillips - Claude Rye - Wal Morton- T.Clarke (trainer)- Geoff Pymar- Vic Huxley- Syd Edmonds_. Jack Sharp they looked a pretty good team.They won only 8 league matches out of 24 to collect the wooden spoon.Can anyone add anything to this year and team anything would be appreciated.

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In 1978 in the Wimbledon match programmes they did a series of listing all of their contracted riders for the beginning - here is what they listed for 1935.

 

Eric Collins

Vic Huxley

Syd Jackson

Gus Khan

Fred Levis

? Lemon (sorry no Christian name in the programme)

Wal Phillips

Geoff Pymar

Bill Rogers

Claude Rye

Alf Sawford

Jack Sharpe

Wal Morton

 

Hope this helps out.

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In 1978 in the Wimbledon match programmes they did a series of listing all of their contracted riders for the beginning - here is what they listed for 1935.

 

Eric Collins

Vic Huxley

Syd Jackson

Gus Khan

Fred Levis

? Lemon (sorry no Christian name in the programme)

Wal Phillips

Geoff Pymar

Bill Rogers

Claude Rye

Alf Sawford

Jack Sharpe

Wal Morton

 

Hope this helps out.

Stan Lemon rode for Wimbledon a few times in 1931, 1934 and 1935, he then appeared for Hall Green and Eastbourne in 1938, moving on to Belle Vue Reserves and Stoke in 1939. He won the Championship of Sussex at Eastbourne in 1933.

Edited by BL65
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In 1978 in the Wimbledon match programmes they did a series of listing all of their contracted riders for the beginning - here is what they listed for 1935.

 

Eric Collins

Vic Huxley

Syd Jackson

Gus Khan

Fred Levis

? Lemon (sorry no Christian name in the programme)

Wal Phillips

Geoff Pymar

Bill Rogers

Claude Rye

Alf Sawford

Jack Sharpe

Wal Morton

 

Hope this helps out.

Thanks "Robbie!!
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That was one of my favourite features in the 1978 progs! I still have the master list of all those teams that Derek Holder gave me.

 

On the subject, anyone know if Derek is still around?

 

Steve

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In 1978 in the Wimbledon match programmes they did a series of listing all of their contracted riders for the beginning - here is what they listed for 1935.

 

Eric Collins

Vic Huxley

Syd Jackson

Gus Khan

Fred Levis

? Lemon (sorry no Christian name in the programme)

Wal Phillips

Geoff Pymar

Bill Rogers

Claude Rye

Alf Sawford

Jack Sharpe

Wal Morton

 

Hope this helps out.

Not a relation of Sadiq,who was born and grew up near the stadium? :P

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1935 Wimbledon rider Gus Kuhn.

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The London Speedways website lists these riders for Wimbledon in 1935:

WIMBLEDON: Vic Huxley, Geoff Pymar, Wal Phillips, Gus Kuhn, Sid Jackson, Claude Rye, Jack Sharpe, Bill Rogers, Eric Collins, Bert Spencer, Ron Howes, Alf Sawford, Wal Morton, Arthur Westwood, Wally Little, Keith Harvey, Stan Lemon, Fred Leavis.

 

There are differences to the team squad for 1935 posted earlier by Robbie B.

Edited by Guest
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South African rider Keith Harvey is listed as a possible 1935 member of the Wimbledon team. He also had links with other London tracks over the years - High Beech (King's Oak), Stamford Bridge, West Ham, Crystal Palace and New Cross. He was 32 years old when he made his speedway debut in 1929 and was past his 50th birthday when he retired at New Cross in June 1947. Although a South African, he never rode on speedway in his home country.

 

 

 

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Wimbledon 1935:

Matches/Average

Vic Huxley 24/8.71

Syd Jackson 14/6.37

Gus Kuhn 20/5.83

Wal Phillips 23/5.66

Jack Sharp 22/5.52

Geoff Pymar 24/5.46

Wal Morton 13/5.07

Claude Rye 8/4.74

Alf Sawford 2/4.00

Eric Collins 9/3.83

Ron Howes 1/0.00


Wimbledon won six of their first nine fixtures including three away. They then lost nine fixtures on the trot. It was said that the main reason for this loss of form was Syd Jackson, who suffered a shoulder injury mid term and on his return could only manage nine points.

However, every single rider suffered a loss of form compared to their 1934 averages. Vic Huxley dropping from 10.31 to 8.71 for example. They not only finished bottom of the league but were also bottom of their ACU pool and were beaten comprehensively by Harringay in both the National Trophy and the London Cup.

Edited by norbold
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​The problem with getting these old team line-up is that they are mainly made up of those who raced in team events. In those days clubs also had contract riders who never appeared in a team match. That's why whatever list is produced they are also sketchy - I think that earlier in the 1930s that Alvin 'Spike' Rhiando was a contract Wimbledon junior. He later became a leading midget car driver and post WW2 appeared in big circuit Formula 500 car racing.

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I totally agree with you there gustix but there's another issue regarding Wimbledon and that's their speedway office was completely destroyed by a bomb dropped by the Germans in 1943. Who knows what paperwork was lost during because of this incident.

Edited by Robbie B
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You think 1935 was bad...1937 was a disaster! The newly installed promoter from Bristol must have wondered what he'd let himself in for as the Dons lost every fixture until September. Luckily, they managed to defeat Hackney and ended the campaign with a mere 2 victories.

 

And the Promoter in question, one Ronald W Greene! Luckily for the Dons fans, Mr Greene stayed around for another 33 years to oversee events at Plough Lane.

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