steve roberts Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 14 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: Holloway, Hack, Lamb, were three that come through at Cowley and the latter two had brutal injuries which robbed us of seeing them go up the ladder i am sure both of them would of done in time. David Shields and John Hack formed a very formidable reserve pairing during the early matches in 1978 and together with the immaculate George Hunter 1978 proved to be great year which got better in 1979. Unfortunately Cradley's involvement began to wain causing riders to move on or who were transferred and things began to deteriorate at Cowley before Northern Sports stepped in resulting in the glory years at Oxford. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 18 minutes ago, steve roberts said: David Shields and John Hack formed a very formidable reserve pairing during the early matches in 1978 and together with the immaculate George Hunter 1978 proved to be great year which got better in 1979. Unfortunately Cradley's involvement began to wain causing riders to move on or who were transferred and things began to deteriorate at Cowley before Northern Sports stepped in resulting in the glory years at Oxford. When the superb restaurant was opened i had a four year spell where i went to Oxford most weeks.Was never a fan before but when the track was good it was very very good very smooth ( did C.Meredith do it?.) Got to realise just how WRONG i was about Hans a real points machine.His clashes with Erik, Tommy, Sam, Shawn/ Kelly spring to mind also seeing that lovely chap Simon Wigg( bless him) progress was great.As i always felt grass/Longtrack was his real passion a great team man to really a really bubbly.character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 1 hour ago, nw42 said: Of course Sid, your memory bank is far better than mine, the way you recall meetings and individual performances never ceases to amaze me, I'm envious. Arthur Price was indeed a top 2nd division star, chuck in Michael Lee along with Carl Glover and what an era the 70's was for Boston. Don't forget David Gagen, Steve Clarke and Rob Hollingworth too for Boston. Gagen and Clarke, like Weatherley, had careers cut short due to injury. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 12 hours ago, compost said: Devils advocat but strictly speaking shouldnt the best NL/Div 2 rider be Jack Young ? More recently what about Carl Stonehewer ? Unlike Joe (who was definitely the best NLer in the '70s and '80s) he did get to a 'world final'. Tommy Price (1949 World Champion and 1946 Riders' Champion) began his career riding for Wembley Reserves in the Reserves League. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 12 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: When the superb restaurant was opened i had a four year spell where i went to Oxford most weeks.Was never a fan before but when the track was good it was very very good very smooth ( did C.Meredith do it?.) Got to realise just how WRONG i was about Hans a real points machine.His clashes with Erik, Tommy, Sam, Shawn/ Kelly spring to mind also seeing that lovely chap Simon Wigg( bless him) progress was great.As i always felt grass/Longtrack was his real passion a great team man to really a really bubbly.character. During the glory years there were two great track curators ( can't recall their names I'm afraid) and Hans had nothing but praise for them Unfortunately due to cut backs they resigned as they couldn't be guarenteed the time and equipment to do a good job and the track began to deteriote much to Wiggy's aghast! By the time Colin Meredith came along the track was nothing like its former self and I recall helping him out prior to Nigel Wagstaff's first year in charge and the track was awful with bumps all over the place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 5 minutes ago, norbold said: Tommy Price (1949 World Champion and 1946 Riders' Champion) began his career riding for Wembley Reserves in the Reserves League. Actually Jason Crump would be the top Div 2 rider (3 World Individual titles) having thought about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 5, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 1 minute ago, compost said: Actually Jason Crump would be the top Div 2 rider (3 World Individual titles) having thought about it. Yes had the pleasure of seeing him every week and who would of predicted he would of been better than his dad who was some rider himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 21 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: Yes had the pleasure of seeing him every week and who would of predicted he would of been better than his dad who was some rider himself. Could well qualify as the best father and son combination? Phil was awesome round Cowley especially on the occasion when he smashed the track record! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 3 hours ago, compost said: Actually Jason Crump would be the top Div 2 rider (3 World Individual titles) having thought about it. Ivan Mauger? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest compost Posted June 5, 2021 Report Share Posted June 5, 2021 6 minutes ago, norbold said: Ivan Mauger? Yes Norbold from his Provincial League days. Good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 21 hours ago, compost said: Don't forget David Gagen, Steve Clarke and Rob Hollingworth too for Boston. Gagen and Clarke, like Weatherley, had careers cut short due to injury. I do recall Rob Hollingworth beating Michael in 1977 in a challenge fixture at Boston.Also remember seeing him ride in the 2000s in the Conference league when approaching his 50s could still hold his own a real unsung hero really the bread and butter riders who the crowd respected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 6, 2021 Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: I do recall Rob Hollingworth beating Michael in 1977 in a challenge fixture at Boston.Also remember seeing him ride in the 2000s in the Conference league when approaching his 50s could still hold his own a real unsung hero really the bread and butter riders who the crowd respected. Rob Hollingworth was a bit of a track specialist at Cowley as was Steve Lomas when he moved to Boston (although I remember when he first started out at Weymouth - a day by the sea followed by speedway in the evening and a visit to "Alf's Fish and Chips") Edited June 6, 2021 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 1 hour ago, steve roberts said: Rob Hollingworth was a bit of a track specialist at Cowley as was Steve Lomas when he moved to Boston (although I remember when he first started out at Weymouth - a day by the sea followed by speedway in the evening and a visit to "Alf's Fish and Chips") I was sorting through some of my Oxford programmes Steve (I did not go) 1983 Oxford 47- Newcastle 49 Joe Owen and Rod Hunter both scoring paid 21 maximums it has to be unique that.Also going back to Rob he scored 13 points at Cowley for Scunny that year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 6, 2021 Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) 23 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: I was sorting through some of my Oxford programmes Steve (I did not go) 1983 Oxford 47- Newcastle 49 Joe Owen and Rod Hunter both scoring paid 21 maximums it has to be unique that.Also going back to Rob he scored 13 points at Cowley for Scunny that year. Remember the meeting Sid! I recall that Newcastle were using the Rider Replacement facility for either Bobby Beaton or Alan Emerson? Have a feeling that Martin Scarisbrick also rode? Later that same year I saw Newcastle at Mildenhall and there were similar performances from Hunter and Owen (although I recall that Owen was excluded in one race). Newcastle lost in last heat decider when Richard Knight rounded Rod Hunter! Edited June 6, 2021 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 18 minutes ago, steve roberts said: Remember the meeting Sid! I recall that Newcastle were using the Rider Replacement facility for either Bobby Beaton or Alan Emerson? Have a feeling that Martin Scarisbrick also rode? For both Steve i believe , Emerson whether that was before the meeting ? Beaton R/R both Joe/ Rod had seven starts Scarisbrick scored 6 points .1983 i went Oxford 22- Swindon 73 Holloway scored a paid 15 point max.!,, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 6, 2021 Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Sidney the robin said: For both Steve i believe , Emerson whether that was before the meeting ? Beaton R/R both Joe/ Rod had seven starts Scarisbrick scored 6 points .1983 i went Oxford 22- Swindon 73 Holloway scored a paid 15 point max.!,, ...hmm! Recall the 1983 meeting at Cowley against Swindon. "The Budgies" were that desperate to win that they booked in two guests (wasn't one Andy Grahame?) I remember that Bernard Crapper was less than impressed! Edited June 6, 2021 by steve roberts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sidney the robin Posted June 6, 2021 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 1 hour ago, steve roberts said: ...hmm! Recall the 1983 meeting at Cowley against Swindon. "The Budgies" were that desperate to win that they booked in two guests (wasn't one Andy Grahame?) I remember that Bernard Crapper was less than impressed! That Swindon side was probably the worst side we ever had and we have had a few.Chuffed that Holloway moved to Reading as he was appreciated more there over the years Swindon did have a core of over Critical fans( doesn’t everyone.?). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triple.H. Posted June 6, 2021 Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 On 6/5/2021 at 9:07 AM, steve roberts said: During the glory years there were two great track curators ( can't recall their names I'm afraid) and Hans had nothing but praise for them Unfortunately due to cut backs they resigned as they couldn't be guarenteed the time and equipment to do a good job and the track began to deteriote much to Wiggy's aghast! By the time Colin Meredith came along the track was nothing like its former self and I recall helping him out prior to Nigel Wagstaff's first year in charge and the track was awful with bumps all over the place. Pretty sure it was John White and Barry Strange Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve roberts Posted June 6, 2021 Report Share Posted June 6, 2021 1 hour ago, Triple.H. said: Pretty sure it was John White and Barry Strange That sounds right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruiser Posted June 8, 2021 Report Share Posted June 8, 2021 I used to like the Old National League and it certainly had some good riders in it…Joe and Tom Owen were almost invincible for a while and Tom was happy to stay at that level as he had business commitments and was earning really good money at speedway as well..fair play to that… we followed Belle Vue but used to visit Ellesmere Port a bit and John Jackson, Steve Finch and Louis Carr were almost invincible as a heat leader trio round there. I was always surprised that some really big scorers in the National League back then seemed to struggle in British League outings whilst some took it in their stride and did ok. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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