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Leicester Hunters
The Leicester Hunters were a motorcycle speedway team which operated from 1948 until 1962.Bamford, R & Jarvis J. (2001) ''Homes of British Speedway'', , p. 147-149 History Speedway had operated before the war at both Leicester Stadium and the Leicester Super track. Speedway was proposed to return to Leicester in 1948 at Leicester Stadium, led by A. D. Sanderson with Roy Dook and later Bob Peett managing the team, but concerns from local residents over noise levels delayed the return until the following year, with the newly formed team limited to away challenge matches in 1948. To go with the team name, the riders wore hunting pink race bibs featuring a gold horseshoe. The Hunters joined the National League in Division 3, where they finished 10th. Former rider Cyril "Squib" Burton, who had been one of the top riders of the Leicester Stadium team in the early 1930s, took over as manager in 1950 and the team joined division 2 at the end of the season, after finishing in third plac ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Leicester Stadium
Leicester Stadium was a sports stadium on Parker Drive in Leicester. The stadium was initially used for greyhound racing with motorcycle speedway starting there five years later. It was also a venue for BriSCA Formula 1 Stock Cars. Greyhound racing Origins & Opening In 1923 the site chosen for Leicester Stadium was an area of land in north Leicester near the Blackbird Road. The exact location was on the north side of where the Parkers Drive met Somerset Avenue. Greyhound racing became extremely popular in the county of Leicestershire with tracks at Aylestone Road in south Leicester and the nearby town of Coalville already hosting tracks that had opened in 1927. Leicester Stadium opened on Saturday 26 May 1928 with six heats of the Quorn Open sweepstakes and a hurdle race completing the seven race card. Eleven thousand spectators (including the Mayor Alderman J.Thomas) attended and watched Barley Leader become the first ever winner over 525 yards at odds of 4-7f. Trainers King, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harry Bastable
Harry Bastable is a former international motorcycle speedway rider and promoter. Career summary Harry Bastable's was a novice at the Alan Hunt 1949 winter training school when he was signed up by Cradley Heath Heathens. For experience he was loaned to the 3rd Division National League Tamworth Hounds speedway club for the 1950 season, with occasional rides at reserve for 2nd Division Cradley. He returned full-time to Cradley Heath in 1951 and in 1952 was the Heathens' top scorer. Following the closure of speedway at Dudley Wood at the end of 1952 the Cradley team amalgamated with 3rd Division neighbours Wolverhampton Wasps to operate in the National League 2nd Division in 1953, but Harry Bastable never liked the track and didn't show his Cradley form, moving to Birmingham Brummies in August of that year where First Division racing proved hard going. In 1957 Birmingham closed mid-season following the track fatality of Harry's mentor and Brummies skipper Alan Hunt and the e ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1959 Speedway National League
The 1959 National League was the 25th season and the fourteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary With Ipswich Witches dropping down to the Southern Area League, only 9 teams competed with Wimbledon Dons continuing their domination of British speedway with their fifth title in six years. Final table Top Ten Riders (League only) National Trophy The 1959 National Trophy was the 21st edition of the Knockout Cup. Wimbledon were the winners. First round Second round Semifinals Final First leg Second leg Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123–93. See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions * Knockout Cup (speedway) Knockout Cup (sometimes referred to as the KO Cup) is a type of British motorcycle speedway competition, examples of which have run annually since 1929. Each tier of British Speedway has its own respective Knockout Cup. The current Knockout Cup c ... References ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1958 Speedway National League
The 1958 National League was the 24th season and the thirteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary Bradford Tudors who had dropped out at the start of the previous season only to return in mid-season, had dropped out again along with the bottom side Rayleigh Rockets. Poole Pirates returned after a one-year absence. Wimbledon Dons won their fourth title in five years. Final table Top Ten Riders (League only) National Trophy The 1958 National Trophy was the 20th edition of the Knockout Cup. Belle Vue were the winners. First round Second round Semifinals Final First leg Second leg Belle Vue were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 136–103. See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions * Knockout Cup (speedway) Knockout Cup (sometimes referred to as the KO Cup) is a type of British motorcycle speedway competition, examples of which have run annually since 1929. Each tier of British Speedway ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1957 Speedway National League
The 1957 National League was the 23rd season and the twelfth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The closure of Wembley Lions, Bradford Tudors and Poole Pirates left the league with only four teams, so the seven sides in Division Two merged to make an eleven-team first tier and so Division Two became defunct. Bradford Tudors returned to replace Birmingham Brummies mid-season (in early August) and Swindon Robins followed up their Division Two title in 1956 with the Division One title in 1957. Final table * Bradford Tudors replaced Birmingham Brummies mid-season. Top Ten Riders (League only) National Trophy The National Trophy was not held during 1957. See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions * Knockout Cup (speedway) Knockout Cup (sometimes referred to as the KO Cup) is a type of British motorcycle speedway competition, examples of which have run annually since 1929. Each tier of British Speedway h ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1956 Speedway National League Division Two
1956 was the final season of the Speedway National League Division Two. Summary With the number of sides competing at national level diminishing from 37 at the start of 1951 to just 14 in 1956, only a single national division would be in existence by 1957. Poole Pirates had been promoted to Division One and Exeter Falcons had closed leaving seven entrants. Swindon Robins captured the title by a single point. Southampton's 34-year-old captain Ernie Rawlins died in Southampton Hospital on 22 September 1956, following an accident in the match against Birmingham on 18 September. Final table Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage One * For Stage Two - see Stage Two The 1956 National Trophy was the 19th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second tier clubs, stage two was for the top tier clubs. Southampton won stage one and qualified for second and final stage. Division Two First round Division Two semifinals Div ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1955 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1955 National League Division Two was the tenth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The only change in the list of teams that finished the previous season was the replacement of Motherwell Eagles with Weymouth Scorchers. Poole Pirates won the title. Weymouth Scorchers withdrew after 7 league fixtures, Bristol Bulldogs withdrew after 14. Final table * Weymouth Scorchers and Bristol Bulldogs withdrew, records expunged. Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage One The 1955 National Trophy was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup A single-elimination, knockout, or sudden death tournament is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match-up is immediately eliminated from the tournament. Each winner will play another in the next round, until the final matc .... The Trophy consisted of two stages; stage one was for the second tier clubs, stage two was for the top tier clubs. Poole won stage one ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1954 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1954 National League Division Two was the ninth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The Southern League was replaced by the Southern Area League which resulted in Division Two taking in teams from the defunct Southern League. Only St Austell Gulls declined to step up to the national level, whilst from the previous season Yarmouth Bloaters were not issued a racing licence and Stoke Potters withdrew. Bristol Bulldogs moved down from Division One to make 15 teams starting the season however Glasgow White City Tigers and Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before the league campaign started. Bristol Bulldogs won the title Plymouth Devils withdrew after 1 league fixture, Edinburgh Monarchs withdrew after 5. Final table * Glasgow White City Tigers, Wolverhampton Wasps withdrew before league racing *Plymouth Devils, Edinburgh Monarchs The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1953 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1953 National League Division Two was the eighth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The League was reduced at the start of the season again to 10 teams with Oxford Cheetahs dropping down to the Southern League whilst Ashfield closed and Liverpool folded mid-season. Cradley Heath 'merged' with Wolverhampton from the Southern League but used the Wolverhampton Wasps moniker, so to all intents and purposes they had closed. Coventry Bees clinched their first title by a single point. Wolverhampton rider Mike Rogers died on 6 June 1953, the day after receiving critical injuries at Monmore Green Stadium racing against Liverpool. The 22-year-old lost control of his bike and fell heavily before being transported to the Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton. Final table Liverpool Chads withdrew mid-season - record expunged. Top Five Riders (League only) See also * List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions *Knockout Cup (speedw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1952 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1952 National League Division Two was the seventh post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The post-war boom was now fading and the League was shortened to 12 teams with Division Three now defunct and continued only on a regional basis. Previous champions Norwich Stars had been promoted to Division One. Newcastle, Walthamstow and Halifax had closed whilst Fleetwood Flyers changed to Fleetwood Knights and ran only open meetings. Poole Pirates were the only new entrant, promoted from the former lower tier. Poole Pirates won the title, having won Division Three in the previous season. Final table Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage Two * For Stage One - see Stage One * For Stage Three - see Stage Three The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third tier clubs, stage two was for the second tier clubs and stage three was for t ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1951 Speedway National League Division Two
The 1951 National League Division Two was the sixth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The League was extended again with 18 teams starting the season. New entrants were Motherwell Eagles and there were again three teams promoted from Division Three - the champions Oxford Cheetahs, third place finishers Leicester Hunters and Liverpool Chads (despite finishing 8th). Plymouth Devils moved back down in the opposite direction. Norwich Stars retained their title. However after the season had finished a fourth rider in five years was killed at their Firs Stadium. 21-year-old Bob Howes died after hitting the fence during a training practice race on 10 November 1951. Southampton Saints and Sheffield Tars resigned in mid-season and their records were expunged. Final table Top Five Riders (League only) National Trophy Stage Two * For Stage One - see Stage One * For Stage Three - see Stage Three The 1951 National Trophy was the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1950 Speedway National League Division Three
The 1950 National League Division Three was the fourth season of British speedway's National League Division Three The league was reduced from 13 teams to 10. Halifax Dukes, Plymouth, Yarmouth and Hanley had all moved up to Division Two whilst Hastings Saxons dropped out. The two new sides were Aldershot Shots and St Austell Gulls whilst Tamworth changed their nickname from 'Hounds' to 'Tammies'. Oxford Cheetahs, who had finished bottom of the table during their inaugural league season in 1949, rose spectacularly up the league to win the title. The Oxford team was made up from an entirely new set of riders including Harry Saunders, signed as captain from Tamworth for £750, Pat Clarke from Rayleigh for £250, Bill Osborne from Walthamstow, Raymond Buster Brown from Wembley and Eric Irons from Cradley. Ken Middleditch of Poole topped the averages. Final table Leading Averages National Trophy Stage Three * For Stage Two - see Stage Two * For Stage Three - see Stage Th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
