Herbert Haigh known as Dusty Haigh (Q1 1906 – 15 May 1936) was an international speedway rider who rode in the earliest days of the sport in Britain.

Speedway career

Haigh started riding in 1928 at Halifax before moving to

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

and

Belle Vue Aces The Belle Vue Aces are a British motorcycle speedway, speedway club, based in Manchester. The club hold the record of having won the top tier List of United Kingdom speedway league champions, League championship 13 times. They currently compete ...

in 1930 where he won the

1930 Speedway Northern League The 1930 Northern League was the second season of speedway in the United Kingdom for Northern British teams. The league was previously known as the English Dirt Track League but the addition of two Scottish teams prompted a name change and 1930 wa ...

. He finished fourth in the league averages during the

1931 Speedway Northern League The 1931 Northern League was the third season of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Northern British teams. It was the final season of the Northern League before amalgamation with the Southern League which also had their third season known ...

season for Sheffield. In 1935, he moved from

Lea Bridge Lea Bridge is a district in the London Borough of Hackney and the London Borough of Waltham Forest in London, England. It lies 7 miles (11.3 km) northeast of Charing Cross. The area it takes its name from a bridge built over the River ...

Walthamstow Wolves The Walthamstow Wolves were a speedway team which operated from 1934 and again from 1949 until their closure in 1951. History The club opened in 1934 competing in the National League, when Lea Bridge were forced to find a new venue. They finis ...

and made his test debut against Australia. During the 1936

Auto-Cycle Union The Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) is the governing body of motorcycle sport in Great Britain, including the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, but excluding Northern Ireland.

Cup Haigh was killed instantly after suffering a fractured skull riding at

Hackney Wick Stadium Hackney Wick Stadium was a greyhound racing and speedway stadium located at Waterden Road in the London Borough of Hackney. Origins The site chosen for the stadium was on land known as Hackney Marshes west of the River Lea and on the west sid ...

on 15 May 1936, in the ACU Cup match between Hackney and West Ham. He fell when in front and heading for a fourth consecutive heat win and the riders behind were unable to avoid him. The crash was reported in most national newspapers as they focused on the fact that it had been witnessed by his wife Irene.

Personal life

Haigh and his wife Irene started a millinery business in 1932 but it went bankrupt in 1934.

References

1906 births 1936 deaths British speedway riders Sheffield Tigers riders Belle Vue Aces riders Halifax Dukes riders Lea Bridge speedway riders {{Speedway-stub