JoeW

This agrees the completed programme I have.

In all official matches Nigel Boocock's average of 11.12 is the correct one. The BSPA Handbook only includes British League matches for their averages. In addition to the 34 matches shown in that Handbook he rode one KO Cup match away at Long Eaton taking five rides (different format and more heats in the KO Cup in those days) and scoring a maximum of fifteen points.

The Complete History shows that every rider has exactly four rides in every match ridden regardless of the facts that in 1965 the reserve (only one at that time) was only programmed to have two races, tapes exclusions did not count as a ride and there could have been tactical substitution and reserve and rider replacement rides. The averages have been calculated using this incorrect assumption. For example the rider with the highest average is shown as Nigel Boocock on 11.91 !!! The Complete History shows he rode in 35 Matches and had 140 rides (35 x 4). Including bonus he scored 417 points at an average of 11.91 (417 divided by 140 and multiplied by four). If the figures shown were correct he only dropped three points throughout the year therefore should have scored 32 maximums!! In that book he is only shown as scoring 18 maximums which shows the book in incorrect. He actually rode in 150 races that season and his average was 11.12 (417 divided by 150 and multiplied by four).

Another excellent publication but the final averages given for the 1965 season are incorrect as they appear to have been taken from the book "The Complete History of the British League" which for some reason assumes each rider took exactly four rides per match. Correct averages for 1965 appear in the British Speedway Handbook for that year.

The programme only shows Louis Carr has having finished in third place. Given the Speedway Star entry he probably pushed home. Margarson took all of the four rides of Arthur Price. The programmed team was Brian Havelock, Price, Robert Maxfield, Ian Hindle and Margarson. John Robson took Maxfield's rides. On checking the programme further Neil Collins rode in the Reserves' Scurry therefore he must have been the Ellesmere Port reserve. The home team were programmed at number 4 in the line-up but I don't know why.

Taken from completed programmes; Mildenhall 24/09/78 - Newcastle No8 was David Bargh. Newcastle 24/04/78 - Newcastle No8 was Robert Maxfield. Newcastle 22/05/78 - Newcastle reserve was Kenny Carter. Teesside reserve was Martin Dixon. Newcastle 12/06/78 - Newcastle No8 was Nigel Crabtree. Teesside 25/05/78 - Workington reserve was Andy Margarson. No reserve programmed for Ellesmere Port.

Haven't received mine yet. Normally received in the post on Thursday.

Newcastle v Norwich on 14 April 1947.

Thanks.

Can anyone supply full heat details for this meeting at Newcastle please? The details were not given in Speedway Star.

Please email me at joe.wake@homecall.co.uk and I will email you my list of programmes for sale.

I have a few thousand programmes that will be listed on ebay in forthcoming months. These cover 1940s to date and about 2/3 of them are Newcastle home or away. Send your wants lists to joe.wake@homecall.co.uk and I may be able to help you.

The completed programme I have also shows Dave Walker.

Derek Close of Newcastle scored 12 from four rides agaist Sheffield and against Fleetwood in double header on 9 October 1950.

Ridley appeared in one challenge match at Motherwell in 1950.

I see from last week's Speedway Star that Jordan Frampton made three appearances for Poole in 2008. No other British rider appeared for them. I wonder whether any other British club had less appearances from a British rider during a season?

Given his date of birth did he ride in one meeting for Middlesbrough in 1946? The Complete A to Z of British Speedway Riders 1940s has an entry for Timms with no first name and nothing seems to be known about him.

Newcastle did not run in 1988 season.

99% certain

Was a Dane who rode in only three meetings before serious injury in his third.

I think he was on loan from Belle Vue and he quit the sport after those meetings for Newcastle.

Paul Lydes-Uings in the 1990s springs to mind.

Ivan Mauger rode in the British League until 1984 when he rode in only home meetings for Exeter.

He also rode for Hull while at Newcastle the first time when Ian Thomas promoted both and in the early 1990s I seem to recall he also rode for Belle Vue while at Newcastle for the second time.

and Sheffield