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Sidney the robin

Joe Owen NL was he the best…?

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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.

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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 by steve roberts

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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.

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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 by steve roberts

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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.!,,

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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 by steve roberts

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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.?).

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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

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1 hour ago, Triple.H. said:

Pretty sure it was John White and Barry Strange

That sounds right! :t:

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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.

 

 

 

 

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3 hours ago, Bruiser said:

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.

 

 

Totally right some top NL stars were not suited to the top league  Tim Hunt, Malcolm Holloway; two examples of not being world beaters in the NL but certainly were up to BL  standard.Rossiter, Hewlett, a couple more examples followed along with riders who moved up with no previous  speedway experience ( ie) Doncaster, Tatum, Loram.

 

 

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On 6/8/2021 at 7:11 PM, Fromafar said:

Steve Lawson was a stalwart for Glasgow in NL.

I'd have him as my top NL star. If you are going off the top riders to race National League then it's the Crumps, Louis etc of the world. But if its long term quality service to a single club its Steve Lawson all the way for me.

It was also his level. He tried the BL with Belle Vue, wasn't quite up to it, but found his level at NL and was an incredible servant. There are others for who the NL was a stepping stone to the top and there are others - and I would have Joe Owen in this bracket - who spent a few years taking easier pickings when they probably should or could have been in the BL. Lawson was at his level and was an excellent servant.

He was also 100% committed and could stretch himself for the cause at times. I think it was in the early 90s when Arena had a ridiculous team for the NL with Bo Petersen and Brian Karger at the helm - they were world class riders! But Lawson got Glasgow a replay in the KO Cup Final by beating them at Purfleet. Really, those guys were a cut above him, so to get that win spoke volumes. 

 

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The National League produced some loyal riders who basically remained with the same team forgoing the opportunity of moving up full time to the British League. The likes of Steve Wilcock and Barney Kennett instantly come to mind.

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Guest

I think Joe Owen had 4 NL seasons for Newcastle and his worst average was something like 10.65 in 1975 when he was a teenager! Think in the following year he was almost Jack Young/Vic Duggan like in the amount of points he dropped.

After Newcastle’s abortive return to the BL in 1984 (where Joe was top man with a respectable 8 point average) he joined Ellesmere Port back in the NL for 1985 and led the way to their Championship success. 
 

 

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