norbold

Blimey, Sean, are you looking for a job as my agent?

I have seen a number of explanations as to why he was called 'Split', including David's one. The one I always thought was most likely was that his famous grin 'split' his face from ear to ear.

Thanks for all the plugs, Sean! Actually the history of Romford speedway is in Speedway in the South East not the London book. But, as everyone has already told you, the speedway track was at Brooklands, not the greyhound track. I think there are two problems with Walthamstow, which have already been mentioned. One is its situation, very close to a residential area and secondly, the GRA see Walthamstow as the jewel in its doggie crown and don't want it messed up with speedway. Still, as you say, we should never say never, because if we did, Wimbledon would never have come back, but I think it will be an uphill battle. Have you thought about Yarmouth????

Can you try and arrange this one for a time when I will not be in Australia please?

If anyone wants to do it I am sure Tempus will be more than happy to publish it.

That's excellent news. Thanks Jim.

I've just spent ten days in Mandurah...but I didn't see him! Is that where he lives?

Thanks for the update David. It's really good news that Split is back home, but not such good news about Ove. I hope it's nothing serious. You're absolutely right about Brian Crutcher too!

It's always a problem compiling a list of top 1, top 5, top 10 or whatever, riders because of the comparison between different eras, differnt styles, different bikes, different tracks, different rules, different class of opposition etc. The other question to consider is do we mean the best rider on his day or the best rider over a long period? Just to give an example of that of two riders from the same era, I would say that, on his day, Ole Olsen was better than Ivan Mauger, but certainly not as consistent over as long a period of time. Also, is success in the World Championship the sole criterion or do we look at team men like Ronnie Moore, Ken McKinlay, Olle Nygren and Nigel Boocock who were perhaps not so successful at an individual level as they might have been (yes, even Ronnie Moore!) Most of the suggestions for best rider ever on this thread only go as far back as Ove Fundin. From my own observation of riders I have actually seen I would certainly go along with the suggestion that Ove was the greatest ever. Though I have to say Tony Rickardsson is, to my mind, fast catching him up. But what about riders we've only read about? Vic Huxley, Jack Parker, Tom Farndon, Vic Duggan? A look at their records would suggest they must be worthy of consideration, but any question like this is bound to be skewed to the present or very recent past. It's an impossible question to answer. Having said all that, my top 10, going on observation and records would be: 1. Ove Fundin 2. Ivan Mauger 3. Vic Duggan 4. Tony Rickardsson 5. Barry Briggs 6. Tom Farndon 7. Vic Huxley 8. Jack Young 9. Hans Nielsen 10. Ronnie Moore And I agree with Custom House Kid that Sverre Harrfeldt would have given Rickardsson a run for his money, certainly around Custom House. Think I'll go and have a lie down now....

Having spent a day with Bob Andrews in Auckland I now have lots of good Ivan Mauger stories. But I think Ivan's lawyers would be on to this Forum a bit sharpish if I repeated them here!

Or Tom Farndon...or Vic Huxley...

And that includes Jack Parker?

If this means riders we've actually seen my seven from Heaven would be: 1. Ove Fundin 2. Split Waterman 3. Aub Lawson 4. Jack Young 5. Ken McKinlay 6. Chris Louis 7. Stan Stevens

I'll see what I can do, Gem... Johnnie Chamberlain joined Yarmouth in 1952, went to Ipswich in 1954 and in 1958 moved to Norwich. Following Aub Lawson's departure at the end of 1960, Chamberlain became the Stars' second rider behind Ove Fundin but his average was only 6.71 compared to the great man's 12.47! He left Norwich at the end of 1962. He rode in several Test matches for Australia but his main claim to fame is that he is reputed to be the smallest rider ever to ride in speedway, His other claim to fame is that he took part in the first match I ever saw, coming last twice!

I'm with you Ian H...

Just to let all you Crusaders know that I have just been interviewed by a journalist from the Kent Gazette who will be doing a piece on my new book and Canterbury speedway in the next couple of weeks. I believe the paper is part of the Kent Messenger group so could appear in Sittingbourne and Maidstone papers as well. Hopefully the piece can generate some feed back and show support for speedway returning to Canterbury.

Good to hear that Split is on the mend. One of the all time greats of speedway and certainly the greatest "character" of them all.

"Happiness is watching speedway in the British Summer and going to Oz in the winter! " Couldn't agree more Bryn, as long as you include NZ in that.

I'd quite like to have my team back first. Where are you, New Cross?

Sorry, couldn't let this go, even from New Zealand, without saying that Romford never actually rode at Rochester. They rode their first four matches AS Rochester but the stadium never got planning permission to stage speedway, which is why the team moved to Romford.

Read it Saturday morning then Addy :idea: :clown Some of us are going of to Oz first thing on Saturday morning and not comimng back for a month. The suspense will kill me...or would do if I didn't already know the answer!

How come every single thread on this Forum finishes up with you and Shazzy having a pop at each other?

Yes, of course you can use it. But stop confusing me with Liontamer... :roll: I was there that night too, I would have been 14. Perhaps we met by the Supporters' Club kiosk or in the stands or by the fence or...... Keep up the good work with the web sites. Who's next?

Yes, I would be happy to help Jim. The only problem is, is that I am just about to jet off to the Antipodes for a month. If you can wait I'll do it when I come back. Actually, come to think of it, I did write a short appraisal a little while back on the old Forum. Maybe Phil could find it for you...if you ask nicely ;-) Now then, back to the Ove Fundin question. Are you talking about the meeting on 28 June 1961? Our Split did indeed beat Ove twice in the match and once in the second half, but Ove did have his revenge in the second half final, beating Split in to second place. But it was one of those all too rare occasions down the Old Kent Road when Split showed something of the form that took him to the runner-up spot twice in the World Championship in the early 50s. He scored a paid maximum that night. Happy days!

Why didn't he ever tell the West Ham programme compiler then?