norbold

Thanks, andout. That's brilliant and much appreciated.

Why do I seem to have one Speedway Star missing from each year??? No, that's not the question I need help with... This time, it's riders, no.of rides, points, bonus points for New Cross riders in the match against Stoke at home on 9 July 1963. The results would be in the July 20th edition of Speedway Star & News. Thank you.

Just as well you didn't.

Yes and yes.

Thank you. Brilliant. Just what I wanted. Much appreciated.

Ove was suspended by SVEMO because he had taken part in a car race when he should have been taking part in a World Championship qualifier. Before the ban he rode for Long Eaton.

Thanks peatbog but I do know the results, it's the individual scores I'm after. And yes, they were the League matches. There was no Britannia Shield in 1961. I'm very much looking forward to your next communication, frigbo.

I realise this could be a long shot, but does anyone have details of the two National League matches between New Cross and Southampton on 18 and 19 April 1961? I am after the New Cross riders' no. of rides, points and bonus points. Thank you. P.S. The details would be in the 29 April Speedway Star and News, which, for some reason, is the only one I don't have from the 1961 season!

Wally Lloyd was a top man and one of the 1928 pioneers. He rode at Hall Green and Perry Barr in 1929. In 1930 he moved on to Crystal Palace. Then to Lea Bridge in 1931, Southampton in 1932. Back to Clapton (Lea Bridge) when Southampton moved there later in 1932, where he stayed in 1933. In 1934 he returned to Hall Green. In 1935 he rode for Hackney Wick and then on to Wembley for two seasons. In 1938 he moved to Wimbledon. He made his Test debut for England at Sydney in the 1937/38 series. In 1938/39 he appeared in all five Tests. He made his home Test debut in 1939 at Wimbledon. In 1946 he joined Belle Vue and scored 159 points. He also qualified for the British Riders' Championship final that year, scoring five points. He remained with Belle Vue in 1947, scoring 177 points. He raced in two further Test seris in 1947 and 1948. He then retired from racing to become manager at Walthamstow in 1949. His brother, Jeff, was another top rider. He rode for Newcastle, New Cross and Harringay amongst others. Do you want some more information on him as well? P.S. I have photographs of both Wally and Jeff Lloyd. Where shall I send them?

I won't tell him if you don't...

I could send you some of New Cross...if I had your email address!

I've just come across an interesting formula in use in 1950 for the Spring Cup. It was 10 riders per side in a 20 heat match. I think I might suggest that to Terry Russell for next year's Elite League. That should keep the costs down!

Nick Nicholls rode for Coventry from 1959 to 1961. 1959: He scored 45 points at an average of 5.63 1960: 108 points at an average of 3.86. 1961: 140 points at an average of 3.78. He started 1959 at Oxford, riding in 9 matches for 60 points before moving to Coventry.

Yes, good idea Spinkox. We have already been thinking about doing that. As you say, it might be quite depressing though!

Eric Hockaday was a top man in the early days of the Provincial League. In 1960 he was second highest scorer for the league champions, Rayleigh, scoring 196 points at an average of 9.33 and was ranked 11th in the Speedway Star's end of season Provincial League rankings. In 1961 he moved on to Stoke where he scored 277 points in all competitions at an average of 7.91. He started 1962 with Leicester, scoring 28 points in four matches and then moved back to Stoke where he was the team's top scorer with 147 points at an average of 8.6. P.S. I should add that he is currently a member of the WSRA.

The following week, the West Ham programme referred obliquely to this incident just saying, "Thanks for all the letters we've received during the week regarding the Wimbledon match. Wonderful to know so many people are behind us." Of course, Olle Nygren was the big hate figure at Custom House at this time...and then, two years later, he was transferred to us, following Harrfeldt's retirement. It took a long time to get used to him!!! But we did.

I've just been going through Speedway News for 1948. Whenever there was a match race challenge it was really big news. Every month, there would be speculation on who would be nominated as the next challenger, when the nomination was made there was much editorialising over whether the right choice had been made, and then when the match races themselves took place, reporting on the races was always the front page lead. Can't see us ever getting back to those days...

Definitely Gerry Jackson in the background.

I was even luckier, seeing Sverre ride at West Ham every week from 1965 - 1968. He was electrifying. His dashes round the fence never failed to bring the crowd to their feet. He didn't always seem to get the best of starts and the spectacle of Sverre in full pursuit of the riders in front of him brought the crowds back week after week to see our hero, Hearththrob Harrfeldt. He was almost unbeatable round Custom House and his averages for the four years he was there were 11.08, 9.89, 10.25 and 9.79. And, of course, he was runner-up in the World Championship in 1966. After his horrific crash at the end of 1968 he was never quite the same again, but he did return to West Ham as team manager. I finally caught up with West Ham's hero in 2007 at the WSRA Dinner: See here

Belle Vue: Dick Fisher Coventry: Jim Lightfoot Norwich: Reg Trott Oxford: Jack Geran Swindon: Mike Broadbanks West Ham: Bjorn Knutson Wimbledon: Leo McAuliffe

Yes, I think you're right.

Yes, that's correct. (Except it was Allan Kidd)

Provincial League captains in 1962 were: Bradford: Ray Day Cradley Heath: Harry Bastable Edinburgh: Doug Templeton Exeter: Len Silver Leicester: ? Middlesbrough: ? Eric Boothroyd Neath: ? Trevor Redmond Newcastle: Don Wilkinson Poole: Geoff Mudge Plymouth: Cliff Cox Sheffield: Guy Allott Stoke: Ray Harris Wolverhampton: Graham Warren

I didn't know Hastings were operating in the Conference League, Youth Development and Academy League since 1980 to 2000, and National League since 1960 to 1980.

As well as the great New Cross Rangers, London also had Wimbledon Dons (1960 - 1964) and West Ham Hammers (1964) in the National League. Why are you interested in just the last five years of the National League by the way?