norbold

By nomination. No qualifying rounds.

I looked up Stenner's rankings and found these riders who didn't win the world title in the year they were ranked first: 1949: Jack Parker, 1950 Graham Warren, 1953 Jack Young. Of course there was no World Championship in 1946, 47 and 48 but Vic Duggan was ranked first in all three years. And then the Speedway Star Rankings. Similarly, no. 1s who were not World Champion in their no.1 year: 1957 Ove Fundin, 1959 Ove Fundin, 1962 Ove Fundin. Certainly looks as though Ove might have benefited from a Grand Prix style World Championship! Only Barry Briggs in 1958 interrupted his run of no. 1 rankings from 1956-1963

Talking of which, what's happened to gustix?

Yes, of course, Sydney. It would be interesting to see how many times the recognised best rider in any particular year did not win the title.

Wish I'd thought of him!

Quite the reverse I think, Sidney. Briggo owes Ove his 1957 win. Ove was the best rider in the world that year,

He must have sneaked an extra one in while no-one was looking as well.

Yes, 1939 I believe.

Didn't Colin Watson have a spell at Sheffield?

I was just about to say that....

Tiger Stevenson, West Ham only. Good point about four teams. I'll give it some thought.....

I think Jim Kempster only Wimbledon, Joe Francis Crystal Palace and New Cross, Nobby Key also Crystal Palace and New Cross.

Bluey Wilkinson and Eric Chitty only West Ham; Vic Huxley Harringay and Wimbledon, Frank Arthur Stamford Bridge and Harringay, Lionel Van Praag Wembley and New Cross, Roger Frogley Crystal Palace and New Cross, Sverre Harrfeldt Wimbledon, West Ham, Wembley

Well, of course I remember you at the Lokeren Trophy meeting, it's just the match against Wimbledon I'm having a problem with recalling you - or your dad. I was too upset that your man Pete Murray was to blame for Sverre breaking his arm to think straight I suppose.

Exactly, iris. I can't see how you could possibly have drawn the inference you did from my post, compost. It had nothing to do with your post.

Over the two years he was at West Ham he improved and then improved even more the following two years at Poole. In 1970 he was second in the Hammers' averages to Olle Nygren with just under 8 points per match; in his second year he just pipped Olle for top place, averaging something like 8.75 I believe. As I said above, there is no denying he was the ultimate thrill-merchant with his madcap dives round the fence. Unlike Sverre Harrfeldt though, who knew what he was doing and was on a par with the very best and often beat them at Custom House, Christer didn't always seem to be quite in control - just opening the throttle and going wherever the bike took him - and fell short of the very best. He was very popular though and was voted "Hammer of the Year" in each of his two years.

Me too. Don't remember seeing you there. After that I saw him every week at West Ham. Heart stopping stuff week in week out! We used to think Sverre Harrfedt was hair raising, but he had nothing on Christer!

I was born in Hackney but never rode for them.....mind you, that may be because I was never a speedway rider.

You're probably right, chunky. I maybe looking at this too much through the eyes of a New Cross supporter. Cyril and Bert were the mainstay of New Cross from 1950-1953, along with Eric French, with Bert topping the averages once and heading Cyril on another occasion. Bob was just a second string, but then he was quite a bit younger. Bert also captained the England Test team for a while.

I saw Cyril Roger three times in individual meetings at New Cross towards the end of the 1961 season. I have never seen Bert or Bob, so I can't compare them based on my own experience. However, based purely on the record books, I don't think there is much doubt that Cyril was the best, followed by Bert and then Bob.

I only speak in the most hushed and reverential tones about his "bruvver". His is a name not to be taken lightly.

Jack Parker was born in Birmingham but never rode for them.

Geoff rode in 16 of New Cross's 17 matches in the Provincial League in 1963, averaging 5.49.

Yes, this is how I got to know about it. We wanted to put up a blue plaque to Vivian Woodward. Essex County Council said we should speak to our local council. We asked them and they said they had no objection as long as the people who currently live in the house were happy about it, which they were as we had already asked them. We went back to Essex County Council and, not only did they approve it, they donated £500 towards its cost!

Yes, Blue Plaques in London are organised by English Heritage. Outside London, it's every council for itself!