jackofdiamonds

Seeing Jamie White-Williams riding for Plymouth got the old grey matter going. I can't recall any, but there must have been other riders with a hyphenated surname. Any takers?

Newcastle v Visitors 5.8.63 Heat 1 Mauger (V) Craven (N) Watkin (N) M Robinson (V) ef 3-3 79.0 Heat 2 Kitchen (V) Duckworth (N) Kelly (N) A Jay (V) 3-3 6-6 79.2 Heat 3 J Dews (V) Winstanley (N) R Day (N) I Thomas (yes!) 3-3 9-9 82.6 Heat 4 Watkin Dent(N) Robinson D Jenkins (V) 5-1 14-10 80.0 Heat 5 Kitchen Winstanley Day Jay 3-3 17-13 85.4 Heat 6 Mauger Duckworth Robinson ef Kelly ns 2-3 19-17 82.8 Heat 7 Watkin Craven Thomas ef Dews ns 5-0 24-16 81.6 Heat 8 Kelly Dent Jenkins Jay 5-1 29-17 84.2 Heat 9 Mauger Day Robinson Day 2-4 31-21 82.4 Heat 10 Kelly Duckworth Thomas Dews 5-1 36-22 84.2 Heat 11 Watkin Kitchen Craven 4-2 40-24 81.0 Heat 12 Mauger Duckworth Day Thomas f 3-3 43-27 79.8 Heat 13 Kitchen Dent Winstanley Dews ns 3-3 46-30 82.0 Jenkins reserve replacement in heat 11 Dent for Craven in heat 13. Reserves race raced before meeting Dent Day Jenkins Robinson f 86.2 Second Half Novices Scurry Milton Caizley Derek Greaves Bill Bird Tom Easton f 87.4 Diamond Scurry Heat 1 Dent Robinson Jenkins Thomas ef 82.4 Heat 2 Mauger Watkin Kitchen Freddy Greenwell 78.4 Heat 3 Dent Duckworth Winstanley Caizley 81.2 A rain soaked track led to a Sheffield protest, although the ref pronounced it rideable. Clive Featherby, Ron Bagley, Tommy Roper and Tony Robinson refused to ride leading to the hastily arranged meeting above. As can be seen the track was tricky leading to walking pace times! Hope this helps.

I have a programme from 16 June 1962 when Wolverhampton were the visitors. As a matter of interest the programme shows Neath Abbey Speedway on the front. One other rider not mentioned is Glyn Chandler. Neath (29 points) did in fact finish second to Poole (34 points) in the Provincial League.

Geoff Penniket also rode for Newcastle in 1962.

Sean Stoddard has just announced his site at :- www.seanstoddard.com

Just some other thoughts on Chris Prime, he and Kenny Carter started as reserves that season. I may be wrong but as I remember it was a simple fall where you would expect the rider to get up, not sadly in this case. I do not remember a high speed crash. I don't think it was Ian Thomas rather announcer Barry Wallace that made the announcement that we should all leave the stadium. Gary Peterson was a popular rider on Tyneside. We could see the talent there.

I can't remember Bill Andrews being wild, Vic Lonsdale now you are talking. Sure his nickname was Wildman.

I was at Brough on that unfortunate night. I can confirm there was no hysteria. The crowd left in a dignified way saddened by the loss of a future star.

This is sad, I remember with fondness his time at Newcastle, promoter Mike Parker signed him as a replacement for then injured Ivan Mauger. On Mauger's return, Parker managed to keep Brian. Happy times.

Jack Winstanley was a welcome guest at a mini-reunion at Newcastle at the start of the season. He was in fine fettle, and to think I thought he was old in the early sixties when he donned the black and white

Berwick were made homeless from Shielfield Park in 1981, and as their new track at Berrington Lough was not ready they rode at various tracks in a failed bid to maintain their league status. Meetings were held at Workington, Barrow (Park Road), Glasgow (Craighead Park) and Newcastle.

I was at Ashington's first meeting, and still wonder how the place was passed as fit. The track was dangerous and the fence was solid, I believe the track was round the football track. If anyone was brave enough you could hang over the fence, not me though. It was an open meeting and many riders pulled out after a couple of races. I will have to find the programe, but I believe the meeting was won by Phil Crump with a max. Ashington only lasted one more meeting.

Never much speedway in the Daily Mail, however in the sports shorts it said the meeting was won by wild card Bjarne Pedersen

Issue 14 received today. Thanks to all concerned, exceptional standard maintained. Will keep me quiet until it's time to see off those Newport Wasps.

I've a feeling Jason Crump will pick up the crown this year. He just needs to produce his Elite form. TRick will be there as usual.

No complaints from the neighbours then

I remember Eddie Ingles at Newcastle in their ill fated season at the top level. Never before or since have I seen a rider make up so much ground in a race. He could be quite astonishing. A character too, not every rider gets married on the centre green. He then had a poor season at Belle Vue.

Can I also add my congratulations to all those who took part. Hopefully we can do it all again next year.

Going to be tough for GB or should I say England, if Mr Norris says so, so can I. Mark Loram will be a miss, especially in Poland. Joe Screen's best days are behind him, and we must remember Stead and Harris were EL reserves a few days ago. Lee and Scott should score well, but will it be enough? Poland with home track advantage to edge it.

Newcastle's first meeting of 1962. 23 April 1962 Newcastle v Bradford Newcastle Gil Goldfinch 9 George Glen 9 Brian Craven 12 Geoff Penniket 1 Don Wilkinson 10 Russ Dent 3 Bill Andrews 3 Bradford Tommy Roper 4 Dennis Jenkins 6 Newcastle won 47 - 31. Brian Craven became my instant hero. Nice to see Ray Day and Russ Dent at the Diamond Geezers reunion meeting earlier this year. Stuart Hickman 8 Malcolm Bruce 1 Geoff Pymar 7 Ray Day 2 Dave Gerrard 6

Darren, the man to contact is Malcolm. email helenmalcolm05@aol.com

Didn't Dave Welch write for the Speedway Star/News in the 50s?

Nice one Merlin, I wasn't there that year, but did enjoy Ivan's win, he had a great reception at Brough Park. We always hated Ivor Brown as well, think it was because he was so good. Charlie Monk was another not best loved by the Brough Park faithfull.

Not sure if it has been mentioned elsewhere, but before anything else is considered, why not use the cycle speedway points system of 4-3-2-1, An incentive to finish, and to fight for third place, which was my lot in life

Always a pleasure to see the big brown envelope on the mat. Thanks Tony, your very high standard has been continued. An early Christmas present for me.