chunky

Absolutely correct, that man. Steve

I agree; I'd definitely say it was Reg Wilson. Steve

There was a novice at Wimbledon in 1969 by the name of Philip Lach-Szyrma. Steve

Both have already been mentioned, but I don't think that Colin Gooddy quite made it to four decades (1955-1977, I believe). Steve

Good call, Miro. Conny was another rider I'd thought would qualify for a four-decade span, but you certainly confirmed it. Steve

I believe he rode for Poole in 1997, but was absent from the British scene for the next two years. Steve

Yep, he was at Hackney, Bob. From his Hawks debut on April 2nd, 1965, until his last meeting on October 9, 1970, Les never missed an official meeting. He rode in 223 successive matches - 214 BL and 9 KOC. Steve

If we also include grass-track, that brings in Lew Coffin! Steve

Sorry, but he retired at the end of the 1970 season. He rode in 37 matches for an average of 4.71. Also, speedyguy; you're correct about Gene Bonsignore and George Lazor. Both started racing in 1976, which gives them four decades each. Steve

Okay, I'm on a roll here... Another three, all of whom were active from the 1940's through the '70's, namely Jack Biggs, Les McGillivray, and Reg Trott. Oops, better make that four - Peter Carr (1979 onwards). Steve

As I said, it is quite possible that Vladimir was still riding, although his date of birth could also indicate a son of his. The main thing is that it was Viktor who made a name for himself in the 70's, and not Vladimir. Of course, Vladimir could actually have started out in the 70's... Can anyone confirm??? Steve

I wouldn't get too carried away Iris, just because of a surname. I know that some of these Russians have had a lengthy career, but the Trofimov you are talking about is actually two (perhaps more) riders! Viktor was the one in the 70's, but he retired many years ago. Vladimir (reserve for the 1987 World Final) will probably be the one that may be riding now, although it could be another generation. Steve

I agree there, but I think you must have missed something, as Bobby Schwartz has already been mentioned. Oh,and speedyguy, you are absolutely spot-on with Mike Faria. He started in 1975, so is definitely another four-decade man. I'll check into the others. Steve

Just thought of a couple more Americans; Shawn McConnell (racing since 1974), and Kelly Moran, who made a brief comeback in 2003. Then, we have Rob Hollingworth, and also (I believe) Malcolm Holloway. Steve

He did start in 1957, but it wasn't just "special meetings" in which he rode in the 80's; he rode BL until 1981, if I can remember correctly. I certainly don't think he rode into the 90's, except maybe for an occasional exhibition ride. Steve

Perfectly correct, that man. Certainly one that who crossed my mind, but I don't think he made it into the 80's. Good call, as he was obviously riding back home before he got here in 1950. Just had a thought, has anyone mentioned a certain Mr Mauger??? Steve

That's right; I don't ever recall seeing Cyril ride. Other names that haven't yet been mentioned are Malcolm Simmons, Gordon Kennett, and Nigel Boocock, all who managed four decades. Steve

In that case, we should include Markku Helminen (Leicester) also... Oh, and Bob Mark... Steve

Can't exactly remember when, but quite a few years ago now, Kev. Steve

Better say Wal Morton before someone else does... Oh, plus the Collins boys (Les and Neil), Olle Nygren, Bobby Schwartz, to name four. Steve

Not to be confused with Dud "McKean", of course... Steve

I think I did a quick check on Glyn, but I will have another look and see what I can find. Thanks, Steve

Updated; thanks, Steve

Here's the latest update... 18 - ALAN MOGRIDGE (Arena Essex, Berwick, Bradford, Canterbury, Crayford, Eastbourne, Hackney, Ipswich, London, Middlesbrough, Peterborough, Rye House, Sheffield, Stoke, Swindon, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 16 - JUSTIN ELKINS (Arena Essex, Eastbourne, Eastbourne Starlets, Edinburgh, Exeter, Hull, Isle of Wight, Long Eaton, Poole, Reading, Rye House, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Weymouth, Wimbledon, Workington) 16 - WAL MORTON (Bradford (Greenfield), Bradford (Odsal), Bristol, Coventry, Glasgow WC, Hackney, Harringay, Ipswich, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle, Norwich, West Ham, West Ham Res, Weymouth, Wimbledon) 16 - TONY FEATHERSTONE (Boston, Bradford, Crayford, Exeter, Hackney, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Leicester, Long Eaton, Milton Keynes, Newport, Peterborough, Poole, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Wolves) 15 - JAMES BIRKINSHAW (Belle Vue Colts, Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Buxton, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Linlithgow, Newcastle, Sheffield, Sheffield Prowlers, St. Austell, Stoke, Wolves 2nd, Workington) 15 - MARK BURROWS (Belle Vue, Buxton, Cleveland (Boro II), Cleveland (Redcar II), Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke, Stoke Spitfires, Wimbledon) 15 - GEORGE MAJOR(Aldershot, Belle Vue, Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Glasgow, Leicester, Neath, Newcastle, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield, St. Austell, Wolves, Yarmouth) 14 - STAN STEVENS (Barrow, Chesterton, Cradley, Exeter, King's Lynn, Mildenhall, New Cross, Oxford, Rayleigh, Romford, Rye House, Southampton, Rayleigh, West Ham) 13 - DAVID BLACKBURN (Belle Vue, Berwick, Boston, Glasgow, Leicester, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Workington) 13 - NEIL COLLINS (Belle Vue, Ellesmere Port, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leicester, Newport, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Swindon, Wolves, Workington) 13 - DES LUKEHURST (Eastbourne, Exeter, Exeter 'B', Hackney, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newport, Oxford, Romford, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham, Wolves) 13 - GEOFF PENNIKET (Cradley, Eastbourne, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Newcastle, New Cross, Newpool, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 12 - ERIC HOCKADAY (Aldershot, California, Coventry, Cradley, Exeter, Leicester, Oxford, Rayleigh, Rye House, Sheffield, Southern Rovers, Stoke) 12 - CHRIS JULIAN (Bristol, Cradley, Exeter, Glasgow, Glasgow WC, Mildenhall, Neath, Newport, Plymouth, Southampton, St. Austell, Weymouth) 12 - NIGEL SPARSHOTT (Birmingham, Crayford, Exeter, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 12 - TOMMY SWEETMAN (Aldershot, California, Exeter, Hackney, New Cross, Norwich, Norwich II, Rayleigh Rovers, Rye House, Southern Rovers, Swindon Res, Wolves) 12 - KEN VALE (Aldershot, Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, King's Lynn II, Long Eaton, Neath, Newport, Oxford, Weymouth, Workington) 11 - DANNY DUNTON (Birmingham, Belle Vue, Belle Vue Res, Harringay, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Norwich, Oxford, Swindon, Weymouth, Yarmouth) 11 - REIDAR EIDE (Coatbridge, Edinburgh, Exeter, Leicester, Newport, Poole, Reading, Sheffield, Swindon, Wembley, Wolves) 11 - COLIN GOODDY (Brafield, Cradley, Crayford, Eastbourne, Exeter, Ipswich, Oxford, Poole, Rayleigh Rovers, Southern Rovers, Yarmouth) 11 - OLLE NYGREN (Bristol, Coventry, Harringay, Ipswich, King's Lynn, New Cross, Norwich, Southampton, Swindon, West Ham, Wimbledon) 11 - ROB WOFFINDEN (Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Edinburgh, Halifax, Milton Keynes, Middlesbrough, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke) 10 - JOHN FITZPATRICK (Ipswich, Middlesbrough, New Cross, Oxford Res, Rayleigh, Southampton, Stoke, West Ham, Wimbledon Res, Yarmouth) 10 - JIMMY SQUIBB (Canterbury, Cradley, Eastbourne, Exeter, Harringay, Ipswich, New Cross, Plymouth, Poole, Southampton) 10 - DEREK TIMMS (Aldershot, Cradley, Crayford, Doncaster, Middlesbrough, New Cross, Plymouth, St. Austell, Wimbledon Res, Wolves) 9 - MAL CORRADINE (Birmingham, Cradley, Doncaster, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Oxford, Stoke, Weymouth, Wolves) 9 - ALAN COWLAND (Exeter, Hull, Leicester, Mildenhall, Newport, Peterborough, Wimbledon, Wolves, Workington) 9 - DAVID CRANE (Coventry, Exeter, Hackney, Ipswich, King's Lynn, King's Lynn II, Norwich, Oxford, Sheffield) 9 - ERIC EADON (Aldershot, Brafield, Coventry Res, Cradley, Edinburgh, Rayleigh Rovers, Southern Rovers, Stoke, Wolves) 9 - KEITH HARVEY (Birmingham, C. Palace, High Beech, Luton, New Cross, Norwich, Stamford Bridge, West Ham, Wimbledon) 9 - BRIAN LEONARD (Hackney, Leicester, Newpool, Newport, Oxford, Poole, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham) 9 - STEVE JOHNSTON (Arena, Belle Vue, Coventry, Ipswich, Long Eaton, Oxford, Sheffield, Swindon, Wolves) 8 - TONY EADON, CLIVE HITCH, DAVE JESSUP, GORDON KENNETT, MARK LORAM, GARRY MIDDLETON, CHARLIE MONK, JOHN POYSER, GLYN TAYLOR

I looked at my watch earlier, and it hit me that was probably around the time that Tommy succumbed to his injuries. I remember picking up the Daily Mirror on the Friday morning, and seeing the headline. Oh, and Derek, the last time I saw Tommy ride was at the 1975 Laurels, which he won with a maximum. Steve