chunky

You're absolutely right, it was Shirra and Niemi. Don't forget that Kelvin Mullarkey decked the starting marshal at Plough Lane! Steve

I only got to Cradley once, Leicester once, and Halifax once, but I did enjoy them all, particularly - as has been said - the banking at the Shay. Of the regular away tracks, I used to love going to Hackney (apart from the poxy drive), West Ham, and of course, the old Belle Vue. Hyde Road really was something special. Steve

Tony was another who had a number of serious injuries. He usually bounced back pretty well, but how much better would he have done without constantly having his career interrupted? I still remember seeing the photo on the cover of the Ipswich programme when he broke his thigh - yuk!!! Steve

Thanks for the plug!!! Steve

Dave was another I thought of this morning, but you managed to post it before me. He was a little overshadowed by Chris, but after such a brilliant 1976, I thought he was really going to hit the big time. Steve

Don't forget Mike Ferreira, and a little later, Dave Steen. Steve

I certainly agree with you there. Steve

Again, some more interesting names, and I was pleased to see Chris Louis and Steve Clarke mentioned. As I said though, this topic isn't really about the Alan Wilkinsons and Joe Owens who had their careers ended in a track crash; it's about the riders who just seemed to suffer an injury (or injuries) that simply seemed to knock them back. Thanks to everyone for their input though, and let's keep the names coming! Steve

Just added David Blackburn (12) to the list. Steve

Tony broke his kneecap riding for Romford AT Plymouth in 1969, after he had spent the previous season at Pennycross. He did make five appearances for Romford in 1970, but made little impact. Also Bobbath, with regard to Les Owen, he actually had a couple of really bad smashes, including his last which left him partially paralysed. I saw Les at the 2000 British GP at Coventry (not too long before his tragic death, I think), and was shocked and saddened to see how bad he looked. Steve

I do realise that, Tony, and obviously, Simmo probably knew more than we did! I wasn't actually saying that it was only the arm injury that affected him, but at that point - and after what he had been through already - that pretty much seemed to be the end of Sverre. My dad was actually good friends with Sverre, and helped him out quite a bit. I do agree with your assessment of Alan Emmett. Steve

Yep, Rob Lightfoot was another than sprang to mind. More great choices. Steve

...and while we're on the subject, what about Paul Whittaker? Steve

See, already we've had some interesting replies... Arne Pander is a definite, although I'm not sure that injury really affected Sverre's career that much before he had really passed his peak. He was still a great rider, but I think that any real potential had gone. I was at West Ham when he broke his arm, and he never really recovered from that. I was also at Wembley when Toby broke his leg. The thing is, did he ever really make a go of it after that? I considered that as one of those possibly career-ending injuries. It did take Norman a long time to recover, and it's true, he was going great guns in 1969, and never really recaptured that form. Excellent choices, Bobbath. Steve

Seeing the thread on Wayne Briggs prompted me to start this. Who do you think could have gone on to much greater things had it not been for injury. I'm not talking about career-ending tragedies, more along the lines of unlucky riders who often suffered niggling little injuries, enough hurt one's confidence, or maybe a broken limb or two at the wrong time, from which they didn't really seem to recover. Wayne Briggs is a prime example, particularly with regard to his wrist injuries. Another would be Ronnie Genz. Although his injuries were often a little more serious, he still bounced back reasonably well. However, what would he have achieved had he stayed relatively injury free? Even though he went on to enjoy some very successful international results toward the end of his career, I often wonder how good Toni Kasper might have been without that broken leg? Even Kevin Jolly, I feel, was never quite the rider he was before breaking his leg. What do you think??? Steve

And many of those photos (including the one of Wayne) are mine! I think I also have one of him in Wembley colours. Steve

Absolutely correct. He scored 5 points, plus a fall and two EF's... Thanks, Steve

Don't ask me - you're the expert! Still, I'm noticing that you're something of a nocturnal creature, 'cos it's only 10pm here. Challenges obviously don't count, but "Training League"??? To be honest, it doesn't really sound like a legitimate and competitive league. Well, when we met, I was actually on my way out of the PDC, basically because of a change in the Ranking System. I'm back with the BDO/WDF again, and in fact, I came over last November to play in the World Masters and World Championship qualifier up in Bridlington. I came very close to qualifying for the World Championship, and I'm only one step away from Bridlington again this year. Hopefully, unlike last year (they changed the dates), it will be held during the speedway season! My wife has only ever seen speedway over here, so it would be nice if we could take in something in the UK. Steve

That's certainly what Barry says in his autobiography. Steve

I did wonder if I should add the clause that an "appearance" should be at least one completed race in an evening, but I never even thought of Efkins. Hey, are we really that cynical? Last time I saw him ("riding" for us) he did make it to the first bend in front, before packing up by the time he reached the back straight - several times. Anyway, so you reckon that Weymouth weren't an "official" team when he rode for them, but Iwade was? Obviously, I have been a little out of touch over the last 16 years, so I'm relying on everyone else here. Steve PS I know who you are... All this time, and I didn't have a clue...

Good call. Steve

Thanks for the info. I was surprised at some of the names involved! Steve

So, here is the latest chart. I'm still including those riders with eight or more teams, knowing that there may well be one or two missing. Steve 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 - NEIL COLLINS (Belle Vue, Ellesmere Port, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leicester, Newport, Sheffield, Somerset, Stoke, Swindon, Wolves, Workington) 12 - DAVID BLACKBURN (Belle Vue, Berwick, Boston, Glasgow, Leicester, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Reading, Sheffield, 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 - DES LUKEHURST (Eastbourne, Exeter, Exeter 'B', Hackney, Long Eaton, Newport, Oxford, Romford, Swindon, Wembley, West Ham, Wolves) 12 - GEOFF PENNIKET (Cradley, Eastbourne, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, New Cross, Newpool, Newport, Plymouth, Poole, Rayleigh, Romford, Workington) 12 - NIGEL SPARSHOTT (Birmingham, Crayford, Exeter, King's Lynn, Long Eaton, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Poole, Rye House, Swindon, Wimbledon) 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 - TOMMY SWEETMAN (Aldershot, California, Exeter, Hackney, New Cross, Norwich II, Rayleigh Rovers, Rye House, Southern Rovers, Swindon Res, Wolves) 11 - ROB WOFFINDEN (Berwick, Birmingham, Boston, Edinburgh, Halifax, Milton Keynes, Middlesbrough, Rye House, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, Stoke) 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 - JOHN FITZPATRICK (Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Oxford Res, Rayleigh, Southampton, Stoke, West Ham, Wimbledon Res, Yarmouth) 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

Okay, two things... Firstly, you're up late! Secondly, who are you??? Drop me a PM, 'cos I've been wondering who you are... Anyway, I've moved the previous list to follow this post, as Des Lukehurst, Tommy Sweetman, John Fitzpatrick, and David Crane have entered the charts... Steve

He was a lot of things before he was a Highwayman! He actually started in 1952, appearing for St. Austell and Wolves. He was out of the sport from 1953 until 1959, before retiring again in 1964! Then, he came out of retirement to ride for Crayford. I was actually surprised how many teams he'd ridden for, and that doesn't include Birmingham in 1960. Not involved in any official fixtures, the Brummies teame comprised an an impressive line-up of "loaned" riders, such as Ron Johnston, Peter Kelly, Eric Eadon, Arne Pander, Graham Warren, Peter Craven and Nigel Boocock! As far as the 1959 National Reserve League, the other riders to appear for Wimbledon were Jim Tebby, Cyril Brine, Ronnie Rolfe, Ernie Baker, Bob Andrews, Gerry King, Bobby Croombs, Gil Goldfinch, and - somewhat surprisingly - Johnny Fitzpatrick, Dave Hankins, and Ivor Brown! Some other interesting names in the Reserves League included Tony Robinson (Belle Vue), Graham Warren and Nigel Boocock (Coventry), Alf Hagon (Leicester), John Chamberlain (Norwich), Ken Adams and Howdy Byford (Oxford), Reg Duval (Poole), Brian Brett (Soton), and Leo McAuliffe (Swindon). Steve