WHITE CITY SPEEDWAY ANNUAL REVIEW 1939 REBIRTH UNDER THE HOSKINS BANNER

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1 WHITE CITY SPEEDWAY ANNUAL REVIEW 1939 REBIRTH UNDER THE HOSKINS BANNER The success of the 1938 season at Marine Gardens prompted Johnnie Hoskins to take up the promotorial reigns at White City and revive the sport for Both Edinburgh and had high hopes of entering the Second Division of the National League, but these hopes were soon dashed, thanks to opposition by Hackney Wick and Bristol. These two clubs objected to the Scottish sides, saying that their riders were not full-time and would find it difficult to reach far-flung northern venues. A possible crumb of comfort was held out in the shape of a late season competition. This came to pass in the shape of the Auto Cycle Union Northern Cup event, which was staged on a league basis. Both Scottish clubs together with Belle Vue Seconds, Newcastle and Sheffield were to race home and away, but the outbreak of the Second World War unfortunately prevented completion. THE GLASGOW LIONS It simply does not sound right. The Lions. The more familiar name of the Tigers was not adopted until Over in Edinburgh the team was called the Thistles. Again, it doesn't have the familiar ring that the Monarchs has., which had used red and blue in the earlier period, did, however, adopt the familiar red and white colours in The ensignia was a rampant lion with its head turned forward on a red background. The team manager was an Aussie called Jack Clementson who had started the season as rider at White City. MOSTLY CHALLENGE EVENTS The emphasis in speedway was, by now, on team racing. Prior to the ACU Cup events, a side called raced a number of team fixtures against both First Division and Second Division opposition. They raced a similar type of team representing Edinburgh and faced representative sides from the Colonies (Australia, New Zealand, Canada) and Australia. This accounted for eleven of the 17 meetings. The side was never the same two weeks running. Gruff Garland took part as an ever-present, with the next best regular being Harold Jackson who appeared eight times. Elwood Stillwell and Joe Crowther each rode five times, but the bulk of the side (14 riders out of 27) made singleton appearances. SCOTLAND v ENGLAND More accurately described as a side of Scottish-based riders of Division Two status, Scotland engaged their English counterparts and won. Scotland v England it may have been billed. Scotland v England it was not. ACU NORTHERN CUP The team raced three fixtures at home, winning against Edinburgh and going down to both Sheffield and Newcastle. The latter was a real drubbing. Belle Vue were due the week after closure. Away from home the side lost at Edinburgh and Newcastle. The top scorer in a relatively settled side was Will Lowther, who had been with Middlesbrough before they closed. Next best was Belle Vue loanee Harold Jackson from Stockport. He was closely followed by Bob Wells, an Aussie who had also been at Middlesbrough. THE BIG NIGHT The Track Championship was the highlight of the season. The Milne boys, Jack and Cordy, sons of a man from Lossiemouth in Moray, were in town. With fellow Yanks, Wilbur Lamoreaux and Benny Kaufman, the Stars and Stripes dominated the event. A top scorers Final race featured the four and Jack Milne emerged to became Track Champion.

2 Sir Harry Lauder presented the trophy to the winner and made sure the crowd knew of Jack's Scottish ancestry. His presence was a strong influence on the Milnes' attendance, as Mr Milne (Senior) was keen to meet the world famous entertainer. Sir Harry must have liked speedway as he visited Marine Gardens too. It was his local track, only a lap length or so from his birthplace in Portobello. A BEST PAIRS CLOSES THE SHOW Edinburgh sent a pair of heat-leaders along to represent the Capital and, not surprisingly, they won. Newcastle's well known duo of George Pepper and Fred Kid Curtis were runners-up, while 's Gruff Garland and Joe Crowther were third. However, had the promotion paired the regular opening pairing of Garland and Jackson, the pot may well have stayed at. SCOTS IN A MINORITY Scots were in a minority. The native Scots who had raced in the pioneer era had almost all retired. Dick Dennie had one ACU Cup outing and Bill Nisbet managed a non-league outing. Leo Lungo, Dave Lamb and Chuck Pinkerton were all restricted to second-half outings. Norrie Isbister appeared as a reserve in the Championship, before a track injury ruled him out of the sport, as a rider, for good. Both Lungo and Isbister were on Edinburgh's books. ENGLAND AGAIN IN A MAJORITY A total of twenty four English riders appeared at White City in They made up both home and visiting sides. Most were up for a meeting or two, collecting the extra pot-boiler of a meeting. Most did very well and rode to form. Doubtless the Lions fans would have been happy if they had remained, but they often returned to star for their own team. THE EMPIRE CONNECTION Australia and Canada provided riders for the fans to support. Australia sent Gruff (Cecil) Garland who did well, and Jack Hancock, Curly (Noel) Thompson and the Jamieson Brothers who were less successful. Elwood Stillwell and Fred Belliveau were the Americas connection. Visiting riders from the Empire also thrilled the crowds. THE YANKS The exploits of the four Yanks have been chronicled previously. Suffice to say, if contemporary press reports are accurate, these guys were great riders and big crowd pleasers, just like their modern counterparts. THE MAIN DANE In 1939 this was Jens Fisker Henning Morian Hansen, who made a couple of visits and did well. MILLIE WANTED TO RIDE SPEEDWAY had a young lady, Millie Laidlaw, who wanted to try her hand at speedway. Despite her pleas, helped by a bit of press coverage, including a photograph in the Sunday Post, she was not allowed to fulfil her ambition. In these days female persons were not allowed into the pits according to the ACU rules, let alone allowed to ride a bike. CONCLUSIONS Speedway came back, buoyed by a economy finaced by rearmamament work and was a reasonable crowd-puller again. The lack of a regular side up until the start of the ACU Cup was compensated by the star names who turned out in the Lions race-jacket. Unfortunately, they did not produce any home grown stars, but they watched the emergence of Durham butcher Joe Crowther and his sidekick Wiill Lowther. Fans managed to see the World Champions from 1936 and 1937, Van Praag and Milne in a riding capacity, and 1938 Champion Bluey Wilkinson visited as manager of his Sheffield side.

3 The ACU Cup side did not do too well, but it won the important one at home against Edinburgh, when the pundits were predicting defeat. The outbreak of war came at a time when speedway was about to re-establish itsself and the short season of 1940 bore testimony to its popularity WHITE CITY DETAILS Meeting No. 1 Sat Newcastle 31 (Challenge) Clydeside Scratch Phil Bishop Meeting No. 2 Sat Middlesbrough 27 (Challenge) Scottish Gold Helmet George Greenwood Meeting No. 3 Sat Sheffield 24 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ernie Evans Meeting No. 4 Sat Colonies 31 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Torch Eric Chitty Meeting No. 5 Sat Southampton 20 (Challenge) Scottish Gold Helmet Malcolm Craven Meeting No. 6 Sat Newcastle 21 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Gauntlet Gruff Garland Meeting No. 7 Sat Australians 30 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Torch Charlie Spinks Meeting No. 8 Sat New Cross 21 (Challenge) Scottish Gold Helmet Cliff Parkinson Meeting No. 9 Sat Wembley 25 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Gauntlet Andy Menzies Meeting No.10 Sat Edinburgh 18 (Inter-City Challenge) Scottish Silver Torch Gruff Garland Meeting No.11 Sat Track Championship First Jack Milne Second Wilbur Lamoreaux Third Cordy Milne Meeting No.12 Sat Sheffield 43 (ACU Northern Cup) Scottish Gold Helmet Ernie Evans Meeting No.13 Sat Edinburgh 36 (ACU Northern Cup) Scottish Silver Torch George Greenwood Meeting No.14 Sat West Ham 42 (Challenge) Scottish Silver Helmet Colin Watson Meeting No.15 Sat Scotland 45 England 38 (Test Match) Scottish Silver Gauntlet George Greenwood Meeting No.16 Sat Newcastle 53 (ACU Northern Cup) Second-half rained-off Meeting No. 17 Sat Best Pairs Championship First George Greenwood and Oliver Hart Second George Pepper and Kid Curtis Third Joe Crowther and Gruff Garland Scottish Silver Torch George Pepper Saturday 6 May 1939 Crowd: 15,000 Fifteen thousand people at White City Stadium on Saturday night were thrilled by the speedway racing was the way in which the Daily Record columnist Speed Ace started his report on the first meeting in since May lost the Inter-City match to Newcastle's team of experts. Colin Watson, captain of gave a magnificent display. Although he is 42 years of age and served three years in the Great War, he rode with the daring of a youngster. The most thrilling of events of the evening was the Final of the Clydesdale Scratch Race. Phil Bishop, Maurice Stobart, Billy Lamont and George Pepper raced neck-and-neck for the first lap; then Bishop

4 and Lamont shot forward. Lamont went over the grass and was disqualified. Maurice Stobart came on with a rush and almost pipped Bishop on the line. The Citizen gave coverage of this meeting: Bishop and Garland, two daring riders, provided several thrills. In heat two of the Inter-City match, Bishop came off at the Ibrox bend when going all-out to catch Billy Lamont. The Scottish Daily Express report said: In heat two Bishop failed to pull the machine out of a wobble. He fell with the machine on top of him and had to limp off the track. The King of Crash was at it again. The Citizen went on: In the last heat Garland's mount reared like a frightened horse when the tapes flashed up. Bishop got home in two great finishes with Norman Hargeaves and George Pepper. The rider was inclined to take the bend at the Paisley end a little wide. The Newcastle riders cut in, but each time Bishop got that touch of power on the straight to catch the chequered flag by half-a-wheel. Jack Hancock came a cropper in heat three of the Clydesdale Scratch event in which Watson met his only defeat of the night. It was a thrilling race. Watson went into a lead right away. Maurice Stobart overtook him on the final lap. The rider faltered on the last bend and Stobart got home. The Sunday Mail brightened Sunday breakfast table, with a meeting report. There were few spills, but plenty of thrills at the White City Stadium last night when the speedway season opened with a visit from Newcastle's team. Fifteen thousand saw lose, but not ingloriously. They put up a grand fight and considering the Newcastle team are in the running for their league Championship, their win by a margin of eight-points was no sensation. This report was making favourable comments about the young Scottish rider Bill Nisbet, suggesting that it would not be long before he would be appearing in the Marine Gardens team. Sadly, Bill never really fulfilled this early promise in the Thistles race-jacket. After the meeting, the Mail's Crash Helmet spoke to the promoter, one Mr John S. Hoskins, who said: Although lost the Inter-City race, I think you'll agree that the boys put up a good show. However, I am negotiating for the signing of a world famous rider to strengthen the team. I can't disclose his name at the moment, but if I clinch the deal it will create a minor sensation. 23 Newcastle 31 (Challenge) Newcastle Colin Watson (C) = 9 George Pepper = 7 Curly Thompson = 1 Kid Curtis = 2+1 Laurie Jamieson = 2 Rol Stobart = 6 Phil Bishop = 6 Billy Lamont = 5+1 Jack Hancock = 3 Maurice Stobart = 6+1 Gruff Garland 2 f = 2 Norman Hargreaves = 5+2 Bert Jamieson 0 = 0 Reg Hay DNR Ht 1: Colin Watson, George Pepper, Kid Curtis, Curly Thompson, 87.5 Ht 2: Rol Stobart, Billy Lamont, Laurie Jamieson, Phil Bishop (f), 87.0 Ht 3: Maurice Stobart, Norman Hargreaves, Jack Hancock, Bert Jamieson, 92.0 Ht 4: Colin Watson, Rol Stobart, Curly Thompson, Billy Lamont, 87.0 Ht 5: Phil Bishop, Norman Hargreaves, Maurice Stobart, Laurie Jamieson, 88.0 Ht 6: George Pepper, Gruff Garland, Kid Curtis, Jack Hancock, 88.5 Ht 7: Colin Watson, Maurice Stobart, Norman Hargreaves, Curly Thompson, 90.0 Ht 8: Phil Bishop, George Pepper, Laurie Jamieson, Kid Curtis, 89.0 Ht 9: Billy Lamont, Jack Hancock, Rol Stobart, Gruff Garland (f), 89.5 Match Races (2 laps) Gruff Garland bt Laurie Packer, 45.5 Colin Watson bt Billy Lamont, 45.0 Curly Thompson bt Frank Woodroofe, 46.5 Final: Colin Watson, Curly Thompson, Gruff Garland, 46.5 Special Match Race (2 laps) Norman Newton bt Jock Hamilton, 49.0 Clydeside Scratch

5 Ht 1: Phil Bishop, Laurie Packer, [ Laurie Jamieson, Reg Hay, 91.0 Ht 2: George Pepper, Frank Woodroofe, [ Bert Jamieson, Rol Stobart, 90.0 Ht 3: Maurice Stobart, Colin Watson, Curly Thompson, Jack Hancock (f), 89.0 Ht 4: Billy Lamont, Kid Curtis, [ Gruff Garland, Norman Hargeaves, 88.0 Final: Phil Bishop, Maurice Stobart, Billy Lamont, George Pepper, 91.0 Search For Talent Bill Nisbet, Leo Lungo, [ Tom Shearer, Bob Bauskill, 96.0 Saturday 13 May 1939 Crowd: 20,000 The sensational signing was none other than West Ham's Arthur Tiger Stevenson. The Daily Record said: Tiger Stevenson, who has come to ride at White City Stadium,, delighted the 20,000 crowd on Saturday night by his prowess on the speedway, and he received a cheer all to himself after the first race. In the third heat of the Gold Helmet race Stevenson and team-mate Curly Thompson collided. Thompson sustained a fractured foot and had to be removed to the Victoria Infirmary. Tiger escaped with minor injuries. It was a close run affair in the - Middlesbrough match, the English team getting the verdict by 27 points to 25 points. George Greenwood, the Middlesbrough captain, scored a brilliant victory in the Final of the Gold Helmet Trophy Race. He got off to a good start and held it all the way. Colin Watson, the skipper, tried hard to get the better of Greenwood, but the task was beyond him. Cinder Sifter of the Times was back watching and reporting. Comments on the two-lap match race event were as follows. Then came the Final and there were may gasps as Bishop and Stevenson fought for the lead with only inches separating the pair, and in the end they passed the finishing post a dead-heat at 44.8 seconds, compared with the previous best of 46.0 seconds. This must be unique. Dead-heats are rare in speedway, but a dead heat in a track record time! Ever the analyst Cinder Sifter said: The team (known as the Lions) lacks just that extra bit of pep to make them a combination that will rival the best in the country, and it is with that in view that Johnnie Hoskins hopes to introduce Andy Menzies, an Australian from the Wembley club. The report in the Citizen advised: In the last heat but one, George Greenwood was left at the starting gate and Tiger Stevenson got home from Aub Lawson, with Jack Hancock in third place and this brought the margin between the sides to two. Then the vital last race. Gruff Garland made a grand bid. He overtook Jack Hyland, but just failed to catch Will Lowther who took first place. Hyland ran on to the grass and was disqualified, third place being taken by Laurie Jamieson. There were some spectacular tumbles and crashes on the wet track. In the fifth heat of the Inter-City race Bob Wells hit the safety fence. The machine did a somersault and shot across the track to the grass. The rider was shaken, but unhurt. 25 Middlesbrough 27 (Challenge) Middlesbrough Colin Watson = 6+1 George Greenwood = 6 Phil Bishop = 3 Aub Lawson = 6+2 Tiger Stevenson = 9 Will Lowther = 5 Jack Hancock 0 nf 1 = 1 Jack Hyland 1 2 nf = 3+1 Gruff Garland = 5 Tommy Bateman = 4 Laurie Jamieson = 1 Bob Wells = 3 Ht 1: George Greenwood, Aub Lawson, Colin Watson, Phil Bishop, 88.4 Ht 2: Tiger Stevenson, Will Lowther, Jack Hyland, Jack Hancock, 88.5 Ht 3: Bob Wells, Gruff Garland, Tommy Bateman, Laurie Jamieson, 89.2 Ht 4: Colin Watson, Jack Hyland, Phil Bishop (nf), Will Lowther (nf), 89.0 Ht 5: Tiger Stevenson, Tommy Bateman, Jack Hancock (nf), Bob Wells (f), 89.8 Ht 6: George Greenwood, Aub Lawson, Gruff Garland, Laurie Jamieson, 87.0

6 Ht 7: Phil Bishop, Colin Watson, Tommy Bateman, Bob Wells, 90.0 Ht 8: Tiger Stevenson, Aub Lawson, Jack Hancock, George Greenwood, 87.0 Ht 9: Will Lowther, Gruff Garland, Laurie Jamieson, Jack Hyland (ex), 88.8 Match Races (2 laps) Ht 1: Phil Bishop bt George Greenwood, 46.0 Ht 2: Tiger Stevenson bt Laurie Packer, 47.0 Ht 3: Aub Lawson bt Curly Thompson, 46.0 Final: Tiger Stevenson & Aub Lawson (Dead-heat), Phil Bishop, 44.8 Scottish Gold Helmet Ht 1: Colin Watson, Jack Hyland, [ Jack Hancock, Bill Nisbet, 89.0 Ht 2: George Greenwood, Gruff Garland, [ Tommy Bateman, Laurie Packer, 88.6 Ht 3: Will Lowther, Bob Wells, Tiger Stevenson (f/inj, ns), Curly Thompson (f/inj, ns), 93.4 Ht 4: Phil Bishop, Aub Lawson, [ Frank Woodroofe, Laurie Jamieson, 90.0 Final: George Greenwood, Colin Watson, Will Lowther, Phil Bishop, 89.0 Search For Talent Leo Lungo, Bob Bauskill, Chuck Pinkerton, Tom Shearer, 96.0 Saturday 20 May 1939 Crowd: 18,000 The meeting at White City was followed by a fireworks display. It had been planned before the team achieved its first home win in Johnnie Hoskins was still making changes to his lineup. Out to Edinburgh went Jack Hancock and back to Australia went the brothers Jamieson, who had failed to meet the required standards set by Mr Hoskins. Gruff Garland was the only one of six from the previous week kept on board and as such was handed the captaincy. The Daily Record advised its readers that Promoter Hoskins would go about his work this week in a little happier frame of mind. His team won on Saturday and the crowd of 18,000 did not forget to cheer when the boys had their first victory of the season. defeated Sheffield, which is managed by Bluey Wilkinson, World Champion speedway rider, by 30 points to 24. Bill Longley put up a fine display for, getting the maximum nine points. His chief worry was in the eighth heat when Ernie Evans tried to get past the post first. Longley seemed to get an extra kick out of his motor and crossed over the line barely a wheel length ahead of Evans. Gruff Garland, 's new captain, ran into more than a spot of bother. In the first race he punctured and plunged out of control into the safety fence, but fortunately he was unhurt. He got the job of faking up his bike again and in the seventh heat led all the way to best Stan Williams, one of Sheffield's best riders. Lionel Van Praag, captain of Wembley was successful in beating Ernie Evans, Sheffield's captain in a special match race, but his attempt on the four-lap record failed by little over 2 seconds. In the Silver Gauntlet he won his heat, as also did Bill Longley, Ernie Evans and Laurie Packer, but in the Final his bike refused to start. Evans won the Gauntlet with Longley a close second. The Evening Times was another newspaper to report on 1939 events. In respect of this meeting it mentioned newcomer Jock Hamilton who was given the opportunity of showing his prowess by taking the place of Frank Woodroofe (and) made such a good impression that Johnnie Hoskins signed him up for the team immediately he finished second in his first heat of the Inter-City race. Jock had raced south of the Border and with the Scottish diminutive of Jock, was obviously worth a try in a side sadly lacking in home grown talent. For whatever reason, he never appeared in the side again. The rider named Aussie (sometimes written as Ossie ) Powell was christened Ivor Powell, but was known by his nickname throughout his career. As far as is known Ivor was not an Australian. In the post-war era a rider, also christened Ivor, namely Ivor Davies, was nicknamed Digger which wrongly implied he was Australian. 30 Sheffield 24 (Challenge) Sheffield

7 Harold Jackson = 5 Ernie Evans = 6 Gruff Garland f 0 3 = 3 Don Houghton = 1 Bill Longley = 9 Broncho Dixon = 6 Cliff Parkinson = 4+1 Aussie Powell = 2+1 Andy Menzies = 4 Stan Williams = 7 Jock Hamilton = 5 Doug McLachlan = 2+1 Ht 1: Ernie Evans, Harold Jackson, Don Houghton, Gruff Garland (f), 89.0 Ht 2: Bill Longley, Cliff Parkinson, Broncho Dixon, Aussie Powell, 88.0 Ht 3: Stan Williams, Doug McLachlan, Andy Menzies, Jock Hamilton, 88.0 Ht 4: Broncho Dixon, Harold Jackson, Aussie Powell, Gruff Garland, 91.4 Ht 5: Bill Longley, Stan Williams, Cliff Parkinson, Doug McLachlan, 87.8 Ht 6: Andy Menzies, Jock Hamilton, Ernie Evans, Don Houghton, 91.4 Ht 7: Gruff Garland, Stan Williams, Harold Jackson, Doug McLachlan, 91.2 Ht 8: Bill Longley, Ernie Evans, Cliff Parkinson, Don Houghton, 90.0 Ht 9: Jock Hamilton, Broncho Dixon, Aussie Powell, Andy Menzies, 89.6 Captain's Match Race Lionel Van Praag bt Ernie Evans, 89.0 Search For Talent Ht 1: Bill Nisbet, Dick Dennie, [ Jock Hamilton, Clune Johnstone, 93.0 Ht 2: Leo Lungo, Bill Little, [ Chuck Pinkerton, Tom Shearer, 99.0 Final: Bill Nisbet, Leo Lungo, [ Dick Dennie, Bill Little, 94.0 Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ht 1: Bill Longley, Aussie Powell, Jack Hancock, Doug McLachlan, 89.6 Ht 2: Ernie Evans, Cliff Parkinson, Harold Jackson, Leo Lungo, 90.0 Ht 3: Lionel Van Praag, Andy Menzies, Broncho Dixon, Don Houghton, 88.5 Ht 4: Laurie Packer, Stan Williams, Jock Hamilton, Gruff Garland, Time not known Final: Ernie Evans, Bill Longley, Laurie Packer, Lionel Van Pragg (ef), Lap Record Attempt Lionel Van Praag, 75.0 Saturday 27 May 1939 Crowd: 20,000 The old style reports which gave the crowd numbers and the weather conditions were recalled in the start of the meeting report carried by the Daily Record. It advised that the weather was ideal for the spectators, but not for the riders. How the weather caused the track to be bumpy is a bit of a mystery and as a result, the boys found it difficult to keep on their machines. No fewer than ten riders were unseated, but none was seriously injured. In the third heat of the v Colonies races, the two veterans of speedway racing Colin Watson and Charlie Spinks collided. Both were unhurt and Spinks managed to carry on for third place. A more serious crash occurred in the fifth heat when Harold Jackson came down the second time round. All eyes were on Tiger Stevenson who was close behind, but with a clever thrust of his machine he steered clear. The crowd sighed with relief, but not for long. Tiger, in his quest for supremacy, gained on George Pepper too quickly, his front wheel collided with Pepper's machine. Down he went in a cloud of dust and was carried from the track suffering from concussion. These speedway riders are tough. Later on I ( Speed Ace ) asked Tiger how he was feeling, he replied. I'm fine, but I would have felt better if my partner Harold Jackson hadn't broken his finger. Maybe Tiger was cheered up by Eric Chitty, who sang a couple of songs to the crowd at the interval. Yes they did breed these riders tough. According to the Citizen: Jackson fractured a bone in his left hand, but his twist grip phalanges escaped damage so he continued riding - to much good purpose that he

8 entered the Final of the Silver Torch. What this reprorter did not say was that Harold had to pull out of the final due to the pain. Charlie Spink's fall in heat three was one of two he had taken in the meeting. On both occasions Charlie was up and off again in a couple of seconds. Charlie, an Aussie, was a hardened veteran of the very early days of speedway in Britain. The Sunday Mail started its report in an unusual way, saying: Eric Chitty, the crooning speedway rider, certainly had something to sing about last night. A record crowd of 20,000 saw him win the Scottish Silver Torch in brilliant style, and in addition lead the Colonies team to victory against. Singing speedway riders are a bit of a rarity, but Len Silver, Howdy Byford, Malcolm Brown and John McNeill are four others. In 1928 a song called My Speedway Hero was supposed to have been the first of its kind, and is supposed to have been sung at a few tracks by Sprouts Elder. It was given an impromptu revival at the 1998 High Beech celebrations and sounded nothing very special. 22 Colonies 31 (Challenge) Colonies Andy Menzies = 9 Fred Belliveau = 4+1 Gruff Garland = 2 Eric Chitty = 5 Tiger Stevenson 2 f 0 = 2 Jimmy Gibb = 8 Harold Jackson 1 f 2 = 3+1 Laurie Packer = 1 Charlie Spinks 1 3 f = 4 George Pepper = 8 Colin Watson f 0 2 = 2 Jack Hancock = 5+3 Ht 1: Andy Menzies, Fred Belliveau, Gruff Garland, Eric Chitty, 90.2 Ht 2: Jimmy Gibb, Tiger Stevenson, Harold Jackson, Laurie Packer, 90.0 Ht 3: George Pepper, Jack Hancock, Charlie Spinks (frm), Colin Watson (f), 99.6 Ht 4: Andy Menzies, Jimmy Gibb, Gruff Garland, Laurie Packer, 90.0 Ht 5: George Pepper, Jack Hancock, Tiger Stevenson (f), Harold Jackson (f), 93.0 Ht 6: Charlie Spinks, Eric Chitty, Fred Belliveau, Colin Watson, 89.2 Ht 7: Andy Menzies, George Pepper, Jack Hancock, Gruff Garland, 89.4 Ht 8: Eric Chitty, Harold Jackson, Fred Belliveau, Tiger Stevenson, 91.0 Ht 9: Jimmy Gibb, Colin Watson, Laurie Packer, Charlie Spinks (frm), 92.4 Match Race Eric Chitty bt George Pepper, 94.4 Search For Talent Ht 1: Joe Crowther, Chuck Pinkerton, [ Bill Nisbet, Rusty Wilson, 94.2 Ht 2: Jock Hamilton, Leo Lungo, [ Tom Shearer, Dick Dennie, 94.0 Final: Joe Crowther, Jock Hamilton, Leo Lungo, Chuck Pinkerton (f), 93.6 Silver Torch Ht 1: Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, Fred Belliveau, Jock Hamilton, 92.8 Ht 2: Eric Chitty, Colin Watson, Joe Crowther, Laurie Packer, 90.0 Ht 3: Andy Menzies, Dick Dennie, Bill Nisbet, Jack Hancock (f), 98.0 Ht 4: Jimmy Gibb, Charlie Spinks, George Pepper, Leo Lungo, 90.0 Final: Eric Chitty, Jimmy Gibb, Andy Menzies, Harold Jackson (ret), 99.4 Saturday 3 June 1939 Crowd: 20,000 The side representing is probably the best way to describe their team, it being bolstered by three star imports from Wembley for a challenge match against First Division Southampton. The Wembley boys scored 27 points out of the 34 collected by the outfit and all three rode unbeaten through the match. Not only did he score a maximum, but the 19-year-old sensation Malcolm Craven also collected the track record in the process in heat six.

9 According to the Times: Great things were expected from Jack Chapman, but in his first heat he crashed in the third lap after touching the back wheel of Stillwell. On being carried off on a stretcher, it was found he was suffering from concussion and was unable to take further part in the meeting. The results of the meeting are wrong in some newspapers as they have Chapman taking his programmed rides and scoring a point. The Daily Record report describes Jack's prang as follows: Riding in the third heat of the Inter-City, he went up in the air while cornering and was carried off on a stretcher. Apart from a black eye, a sprained wrist and concussion he's as right as rain. The Speedway News advised that Jack will be unable to go to the saddle for several weeks. According to the Record: The final of the Gold Helmet was a thriller. When the tapes went up it looked as though young Craven had got off to a bad start, for Wilks took the lead. However, his leadership was short lived, for Craven took that first corner like a man possessed, jumped to the front and kept there all the time increasing his lead as the race progressed. The lead was, however, only about six lengths ahead of Wilks at the winning post. Another newcomer to the ranks was Elwood Stillwell who was, despite the Canadian tag, born in the USA. A painter by trade, Elwood had started out at the Toronto Exhibition track in 1932 and had arrived in the UK in 1938 to ride for Newcastle. The Citizen report went on. Real thrills were provided in the Search for Talent races. These events have become a popular feature with White City enthusiasts and, with the steady improvement in racing as the riders become more accustomed to the track, the events are proving more keen. Leo Lungo won the Final of the series, with Joe Crowther second and Dick Dennie third. The Daily Record was also impressed by the second-half hopefuls saying: It was good to see Leo Lungo of Bellshill go through to win, for he is probably the most enthusiastic and daring of the local lads. Leo never really rose above the rank of reserve and, sadly, died in 1946 after a season at Newcastle. The man who took second place, Joe Crowther, would, however, go on to greater things and would be in the Lions team within a couple of weeks. Pictured to the right is Cyril Anderson, who netted 4-points for Southampton. 34 Southampton 20 (Challenge) Southampton Cliff Parkinson = 9 Syd Griffiths = 6 Gruff Garland = 0 Jim Boyd = 3+2 George Wilks = 9 Ron Clarke = 2+1 Harold Jackson = 4+2 Cyril Anderson = 4 Malcolm Craven = 9 Bert Jones = 4 Elwood Stillwell = 3+1 Jack Chapman F = 0 Not known 0 1 = 1+1 Ht 1: Cliff Parkinson, Syd Griffiths, Jim Boyd, Gruff Garland, 90.6 Ht 2: George Wilks, Harold Jackson, Ron Clarke, Cyril Anderson, 88.6 Ht 3: Malcolm Craven, Elwood Stillwell, Bert Jones, Jack Chapman (f), 91.4 Ht 4: Cliff Parkinson, Cyril Anderson, Ron Clarke, Gruff Garland, 87.4 Ht 5: George Wilks, Harold Jackson, Bert Jones, NI, 87.6 Ht 6: Malcolm Craven, Syd Griffiths, Jim Boyd, Elwood Stillwell, 86.0* Ht 7: Cliff Parkinson, Bert Jones, NI, Gruff Garland, 88.8 Ht 8: George Wilks, Syd Griffiths, Jim Boyd, Harold Jackson, 87.0 Ht 9: Malcolm Craven, Cyril Anderson, Elwood Stillwell, Ron Clarke, 88.6 Captain's Match Race (2 laps) Gruff Garland bt Syd Griffiths, 45.6 Match Race (2 laps) Laurie Packer bt Malcolm Craven, 46.0

10 Search For Talent Ht 1: Chick Brine, Leo Lungo, [ NI, 91.0 Ht 2: Dick Dennie, Joe Crowther, [ NI, 92.4 Final: Leo Lungo, Joe Crowther, [ Chick Brine, Dick Dennie, 91.6 Scottish Gold Helmet Ht 1: George Wilks, Ron Clarke, [ NI, 90.0 Ht 2: Cliff Parkinson, Harold Jackson, [ NI, 88.0 Ht 3: Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, [ NI, 89.4 Ht 4: Malcolm Craven, Syd Griffiths, [ NI, 87.0 Final: Malcolm Craven, George Wilks, [ Cliff Parkinson, Laurie Packer, 87.4 Saturday 10 June 1939 Crowd: 20,000 For a bit of a change the Daily Record correspondent was none other than captain Gruff Garland. Gruff, or Cecil to his parents, felt he had really arrived when I did that lap of honour at the White City on Saturday night after having won the Scottish Silver Gauntlet. I felt like a million dollars, not because I had won the principal event on the programme, but because I had the satisfaction of knowing that I had now justified my position as captain of the team. Gruff went on to say that he had welcomed the encouragement given by the crowd, but realised that his bike was not up to it. Apparently the machine was about seven-years old. So he had invested in a new engine which had helped him go a bit better. Garland went on: With a new outfit I went out there on Saturday and did something and I can promise you I'm going to do a lot more before I'm finished. If is not at the top of the tree in speedway racing before very long it won't be my fault. We certainly slipped it across Newcastle, but chief credit for that victory goes to Cliff Parkinson. Cliff was in great form. Cliff scored a maximum and set a new lap record of 20.6 seconds. Harold Jackson, a rider who would form part of the opening pairing with Gruff, did not do as well as expected. Harold found the track just a little slick for his liking. Not only involved in the racing, Gruff had time to spectate. He wrote thus of heat four: What a race - I was just as breathless as the crowd. Syd was riding like a man possessed. He flashed past Stillwell, then Hay. Stillwell hotly challenged and beat Littlewood just on the line. Gruff rounded off by praising Joe Crowther saying he is a good boy and should be encouraged. He won the search for talent with ease. The report in the Evening Citizen also singled out Joe Crowther for some praise suggesting that it won't be too long before we find him in the regular match races. The Scottish Daily Express carried a short report advising the reader that the heavy rain could not dampen the fans interest in the sport. The Citizen advised: A new departure from the usual programme was made by the introduction of two match races, one for the four highest point scorers (in the match) and an International event in which Australia, Canada, Denmark and England were represented. The top scorers race saw Stobart join three riders and finish in third place in the re-run. Elwood Stillwell fell in the first running and was excluded. In the International Race Stillwell and Hansen crashed at the first bend of the first lap. The accident looked serious at first, but both riders were able to go off for attention unassisted. Cliff Parkinson beat Billy Lamont in the re-run. 32 Newcastle 21 (Challenge) Newcastle Cliff Parkinson = 9 Rol Stobart = 7 Gruff Garland = 4+1 Billy Lamont = 3+2 Morian Hansen = 8 Maurice Stobart = 5 Harold Jackson = 3+2 Will Goodall = 2 Elwood Stillwell = 7 Syd Littlewood = 2 Jack Clementson = 1 Reg Hay = 2+1

11 Ht 1: Cliff Parkinson, Rol Stobart, Gruff Garland, Billy Lamont, 86.6 Ht 2: Maurice Stobart, Morian Hansen, Harold Jackson, Will Goodall, 87.0 Ht 3: Elwood Stillwell, Syd Littlewood, Reg Hay, Jack Clementson, 90.0 Ht 4: Cliff Parkinson, Maurice Stobart, Gruff Garland, Will Goodall, 87.0 Ht 5: Morian Hansen, Harold Jackson, Reg Hay, Syd Littlewood, 86.4 Ht 6: Rol Stobart, Billy Lamont, Elwood Stillwell, Jack Clementson, 88.4 Ht 7: Cliff Parkinson, Gruff Garland, Syd Littlewood (nf), Reg Hay (nf), 88.4 Ht 8: Morian Hansen, Rol Stobart, Billy Lamont, Harold Jackson, 87.2 Ht 9: Elwood Stillwell, Will Goodall, Jack Clementson, Maurice Stobart, 91.2 International Match Race Cliff Parkinson, Billy Lamont, Elwood Stillwell (ns), Morian Hansen (ns), 88.4 Match Race (Highest Point Scorers) Cliff Parkinson, Morian Hansen, Rol Stobart, Elwood Stillwell (f,exc), 87.4 Search For Talent Joe Crowther, Leo Lungo, Dick Dennie, Bob Bauskill, 89.4 Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ht 1: Gruff Garland, Maurice Stobart, [ Reg Hay, Jack Hancock, 89.8 Ht 2: Laurie Packer, Joe Crowther, [ Will Goodall, Morian Hansen, 91.2 Ht 3: Billy Lamont, Harold Jackson, [ Jack Clementson, Syd Littlewood, 90.8 Ht 4: Cliff Parkinson, Rol Stobart, [ Elwood Stillwell, Leo Lungo, 87.4 Final: Gruff Garland, Billy Lamont, Laurie Packer, Cliff Parkinson, 89.0 Lap Record Attempts Cliff Parkinson, 20.6* Gruff Garland, 21.2 Saturday 17 June 1939 Crowd: 15,000 According to Australian Graeme Frost, Frank Woodroffe was actually called Woodroofe. Thereby, a different name from that appearing in the meeting reports of the era. Frank took part in the meeting as a member of an Australian side, captained by Charlie Spinks who scored a maximum and according to the Daily Record was the outstanding performer. The report went on: A notable feature was the splendid riding of young Joe Crowther. Included in the team for the first time, this lad cornered like a veteran and became the favourite of the 15,000 crowd. were unfortunate in their battle royal with Australia, the team from Down Under winning by six-points. The third heat was a thriller. Harold Jackson leapt to the front as the gates flew up and second time round was still in the lead. Woodroofe was striving desperately to get level with with the rider and with one lap to go flashed into the lead. Jackson, however, went after the Aussie crack like a flash. On the second last bend he drew level and thundered into the straight a length ahead to win by two lengths. According to the Sunday Mail: struck a packet of trouble, captain Garland went down in the first, Curly Thompson's bike conked in the second and Andy Menzies was injured in the fifth. Three Aussies in the side who maybe just could not feel anything, but traitorous riding against an Australian side.

12 The Evening Times considered: One of the most exciting races of the night was attributed to Littlewood in the fourth heat. When lying third to Garland and Stillwell he went all-out in an exciting finish to win. In the following heat Andy Menzies came a cropper at the last bend of the first lap and had to be carried off on a stretcher. Fortunately, his injuries were not serious enough to prevent him from resuming in the eighth heat. Some amusement was caused in the fourth heat of the (Trophy) series. First Norrie Isbister fell, then the machines of Hancock and Craven conked out, leaving Whitby to carry on. Isbister re-mounted to finish second with a missing chain, then Hancock started pushing his bike half-a-lap to take third place. Great things were expected of Isbister in the special challenge race with Curly Thompson. Unfortunately, Norrie fell at the last bend of the first lap. He rose to the occasion, however, by getting on his bike again and tore round the track in spectacular fashion. The Citizen scribe observed that Norrie Isbister, who was riding on this track when the sport was last in, still gives the crowd plenty of thrills. From the above comments, it can be seen how true that statement was. 24 Australians 30 (Challenge) Australians Elwood Stillwell = 6+1 Charlie Spinks = 9 Gruff Garland f 0 3 = 3 Jack Hancock = 2 Andy Menzies 3 f 2 = 5 Syd Littlewood = 8 Curly Thompson ef 1 0 = 1 Buck Whitby = 2+2 Harold Jackson = 6+1 Frank Woodroofe = 6 Joe Crowther = 3+1 Laurie Packer = 3+2 Ht 1: Charlie Spinks, Elwood Stillwell, Jack Hancock, Gruff Garland (f), 88.0 Ht 2: Andy Menzies, Syd Littlewood, Buck Whitby, Curly Thompson (ef), 87.8 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Frank Woodroofe, Laurie Packer, Joe Crowther, 88.8 Ht 4: Syd Littlewood, Elwood Stillwell, Buck Whitby, Gruff Garland, 88.4 Ht 5: Frank Woodroofe, Laurie Packer, Curly Thompson, Andy Menzies (f), 91.2 Ht 6: Charlie Spinks, Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther, Jack Hancock, 87.4 Ht 7: Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Frank Woodroofe, Laurie Packer, 89.6 Ht 8: Charlie Spinks, Andy Menzies, Jack Hancock, Curly Thompson, 89.0 Ht 9: Syd Littlewood, Joe Crowther, Harold Jackson, Buck Whitby, 88.8 Search For Talent Chuck Pinkerton, Tom Shearer, Dave Lamb, 95.2 Special Match Races Gilbert Craven, Leo Lungo, Roy Craighead, Dick Dennie, 91.6 Curly Thompson bt Norrie Isbister (frm), 95.0 Match Race Charlie Spinks, Harold Jackson, Syd Littlewood, Elwood Stillwell, 88.4 Scottish Silver Torch Ht 1: Gruff Garland, Syd Littlewood, [ Harold Jackson, Leo Lungo, 90.4 Ht 2: Charlie Spinks, Andy Menzies, [ Frank Woodroofe, Roy Craighead, 89.2 Ht 3: Elwood Stillwell, Joe Crowther, [ Laurie Packer, Curley Thompson, 90.0 Ht 4: Buck Whitby, Norrie Isbister (f, pushed), Jack Hancock (ef, pushed), Gilbert Craven (ef), 93.2 Final: Charlie Spinks, Elwood Stillwell, Gruff Garland, Buck Whitby, 89.4

13 Saturday 24 June 1939 Crowd: Not recorded The Daily Record correspondent was thrilled by Cliff Parkinson who put up one of the best performances of his career on Saturday. He snapped into it at the start, in fact (he) was only one fifth of a second off the track record in his first race, and was the only rider with full points in the v New Cross event. Cliff certainly did his part in helping to a 12-point victory. He won every race in which he rode and rounded off a good night's work with the Scottish Gold Helmet in his keeping. The Citizen's scribe was also impressed by Cliff. He wrote: On Saturday night Cliff just couldn't do anything wrong and the way in which he showed his rear wheel to Stan Greatrex (pictured left) on three occasions had the crowd standing up and cheering him all the way. To be deprived of the track record by 0.2 seconds shows how well he was riding. The Record report continued: 's captain Gruff Garland has struck a packet of bother these last few weeks and yet he smiles through it all. His bike gave him trouble and he bought a new one. Then he sustained concussion and a shoulder injury in London the other week and on Saturday was riding with his shoulder strapped up, and his left leg was the size of two with fluid on the knee. Suffering great pain, he gave of his best and was second highest point scorer for. The Scottish Daily Mail concentrated on Joe Crowther saying he crashed when riding in the sixth race. He appeared hurt, but got up to re-mount his machine to earn a cheer though finishing last. The crowd certainly loved a trier. According to the Sunday Mail, the best heat of the night was heat three which was probably the most thrilling race ever seen in. The two boys Harold Jackson and Joe Crowther were smartly off their marks and lay first and second respectively at the first bend. Crocky (Emerson) Rawding, however, was not far behind and gave chase in great style. At the end of the first lap the places were unchanged, but at the third bend Rawding, with a clever piece of work, flashed into second place. Crowther went after the leader and brought tremendous cheers from the crowd when at the second last bend he jumped past the New Cross rider and almost overhauled Jackson. Round they flew and at the last bend they were neck-and-neck. Jackson had a short lead from Crowther and it looked as though they would finish first and second, when Rawding burst through to pip Crowther for second place. 33 New Cross 21 (Challenge) New Cross Elwood Stillwell = 5+2 Stan Greatrex = 8 Gruff Garland = 6+1 Ken Blair = 2+1 Cliff Parkinson = 9 Goldie Restall = 7 Will Lowther = 5+2 Jack Cooley = 0 Harold Jackson = 5 Crocky Rawding = 4 Joe Crowther = 3 Benny King = 0 Ht 1: Stan Greatrex, Elwood Stillwell, Gruff Garland, Ken Blair, 87.6 Ht 2: Cliff Parkinson, Will Lowther, Goldie Restall, Jack Cooley, 86.2 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Crocky Rawding, Joe Crowther, Benny King, 90.0 Ht 4: Goldie Restall, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Jack Cooley, 88.8 Ht 5: Cliff Parkinson, Will Lowther, Crocky Rawding, Benny King, 87.6 Ht 6: Stan Greatrex, Ken Blair, Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther (frm), 90.6 Ht 7: Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Crocky Rawding, Benny King, 90.2 Ht 8: Cliff Parkinson, Stan Greatrex, Will Lowther, Ken Blair, 87.0 Ht 9: Goldie Restall, Joe Crowther, Harold Jackson, Jack Cooley, 87.8

14 Search For Talent Dick Dennie, Chuck Pinkerton, Leo Lungo, Tom Shearer, 94.4 Match Race Cliff Parkinson, Goldie Restall, Gruff Garland, Stan Greatrex, 86.4 Special Match Race Leo Lungo, Frank Woodroofe, Jack Hancock, Curley Thompson, 91.4 Captain's Match Race (2 laps) Stan Greatrex bt Gruff Garland, 45.6 Scottish Gold Helmet Ht 1: Stan Greatrex, Joe Crowther, Crocky Rawden, Elwood Stillwell, 90.6 Ht 2: Will Lowther, Gruff Garland, [ Norrie Isbister, Ken Blair, 88.0 Ht 3: Cliff Parkinson, Frank Woodroofe, [ Harold Jackson, Jack Cooley, 87.6 Ht 4: Goldie Restall, Benny King, [ Laurie Packer, Curley Thompson, 89.9 Final: Cliff Parkinson, Stan Greatrex, Will Lowther, Goldie Restall (ef), 87.0 Saturday 1 July 1939 Crowd: 20,000 Sunday morning readers of the Sunday Mail were advised: The Wembley duel was close. Score was even till the fifth when Rol Stobart's machine failed and gave Wembley an advantage of twopoints. However, in the eighth heat he made amends, getting second position with Harold Jackson gaining the premier award. In this heat Cliff Parkinson's machine went dead and Gilbert Craven also had to give up. This was one of the more cryptic reports of a meeting. The Citizen, which always gave a written report without any heat-details said: 's victory was brought about by sheer determination. They only got one first place out of nine heats, but to level matters up they were getting seconds and thirds. Andy (Menzies) had one big disappointment, however. The winner of the race for the special prize is usually rewarded with a kiss from a young lady who presents the prize, but last night captain Gruff Garland of the team made the presentation. He got his kiss tho' from Gruff. The Daily Record as always carried a long report. With one more First Division scalp on their belt will enter the Second Division of the National Speedway League with confidence. We were all delighted when the White City boys slipped it across New Cross. However, as if to show that the win was no fluke, captain Gruff Garland and his merry men went out on Saturday and gave Wembley a licking. Johnnie Hoskins is still determined to make a few changes in the team. He wants at least two other star men to wear 's colours. The notable performer on Saturday was undoubtedly Andy Menzies, who made several of the others look as though they were riding a fairy cycle! Andy set up a record time for four-laps of 85.6 seconds - and just to show how easy it was - did it three times. He collected maximum points in the Inter-City race and carried off the Scottish Silver Gauntlet. Cliff Parkinson, the Wembley captain, who lifted all the honours the previous Saturday, was beaten by Gruff Garland in the Captains' Match Race, in which Gruff set up new figures 47.8 seconds for the two laps distance. The Record writer was less boastful later in the report acknowledging that the 5-0 in heat eight was the turning point of the match. A win for Parkinson would have clinched victory for Wembley. However, the win cannot be taken away from and they did use their men to pack the minor places, keeping within striking distance all the way. 28 Wembley 25 (Challenge) Wembley Gruff Garland = 6 Cliff Parkinson 3 3 ef = 6

15 Elwood Stillwell = 3+3 Gilbert Craven 0 0 ef = 0 Rol Stobart = 4 Andy Menzies = 9 Harold Jackson = 6+1 Jimmy Peck = 0 Joe Crowther = 5+1 George Wilks = 9 Fred Belliveau = 4+2 Chick Brine = 1 Ht 1: Cliff Parkinson, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Gilbert Craven, 85.8 Ht 2: Andy Menzies, Rol Stobart, Harold Jackson, Jimmy Peck, 86.0 Ht 3: George Wilks, Joe Crowther, Fred Belliveau, Chick Brine, 85.2 Ht 4: Andy Menzies, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Jimmy Peck, 85.6* Ht 5: George Wilks, Harold Jackson, Chick Brine, Rol Stobart (ef), 86.8 Ht 6: Cliff Parkinson, Fred Belliveau, Joe Crowther, Gilbert Craven, 87.8 Ht 7: George Wilks, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Chick Brine, 87.0 Ht 8: Harold Jackson, Rol Stobart, Cliff Parkinson (ef), Gilbert Craven (ef), 86.6 Ht 9: Andy Menzies, Joe Crowther, Fred Belliveau, Jimmy Peck, 87.2 Search For Talent Dick Dennie, Tom Shearer, Davie Lamb, Chuck Pinkerton, 93.6 Match Race (Highest Point Scorers) Andy Menzies, George Wilks, Gruff Garland, Harold Jackson, 85.6 Special Match Races Andy Menzies, Harold Jackson, Fred Belliveau, Laurie Packer, 87.0 Rol Stobart, Joe Crowther, [ Norrie Isbister, Leo Lungo, 87.4 Match Race Rol Stobart bt Gruff Garland, 87.4 Captain's Match Race (2 laps) Gruff Garland bt Cliff Parkinson, 42.8* Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ht 1: George Wilks, Leo Lungo, Harold Jackson, Jimmy Peck, 90.0 Ht 2: Laurie Packer, Joe Crowther, Dick Dennie, Gilbert Craven, 87.0 Ht 3: Andy Menzies, Gruff Garland, [ Fred Belliveau, Dave Lamb, 85.6 Ht 4: Cliff Parkinson, Rol Stobart, Chick Brine, Norrie Isbister, 87.0 Final: Andy Menzies, Cliff Parkinson, George Wilks, Laurie Packer, 86.2 Saturday 8 July 1939 Crowd: Not recorded All the match reports were sympathetic towards Edinburgh, advising readers that the team from the Capital were dogged with bad luck throughout the night. certainly avenged the earlier Inter-City beating which they received at Edinburgh a few weeks before, when, at the White City,, they defeated their eastern rivals by 34 points to 18. It was an unfortunate night from the Edinburgh point of view. Every Edinburgh rider crashed at some juncture of the meeting. George Greenwood, the Edinburgh captain came a cropper on more than one occasion. He had a really nasty smash

16 in the Captains' Match Race, featuring himself and Gruff Garland, but escaped with a severe shaking and a shoulder injury. In heat one of the Inter-City match, both Garland and Greenwood had machine trouble, leaving Mick Mitchell (pictured left) and Harold Jackson to fight it out. Jackson won, and the bold and daring Harold was in scintillating form all evening. He gained a maximum in the Inter-City match, and then went on to win two special races in the second-half, but unfortunately he became involved in a collision in heat three of the Scottish Silver Torch with Gilbert Craven, and so spoiled his chances of clearing the boards. In heat two, both Jack Hyland and Jack Tidbury fell on the last lap, leaving Fred Belliveau and Bill Nisbet to register a 5-0. Heat three was a real thriller. Laurie Packer got into the lead from the start, but was hotly pursued by Joe Crowther and Vic Weir of. There was never more than half-a-wheel between the riders, but the Edinburgh man held on to get home a narrow winner. Edinburgh never got their nose in front, despite some great riding from George Greenwood, Packer and Tidbury. In heat six an amusing incident occurred, although it was tragic from the Edinburgh point of view. The line-up was Greenwood and Mitchell for Edinburgh, Crowther and Weir for, George Greenwood got away to a good start and forged ahead, with Vic Weir in second, while Joe Crowther and Mick Mitchell fought it out for third. They held those positions until the last lap, and then all sorts of queer things started to happen. Greenwood in the lead, was about 20 yards from the finishing line when his machine stopped and Weir flashed past to win. At the same moment, Mick Mitchell took a header off his bike on the last bend, and Joe Crowther coming out of the bend fast, managed to miss Mitchell and pass George Greenwood, who had started to push his machine to the line. Five points to and one to Edinburgh - what an amazing turn-up! What had happened to Greenwood's bike, was that a chain had snapped. In the second-half, Crowther had heat four of the Trophy in his pocket, but slowed at the end of lap three thinking he had completed the course. Not all the bad luck was in the Edinburgh camp. In the second heat of the Silver Torch, Harold Jackson drew level with Gilbert Craven. Just as he did so Gilbert faltered and fell while his machine swerved over on Jackson. (Daily Record) Harold ended on the grass with two bikes. 34 Edinburgh 18 (Inter-City Challenge) Edinburgh Gruff Garland ef 1 1 = 2 George Greenwood ef 1 3 = 4 Harold Jackson = 9 Mick Mitchell 2 f = 2 Fred Belliveau = 7 Jack Hyland f 2 0 = 2 Bill Nisbet 2 ef 1 = 3+2 Jack Tidbury f ef 1 = 1 Joe Crowther = 7+1 Laurie Packer = 8 Vic Weir = 6+2 Leo Lungo 0 1 ef = 1 Gilbert Craven f = 0 Ht 1: Harold Jackson, Mick Mitchell, George Greenwood (ef), Gruff Garland (ef), 86.2 Ht 2: Fred Belliveau, Bill Nisbet, Jack Hyland (f), Jack Tidbury (f), 88.6 Ht 3: Laurie Packer, Joe Crowther, Vic Weir, Leo Lungo, 88.4 Ht 4: Harold Jackson, Jack Hyland, Gruff Garland, Jack Tidbury (ef), 87.6 Ht 5: Laurie Packer, Fred Belliveau, Leo Lungo, Bill Nisbet (ef), 89.0 Ht 6: Vic Weir, Joe Crowther, George Greenwood (ef), Mick Mitchell (f), 88.8 Ht 7: Harold Jackson, Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, Leo Lungo (ef), 87.0 Ht 8: George Greenwood, Fred Belliveau, Bill Nisbet, Gilbert Craven (f), 88.2 Ht 9: Joe Crowther, Vic Weir, Jack Tidbury, Jack Hyland, 88.8 Captains Match Race (2 laps) Gruff Garland bt George Greenwood (f), 45.0 Search For Talent Chuck Pinkerton, Dave Lamb, Tom Shearer (nf), Bob Bauskil (nf), 94.4 Special Match Races Ht 1: Harold Jackson, Mick Mitchell, Jack Hyland, 90.0

17 Ht 2: Laurie Packer, Jack Tidbury, Fred Belliveau, 88.6 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Laurie Packer, Fred Belliveau, 88.0 Scottish Silver Torch Ht 1: Vic Weir, Fred Belliveau, [ Jack Hyland, Dick Dennie, 88.0 Ht 2: Gruff Garland, Norrie Isbister, [ Jack Tidbury, Mick Mitchell, 88.8 Ht 3: Bill Nisbet, Harold Jackson (f), Gilbert Craven (f), Laurie Packer (nf), 93.0 Ht 4: Leo Lungo, Joe Crowther, Chuck Pinkerton, George Greenwood (ns), (3 riders only), 91.0 Final: Gruff Garland, Leo Lungo, Vic Weir (nf), Bill Nisbet (nf), 89.4 Saturday 15 July 1939 Crowd: Not recorded The meeting moved the Citizen's writer to some stylish prose. They were certainly in a big hurry, the American aces of the dirt-track who competed in the Championship. Dominated - not competed - is the word, for there were few, even in such a star-studded list as Saturday's, who could live with them as they hurtled round that Ibrox track in real US style. Here are the representatives of the Stars and Stripes who sent the track record dropping like a thermometer in a refrigerator - Jack Milne, New Cross; brother Cordy Milne, Southampton; Wilbur Lamoreaux, Wimbledon and Benny Kaufman, also Southampton. And whenever Johnnie Hoskins brings them back to White City don't forget to get out and see them. They gave its best speedway night ever. The track record of 85.4 seconds, set up a couple of weeks ago by Andy Menzies was bettered eight times in twenty one races. The Daily Record was a bit more moderate saying: At the White City we saw Jack Milne of America win the Track Championship and Wilbur Lamoreaux create a four-lap record. Speed Ace said that in his opinion Lamoreaux was the outstanding rider on the night. His performance in the third heat will be remembered for a long time to come. He flew from the gate like a bullet and went into the first bend a length ahead of Cordy Milne of America, while brother Jack Milne brought up the rear. Laurie Packer had engine trouble at the start of the race and had to retire. Lamoreaux increased his lead in the second lap and leaped round the corners with the throttle wide open - the most daring and spectacular riding I have seen. He managed to retain his lead and romped home the winner. He recorded 1 minute 22 seconds to smash the track record, which Eric Chitty set up in the first heat, by three seconds. Benny Kaufman, one of the American cracks was in fine fettle and qualified for the Final. Danish Champion Morian Hansen (pictured right) improved as the night went on and finished with seven-points, while Eric Chitty knocked up ten-points. In the Final, Jack Milne and Wilbur Lamoreaux flashed to the front as the tapes went up and completed a full lap riding wheel-to-wheel. Cordy, however, was not far behind and gave chase in fine style. At the second time round Lamoreaux had jumped into the lead, but Jack pulled him in and passed him in the third lap. Jack managed to keep his advantage and thundered over the line with a length to spare. At the back, Cordy Milne and Benny Kaufman were having a great scrap for third, which Cordy just won. The trophy was presented by Sir Harry Lauder, who obliged by singing a song or two for the crowd. Promoter Hoskins was, doubtless, pleased with his guest who would have been a big draw in his own right. Tragic news probably broke at this meeting. Frank Charles, a great performer at, had been killed in a gliding accident in the afternoon. Track Championship (The 200 Championship) Fred Belliveau = 4 Jack Milne = 13 Eric Chitty = 10 Cordy Milne = 14 Joe Crowther = 3 Laurie Packer ef = 1 Gruff Garland = 4 Cliff Parkinson = 11 Morian Hansen = 7 Broncho Dixon = 5 Will Lowther = 6 Bob Wells = 5 Harold Jackson = 7 Harry Whitfield = 2

18 Benny Kaufman = 12 Norrie Isbister (Res) 0 = 0 Wilbur Lamoreaux = 15 Ht 1: Eric Chitty, Joe Crowther, Gruff Garland, Fred Belliveau, 85.0* Ht 2: Benny Kaufman, Harold Jackson, Will Lowther, Morian Hansen, 85.4 Ht 3: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Cordy Milne, Jack Milne, Laurie Packer (ef), 82.0* Ht 4: Cliff Parkinson, Broncho Dixon, Bob Wells, Harry Whitfield, 87.4 Ht 5: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Cliff Parkinson, Eric Chitty, Morian Hansen, 85.0 Ht 6: Jack Milne, Fred Belliveau, Will Lowther, Broncho Dixon, 86.0 Ht 7: Cordy Milne, Harold Jackson, Bob Wells, Joe Crowther, 85.0 Ht 8: Benny Kaufman, Gruff Garland, Harry Whitfield, Laurie Packer, 88.0 Ht 9: Cordy Milne, Eric Chitty, Will Lowther, Harry Whitfield, 85.0 Ht 10: Morian Hansen, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, Laurie Packer, 86.8 Ht 11: Eric Chitty, Broncho Dixon, Laurie Packer, Harold Jackson, 87.0 Ht 12: Jack Milne, Cliff Parkinson, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, 87.0 Ht 13: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Benny Kaufman, Broncho Dixon, Joe Crowther, 84.0 Ht 14: Cordy Milne, Benny Kaufman, Cliff Parkinson, Fred Belliveau, 86.0 Ht 15: Jack Milne, Morian Hansen, Harry Whitfield, Joe Crowther, 87.8 Ht 16: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Bob Wells, Will Lowther, Gruff Garland, 86.2 Ht 17: Jack Milne, Benny Kaufman, Eric Chitty, Bob Wells, 86.0 Ht 18: Wilbur Lamoreaux, Harold Jackson, Fred Belliveau, Harry Whitfield, 87.2 Ht 19: Cliff Parkinson, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Norrie Isbister, 88.8 Ht 20: Cordy Milne, Morian Hansen, Gruff Garland, Broncho Dixon, 87.4 Final: Jack Milne, Wilbur Lamoreaux, Cordy Milne, Benny Kaufman, 83.2 Saturday 22 July 1939 Crowd: Not recorded entered into the ACU Northern Cup competition with a match against Sheffield and were beaten by a narrow two-point margin. According to Speed Ace of the Daily Record: It certainly was a close contest, the score being level on no fewer than four occasions. The last heat was the decider. needed five-points for a win and four-points to draw. The crowd roared its approval when Fred Belliveau and Harold Jackson leapt to the front. It looked as if were going to get these precious five-points, but Jackson and the Sheffield riders, Ossie Powell and Paddy Mills came down in the second bend. The race had to be re-run and that was 's downfall. Jackson and Belliveau went away again with Mills close on their heels. Round they roared and the positions were unaltered till the finishing straight, when Mills, with a terrific burst of speed, passed and beat the lads by a length. (In the re-run Powell fell at the first bend.) The Sheffield skipper Ernie Evans was in fine form, gaining maximum points in every race in which he rode. He had no opposition in the Scottish Gold Helmet Trophy Final, leading the others a merry dance to win by eight lengths. New recruit Will Lowther was the highest points scorer for, collecting ten-points. Norrie Isbister is rapidly coming back to the forefront. In the Reserves Race he left the field and finished an easy winner. He was put into the Gold Helmet in place of Harold Jackson, but his machine stalled at the start. He gamely struggled on but couldn't reduce the leeway. The Citizen tells of the second last race as well as the last one. This was an interesting heat and worth retelling the tale as told by the newspaper. When the penultimate heat came along, Sheffield led after 12 heats, in which the balance had swung from one side to the other. And this is how heat thirteen went. Doug McLachlan came down in lap three. In the last circuit, Gilbert Craven crashed at the last bend. Broncho Dixon went on to win from Joe Crowther. White overalled mechanics dragged Craven's bike from the track. The manager Johnnie Hoskins dashed down to the track to tell the dazed rider that he could still wheel the machine home for third place and one-point. Craven set off pushing the bike for the finishing line. McLachlan just ahead, also pushing his machine towards the official with the chequered flag. He got there first and Craven pushed his bike on to the grass. But when he was told McLachlan had only completed his third lap, he upped again and just managed to get over the line before dropping prone, exhausted by the effort. The whole last two heats seem a comedy of errors. McLachlan should have been excluded for being lapped if he had only completed three laps by pushing. Craven should have been excluded for leaving the track. In the last heat it appears from one report that Jackson was the primary reason for the race being stopped, as he fell first and Mills ploughed into his bike.

19 41 Sheffield 43 (ACU Northern Cup) Sheffield Harold Jackson = 7+2 Ernie Evans = 12 Gruff Garland = 7+1 Paddy Mills = 6+1 Will Lowther = 10 Stan Williams = 8 Joe Crowther = 6+3 Harwood Pike = 1+1 Bob Wells = 6 Broncho Dixon = 10 Fred Belliveau = 4 Ossie Powell = 2+1 Gilbert Craven 0 1 = 1+1 Harry Whitfield 2 1 = 3 Dick Dennie 0 0 = 0 Doug McLachlan 1 0 = 1+1 Ht 1: Ernie Evans, Harold Jackson, Paddy Mills, Gruff Garland, 86.8 Ht 2: Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Stan Williams, Harwood Pike, 88.0 Ht 3: Broncho Dixon, Ossie Powell, Fred Belliveau, Bob Wells, 87.2 Ht 4: Gruff Garland, Harry Whitfield, Doug McLachlan, Dick Dennie, 88.8 Ht 5: Ernie Evans, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Paddy Mills, 86.4 Ht 6: Bob Wells, Stan Williams, Fred Belliveau, Harwood Pike, 87.2 Ht 7: Gruff Garland, Harold Jackson, Broncho Dixon, Ossie Powell, 87.6 Ht 8: Will Lowther, Stan Williams, Harwood Pike, Gilbert Craven, 87.2 Ht 9: Ernie Evans, Paddy Mills, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, 87.8 Ht 10: Stan Williams, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, Harwood Pike, 87.4 Ht 11: Broncho Dixon, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Ossie Powell, 86.8 Ht 12: Ernie Evans, Bob Wells, Harry Whitfield, Dick Dennie, 87.0 Ht 13: Broncho Dixon, Joe Crowther, Gilbert Craven (f, pushed), Doug McLachlan (f, pushed), 87.8 Ht 14: Paddy Mills, Fred Belliveau, Harold Jackson, Ossie Powell (f), 87.0 Reserves Race Norrie Isbister, Dick Dennie, Tom Shearer, Chuck Pinkerton, 92.2 Scottish Gold Helmet Ht 1: Joe Crowther, Doug McLachlan, [ Gruff Garland, Leo Lungo, 90.0 Ht 2: Ernie Evans, Broncho Dixon, Jack Chapman, Fred Belliveau, 85.8 Ht 3: Aussie Powell, Harry Whitfield, Gilbert Craven, Norrie Isbister, 89.6 Ht 4: Will Lowther, Stan Williams (nf), Paddy Mills (nf), Bob Wells (nf), 90.2 Final: Ernie Evans, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Aussie Powell, 87.8 Saturday 29 July 1939 Crowd: Not recorded gained revenge over Edinburgh at the White City, and at the same time they recorded their first win in the Northern Cup competition. However, it can be said that the score does not convey a true indication of the terrific tussle the teams had. Indeed, it was only in the last two heats that forged ahead to make certain of victory. were in no real danger of defeat. A heat one crash had taken Bill Birtwell out of the meeting, suffering from concussion, reducing Edinburgh's chances from the word go. Heat three was gifted to when the two Edinburgh riders suffered from over eagerness at the gate, which resulted in some queer happenings...laurie Packer and Jack Chapman gave their machines too much throttle as the tapes flew up. Their bikes went up in the air and they fell backwards on the track. Packer was unlucky in that the bike actually landed on him but, fortunately, he was unhurt. Pictured to the left is Bob Wells, who was involved in some sixth heat controversy.

20 According to the Daily Record, The Hampden Roar in miniature was heard at the White City on Saturday night when the SACU officials disqualified Bob Wells for cutting-in. It was a roar of protest for it seemed evident to most of us that Wells was not the culprit. I (Speed Ace) thought that disqualification was hardly called for, but in any case it was Jack Hyland who committed the offence, not Wells. After the meeting I had a word with Wells who was indignant about the whole affair. Said Bob: There can be no doubt that it was a wrong decision. Even Hyland admits that. What Speed Ace did not say was that there had been a three-man pile-up on the Paisley bend, meaning the race had to be stopped and somebody had to be disqualified. The Citizen commented on the crowd reaction and said: The cup competition certainly has whipped up enthusiasm. At the end of heat 12 led by only three-points, but the brilliant riding of Fred Belliveau and Joe Crowther, and then in the next heat Harold Jackson, the one-time newsagent, and Dick Geary gave them a nine-point victory. The outstanding personality, however, must have been Edinburgh's George Greenwood, who gained a maximum in the match, and went on to win the Scottish Silver Torch. The Record report went on to say: The meeting was written down as the most spectacular yet staged in. There were thrills and spills, and everything that goes to make a most exciting evening. One person not too happy would be Norrie Isbister. Speed Ace said: Poor Norrie Isbister. He took a frightful crash in the Reserves Race. He is suffering from fractured ribs and it is possible that one of his lungs may be affected. However, Norrie is made of the right stuff and no doubt will soon be up and about again. In the crash, Norrie fell and was hit by a following rider, who, according to the Sunday Mail, was Chuck Pinkerton. The crash ended Norrie's riding career, but thankfully, not his association with speedway. The race was re-run without Norrie who was on his way to hospital. To add insult to injury Norrie was billed by the hospital for his treatment as they thought he had been injured in a road motorcycle accident. 45 Edinburgh 36 (ACU Northern Cup) Edinburgh Gruff Garland ef = 4+1 George Greenwood = 12 Harold Jackson = 8 Bill Birtwell f = 0 Will Lowther = 11 Oliver Hart 0 3 ef 3 = 6 Joe Crowther = 4+1 Jack Hyland = 8+1 Bob Wells 3 ex 2 2 = 7 Laurie Packer f = 0 Dick Geary = 5+3 Jack Chapman f = 4 Fred Belliveau = 5 Wilf Plant = 2+1 Elwood Stillwell ef 1 = 1+1 Leo Lungo = 4 Ht 1: George Greenwood, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland (f), Bill Birtwell (f), 84.6 Ht 2: Will Lowther, Jack Hyland, Joe Crowther, Wilf Plant, 86.0 Ht 3: Bob Wells, Dick Geary, Jack Chapman (f), Laurie Packer (f), 85.8 Ht 4: Jack Hyland, Wilf Plant, Fred Belliveau, Gruff Garland, 85.8 Ht 5: George Greenwood, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Leo Lungo, 87.0 Ht 6: Oliver Hart, Jack Hyland, Fred Belliveau, Bob Wells (ex), 87.2 Ht 7: Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, Jack Chapman, Laurie Packer, 87.6 Ht 8: Will Lowther, Leo Lungo, Oliver Hart (ef), Elwood Stillwell (ef), 88.2 Ht 9: George Greenwood, Bob Wells, Dick Geary, Wilf Plant, 86.2 Ht 10: Oliver Hart, Gruff Garland, Jack Hyland, Harold Jackson, 87.4 Ht 11: Will Lowther, Jack Chapman, Joe Crowther, Laurie Packer, 88.2 Ht 12: George Greenwood, Bob Wells, Elwood Stillwell, Wilf Plant, 87.0 Ht 13: Fred Belliveau, Leo Lungo, Joe Crowther, Laurie Packer, 89.6 Ht 14: Harold Jackson, Dick Geary, Jack Chapman, Leo Lungo, 89.8 Scottish Silver Torch Ht 1: Gruff Garland, [ Gilbert Craven, Chuck Pinkerton, Dick Dennie, 88.0 Ht 2: Harold Jackson, [ Elwood Stilwell, Dick Dennie, Laurie Packer, 91.2 Ht 3: George Greenwood, [ Joe Crowther, Will Lowther, Wilf Plant, 88.4 Ht 4: Oliver Hart, [ Bob Wells, Dick Geary, Fred Belliveau, 89.2 Final: George Greenwood, Gruff Garland, Harold Jackson, Oliver Hart, 86.4

21 Reserves Race Gilbert Craven, Dick Dennie, Chuck Pinkerton, Norrie Isbister (ns), 92.4 Saturday 5 August 1939 Crowd: 15,000 For some reason this meeting was given fairly bitty coverage in all the newspapers of the day. However, between them, a report of the meeting can be cobbled together. The Herald carried brief reports on speedway, compared with the reports of the first era. The Herald said: West Ham, one of London's many speedway racing teams, beat by a single point on Saturday. Several members of the London team have had considerable experience of the track and it was presumably a factor that helped them gain the verdict. The day before, the Sunday Mail had reported: In the first race Gruff Garland was thrown off his machine at the starting point. His machine careered along the track and it was only with difficulty that Buck Whitby avoided crashing into it. (There being no cut out mechanisms to stop the machines.) In another brief report the Daily Record observed: found it impossible to hold captain Tiger Stevenson of West Ham. He collected full points in the Inter-City match and would have won the Scottish Gold Helmet into the bargain, but for a piece of bad luck. In the Helmet Final, Stevenson roared to the front and kept a good lead all the way. He was winning in a canter as he entered the finishing straight, then his bike conked out and that put him out of the running. Somewhat cruelly the Record went on to say: Captain Gruff Garland let the team down badly. We lost by one point - 42 points to 41 - but that should never have happened. Our skipper only collected three-points. True, Gruff had taken a couple of falls, but it was a bit unfair to lay the blame solely at his door. The Citizen gave the fullest report: and West Ham gave a 15,000 crowd some of the best speedway racing at a White City meeting since the game returned to the town three months ago. Bob Lovell's win for West Ham in heat four was the most exciting piece of work of the evening. Lying last, he overhauled team-mate George Enright and then Elwood Stillwell. He chased Gruff Garland to the last bend, hung on the white line while the skipper went wide, and won by a wheel. In heat seven he (Garland) somersaulted off his machine at the Ibrox bend but was unhurt. The bike hit the top of the safety fence and fell back on to the track. The bike was tangled up in the wire mesh fence. The last report was contained in the Evening Times. This commented: Considering the excellent condition of the track, the times returned were disappointing seconds by Tiger Stevenson in the first heat being the best of the match races. 41 West Ham 42 (Challenge) West Ham Gruff Garland f 2 f 1 = 3+1 Tiger Stevenson = 12 Harold Jackson = 11 Buck Whitby = 2 Bob Wells = 10 Phil Bishop = 3 Fred Belliveau = 4+2 Bob Lovell = 9 Will Lowther = 8 Colin Watson = 11 Joe Crowther = 4+2 Roy Craighead 0 f 1 0 = 1 Elwood Stillwell 1 0 = 1+1 George Enright 0 f = 0 Dick Geary 0 0 = 0 Ron Clarke = 4+2 Ht 1: Tiger Stevenson, Harold Jackson, Buck Whitby, Gruff Garland (f), 86.0 Ht 2: Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, Bob Lovell, Phil Bishop, 86.2 Ht 3: Colin Watson, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Roy Craighead, 86.2 Ht 4: Bob Lovell, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, George Enright, 90.0 Ht 5: Tiger Stevenson, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, Buck Whitby, 87.0 Ht 6: Bob Lovell, Will Lowther, Phil Bishop, Joe Crowther, 87.6 Ht 7: Harold Jackson, Colin Watson, Roy Craighead (f), Gruff Garland (f), 87.8 Ht 8: Bob Wells, Phil Bishop, Ron Clarke, Dick Geary, 88.4 Ht 9: Tiger Stevenson, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, Buck Whitby, 88.4 Ht 10: Harold Jackson, Bob Lovell, Gruff Garland, George Enright (f), 88.0 Ht 11: Colin Watson, Bob Wells, Roy Craighead, Fred Belliveau, 87.8

22 Ht 12: Tiger Stevenson, Will Lowther, Ron Clarke, Dick Geary, 89.0 Ht 13: Colin Watson,Ron Clarke, Fred Belliveau, Elwood Stillwell, 89.4 Ht 14: Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther, Buck Whitby, Roy Craighead, 89.0 Reserves Race Leo Lungo, Bill Nisbet, Elwood Stillwell, Dick Dennie, 92.2 Team Reserves Race Dick Geary, Ron Clarke, Roy Craighead, Elwood Stillwell, 89.0 Scottish Silver Helmet Ht 1: Tiger Stevenson, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, Bob Lovell, 88.2 Ht 2: Colin Watson, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Buck Whitby, 90.0 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Ron Clarke, Will Lowther, Roy Craighead, 89.2 Ht 4: Leo Lungo, Phil Bishop, Joe Crowther, George Enright, 89.6 Final: Colin Watson, Harold Jackson, Leo Lungo, Tiger Stevenson (ef), 89.4 Saturday 12 August 1939 Crowd: 20,000 It was incorrect to call this Scotland versus England. Firstly, there was only one Scot in the Scotland side, and, secondly, George Pepper, riding in the England side, was a Canadian. The Herald got it right. A team comprising members of the Marine Gardens and White City tracks defeated a Second Division English side. This was probably one of the worst cases of bending the rules to put together a meeting on partisan lines. The sides could have been called Scottish-based riders and English-based riders. The Herald went on: Scotland took the lead right from the start, and considering the keen struggle between the riders it was remarkable that only one of them fell, O(liver) Hart, Edinburgh, being the only one requiring treatment. The Scotsman covered this event too and said the first major thrill was provided in the fourth heat, when Gruff Garland, who was leading the field, closely followed by another rider took the bottom bend with full throttle, skidded to the edge of the safety fence and managed to regain control, then continued on to win the race. It went on: Pepper and Greenwood put up a keen fight for premier position in the next heat. For three laps they raced practically level, but gradually the Edinburgh man got ahead. At the second corner Pepper cut inside to gain position. Greenwood next, brought off a spectacular skid at the following corner and regained his lead of a wheel to the finish. Oliver Hart was out in heat six. As mentioned above he needed treatment because of the fall he took in this heat. The Citizen report went on: Syd Littlewood did not get a point in two races, but it got him the biggest bouquet of the night - for sportsmanship and quick thinking. In the third last heat Will Lowther crashed at the opening bend. Littlewood, close behind, sacrificed the chance of at least one-point by grounding his bike and riding to a stop inches from the fallen man. The Sunday Mail s interest was in the second-half events. The Gauntlet heat which Crowther won was the most thrilling of the evening. Oliver Hart got out smartly as the tapes flew up, but on the first corner Crowther was on his tail. There was a terrific roar from the crowd when Joe got in front, but it wasn't long before Hart was leading the way. However, Joe won through on the last bend, and pipped Hart by inches. Another youngster giving a good account of himself was Leo Lungo. Lungo, who acted as one of Scotland's reserves, rode magnificently in one of the heats and was only yards behind England's captain at the finish. Scotland 45 England 38 (Test Match) Scotland England Gruff Garland = 5 George Pepper = 11 Harold Jackson = 8 Rol Stobart = 2+1 George Greenwood = 11 Ted Bravery = 9 Bob Wells = 3+1 Reg Hay = 3 Will Lowther f = 5+2 Kid Curtis = 7

23 Oliver Hart 3 ef 2 3 = 8 Tommy Bateman = 2+1 Jack Hyland 1 2 = 3 Alan Butler 1 3 = 4 Leo Lungo 0 2 = 2 Syd Littlewood 0 ns = 0 Ht 1: George Pepper, Harold Jackson, Rol Stobart, Gruff Garland, 85.0 Ht 2: George Greenwood, Bob Wells, Ted Bravery, Reg Hay, 87.6 Ht 3: Oliver Hart, Will Lowther, Kid Curtis, Tommy Bateman, 88.0 Ht 4: Gruff Garland, Reg Hay, Jack Hyland, Syd Littlewood, 90.0 Ht 5: George Greenwood, George Pepper, Bob Wells, Rol Stobart, 85.0 Ht 6: Ted Bravery, Will Lowther, Reg Hay, Oliver Hart (f), 87.6 Ht 7: Harold Jackson, Kid Curtis, Gruff Garland, Tommy Bateman, 87.8 Ht 8: Ted Bravery, George Greenwood, Alan Butler, Leo Lungo, 86.2 Ht 9: George Pepper, Oliver Hart, Will Lowther, Rol Stobart, 87.0 Ht 10: Harold Jackson, Ted Bravery, Gruff Garland, Reg Hay, 87.2 Ht 11: George Greenwood, Kid Curtis, Tommy Bateman, Bob Wells, 87.6 Ht 12: George Pepper, Leo Lungo, Will Lowther (f), Syd Littlewood (f), 88.4 Ht 13: Alan Butler, Jack Hyland, Tommy Bateman, Bob Wells, 89.0 Ht 14: Oliver Hart, Kid Curtis, Rol Stobart, Harold Jackson, 90.8 Team Reserves Race Leo Lungo, Alan Butler, Jack Hyland, Syd Littlewood, 88.8 Special Match Race Joe Crowther, Jack Chapman, Fred Belliveau, Elwood Stillwell, 89.8 Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ht 1: Kid Curtis, Bob Wells, Gruff Garland, Rol Stobart, 89.6 Ht 2: George Pepper, Will Lowther, Jack Chapman, Tommy Bateman, 87.8 Ht 3: George Greenwood, Harold Jackson, Reg Hay, Elwood Stillwell, 86.6 Ht 4: Joe Crowther, Oliver Hart, Fred Belliveau, Ted Bravery, 88.2 Final: George Greenwood, George Pepper, Joe Crowther, Kid Curtis, 86.8 Saturday 19 August 1939 Crowd: 15,000 It was a wet night in and the Herald report of the meeting carried the headline: Promising Meeting Spoiled By Rain. This was the art of understatement at its best. The report went on to say: Heavy rain and a track which in places represented a miniature lake, spoiled what promised to be an attractive Northern Cup match. Newcastle, however, weathered the conditions better than the team and gained an overwhelming victory of 53 points to 39. Racing was held up after the tenth heat owing to one of the electrical wires breaking, and when the lights were turned on again the rain that had fallen during the interval almost swamped the track. The conditions thereafter played havoc with the machines and in the races that followed there was frequent troubles with motors. The times too were considerably high and even in the All-Star Match Race it took Will Lowther 117 seconds to complete the four laps - 33 seconds more than usual. According to the Daily Record, there were six retirements due to engine failure in the last four heats. Since four of these failures took place, two each in heats 12 and 13, it must be assumed that the last placed men in heats 11 and 14 suffered engine failure too. There was a good turnout. The Scotsman said: Close on 15,000 spectators, standing under cover in the enclosure, witnessed the contest and they experienced plenty of excitement as racing continued throughout the torrential rain.

24 Referring to the Citizen: were hit with two cloudbursts. One was the rain and the other was Newcastle. Looking at the results were well out of it by the time the lights failed, and it says a lot for the promotion that they repaired the lights. Many a promotion might have been tempted to call the meeting to a halt and look for a replay. The worst affected bend was the City bend - sometimes called the Ibrox bend - at the eastern end of the stadium. Billy Galloway had christened a bump there Bechers Brook in 1931 and the name stuck. Whenever riders hit a Bechers Brook near the City bend, the bikes faded out altogether or slowed up so long it was hopeless to catch up the leaders. The Citizen tailpiece said: Newcastle simply swamped and washed up several problems for manager Johnnie Hoskins. won only two races and that was after the track took on the Lake Coniston appearance. One wag, indeed, was calling for Sir Malcolm Campbell! Details of the second-half are vague. One report suggested that Kid Curtis won the Silver Trophy, in an event which was cut to two-lap races. Pictured to the right is Rol Stobart, scorer of 11-points for the victorious Newcastle side. 29 Newcastle 53 (ACU Northern Cup) Newcastle Gruff Garland = 5+1 George Pepper ef = 9 Will Lowther = 3 Norman Hargreaves = 3 Harold Jackson 2 ef 1 0 = 3 Rol Stobart = 11 Joe Crowther = 8+1 Billy Lamont = 8 Bob Wells ef = 2 Maurice Stobart = 12 Bob Lovell 0 0 = 0 Kid Curtis = 6+1 Fred Belliveau 1 2 ef = 3+1 Will Goodall 2 ef = 2 Elwood Stillwell f 3 2 = 5 Reg Hay 0 2 = 2 Ht 1: George Pepper, Will Lowther, Gruff Garland, Norman Hargreaves, 88.8 Ht 2: Rol Stobart, Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther, Billy Lamont, 87.8 Ht 3: Maurice Stobart, Kid Curtis, Bob Wells, Bob Lovell, 86.6 Ht 4: Rol Stobart, Gruff Garland, Fred Belliveau, Reg Hay, 89.0 Ht 5: George Pepper, Joe Crowther, Norman Hargeaves, Harold Jackson (ef), 88.2 Ht 6: Billy Lamont, Rol Stobart, Bob Wells, Bob Lovell, 91.0 Ht 7: Maurice Stobart, Gruff Garland, Kid Curtis, Will Lowther, 86.8 Ht 8: Billy Lamont, Will Goodall, Harold Jackson, Elwood Stillwell, 94.4 Ht 9: George Pepper, Fred Belliveau, Norman Hargeaves, Bob Wells, 88.8 Ht 10: Rol Stobart, Billy Lamont, Will Lowther, Gruff Garland, 92.4 Ht 11: Maurice Stobart, Joe Crowther, Kid Curtis, Harold Jackson, Ht 12: Elwood Stillwell, Reg Hay, George Pepper (ef), Bob Wells (ef), Ht 13: Joe Crowther, Kid Curtis, Fred Belliveau (ef), Will Goodall (ef), 99.0 Ht 14: Maurice Stobart, Elwood Stillwell, Norman Hargreaves, Will Lowther, All-Star Match Race Will Lowther, Jack Chapman, George Pepper, Billy Lamont, Team Reserves Race Elwood Stillwell, Fred Belliveau, Reg Hay (ef), WillGoodall (ef), Scottish Silver Torch (2 laps)

25 Ht 1: Kid Curtis, Gruff Garland, Reg Hay, Bob Lovell, 51.4 Ht 2: Maurice Stobart, Will Lowther, Fred Belliveau, George Pepper (ef), 55.5 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther, Rol Stobart, Joe Crowther (ef), 56.6 Ht 4: Bob Wells, Elwood Stillwell (nf), Norman Hargreaves (nf), Billy Lamont (ns), 53.0 Final: Kid Curtis, Maurice Stobart, Bob Wells, Harold Jackson, Time not known Saturday 26 August 1939 Crowd: Not recorded The Daily Record gave the winners a great write up: The Edinburgh Speedway proved on Saturday that they had two class riders in George Greenwood, their captain, and Oliver Hart. The White City, ran off their Best Pairs and the Edinburgh lads walked away with it, collecting 19 points, just one short of the maximum. The Newcastle pair, George Pepper and Kid Curtis, were second with sixteen-points and incidentally George won every race in which he competed and bagged the Silver Helmet into the bargain. Gruff Garland, the captain of, is coming back into the limelight. He had three firsts and a third, and with Joe Crowther's help, managed to knock up fifteen-points which was good enough for third place. The Citizen observed: Some really top class riding was served up when a Best Pairs Championship was decided. They (Greenwood and Hart) always looked likely winners. Inevitably first away when the tapes flashed up, they were only once divided - in their first race - when Cliff Parkinson beat Hart into third place. Curtis is coming on fast for a 19-year-old. True, he only collected four-points, but they were all earned by skillful riding after he had got away badly. Crowther was not so successful as usual, crashing twice in his eagerness to catch up with rivals who had headed him. His other races brought five-points and he returned the fastest time of the night. Jackson won all his races. Lowther's bike was not going well. Menzies had a lot of engine trouble and in three starts his motor faded each time. Elwood Stillwell took his place in the last heat. George Pepper's polished riding took him through his heats into the Final of the Scottish Silver Helmet, and though he was hussled here by Hart and Jackson, he stayed on to win and complete the evening without a single defeat. It was prehaps unfortunate that the pairs did not meet every other twosome. This accounts for the two full maximums scored by Harold Jackson and George Pepper and the paid maximum scored by George Greenwood. The Edinburgh duo were probably the only true heat-leader pair and the others were the combination of a heat-leader and a second-string. Despite the advert on the front cover of the programme indicating the Belle Vue Second team would be the visitors the following week, this turned out to be the last pre-war meeting at White City. Speedway in Britain more or less shut down over night. A few tracks, including White City, did stage meetings in 1940, but the majority did not reopen until after the hostilities were over. Best Pairs Competition Joe Crowther 3 f f 2 = 5 Will Lowther = 1 Gruff Garland = 10 Harold Jackson = 12 Total 15 Total 13 Jack Hyland = 6 Bob Lovell = 6 Jack Chapman = 3 Fred Belliveau = 1 Total 9 Total 7 George Greenwood = 9 George Pepper = 12 Oliver Hart = 10 Kid Curtis = 4 Total 19 Total 16 Cliff Parkinson = 8 Ted Bravery = 5 Andy Menzies ef ef ef = 0 Alan Butler = 4 Elwood Stillwell (Res) 0 = 0 Total 9 Total 8 Ht 1: Joe Crowther, Jack Hyland, Gruff Garland, Jack Chapman, 83.8

26 Ht 2: George Greenwood, Cliff Parkinson, Oliver Hart, Andy Menzies (ef), 86.0 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, Bob Lovell, Fred Belliveau, Will Lowther, 87.8 Ht 4: George Pepper, Kid Curtis, Alan Butler, Ted Bravery, 86.0 Ht 5: Gruff Garland, Cliff Parkinson, Andy Menzies (ef), Joe Crowther (f), 87.8 Ht 6: Oliver Hart, George Greenwood, Jack Hyland, Jack Chapman, 87.8 Ht 7: Harold Jackson, Cliff Parkinson, Will Lowther, Andy Menzies (ef), 86.0 Ht 8: George Pepper, Bob Lovell, Kid Curtis, Fred Belliveau, 87.4 Ht 9: Gruff Garland, Ted Bravery, Alan Butler, Joe Crowther (f), 87.8 Ht 10: Oliver Hart, George Greenwood, Bob Lovell, Fred Belliveau, 87.2 Ht 11: Harold Jackson, Jack Hyland, Jack Chapman, Will Lowther, 87.2 Ht 12: George Pepper, Cliff Parkinson, Kid Curtis, Elwood Stillwell, 86.0 Ht 13: Gruff Garland, Joe Crowther, Bob Lovell, Fred Belliveau, 88.0 Ht 14: Oliver Hart, George Greenwood, Ted Bravery, Alan Butler, 88.2 Ht 15: George Pepper, Jack Chapman, Jack Hyland, Kid Curtis, 87.6 Ht 16: Harold Jackson, Ted Bravery, Alan Butler, Will Lowther, 88.2 Special Match Race Leo Lungo, Buck Whitby, Elwood Stillwell, Laurie Packer, 88.8 Match Race Arthur Atkinson bt George Greenwood, 86.6 Scottish Silver Torch Ht 1: Gruff Garland, Kid Curtis, Bob Lovell, Laurie Packer, 90.0 Ht 2: George Pepper, Ted Bravery, Fred Belliveau, Andy Menzies, 88.2 Ht 3: Harold Jackson, George Greenwood, Will Lowther, Alan Butler, 87.4 Ht 4: Oliver Hart, Cliff Parkinson, Joe Crowther, Elwood Stillwell, 89.8 Final: George Pepper, Oliver Hart, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, 86.8 Four Lap Record Attempt Arthur Atkinson, 84.8 TRAVELLERS TALES Edinburgh Inter-City Challenge Edinburgh ACU Northern Cup W/Ham Hawks v Second-half challenge (R/off) Newcastle ACU Northern Cup Marine Gardens, Edinburgh Tuesday 20 June 1939 Edinburgh soundly defeated at the Marine Gardens, winning by a margin of ten-points. Only 's captain, Gruff Garland, kept the flag flying for the visitors. However, Joe Crowther promoted from the novice class, did remarkably well by scoring two-points in the match, prior to reaching the final of the Scottish Silver Helmet. Laurie Packer and Jack Gordon were both unbeaten in the match and Oliver Hart won his last two races after suffering a machine failure in his first. Oliver, though, went on to take the major honours in the rest of the meeting by winning the Captains Match Race from Gruff Garland, and then in a thriller of a Top Scores Match Race he took second, after racing like a man possessed whilst chasing Laurie Packer. Oliver managed to catch Laurie on the second lap, but Laurie just held on for the win. In the final of the Scottish Silver Gauntlet, Oliver Hart got a good start and held on to win his first trophy of the season. He has been in every final this season, but dogged with bad luck, has been pipped to the post everytime.

27 It was therefore appropriate that Oliver's two-and-a-half year old son should hand over the trophy to his father. Frank Woodroofe, who had started out as an Edinburgh rider was back as a rider, one of the many who have turned out for the rivals. He faced fellow new star Packer, who was still in top form, as the combination of speedy gating and a fast machine allowed him to race to a match maximum. Edinburgh (Inter-City Challenge) Edinburgh Oliver Hart ef 3 3 = 6 Gruff Garland = 6+1 Chick Brine = 3 Elwood Stillwell = 5+2 Laurie Packer = 9 Frank Woodroofe = 5 Jack Hancock = 2+1 Curly Thompson = 0 Jack Gordon = 9 Harold Jackson = 4 Norrie Isbister = 3+1 Joe Crowther = 2+1 Ht 1: Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Chick Brine, Oliver Hart (ef), 1min 24.4 Ht 2: Laurie Packer, Jack Hancock, Frank Woodroffe, Curly Thompson, 1min 22.0 Ht 3: Jack Gordon, Norrie Isbister, Joe Crowther, Harold Jackson, 1min 23.6 Ht 4: Oliver Hart, Frank Woodroffe, Chick Brine, Curly Thompson, 1min 22.6 Ht 5: Laurie Packer, Harold Jackson, Joe Crowther, Jack Hancock, 1min 22.0 Ht 6: Jack Gordon, Elwood Stillwell, Gruff Garland, Norrie Isbister, 1min 23.4 Ht 7: Oliver Hart, Harold Jackson, Chick Brine, Joe Crowther, 1min 23.2 Ht 8: Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, Elwood Stillwell, Jack Hancock, 1min 22.8 Ht 9: Jack Gordon, Frank Woodroffe, Norrie Isbister, Curly Thompson, 1min 24.0 Captains Match Race Oliver Hart bt Gruff Garland, 1min 21.8 Match Race Laurie Packer, Oliver Hart, Gruff Garland, Jack Gordon, 1min 26.8 Scottish Silver Gauntlet Ht 1: Laurie Packer, Norrie Isbister, [ Curly Thompson, Dick Dennie, 1min 25.0 Ht 2: Joe Crowther, Frank Woodroffe, [ Jack Hancock, Jack Clemenson, 1min 28.4 Ht 3: Oliver Hart, Elwood Stillwell, [ Harold Jackson, Leo Lungo, 1min 24.2 Ht 4: Gruff Garland, Jack Gordon, [ Bill Nisbet, Chick Brine, 1min 24.2 Final: Oliver Hart, Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, Joe Crowther, 1min 22.8 Marine Gardens, Edinburgh Tuesday 25 July 1939 Edinburgh avenged their White City defeat two weeks previously by beating at the Marine Gardens by a huge 29 point margin in the ACU Northern Cup competition. George Greenwood got well away in the first heat to put Edinburgh one up. In the next heat Oliver Hart clocked the fastest time of the meeting, 1min 20.8sec, and the next nine heats all went to Edinburgh, before Gruff Garland, the captain, won the twelfth to register 's first success of the evening. The last two heats also went to the home side. In the sixth heat, Laurie Packer and Joe Crowther, who were fighting for second place, both came down and Will Lowther, who was last, also fell but re-mounted to finish half-a-lap behind Jack Chapman. In the ninth, Harold Jackson and Gruff Garland snatched the lead at the first corner, but after the first lap Jack Chapman and Laurie Packer moved past Garland, and then on the third lap Chapman got past Jackson for an Edinburgh 4-2. George Greenwood and Oliver Hart both registered 12-point maximums and Jack Chapman was also unbeaten by a rider. 's Gilbert Craven won the Reserves Race, and Oliver Hart won

28 the Scottish Silver Torch from team-mates George Greenwood and Jack Hyland, with 's Will Lowther being the other rider in the Final. Lowther's heat spill occurred while taking avoiding action, which ended with him crashing into the fence at speed after failing to find a clear way past the fallers. Will, like the other two, was uninjured, and he managed to re-mount to collect the second place points on offer. The crowd cheered Will on, obviously impressed by his grit and determimnation. Will, like his team-mates on the day, Crowther and Garland, would be a valuable performer for Tigers in the immediate post-war era. He later moved to his favourite Newcastle track in a swap deal for one of the Hodgson brothers (Jack), before ending his career at Motherwell. Gruff Garland, also an immediate post-war Tiger, would also turn out for Bradford and the Ashfield Giants before retiring to Australia. Crowther left in 1950, before joining Motherwell and then retiring to manage Leicester. Edinburgh (ACU Northern Cup) Edinburgh George Greenwood = 12 Gruff Garland = 4+1 Bill Birtwell = 4+1 Harold Jackson = 7 Oliver Hart = 12 Will Lowther = 7 Jack Hyland = 9+3 Joe Crowther 0 0 f 0 = 0 Laurie Packer 3 f 1 f = 4 Bob Wells = 4 Jack Chapman 2' = 11+1 Fred Belliveau = 1 Wilf Plant 1 1 = 2 Gilbert Craven 2 2 = 4+1 Leo Lungo 1 1 = 2 Elwood Stillwell 0 0 = 0 Ht 1: George Greenwood, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, Bill Birtwell, 1min 21.2 Ht 2: Oliver Hart, Jack Hyland, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, 1min 20.8 Ht 3: Laurie Packer, Jack Chapman, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, 1min 23.4 Ht 4: George Greenwood, Gilbert Craven, Wilf Plant, Joe Crowther, 1min 23.6 Ht 5: Oliver Hart, Jack Hyland, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, 1min 20.2 Ht 6: Jack Chapman, Will Lowther (frm), Laurie Packer (f), Joe Crowther (f), 1min 23.4 Ht 7: George Greenwood, Bill Birtwell, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, 1min 23.8 Ht 8: Oliver Hart, Will Lowther, Leo Lungo, Elwood Stillwell, 1min 21.6 Ht 9: Jack Chapman, Harold Jackson, Laurie Packer, Gruff Garland, 1min 23.0 Ht 10: George Greenwood, Will Lowther, Bill Birtwell, Joe Crowther, 1min 22.8 Ht 11: Oliver Hart, Jack Hyland, Fred Belliveau, Bob Wells, 1min 22.2 Ht 12: Gruff Garland, Gilbert Craven, Leo Lungo, Laurie Packer (ef), 1min 23.8 Ht 13: Jack Hyland, Bob Wells, Wilf Plant, Elwood Stillwell, 1min 22.8 Ht 14: Jack Chapman, Harold Jackson, Bill Birtwell, Fred Belliveau, 1min 22.2 Reserves Race Gilbert Craven, Bill Nisbet, Dick Dennie, Norrie Isbister (ef), 1min 27.0 Scottish Silver Torch Ht 1: George Greenwood, Bob Wells, Harold Jackson, Jack Chapman (ef), 1min 23.2 Ht 2: Jack Hyland, Will Lowther, [ Gruff Garland, Laurie Packer, 1min 21.6 Ht 3: Oliver Hart, Bill Birtwell, [ Fred Belliveau, Joe Crowther, 1min 21.2 Final: Oliver Hart, George Greenwood, Jack Hyland, Will Lowther, 1min 21.8 Custom House Stadium, West Ham, London Tuesday 1 August 1939 The team were programmed to meet West Ham Hawks, the Hammers second team, in a second-half challenge match. Unfortunately, the track was waterlogged and the fixture rained-off. The home management had engaged a piper to lead the visitors out, but sadly he wasn't needed.

29 Brough Park, Newcastle Monday 7 August 1939 The Speedway News carried a short report of this ACU Northern Cup fixture at Brough Park. The headline stated: Outclassed and the result backs this up. The fact that Newcastle were without Billy Lamont and Rol Stobart indicates that the damage might have been worse had they been at full strength. The Geordies had two full maximum men in George Pepper and Maurice Stobart, whilst the best Lion was Bob Wells on 9. Will Lowther's 7 was a creditable performance, but the remainder of the side did not produce the goods. Newcastle (ACU Northern Cup) Newcastle George Pepper = 12 Harold Jackson = 4 Norman Hargreaves = 6+3 Gruff Garland = 0 Syd Littlewood = 7+2 Will Lowther = 7 Reg Hay = 8 Joe Crowther = 0 Maurice Stobart = 12 Bob Wells = 9 Kid Curtis = 8+2 Fred Belliveau = 0 Will Goodall 2 nf = 2+1 Dick Geary 1 1 = 2 Ken Blair 1 2 = 3+2 Elwood Stillwell 0 0 = 0 Ht 1: George Pepper, Norman Hargreaves (nf), Harold Jackson (nf), Gruff Garland (nf), 75.0 Ht 2: Syd Littlewood, Will Lowther, Reg Hay, Joe Crowther, 78.2 Ht 3: Maurice Stobart, Bob Wells, Kid Curtis, Fred Belliveau, 78.0 Ht 4: George Pepper, Will Goodall, Dick Geary, Elwood Stillwell, 76.4 Ht 5: Reg Hay, Harold Jackson, Syd Littlewood, Gruff Garland, 79.4 Ht 6: Maurice Stobart, Kid Curtis, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, 77.2 Ht 7: George Pepper, Norman Hargreaves, Bob Wells, Fred Belliveau, 78.0 Ht 8: Will Lowther, Reg Hay, Ken Blair, Joe Crowther, 80.0 Ht 9: Maurice Stobart, Kid Curtis, Harold Jackson, Gruff Garland, 78.6 Ht 10: George Pepper, Norman Hargreaves, Will Lowther, Joe Crowther, 76.8 Ht 11: Bob Wells, Reg Hay, Syd Littlewood, Fred Belliveau, 79.2 Ht 12: Kid Curtis, Ken Blair, Dick Geary, Gruff Garland, 79.8 Ht 13: Bob Wells, Syd Littlewood, Will Goodall (nf), Elwood Stillwell (nf), 79.4 Ht 14: Maurice Stobart, Norman Hargreaves, Harold Jackson, Fred Belliveau, 79.2 ACU NORTHERN CUP TABLE (Not completed due to the outbreak of war) Team Mts Won Drn Lst For Agn Pts Newcastle Sheffield Edinburgh Belle Vue Reserves

30 GLASGOW RIDER AVERAGES 1939 ACU Northern Cup Rider H/A Mts Rds Pts Bon Tot CMA Dick Geary Home Away Total Will Lowther Home Away Total Gilbert Craven Home Away Total Harold Jackson Home Away Total Bob Wells Home Away Total Gruff Garland Home Away Total Joe Crowther Home Away Total Fred Belliveau Home Away Total