Wimbledonyears61part2

This was the worst meeting seen so far this season. Leicester might just as well not put in an appearance at Plough Lane. Few of the riders appeared to be interested in the meeting and it was small wonder that the power-house Dons did not "whitewash" the Midlanders.
Wimbledon ran up eleven 5-1 wins in thirteen heats, and split the other. Only one Leicester rider, Alf Hagon,managed to win a heat. This was a match the least said the better.
Bright spot of the meeting was in the second half when that extremely talented Danish rider Arne Pander swept the board. Pander's live-wire approach to the racing was an object lesson for Leicester to take notice of. Here was a man prepared to show the Wimbledon riders that they were not invincible on their own strip.
Pawel Waloszek, Leicester's Polish rider, also got the feel of the track in the second-half, and earned himself a well-deserved round of applause.
WIMBLEDON: Ronnie Moore 10, Cyril Brine 10, Ron How 10, Gerald Jackson 10, Bob Andrews 10, Cyril Maidment 8, Gil Goldfinch 3.
LEICESTER : Alf Hagon 5, B Elliot 5, J Geran 4, D Hankins 2, Pawel Waloszek 1, Guy Allot 0, C Barsby 0.

There were plenty of thrills during the Southampton- Wimbledon K.O.Cup semi-final. A last heat decision gave Southampton victory by 41-37.
By heat 6 Southampton were leading by six points, and seemed assured of further success in the following heat Knutsson and Golden built up an early lead, but Maidment and Andrews came hard inside the latter to divide the race points.
Wimbledon further reduced Southampton's lead in heat nine, when they substituted How for Brine and took a maximum heat win.
Wimbledon needed a 4-2 win in the last race to force a replay. Knutsson streaked from the gate to complete a maximum, but the best they could manage was a second from How for Southampton's Chum Taylor effectively managed third place to make the match safe for the "Saints."
SOUTHAMPTON : Bjorn Knutsson 12, Barry Briggs 11, Chum Taylor 6, Albe Golden 4, D Bradley 4, Cyril Roger 2, Pete Vandenberg 2.
WIMBLEDON: Ronnie Moore 10, Ron How 9, Gerald Jackson 5, Bob Andrews 5, Cyril Maidment 4, Cyril Brine 3, Gil Goldfinch 1.

Oxford went the way of other visitors to Plough Lane this season: they lost by the heavy score of 52-26. Yet the match did reveal at least one visitor who was prepared to try and make a match of things in every race. Stylish Arne Pander, hero of the second-half of the previous week's debacle versus Leicester, fought in every race to score points.
The "Dons" carried all the big guns and only Pander was able to live with the home men. Ronnie Genz ran up eight points, quite an acheivement for a visitor these days, but the rest of the team were mediocre. It is as though some inferiority complex comes over the lesser lights of visiting teams when they ride at Wimbledon. Star men are never troubled and beat Wimbledon riders as easily as though they were on their own strips - but the performances of second-strings and reserves are too poor to comment about.
Arne Pander was the only Oxford rider to win a race, and included Ron How and Ronnnie Moore among his victims. A great and glorious rider this Danish boy: it is a pity some of his colleagues do not capture his spirit and determination to get in and mix with the opposition.
WIMBLEDON : Ronnie Moore 11, Ron How 10, Bob Andrews 10, Cyril Brine 6, Cyril Maidment 6, Gerry Jackson 6, Gil Goldfinch 3.
OXFORD : Arne Pander 11, Ronnie Genz 8, Jim Tebby 3, G McGregor 2, G Major 1, D Dunton 1, H Byford 0.

Rumours all around the place but when I last spoke to him Bob Andrews had not, repeat not, asked Wimbledon for a transfer. He had, however, given the matter quite a lot of thought.
"I keep thinking I would be a lot better off with a weaker team. Riding for Wimbledon does cost me money. After all , you don't get many extra rides."
"A team has to be six points down before they can use a tactical substitute - and can you remember the last time we were six down? Even if we are, Ronnie Moore would almost certainly get the first crack; then probably Ron How. So unless we make three switches, I'm unlikely to get that extra ride."
"If I did leave, though, I suppose Leicester would be my first choose. If I leave. "

Southampton stopped the Wimbledon walk-overs in their South of England Cup match - and gave the Dons the biggest scare they've had in years. Seven heats gone and the Saints were 14 points down. It looked the mixture as before.
Briggs was in trouble, having blown up his motor in the first heat (the fourth time in succession this has happened). Knutsson hadn't won a race. The Saints looked whacked.
In heat 9 they suddenly clicked and the match burst back into glorious life. Briggs, on Vandenberg's machine, and Knutsson smashed home a 5-1. Briggs and Roger followed with a 4-2. Knutsson again - against Ronnie Moore. He held the lead, lost it, wonder of wonders buzzed past Moore back into the lead and Saints shared points but were still eight down.
Knutsson and Briggs again, another 5-1. Four points down with one heat to go. But this pair had run out of rides and Moore and Andrews cracked back a 5-1 in the final heat. Dons were home 43-35. But didn't they know they'd been in a fight.
I've not heard the Wimbledon crowd go so crazy with excitement, or figure their team might be held, for some time.
WIMBLEDON : Ronnie Moore 11, Bob Andrews 8, Gerry Jackson 7, Cyril Maidment 6, Cyril Brine 5, Ron How 5, Gil Goldfinch 3.
SOUTHAMPTON : Bjorn Knutsson 11, Barry Briggs 9, D Bradley 5, Pete Vandenberg 3, Chum Taylor 2, C Roger 2, Albe Golden 1.

After being 10 points behind after three heats Norwich fought back to level pegging with everything depending on the final heat. Norwich hopes were raised when Bales and Chamberlain leapt into an early lead, but both How and Maidment swept past them within a lap.
How's tactics in this race met with disapproval from a section of the crowd, actions of this sort are a poor advert, for the sport. This unfortunately was supposed to be appreciation of a brilliant piece of riding.
Norwich supporters in general are not satisfied with the present Norwich team, and steps must be taken to improve it.
NORWICH : Ove Fundin 10, Reg Trott 8, Billy Bales 7, J Chamberlain 5, D Newton 3, D Strutt 2, J Debbage 2.
WIMBLEDON : Ron How 11, Ronnie Moore 10, Cyril Maidment 7, Cyril Brine 5, Gerry Jackson 4, Bob Andrews 4, Gil Goldfinch 0.

New Cross suffered the same fate as other visitors to Wimbledon - they lost by 42 points to the powerful home combination. New Cross, even with such talented riders as Eric Williams and Doug Davies in their side, were no match for the all-conquering Dons, who ran out victors 60-18.
It was processional all the time, with Wimbledon recording nine 5-1s, three 4-2s and one drawn heat over the thirteen races.
Wimbledon riders had a field day at points scoring; the New Cross team had a trouncing; the fans were bored - and I spent most of the evening in the bar. The match was too much of a forgone conclusion to whip up any sort of enthusiasm.
WIMBLEDON : Bob Andrews 12, Ron How 11, Ronnie Moore 9, Cyril Brine 9, Gerald Jackson 8, Cyril Maidment 8, Gil Goldfinch 3.
NEW CROSS : Reg Luckhurst 6, Jimmy Gooch 4, Leo McAuliffe 3, Split Waterman 2, Doug Davies 2, Eric Williams 1, J Fitzpatrick 0.

If Wimbledon are one of the two "strongest" line-ups in Britain they did not appear to be so at Belle Vue on Saturday. In fact the Dons were very much a one man team for Ron How was the only visitor to extend the Belle Vue riders. He was top scorer for his team despite a machine failure in heat 6 when used to replace Cyril Brine with Wimbledon six points in arrears and he rode a brilliant race in the second half to outpace Peter Craven and be the only Dons qualifier for the Scratch Race final.
Brine, Ronnie Moore and Bryce Subritzky were concerned in one of those exciting races in which the lead for second place changed hands at almost every bend and it was not until Moore pushed Brine in front at the last bend was the race decided.
Belle Vue's teamwork was never better. The Peter Craven and Jack Kitchen pairing was superb in heat 7 and then Ron Johnston and Dick Fisher obviously decided to prove themselves their equals with a great ride against the same Wimbledon pairing of Bob Andrews and Cyril Maidment for full points. This was a match of surprises with the biggest shock being the apparent ease of the Belle Vue team in mastering what were expected to be formitable opposition from the London team.
BELLE VUE : Peter Craven 11, Dick Fisher 10, Bob Duckworth 9, Ron Johnston 8, Jack Kitchen 8, J Yacobi 2, Bryce Subritzky 0.
WIMBLEDON : Ron How 9, Ronnie Moore 8, Cyril Maidment 4, Cyril Brine 3, Gerald Jackson 3, Bob Andrews 2, Gil Goldfinch 1.

Cyril Maidment and Bob Andrews emerged the winning pair in the novel handicap pairs championship at Wimbledon. After progressing through their qualifying heats, they took a maximum 5-1 in the final to clinch the issue.
Wimbledon's partisan supporters again took exception to Ove Fundin, the World Champion, and booed him out of the car park after the meeting. It seems Ove can do no right with those people who just refuse to recognise what a brilliant tactician the Swede is.
Reason for Ove earning their displeasure is because he had the "audacity" to make a race of his every appearance on the track, particularly in heat 9 when out against Ron How.
It is time supporters realised that there is no emnity between these two men. they are good friends and the spirit of rivalry between them on the track is a natural reaction of professional sportsmen. These few supporters earn speedway a bad name by their actions and should come to their senses.
SCORERS: Ron How (11), Ronnie Genz (10) 21; Ronnie Moore (7), Cyril Brine (11) 18; Peter Craven (8), Gerry Jackson (7) 15; Cyril Maidment (11), Bob Andrews (4) 15; Ove Fundin (11), Reg Trott (0) 11; Bjorn Knutsson (2), Barry Briggs(7) 9.
FIRST SEMI-FINAL: Genz, How, Moore, Brine
SECOND SEMI-FINAL: Maidment, Craven, Jackson, Andrews
FINAL: Maidment, Andrews, Genz, How

Wimbledon came, they saw and they conquered the Old Kent Road with a wonderful display of teamwork that took them to a 44-34 victory over New Cross.
Bobby Andrews was Wimbledon's top pointsman, with Ron How also recording double figures. The rest of the Wimbledon team , with the noticeable exception of Gerry Jackson, were more than a match for the homesters. Jackson's riding was a big disappointment, for he always manages to do well at Wimbledon.
Eric Williams, Jimmy Gooch and Doug Davies were the best men for New Cross, but had little support from the rest of the side.
This was a good win for the visiting side, lending further emphasis to the fact that they are, without doubt, the greatest club side in the world.
NEW CROSS : Jimmy Gooch 9, Eric Williams 7, Split Waterman 6, Doug Davies 6 Reg Luckhurst 4, Leo McAuliffe 1, Johnnie Fitzpatrick 1.
WIMBLEDON : Bob Andrews 11, Ron How 10, Ronnie Moore 9, Cyril Brine 8, Cyril Maidment 4, Gil Goldfinch 3, Gerald Jackson 0.

Southampton were expected to put up a good show at Plough Lane, but they went the way of all visitors to South London, Wimbledon emerging winners by 49-29.
In recent weeks, the "Saints" have been hailed as the side most likely to topple the nigh invincible Wimbledon team. On this showing, one wonders how the critics arrived at this opinion.
Wimbledon set about their south-coast opponents in workmanlike fashion, and once they had established their lead, the Southamptonites had reached the point of no return. Solidarity throughout their ranks was instrumental in another spendid win for the world's greatest club side - Wimbledon.
WIMBLEDON: Bob Andrews 12, Ron How 9, Ronnie Moore 8, Cyril Maidment 6, Gerald Jackson 6, Cyril Brine 5 , Gil Goldfinch 3.
SOUTHAMPTON: Bjorn Knutsson 12, Barry Briggs 10, Cyril Roger 2, P Scott 2, Peter Vandenberg 2, D Bradley 1, Albe Golden 0.

Southampton 49 points, Wimbledon 29, rare indeed is the occasion when the mighty Dons find themselves on the short end of such a result. Admittedly the League Champions were without Ronnie Moore but similarly the Saints' had Chum Taylor on the injured list.
After two races the home team had a lead of four points, however in heat 3 Andrews trapped smartly and was shortly joined by Maidment who rode brilliantly to pass both Bradley and Roger. Then misfortune struck the luckless Dons in the shape of a seized motor and the visitors chance to level the scores had gone.
Three races and two 5 to 1's later Southampton were twelve points ahead and from then on it was just a question of "how many." True, the Dons never stopped fighting, in fact even two of them started fighting in the pits! Peter Vandenberg made the most of his team place by getting six paid eight points and Albe Golden although only scoring three points, showed a welcome return to form and deserved a far higher tally.
SOUTHAMPTON: Bjorn Knutsson 12, Barry Briggs 11, Cyril Roger 8, Peter Vandenberg 6, D Bradley 5, P Scott 4, Albe Golden 3.
WIMBLEDON: Ron How 11,Bob Andrews 10, Cyril Brine 4, Cyril Maidment 2, Gerald Jackson 2, Gil Goldfinch 0, Roy Trigg 0.

They say no man does not make a team. But Coventry can thank their lucky stars that Winmledon's top Don Ronnie Moore was unfit to ride in this National League clash at Brandon.
Wimbledon were beaten 43-35. With Moore they should - and could - have won. But as for Joe Public's point of view it was just as well that Moore DID not ride for it was a slendid meeting... fast racing, exciting finishes.
Not that Moore, the Maestro of the slick, dusty Brandon bowl, would have slowed down the meeting. He usually rides it so well that it may have too one-sided to have been so interesting.
Good all-round team work gave Coventry their win, which on the night was 100 per cent deserved. Skipper Jack Young, riding back into something like the form of the "Youngie" of old - doesn't he always near World Championshiptime? - headed the home score chart with nine, well supported by Nicholls (8) and Les Owen (8).
Ron Howe, the flying farmer, reaped his usual harvest - 13 by this time - with Cyril Maidment weighing in with 9.
COVENTRY: Jack Young 9, Nick Nicholls 8, Les Owen 8, Ron Mountford 6, Nigel Boocock 6, Jim Lightfoot 6, Kazimierz Bentke 0.
WIMBLEDON: Ron How 13,Cyril Maidment 8, Cyril Brine 7, Gerald Jackson 4, Bob Andrews 3, Gil Goldfinch 0, Roy Trigg 0.

Wimbledon looked every inch league champs when, complete with special machines and special fuel, they outgunned a spirited Ipswich team on their own Foxhall Heath raceway.
It was the "Witches" first home reverse of the the season . . . but how they fought against a "Dons" team carrying three potential maximum men in Ron Moore, Andrews and Ron How. In fact, Ipswich probably lost this match through the inability of top men Moore and Cresp to really get on terms with the Londoners' "big three."
Certainly the Ipswich second strings - Unstead apart - were more than a match for their counterparts. And reserve Blokdyk was an inspiration. He even held off Ronnie Moore in heat 9 while Pete Moore motored up front.
"Dons" piled on the pressure right from the off, and by heat4, the homesters were a disastrous 8 points in arrears. Then yougsters Goody and Blokdyk tore away from Brine and Goldfinch and things looked brighter.
But the visitors simply carried too much pull and power. Only other Ipswich success was in heat 9 when Blokdyk rode a blinder, beating Ronnie Moore all ends up.
The young South African showed his startingly best form since his re-appearance on this country's speedways. Great shame was he lost all chance in heat 8, when he reared and stalled at the gate.
Other highspots were Mcgillivray's battle with Ronnie Moore in heat 6 and Squibb's terrific dust-up with Maidment in heat 10.
Racing was always intriguing . . . had Peter Moore and Cresp been on top form, and had not Jackson made a couple of greased lightning gates, then it might have been a very different story.
IPSWICH: Peter Moore 9, Ray Cresp 8, Colin Goody 5, Jimmy Squibb 4, Les McGillivray 4, T Blokdyk 4, J Unstead 0.
WIMBLEDON: Ron How 11,Ronnie Moore 10, Bob Andrews 10, Gerald Jackson 7, Cyril Maidment 3, Cyril Brine 2, Gil Goldfinch 1.

A Star-studded programme for the Internationale meeting at Blunsdon on Saturday drew few spectators and even less enthusiasm. The leading riders, Ronnie Moore, Barry Briggs, Bjorn Knutsson and Arne Pander had little difficulty winning their various heats against other riders. The only sparks that flew occured when any of the four came up against the other three. This was deadly grim speedway as far as spectators were concerned.
Ronnie Moore was outstanding and completed a well deserved maximum 15 points. Briggs and Bob Andrews each had 13 points, Bjorn finished with 12 and Arne Pander 11. Both Arne and Bjorn were a little unlucky.
Heat 13 was the unlucky one for Pander. In his previous three rides he had dropped only one point and that to Ronnie Moore. Pander had led for three laps over Knutsson and Andrews who were battling for second place when he suddenly raised his hand by the pits bend to signify engine trouble and let Andrews through to win with Knutsson in second place.
Knutsson lost his first point when he and Barry Briggs bumped going into the second bend in heat 10. Briggs recovered more quickly and soon passed Teodorowicz to gain the lead. Knutsson only just made second place by beating Teo at the pits bend and crossing the finishing line half-a-length in front of the Robin.
Bob Andrews seemed to have the gods on his side. Twice he won heats by default as it were. The one mentioned earlier when Pander dropped out and then in heat 17. Doug Davies (New Cross) who put up a very creditable performance, was in the lead for three laps with Per Tage Svensson and Andrews battling it out for the second berth.
At the pits bend Davies took the corner a little too wide, cannoned off the fence and fell in a direct line with Svensson who was close behind. Terrific quick reaction and a life-saving leap towards the centre of the track by Davies enabled Svensson to go through but the almost imperceptible delay allowed Andrews, who was hugging the white line, through without hindrance to win.
In heat 19, Moore's last ride of the evening, after a bunch up, on the second bend he came out at the tail-end behind Brian Meredith, Bjorn Knutsson and Ian Williams. He did not stay there for long. Soon he was past Meredith, then Williams and then on the third lap with a stylish piece of riding he caught and passed Knutsson to finish unbeaten.
The final heat, heat 20, showed Pander and Briggs tussling wheel-to-wheel for almost the entire heat with Pander getting the verdict.
SPEEDWAY INTERNATIONALE
SCORERS: Ronnie Moore 15, Barry Briggs 13, Bob Andrews 13, Bjorn Knutsson 12, Arne Pander 11, Per Tage Svensson 10, Teo Teodorowicz 8, Doug Davies 8, Ian Williams 6, Ronnie Genz 5, Mike Broadbanks 5, Split Waterman 4, Neil Street 4, Jimmy Squibb 3, Neil Mortimer 2, George White 1, Brian Meredith 0, Jack Geran 0.

The unsporting section of the Wimbledon crowd gave Ove Fundin a good booing when he put in an appearance at Plough Lane for his match race clash with Ron How, followed by the Wimbledon - Norwich National League match.
This bad behaviour by a section of the Plough Lane crowd reflects badly on the sport, and it is time for them to acknowledge the fact that as a rider, tactician and sportsman, the Swede is a credit to speedway.
Fundin was perhaps a shade unlucky to lose the first leg of his match race clash with Ron How, for in one heat when challanged strongly, he was "filled up." In the league match that followed, Fundin saved the event from becoming a farce, with his determination to win races he put on 14 of his side's 24 points. The Swede only lost one heat, the fifth to How, but as with most riders who beat him, Fundin reversed the tables in the final heat of the match.
WIMBLEDON: Ron How 11,Ronnie Moore 10, Cyril Maidment 9, Bob Andrews 7, Gil Goldfinch 7, Gerald Jackson 7, Cyril Brine 3.
NORWICH: Ove Fundin 14, Billy Bales 5, Johnny Chamberlain 2, Reg Trott 2, John Debbage 1, Derek Struut 0, Dennis Newton 0.

Although this match provided some good racing a look at the individual scorecharts will quickly reveal the troubles. Each team contained riders who were simply out classed and most races developed into a battle between the heat leaders. Mind you the second strings did provide one or two good races amongst themselves but they were usually nearly a quater of a lap behind their partners.
Briggs won the opening heat with ease and Subritzky caused a big surprise by passing Peter Moore on the last lap, an effort which gave the Belle Vue rider his only points of the meeting. How passed Ronnie Moore to win heat 2 and his partnership with Bob Andrews gave us the two best races, both against Barry Briggs in heats 8 and 14. In the first Briggs managed to split the pairing, but couldn't pass Andrews and the New Zealander dropped his only point. Just to upset the scale this was the only race that Andrews won. In their second clash Briggs again had to come from the back and this time How nearly proved to be the stumbling block for it was the last lap before Briggs could gain the final advantage. Biggest cheer of the night was for Les Owen in heat 9 when he followed Peter Craven home for a 5-1 over Cresp and Moore.
ENGLAND: Peter Craven 17, Ron How 11, Bob Andrews 9, Ken McKinlay 2, Les Owen (res)2.
NEW ZEALAND: Barry Briggs 17, Ronnie Moore 15, Bob Duckworth 2, Bryce Subritzky 2, Dick Campbell (res)0.
AUSTRALIA: Jack Young 13, Johnny Chamberlain 11, Peter Moore 4, Jack Geran 3, Ray Cresp 0.