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George Greenwood (speedway rider)

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George Greenwood
Born28 October 1911 (1911-10-28)
Baildon, West Yorkshire, England
DiedQ4, 1988 (aged 77)
Lambeth, London
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1929Halifax
1929, 1938Leeds Lions
1930–1932, 1934, 1936–1937Wembley Lions
1933, 1936–1938Nottingham Wasps
1936Cardiff White City
1937Hackney Wick Wolves
1939Edinburgh Thistles
1939Middlesbrough Bears
Individual honours
1936Provincial League
Riders' champion
1936Leading average
Team honours
1929English Dirt Track League Champion
1930,1931Southern League Champion
1932National League Champion
1930, 1932London Cup Winner
1931, 1932National Trophy Winner
1937Provincial Trophy
1937Provincial League Coronation Cup

George Greenwood (28 October 1911 – Q4 1988) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2][3]

Speedway career

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In 1929, Greenwood was the Leeds track champion at the age of 17, and soon became a major star around the Northern tracks.[4] His form soon attracted the attention of Wembley Lions, who signed him in 1929, for the 1930 season. He was one of the first riders recognised as developing team riding (where both riders attempt to hold the front of the race together), forming a successful partnership with Harry Whitfield.[2]

In 1930, he was selected for Great British team to tour New Zealand. It was the first team to leave the shores and consisted of Greenwood, Whitfield, Jim Kempster, Roger Frogley, Frank Bond and Squib Burton.[5] He was later the captain of the Nottingham team and became the 1936 Provincial League Riders' champion and topped the averages during the 1936 Provincial Speedway League.[2][6]

At retirement he had earned two international caps for the England national speedway team.[3]

Personal life

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He married Ivy Elliston in 1937 and after World War II, he managed a motor export shop (owned by Wembley speedway manager Alec Jackson) in Harrow Road, Kensal Green, London and was also part of the Wembley Lions management team.

Players cigarette cards

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Greenwood is listed as number 16 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Speedway Riders 16 George Greenwood". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  3. ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Dirt Track Racing". Halifax Evening Courier. 3 July 1929. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Speedway Toursits". Nottingham Journal. 30 October 1930. Retrieved 10 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 26 November 2023.