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Scotland national speedway team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scotland
SWC Wins0
Best result
World Pairs finalists (1970, 1971)

The Scotland national speedway team were one of the teams that competed in international team motorcycle speedway. Scottish riders now compete for the Great Britain team.

History

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The Scotland speedway team first competed in international competition in test matches during 1928. They continued to hold test matches every decade until their pool of riders diminished during the mid-1980s.

The team competed as a stand-alone nation four times at the Speedway World Team Cup, first at the 1974 Speedway World Team Cup, finishing third in British qualification round.[1] Then again in 1975, 1976 and 1977. Previously in the World Team Cup from 1960 to 1969, any Scottish rider was eligible to represent Great Britain.[2] This was also the case after their fourth appearance in 1977, although controversially some riders would also ride under the English flag.[3]

Scotland's best achievement came in reaching the final of the Speedway World Pairs Championship in 1970 and 1971, a competition they competed in from 1969 to 1976.[4]

Major world finals

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World Pairs Championship

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Year Venue Standings (Pts) Riders Pts
1970 Sweden
Malmö
Malmö Stadion
1. New Zealand New Zealand (28)
2. Sweden Sweden (25)
3. England England (19)
4. Scotland Scotland (18)
5. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (11)
6. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (7)
7. Denmark Denmark (nc)
Jim McMillan 10
Bert Harkins 8
1971 Poland
Rybnik
Rybnik Municipal Stadium
1. Poland Poland (30)
2. New Zealand New Zealand (25)
3. Sweden Sweden (22)
4. Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia (17)
5. Scotland Scotland (16)
6. Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia (10)
7. Austria Austria (6)
Jim McMillan 11
George Hunter 5
1976 Sweden
Eskilstuna
Snälltorpet
1. England England (27)
2. Denmark Denmark (24)
3. Sweden Sweden (22)
4. Australia Australia (16)
5. New Zealand New Zealand (15)
6. Scotland Scotland (12)
7. Poland Poland (10)
Jim McMillan 10
George Hunter 2

International caps

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Since the advent of the Speedway Grand Prix era, international caps earned by riders is largely restricted to international competitions, whereas previously test matches between two teams were a regular occurrence.[5] The list of caps includes Scottish select matches.

Rider Caps
Brady, Alistair 1
Beaton, Bobby 15
Beaton, Jim 4
Beaton, Mick 3
Burnett, Eric 2
Caffrey, Colin 4
Campbell, Andy 1
Collins, Brian 13
Darling, Ian 1
Duncan, Harry 1
Gallacher, Jim 7
Gilbertson, Ross 4
Grierson, Jock 1
Harkins, Bert 19
Hunter, George 28
Lambert, Roger 2
Landels Bill 3
Lawson, Steve 2
Lazarus, Larry 2
MacLean, Harry 4
MacKenzie, George 2
McDermott, Steve 2
McGregor, Gordon 10
McKinlay, Ken 23
McKinna, Charlie 9
McKinna, Kenny 1
McMillan, Bill 4
McMillan, Jim 19
McQueen, Drew 4
Mark, Bob 7
Meldrum, Andy 8
Michie, Lawrence 1
Miller, Tommy 18
Reid, Andy 5
Robertson, Wattie 5
Rourke, Benny 3
Stewart, Len 1
Tannock, Jimmy 1
Templeton, Doug 22
Templeton, Willie 25
Trownson, Dave 1
Waite, Peter 1
Wilson, Ian 2
Wilson, John 5
Wilson, Willie 12

References

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  1. ^ "1974 WORLD TEAM CUP". International Speedway. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  2. ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 134. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  3. ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 27–28. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
  4. ^ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
  5. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 14 October 2023.