Christopher John Kitchen (2 August 1938 – 21 July 1990) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1][2][3] He earned two international caps for the Great Britain national speedway team.[1]
| Born | 2 August 1938 Lancaster, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 21 July 1990 (aged 51) Lancaster, England |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1958–1963 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1960, 1963–1966 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 1958 | Bradford Boomerangs |
| 1962 | Bradford Panthers |
| Team honours | |
| 1958 | National Trophy |
| 1958 | Britannia Shield |
| 1963, 1964 | Northern League |
Career
editKitchen started his British leagues career in 1958 as he captained the Bradford Boomerangs junior side[4] and in the 1958 Speedway National League he rode for Belle Vue Aces, where he helped the team win the National Trophy.[1][5] He would ride for the Manchester club for six years until the end of 1963. He also had spells with Bradford Panthers and Sheffield Tigers in the Provincial League.[1]
From 1963 he rode for Sheffield and in 1965 topped the team's averages, which led him to represent Sheffield in the British League Riders' Championship.[6]
His last season was in 1966 and he retired aged just 28. He was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of Ivor Hughes in 1966, which seemed instrumental in his decision to retire.
Family
editHis uncle Bill Kitchen was a speedway rider.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Jack Kitchen" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Speedway News". Motherwell Times. 13 June 1958. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Sheffield Tigers Speedway Post-War Legends 2001". London Cigarette Card Company. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Speedway Tonight". Wishaw Press. 13 June 1958. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Jack Kitchen". WWOS Backup. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
- ^ "Kitchen shines but Sheffield go down". Bristol Evening Post. 20 August 1960. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Speedway News". Daily Mirror. 26 May 1959. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.