John Glaholme Ormston (born 30 October 1909 in West Cornforth - died 22 June 2007) was a motorcycle speedway rider who finished runner-up in the Star Riders' Championship in 1935, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship. He also competed in the first ever World Final in 1936 (finishing equal fifth).[1] He earned 14 international caps for the England national speedway team.[2]
 | |
| Born | 30 October 1909 West Cornforth, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 22 June 2007 (aged 97) Darlington, England |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1929-1932 | Wembley Lions |
| 1934 | Birmingham Bulldogs |
| 1935-1938 | Harringay Tigers |
| Individual honours | |
| 1930 | London Riders' Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1932 | National League Champion |
| 1930, 1931 | Southern League Champion |
| 1931, 1932 | National Trophy Winner |
| 1930, 1932, 1935 | London Cup Winner |
Career
editHaving ridden for Middlesbrough, he left in 1929 to become captain of the Wembley Lions team aged twenty one.[3] While riding for Wembley he won the first ever London Riders' Championship at the Crystal Palace as well as the Southern League twice and the London Cup. He won the inaugural National League with Wembley in 1932 and was a member of the England team in the first-ever England v Australia Test Match at Wimbledon Stadium. He rode for England in a total of 13 Test matches against Australia, the first in 1931[4] and of which 3 were in Australia in 1937–38.
He subsequently joined Birmingham (Hall Green) in 1934, and then from 1935 to 1938 rode for the Harringay Tigers in London.[5]
Jack was the last surviving competitor from the original World Final before he died aged 97.[6]
World Final Appearances
edit- 1936 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 17pts - 1938 - London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 9pts
After retirement
editAfter Jack retired from speedway at the end of the 1938 season he became an established racehorse trainer, with over four hundred winners to his credit before he retired from training in 1976.
Players cigarette cards
editOrmston is listed as number 34 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[7]
References
edit- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "Jack Ormston Again". Daily Herald. 18 July 1930. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Jack Ormston". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 25 June 193. Retrieved 4 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 27 December 2023.
- ^ "Jack Ormston Obituary". Daily Telegraph. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2008.
- ^ "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.