Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 6 September 1929
Dirt Track.
Wombwell Thrills.
Star Programme and Record Crowd.
It was a great night at Wombwell on Monday and the crowd was not slow in showing appreciation of the splendid programme provided. The South Yorks Sports Stadium has been the scene of some excellent riding since the track was opened, but on few occasions has sport reached such a high standard.
The stands were full to overflowing and the rails deeply lined with enthusiastic “fans – roared themselves hoarse at the daring a George Wigfield, the crack rider from Goldthorpe, who was the star turn. He certainly justified the honour. “The riding is of an excellent standard, and we have never had a bigger crowd,” remarked an official.
The feature of the evening was an attempt on the track record by George Wigfield, and being the first item on the programme. it gave an indication of the good things to follow. George is certainly a thrill provider. He got away sharply and roared to the cheers of the onlookers, but though it looked as though he would make the record luck was against him, and he failed by a second.
The record is held by J. Hindley of Sheffield, with the excellent time of 1-28 and Whitfield got home in 1-29, a very near thing near thing, and the crowd were even more disappointed than the rider. There were comparatively few spills in a programme of thrills, though W. Platts, of Sheffield came a nasty cropper in an early heat. He was badly shaken, and took no further part in the evening’s racing. However, there were a number of breakdowns owing to engine trouble, and such happenings have a tendency to damp enthusiasm.
When one or two riders drop out of a race there is not a great deal in it from the crowd’s point of view. To see a rider hurtling around with another yards behind is not very thrilling, and it was noticeable that when this happened there was a lack of the generous applause which followed the more evenly contested events. If dirt track racing is to become firmly established in popular fancy there must be more chance of an even contest. As one spectator, new to the sport, remarked, “lt that everything depends upon getting away and keeping your engine running.” That, of course, is not the chief element of dirt track racing, as much depends upon the skill of the rider, but it is an opinion which many must hold, and a decrease in the number of breakdowns would be appreciated.
There were five events, making 21 races, so that there were no interval. The events included the Low Valley Handicap (thes e heats). which attracted 15 riders, the Flying Nine race (three heats); the Wombwell Handicap, for the golden wings presented by Mr. F. B. Roper of Sheffield. This race attracted 27 riders (six heats); the Stadium scratch race (four heats) attracted 19 riders.
The Low Valley Handicap was won by C, Credland in the poorest time of the evening, 1 min. 48 1-5 secs., though the race was a spectacular one.
Wigfield was an easy winner in the Flying Nine, with a daring race time. 1-32 1-5.
The Wombwell Handicap for the golden wings was an easy race for G. Chance, who was presented with the trophy by Mr. G. Halmshaw, of the Lundwood Speedway, and he rode once round the track amidst the applause of the spectators.
The Stadium Scratch Race was one which appealed to’the crowd. Barber was first away and kept a good lead to sail home an easy winner in I—S7 4.1, but there was a keen struggle for second place. Jenkins was leading Ledger throughout the race, but he was “pipped on the post, Ledger just passing him.