Jack Chapman (speedway rider)

Wenley Jack Chapman (3 March 1907 – 14 February 1994) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2] He earned 17 official and unofficial international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[3]

Jack Chapman
Born3 March 1907 (1907-03-03)
Adelaide, Australia
Died14 February 1994(1994-02-14) (aged 86)
City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, Adelaide
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1930Sheffield Blades
1932Stamford Bridge Pensioners
1933Wimbledon Dons
1933Nottingham
1934Birmingham Bulldogs
1939Harringay Tigers
1939Edinburgh Thistles
Individual honours
1930Australian champion (3 lap)
Team honours
1932National Association Trophy

Biography

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Chapman, born in Adelaide, was credited with holding the world mile record in 1928.[4] He was one of the early pioneers of speedway, particularly in the United Kingdom, when he travelled over from Australia for the second season of the sport in 1929.[5]

After making one just cup appearance for the Sheffield in 1929, he returned home for the 1930 Australian season and became the 1930 Australian champion over 3 laps.[6] He began his British leagues career riding for Sheffield Blades during the 1930 Speedway Northern League season.[7] He averaged 8.41 for the Sheffield team.[8]

He missed the 1931 season but joined Stamford Bridge Pensioners in 1932,[9] a season where he also captained the Australian select team.[10]

In 1933, he rode for Nottingham and also made a couple of appearances for Wimbledon Dons.[11] However, in 1934, the entire Nottingham team was transferred to the Birmingham Bulldogs, following the demise of the Nottingham team.[12]

After the 1934 season, Chapman returned home once again but this time stayed in Australia, selling Motorcycles in Adelaide.[13] Five years later in 1939, Chapman now aged 32, made a comeback, joining the Harringay Tigers,[14] Before finishing his UK career with Edinburgh Thistles, operating at Marine Gardens in Portobello.

References

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  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Frank Duckett and Jack Chapman, PRG 1631/101/32, Photograph". State Library of Australia. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Australia". International Speedway. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Glasgow Speedway results". The Scotsman. 13 May 1929. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Glasgow Speedway results". The Scotsman. 13 May 1929. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  7. ^ "1930 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Return of Stars". Daily Herald. 16 March 1932. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Southampton Beaten". Daily News (London). 21 April 1932. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Nottingham team Move to Hall Green". Nottingham Evening Post. 28 February 1934. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Wembley remembers the Old Timers". Sunday Mirror. 11 August 1935. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Speedway stars will soon adopt football training methods". Manchester Evening News. 15 May 1939. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.