Harry Whitfield
Harry Whitfield was a British motorcycle speedway rider who went on to manage Middlesbrough Bears.
| Born | Middlesbrough |
|---|---|
| Nationality |  |
| Current club information | |
| Career status | Deceased |
| Career history | |
| 1929-1935 | Wembley Lions |
| 1936-1937 | Harringay Tigers |
| 1939 | Sheffield |
| Individual honours | |
| 1930 | Scottish Champion |
| 1933 | World Champion (Unofficial) |
| Team honours | |
| 1932 | National League Champion |
| 1930, 1931 | Southern League Champion |
| 1931, 1932 | National Trophy Winner |
| 1930, 1932, 1933 | London Cup Winner |
Originally from Middlesbrough, Whitfield was one of the top British riders of the early 1930s, riding for Wembley Lions and also for the England national team, competing in the Test series against Australia in 1931.[1] He was one of the first British riders to challenge the dominance of Australian riders.[1]
He won the Scottish Championship in 1930 and the (unofficial) World Championship Final at the Sydney Showground Speedway in Australia on 4 March 1933.[2] Whitfield had earlier won the first qualifying round for the 1933 Final at the Claremont Speedway in Perth, Western Australia on 3 December 1932. All four qualifying rounds were held in Australia.
After World War II Whitfield became manager of the Middlesbrough Bears, leading them to the Northern League title in 1946.[1]
References
- Morgan, Tom (1947) The People Speedway Guide, Odhams Press, p. 73, 83
- "Speedway World Champions", Speedwaychampions.com, retrieved 2012-02-04