Jack Ormston
John Glaholme 'Jack' Ormston (born 30 October 1909 in West Cornforth - died 22 June 2007) was a 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]
Born | 30 October 1909 West Cornforth, England |
---|---|
Died | 22 June 2007 97) | (aged
Nationality | England |
Current club information | |
Career status | Retired |
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 |
Having ridden for Middlesbrough, he left in 1929 to become captain of the Wembley Lions team aged twenty one. 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, of which 3 were in Australia in 1937–38.
He subsequently joined Birmingham (Hall Green) in 1934, and then from 1935-38 rode for the Harringay Tigers in London.
Jack was the last surviving competitor from the original World Final before he died aged 97.[2]
World Final Appearances
- 1936 - London, Wembley Stadium - 6th - 17pts
- 1938 - London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 9pts
After retirement
After 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.
References
- Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- "Jack Ormston Obituary". Daily Telegraph. 27 June 2007. Retrieved 30 September 2008.