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Untitled Document
| POOLE SPEEDWAY HALL OF FAME |
 CHARLIE HAYDEN POOLE PIRATE 1948 - 1951
A Bournemouth born businessman, who played an important part in establishing speedway at Poole. An almost unbeatable star of the grass tracks, Charlie turned his attention to the cinders and speedway in 1947 and became a regular member of the Exeter side before linking up with the pioneering Pirates in 1948.
Transferred for a reported £ 600 fee, he was appointed the first Pirates team captain on his arrival at the club. Was unlucky to be involved in the triple crash in the first ever race at the Wimborne Road raceway which robbed him of his form but he eventually recovered to become a regular member of the Poole team for the next four seasons.
Took part in the club’s historic three match tour of Sweden at the end of the 1948 campaign and was a regular member of the Pirates side that won the Division Three league championship and the Festival of Britain Shield in 1951.
Made 161 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 796 points. |
 DENNIS 'Ticker' JAMES POOLE PIRATE 1948 - 1950 Local lad who had second half outings at Southampton and other local tracks before making his debut at Poole during September 1948 where his spectacular rodeo style of racing saw him become an immediate favourite with the Pirate’s fans.
Made his first team debut for the Pirates before the end of the 48 season, before rocketing to success the following year with a string of high scores that earned him a reputation as one of the top discoveries of the season. For a time he was almost unbeatable at Poole, racking up three successive home maximums before injury cut his season short.
He made an excellent start to the 1950 season, setting a new Poole track record along the way, and looked to be back to his best until a mid season injury sidelined him once again.
But the magic was missing when he returned to the Pirates side and he struggled to maintain his place in the side before being transferred to St Austell.
Made 69 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 372 points. |
BILL HOLDEN POOLE PIRATE 1951 - 1958 A talented rider who started his career at Southampton, Bill joined the Pirates midway through the 1951 season following the Hampshire club’s decision to withdraw from league racing. On his arrival he immediately formed an outstanding reserve partnership with Brian Crutcher that was to prove decisive in the club’s bid for league honours, before moving up into the team proper before the end of the season. A fast and stylish racer, Bill even held the Poole track record for a time and was among the fastest of all time around the original Poole raceway. His best years undoubtedly came in 1954 and 1955 when he finished second only to Ken Middleditch in the club’s averages.
Bill’s attacking riding knew few boundaries and his match winning ride in the National Trophy tie versus 1st Division Birmingham, that put Poole into the semi – final’s won him the highest praise throughout the speedway world. Regrettably a loss of form in 1958 saw him struggling to stay competitive and after riding only six matches he retired fro racing.
Made 214 League and National Trophy appearances, scoring 1498 points. |
 TONY LEWIS POOLE PIRATE 1949 – 1968 One of the tallest riders to don the famous skull and bones racejacket, Tony racd on the local grass tracks before turning to speedway in 1949. He was offered a trial at the Poole club where he was coached by Pirates rider Frank Holcombe to become one of the great white line riders of his time.
The following year saw him teamed with Ken Middleditch and they quickly formed an on - track team riding partnership that was to become legendary during the next five years. Christened ‘Me and My Shadow’ by the Poole supporters, their almost telepathic understanding made them virtually unbeatable wherever they raced, and was the backbone of the Pirates side that won three league title between 1951 and 1955.
Tony sustained a fractured skull during Pirates 1955 tour of Sweden which almost cost him his life, and which was to keep him out of racing until 1960. when he made a surprise return to track action. Almost at once he was back to his best form, helping Poole to more league success in 1961 and 1962.
A true club man, and one of its most loyal servants, Tony retired in 1968, after which he continued to keep a close watch on events at Wimborne Road.. He took over the reins as Team Manager from 1973 to 1979 following the retirement of Ron Hart.
Made 339 League, National Trophy, and Knockout Cup appearances, scoring 2153 points.
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