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| image = George Hunter 1975.jpg
| image = George Hunter 1975.jpg
| name= George Hunter
| name= George Hunter
| nationality = {{SCO}}
| nationality = British (Scottish)
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1939|1|30}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1939|1|30}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1999|5|11|1939|1|30}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1999|5|11|1939|1|30}}
| birth_place = [[Ladybank, Fife]], [[Scotland]]
| birth_place = [[Ladybank, Fife]], Scotland

| retired = retired
| years1 = 1958
| years1 = 1958
| career1 = [[Motherwell Eagles|Lanarkshire Golden Eagles]]
| career1 = [[Motherwell Eagles|Lanarkshire Eagles]]
| years2 = 1960-1967, 1980-1981, 1983
| years2 = 1960-1967, 1980-1981, 1983
| career2 = [[Edinburgh Monarchs]]
| career2 = [[Edinburgh Monarchs]]
| years3 = 1968-1969
| years3 = 1968-1969
| career3 = [[Coatbridge Monarchs]]
| career3 = [[Edinburgh Monarchs|Coatbridge Monarchs]]
| years4 = 1970
| years4 = 1970
| career4 = [[Newcastle Diamonds]]
| career4 = [[Newcastle Diamonds]]
| years5 = 1971-1972
| years5 = 1971-1972
| career5 = [[Glasgow Tigers (speedway)|Glasgow Tigers]]
| career5 = [[Glasgow Tigers (speedway)|Glasgow Tigers]]
| years6 = 1972-1977, 1979
| years6 = 1972-1977, 1979-1980
| career6 = [[Wolverhampton Wolves]]
| career6 = [[Wolverhampton Wolves]]
| years7 = 1978-1979
| years7 = 1978-1979
Line 28: Line 28:
| indivhonour1 = [[Scottish Open (speedway)|Scottish Open Champion]]
| indivhonour1 = [[Scottish Open (speedway)|Scottish Open Champion]]
| teamyear1 = 1973
| teamyear1 = 1973
| teamhonour1 = Midland Cup
| teamhonour1 = [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]]
| teamyear2= 1981
| teamhonour2 = [[British_League_Division_Two_Knockout_Cup|National League KO Cup]] winner
}}
}}
'''George Hunter''' (30 January 1939 – 11 May 1999) was a [[motorcycle speedway]] rider<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}</ref>. He rode for the [[Edinburgh Monarchs]] and the [[Wolverhampton Wolves]].
'''George Hunter''' (30 January 1939 – 11 May 1999) was a [[motorcycle speedway]] rider.<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}}</ref> He earned 28 caps for the [[Scotland national speedway team]], 17 international caps for the [[England national speedway team]] and 16 caps for the Great Britain team.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=20 June 2023}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Hunter's early career was on grass. He joined Motherwell Speedway team in 1958 and moved to [[Edinburgh Monarchs]] in 1960. Known as the "Ladybank Express", he rode in 360 league matches for the Monarchs over his lifetime career.
Hunter's early career was on grass. He joined Motherwell Speedway team in 1958 and moved to [[Edinburgh Monarchs]] in 1960. Known as the "Ladybank Express", he rode in 360 league matches for the Monarchs over his lifetime career.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>


In 1963 he was ahead of reigning world champion [[Peter Craven]] in the final race of a challenge match between Edinburgh and [[Belle Vue Aces|Belle Vue]] at Old Meadowbank when his engine seized. After taking evasive action Craven may have clipped Hunter's wheel before crashing through the fence and suffering fatal injuries.
In 1963, he was leading the former world champion [[Peter Craven]] in the final race of a challenge match between Edinburgh and [[Belle Vue Aces|Belle Vue]] at Old Meadowbank when his engine seized. After taking evasive action Craven may have clipped Hunter's wheel before crashing through the fence and suffering fatal injuries.


Hunter narrowly missed out on being the 1963 [[Provincial League Riders' Championship|Provincial League Riders Champion]], suffering an engine failure while leading in the final. Ivan Mauger took the title.
Hunter narrowly missed out on being the 1963 [[Provincial League Riders' Championship|Provincial League Riders Champion]], suffering an engine failure while leading in the final. Ivan Mauger took the title.<ref>{{cite news |title=Squibb & Cox not in hunt |work=Express and Echo |date=30 September 1963 |access-date=13 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001061/19630930/006/0006 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref>


Edinburgh became the Coatbridge Monarchs for the 1968 and 1969 seasons before Hunter left the club to join [[Newcastle Diamonds]] in 1970.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref> In 1971, Newcastle dropped out of the league and most of Newcastle's riders were allocated to [[Reading Racers]] but Hunter along with [[Russ Dent]] and [[Mike Watkin (speedway rider)|Mike Watkin]] were left without a club.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Newcastle Evening Chronicle |date=15 March 1971 |access-date=2 January 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000726/19710315/312/0016 | via = [[British Newspaper Archive]]|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Hunter switched to the [[Glasgow Tigers (speedway)|Glasgow Tigers]] for 1971 and 1972 and completed two seasons with significant averages of 8.29 and 8.41 respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=2 January 2024}}</ref>
Hunter was a British Finalist in 1966, 1967 and 1976.
*17 England Caps
*3 Scotland Caps
*16 GB Caps


Having been part of the Midland Cup winning [[Wolverhampton Wolves]] in 1973, he might have expected to win it again in 1975 when Wolves only lost to [[Oxford Rebels]] by 2 points away and might have expected to win at home and thereby win on aggregate. However, George was not present for the second leg at [[Monmore Green]], Wolves lost at home by 1 point and on aggregate by 3.<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. {{ISBN| 978-0-244-99725-0}}</ref>
Having been part of the [[Midland Cup (speedway)|Midland Cup]] winning [[Wolverhampton Wolves]] in 1973, he might have expected to win it again in 1975 when Wolves only lost to [[Oxford Rebels]] by 2 points away and might have expected to win at home and thereby win on aggregate. However, George was not present for the second leg at [[Monmore Green]], Wolves lost at home by 1 point and on aggregate by 3.<ref>Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. {{ISBN| 978-0-244-99725-0}}</ref>

In 1976, Hunter was a British Finalist for the third time, having previously reached the final in 1966 and 1967.


He retired in 1983.
He retired in 1983.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Hunter was born in [[Ladybank, Fife]], [[Scotland]]. He and his wife, Barbara, have a daughter, Natalie. He died of cancer in 1999.
Hunter was born in [[Ladybank, Fife]], Scotland. He and his wife, Barbara, have a daughter, Natalie. Also two children Scott and Gillian from his first marriage. He died of cancer in 1999.


==World Final appearances==
==World Final appearances==
===World Pairs Championship===
===World Pairs Championship===
* [[1971 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1971]] - {{flagicon|POL}} [[Rybnik]], [[Rybnik Municipal Stadium]] (with [[Jim McMillan (speedway rider)|Jim McMillan]]) - 5th - 16pts (5)
* [[1971 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1971]] - {{flagicon|POL}} [[Rybnik]], [[Rybnik Municipal Stadium]] (with [[Jim McMillan (speedway rider)|Jim McMillan]]) - 5th - 16pts (5)
* [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Eskilstuna]], [[Eskilstuna Motorstadion]] (with [[Jim McMillan (speedway rider)|Jim McMillan]]) - 6th - 12pts (2)
* [[1976 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1976]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Eskilstuna]], [[Eskilstuna Motorstadion]] (with Jim McMillan) - 6th - 12pts (2)


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/club_legends/article.asp?id=16
*http://www.jglowe.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Archives/Oldnews/news178.htm
*http://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1222


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, George}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter, George}}
[[Category:Wolverhampton Wolves riders]]
[[Category:1939 births]]
⚫
[[Category:1999 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:Scottish speedway riders]]
[[Category:Berwick Bandits riders]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Monarchs riders]]
[[Category:Edinburgh Monarchs riders]]
⚫
[[Category:Glasgow Tigers riders]]
[[Category:Motherwell Eagles riders]]
[[Category:Newcastle Diamonds riders]]
[[Category:Newcastle Diamonds riders]]
⚫
[[Category:Glasgow Tigers riders]]
[[Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders]]
[[Category:Oxford Cheetahs riders]]
[[Category:Berwick Bandits riders]]
[[Category:Wolverhampton Wolves riders]]
[[Category:British speedway riders]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Fife]]
⚫
[[Category:1939 births]]
⚫
[[Category:1999 deaths]]


{{UK-speedway-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:34, 6 September 2024

George Hunter
Born(1939-01-30)30 January 1939
Ladybank, Fife, Scotland
Died11 May 1999(1999-05-11) (aged 60)
NationalityBritish (Scottish)
Career history
1958Lanarkshire Eagles
1960-1967, 1980-1981, 1983Edinburgh Monarchs
1968-1969Coatbridge Monarchs
1970Newcastle Diamonds
1971-1972Glasgow Tigers
1972-1977, 1979-1980Wolverhampton Wolves
1978-1979Oxford Cheetahs
1982Berwick Bandits
Individual honours
1964Scottish Open Champion
Team honours
1973Midland Cup
1981National League KO Cup winner

George Hunter (30 January 1939 – 11 May 1999) was a motorcycle speedway rider.[1] He earned 28 caps for the Scotland national speedway team, 17 international caps for the England national speedway team and 16 caps for the Great Britain team.[2]

Career

[edit]

Hunter's early career was on grass. He joined Motherwell Speedway team in 1958 and moved to Edinburgh Monarchs in 1960. Known as the "Ladybank Express", he rode in 360 league matches for the Monarchs over his lifetime career.[3]

In 1963, he was leading the former world champion Peter Craven in the final race of a challenge match between Edinburgh and Belle Vue at Old Meadowbank when his engine seized. After taking evasive action Craven may have clipped Hunter's wheel before crashing through the fence and suffering fatal injuries.

Hunter narrowly missed out on being the 1963 Provincial League Riders Champion, suffering an engine failure while leading in the final. Ivan Mauger took the title.[4]

Edinburgh became the Coatbridge Monarchs for the 1968 and 1969 seasons before Hunter left the club to join Newcastle Diamonds in 1970.[5] In 1971, Newcastle dropped out of the league and most of Newcastle's riders were allocated to Reading Racers but Hunter along with Russ Dent and Mike Watkin were left without a club.[6] Hunter switched to the Glasgow Tigers for 1971 and 1972 and completed two seasons with significant averages of 8.29 and 8.41 respectively.[7]

Having been part of the Midland Cup winning Wolverhampton Wolves in 1973, he might have expected to win it again in 1975 when Wolves only lost to Oxford Rebels by 2 points away and might have expected to win at home and thereby win on aggregate. However, George was not present for the second leg at Monmore Green, Wolves lost at home by 1 point and on aggregate by 3.[8]

In 1976, Hunter was a British Finalist for the third time, having previously reached the final in 1966 and 1967.

He retired in 1983.

Personal life

[edit]

Hunter was born in Ladybank, Fife, Scotland. He and his wife, Barbara, have a daughter, Natalie. Also two children Scott and Gillian from his first marriage. He died of cancer in 1999.

World Final appearances

[edit]

World Pairs Championship

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. ISBN 978-0-244-72538-9
  2. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Squibb & Cox not in hunt". Express and Echo. 30 September 1963. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Speedway". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 15 March 1971. Retrieved 2 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  8. ^ Lawson,K (2018) “Rebels 1975 – The Last Season”. ISBN 978-0-244-99725-0
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