Herbert Haigh known as Dusty Haigh (Q1 1906 – 15 May 1936) was an international motorcycle speedway rider, who rode in the earliest days of the sport in Britain.[1][2]
| Born | Q1 1906 Huddersfield, West Yorkshire |
|---|---|
| Died | 15 May 1936 (aged 30) Hackney, London |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1929 | Halifax Dukes |
| 1930, 1932 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1931, 1933 | Sheffield Tigers |
| 1934 | Lea Bridge |
| 1934 | Walthamstow Wolves |
| 1935-1936 | Hackney Wick Wolves |
| Team honours | |
| 1930 | Northern League |
Speedway career
editHaigh started riding in 1928 at Halifax before moving to Sheffield and Belle Vue Aces in 1930, where he won the 1930 Speedway Northern League.[3] He finished fourth in the league averages during the 1931 Speedway Northern League season for Sheffield. In 1935, he moved from Lea Bridge to Walthamstow Wolves and made his test debut for the England national speedway team against Australia.[4] He went on to earn 15 international caps for England.[2]
During the 1936 Auto-Cycle Union Cup Haigh was killed instantly after suffering a fractured skull riding at Hackney Wick Stadium on 15 May 1936, in the ACU Cup match between Hackney and West Ham. He fell when in front and heading for a fourth consecutive heat win and the riders behind were unable to avoid him.[5][6] The crash was reported in most national newspapers as they focused on the fact that it had been witnessed by his wife Irene.[7]
Personal life
editHaigh and his wife Irene started a millinery business in 1932 but it went bankrupt in 1934.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "PRE WAR HACKNEY HERBERT 'DUSTY' HAIGH". Hackney Speedway. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "PRE WAR HACKNEY HERBERT 'DUSTY' HAIGH". Hackney Speedway. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "1936 ACU Cup" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "20,000 see Speedway Gladiator Killed". Daily Mirror. 16 May 1936. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Millinery and Motor Racing". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 May 1934. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.