Doug Nicolson looks at the very few instances where there was an “I” in team in

The “I”s have it

While it is not surprising that there were no riders with surnames beginning with an “X” and only Jan Zabik – remember him turning out for Sheffield in 1980? – featuring in the “Z” list in the Backtrack era, there have been precious few riders in the “I” listings.  

John Ingamells was one of the many riders who donned the colours of Kings Lynn Starlets in their inaugural year in BL2, and with over 20 appearances, was just behind Arthur Price, Tony Featherstone and Ian Turner in terms of meetings raced. However he was a bit further behind them in the averages chart, with just over 4 points a meeting. He made the flit from Saddlebow Road to Boston in midseason in 1970 but never settled in his new home and, fading from the scene, the only “I” was gone.

However he was quickly replaced by Peter Ingram, who, while born in England, was always considered an Australian. He made an early impact at Exeter in 1971, a virtual ever-present averaging over 6 points a meeting. However after a mark time second season he asked for, and received, a transfer to sister track Newport, where he again averaged around 6 before going home. He was intending to return to the UK, but personal issues prevented him from doing so, but he remains the most successful “I” in the Backtrack era. Les Ingham and Bob Innocent were other Exeter “I”s , though you had to be quick to see them. Innocent managed five appearances in the early 60s while Ingham was even less conspicuous with just two pointless rides in his singular meeting in their colours in 1987.

A couple I saw

Two riders who made just one solitary appearance and I saw both of them at meetings at Berwick and Blantyre. Little is known about Jim Irvine, who was pressed into service for Scunthorpe at Berwick in July 1972 and his 2 paid four from two rides gave him a CMA of 8.00 which would prove to be enough to put him at the top of the Saints averages that year…. And he quit at the top, for he never raced in a league meeting again.

More than ten years later Australian Clayton Isbel got a run out for short staffed Newcastle at Blantyre, and, while not actually finishing ahead of a Tiger, he contrived to score 2 paid 3 from 2 outings.

“I” do

 American Eddie Ingels signed for Newcastle in 1984 and had a promising debut season with the Diamonds in 1984 though he is best remembered at Brough Park for getting married on the centre green at the interval. The Diamonds had a traumatic season, finishing bottom of the BL1 table and subsequently folded during the close season. Eddie moved on to Belle Vue but failed to reproduce his scoring at Hyde Road and was replaced before the season was over.

The Workington Irvings

Greg Irving was a second halfer at Workington and raced in a handful of league meetings for the Comets in 1980, having filled in for Oxford who were a man short at Derwent Park a year earlier, but that was the extent of his involvement though he was responsible for younger brother, Michael Irving, having a few meetings for Workington in their final season in 1981 just before the Comets closed. However the younger Irving made a comeback in 1987 when Glasgow decamped to Derwent Park and rode in a handful of meetings in the Tigers colours there. He stayed with them on their return to Glasgow Shawfield, getting a few outings in both 1988 and 1989 before calling time on his racing.

With Workington closed, Cumbrian Jackson “Jacko” Irving, not related to either Greg or Michael, started riding at Blantyre in 1982 and appeared a few times before joining Berwick in whose colours he rode in 1984 and 1985. He then returned to Glasgow, being a virtual ever present in 1986, the last season at the storied Blantyre 2 circuit and 1987, the wretched part season back in Workington. He was one of the Cumbrian gang – Steve Lawson, Geoff Powell and Andy Reid being the others – who were picked up at Carlisle by the Beaton’s bus which took both the team and supporters to away matches of the time.

Incidentally both Jackson and Michael rode in the same Tigers team a couple of times in 1987.

 

Post War "I"s

Doug Ible - 1949-51 at Rayleigh, Aldershot, Oxford

Eric Irons -  1947-53 Cradley, Oxford, Wolves

Steve Ison -  1948 Harringay Killed in a road accident while travelling to Rayleigh to watch a meeting. 

Bob Ibboitson -  1951 Long Eaton 

Stuart Irvine -  1952 Glasgow