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Johnny Hole

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British speedway rider

Johnny Hole
Born(1924-12-18)18 December 1924
Bath, England
Died8 May 2016(2016-05-08) (aged 91)
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
1946–1955, 1960Bristol Bulldogs
1956–1960Southampton Saints
Team honours
1948, 1949, 1954League champion (tier 2)
1949, 1956National Trophy (tier 2)

John Derrick Hole (18 December 1924 – 8 May 2016) was an English motorcycle speedway rider.

Biography

Hole, born in Bath, England, began his speedway career after signing for Bristol Bulldogs in 1947. Hole's brother-in-law Eric Salmon was also a Bristol rider and brothers Billy Hole and Graham Hole also signed for Bristol, despite interest for all three brothers from London clubs.

During his rookie league campaign for Bristol, during the 1948 Speedway National League Division Two season he contributed to a league title success. The following season in 1949, the Bulldogs, which still contained all four family members, sealed a league and National Trophy double. Johnny improved his average that season to 6.31 and rode 60 matches throughout the season.

In 1950, Bristol entered the top division of speedway in Britain, competing in the National League division 1 from 1950 to 1953. Hole was ever-present. A return to division 2 was instantly followed by another league title. The Bulldogs withdrew after starting the 1955 season, leaving Hole without a club but in 1956, he signed for Southampton Saints and won another National Trophy that season. He continued to represent the Saints in division 1 from 1957 to 1959.

Arguably his standout season as a rider was in the 1960 Provincial Speedway League and on his return to Bristol, where he recorded an impressive 10.00 average. He was the first holder of the Provincial League's Silver Sash.

References

  1. "Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  2. "Speedway Items". Somerset Guardian and Radstock Observer. 7 March 1947. Retrieved 20 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. "1948 season". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. Oakes, Peter (1978). 1978 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 978-0904584509.
  5. "Speedway Teams UK 1946-1951". Cyber Motorcycle. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  6. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  7. "Johnny Hole the hero as Bulldogs show their teeth". Bristol Evening Post. 20 July 1953. Retrieved 20 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 65. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
  9. "Poor response to speedway support appeal". Bristol Evening Post. 2 October 1954. Retrieved 20 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Hunters' Draw was not enough:Exit". Leicester Evening Mail. 23 June 1956. Retrieved 20 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Johnny Hole first to hold Silver Sash". Bristol Evening Post. 5 April 1960. Retrieved 20 October 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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