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When Dennis Day suffered an injury, Gordon was brought into the side and immediately
looked very promising after scoring 19+3 bonus points from his five meetings.
Then, to quote manager Wally Mawdsley, "We never saw the going of him. He just vanished."
Before moving to Exeter, it appears Gordon also had a spell with neighbours Poole.
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Henk's career at the County Ground was a short one after the Dutch Grass tracker had
shown early promise in his pre-season practice session. Sadly Henk couldn't get to grips
with the Exeter circuit and by mid season was on the way to Swindon. But in a race at
Peterborough he lasted less than a lap before a bad spill fractured his thigh in six
places and after a five hour operation he was told his riding days were over. He had
joined the Falcons on the recommendation of Vaclav Verner
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Cornish born Ben won several Youth Grasstrack Championships
befor taking up second half outings at Trelawny in 2000. Was riding for the Oxford Academy
Conference League side in 2003 before becoming a full Oxford assett in 2004 and then tried his hand at Premier League
level with the Falcon's in 2005. he had been brought in to replace Nick Simmons who had been struggling to make an impact. A bad spill cut short
his season and he ended on an average of 3.89 from 19 meetings before joining the Isle of Wight in 2006.
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John made his debut at Eastbourne back in 1977 and had second half rides at the Exeter in 1978.
Became a full time Falcon in 1981 in a deal worth £4,000, onlt to request a transfer
midway through the 81 season. Returned to the County for the start of the 1982 season
and became the first ever Exeter rider to top the National averages. On leaving Exeter it appears that
John retired from Speedway. In 1980 John averaged 8.5, whilst in 1981 it dropped to
7.85 before reaching 9.07 in 1982.
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Born 15.2.1951 in Lincolnshire,
Ian Barney had been brought into the 1990 team from Peterborough with a view to boosting Exeter's poor away
scoring, but overall his performances were dissapointing averaging only 3.86 from 21. This
included an 11+2 from 5 at home to Arena Essex and an 8+1 from 6 at Peterborough.
Was transferred at the end of the season and moved to Sheffield where he scored a lot
better.
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Got a chance at reserve in the last week of 1951 during a team injury crisis, and promptly
suffered bad injuries during the second half of the meeting. In 1952 he had made several
good scores for the Falcon's, but looked exceptional good at the begining of 1953 scoring
his first full maximum. But in May, he suffered serious head injuries that were to end
his career in speedway,
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Ron had first come to Exeter from Weymouth in 1952 and then joined Birmingham in 1954 for a reported
fee of £1,250, but was soon to have a difference of opinion with the promoter, Les
Marshall and was to move back to his former club Weymouth for the 55 season. In a final
twist the Weymouth track was to close down that same year and Ron was to try his hand
once more around the County Ground. But things were not to go well and after some bad
scores it seems that he was to finally call it a day and retired.
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Another junior who's great efforts were to be rewarded with first team rides during a
spell of regular riders injuries. The young Australian was racing with Plymouth at
the same time and was constantly to be found double figure scoring. He appeared in 26
meetings for Exeter averaging 4.65, whilst at Plymouth he averaged 10.15 from 10 meetings.
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Australian born Malcom rode a few times at reserve with the Falcons before he was loaned
out to the Newport. But was to soon leave stating that he would rather ride second half
outings at Exeter than ride for the then National League side Newport. It seems that
he was then to return home, though he returned in 1978 to ride with Barrow.
Later Malcom was to return and live in Exeter and he turned out for second half rides,
only to actually get into the team for one meeting in 83 for 2pts.
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Australian Jack Bedkober joined in 1950 and joined Exeter on the reccomondation of the
then Birmingham Star Graham Warren and had finished third in the new South Wales Junior
Championship prior to coming to England. Got off to a very slow start when points were hard
to come by, but gradually built up in confidence and began churning out some very high
scoring.
Rode in 1951, but at the end of the season he quit the sport and returned home to Australia.
Was the father of the above mentioned Malcolm.
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Tommy Bergqvist appeared in 13 matches for Exeter in 1971 from which he was to average
5.10 points. The Swede had started out very promising indeed, but his scores began to
tail away, and when he failed to turn up for a meeting, his days at Exeter were over.
Had been at Cradley in 68 with an almost identical match and point tally.
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Started out with Swindon before being loaned to Exeter in 1982 and ended that season on
a 4.37 point average from 20 appearances. Was given a full contract at the end of the 1983
season after he jumped to a 7.04 average, but then loaned out to Stoke upon Exeter's
move back to the B.L in 1984. Was back in 1985 and 1986 before moving away until returning
for the 1989 and 1990 seasons. read more
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Born Perth, Australia April 30, 1977, Corey got into the Exeter line up following
a bad injury to Matt Cambridge appeared in 19 meetings for the Falcons finishing on an
average of 2.53pts. Appeared in 29 meetings in 2003 after getting the nod over Matt
Cambridge and was averaging 3.76 before a bad crash ended his season.
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Born in Canada, Chris had moved to Cornwall at a young age and rode for St.Austell and Plymouth
before joining Exeter mid way through the 1964 season managing just a couple of meetings
and scoring 11 points. He became a great favourite with the fans with his daring riding and it
was once said that it was worth paying the admission just to watch him. Chris sadly passed
away in the year 2002 at the age of 63. read more
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Born 17.9.1937 in Wakefield, Yorkshire.
The veteran had started out at Bradford back in 1955 and had a long
and distinguished career including 55 caps for England.
The "veteran" was to come to Exeter in 1979 and was
to be loaned out to Canterbury that year whilst doubling for Exeter
and as a result he finished fourth in the National League Championship.
Nigel rode for Exeter during their 1980 drop to the N.League as captain
and topped the scores with 295 pts from 37 matches before retiring from
racing.
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Austrian Champion Andy Bossner was something of a suprise signing for the 94 season
and was on loan from Eastbourne for whom he never rode. Had an up and down season after
looking good on his practice session. It was therefore ironic that he quit the club in
August blaming travel costs having scored a paid 24 from his last two meetings. Ended the season with an average of
5.30 points.
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Roy had first ridden for Exeter on their entrance to League racing in 1961 and looked
like becoming a high scorer in 1962. However, he departed from the County Ground early
in the 1962 season, and after initial reports that he was retiring, he was to start
something of a row when he joined Stoke. Started out in 1951 and also rode for Harringay, Swindon, Yarmouth and Oxford.
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Born in London on 27.11.61,Dave was to join Exeter on loan from Wimbledon in 1980 and was
soon making a good impression around the County Ground. Such was his liking for the
Exeter track that he was to request his own transfer to the County Ground and he signed
a full contract early in 1981. But following a serious injury, Dave's form tailed off
badly and he decided to retire at the close of the 1982 season.
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New Zealand born, Wayne was the brother of the legendary Barry Briggs. Began racing in
this country with the Edingburgh Monarchs and though he was dogged in his early days by
a constant string of injuries,he was to score a healthy 641.5pts from his 102 appearances.
Later moved to Poole from where he joined Exeter in 1967 and he settled well on the much bigger
Devon track. Averaged 7.83 from 17 in his debut season and 7.70 from 36 in 1968. Was at
Exeter again in 1971 when he averaged 5.94 from 20 meetings.
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Tim joined Exeter from neighbour's Poole for the 1964 season and scored 122 points from
14 meetings. Appeared in only 7 meetings in 1965 having quit due to work commitments and
had averaged 6.00. Returned in 1967 for 13 meetings averaginf 3.28, was at Poole in 1968
and in 1969 he rode in 36 matches for Exeter and ended on an average of 4.75. He had been
assisting the Falcons in the abscence of Chris Blewett, but came in full time.
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Joined Exeter from Oxford in 1961 and remained at the County Ground until he officially
retired at the end of the 1964 season, but still turned out for Hackney in in 1965. Whilst
at Exeter, Howdy had been dogged by injuries and it was late into the 1964 season before
he came back after a broken arm. One of Howdy's more noted talents was when he used to sing to the
spectators over the track tannoy systems. Howdy died in 1996 after a bout of heart attacks.
read more
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