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Wally Little (speedway rider)

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Australian motorcycle speedway rider

Wally Little
Born20 November 1909 (1909-11-20)
Woollahra, Sydney
Died27 July 1974(1974-07-27) (aged 64)
Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1934, 1937Wembley Lions
1934, 1937–1938Wimbledon Dons
Individual honours
1932Australian Solo Championship

Wallace Norman Little (20 November 1909 – 27 July 1974) was a motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. He was champion of Australia in 1932 and earned 13 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.

Biography

Little, born in Woollahra, Sydney, won the 1932, 2 lap Australian Solo Championship at the Cumberland Oval. His form in Australia was noticed by the British clubs and Wembley Lions secured his services. However, he worked for the Sydney City Council in the telephone service and a special meeting with the Council and Lord Mayor was required to approve his move to England.

He began riding for Wembley during the 1934 Speedway National League season but he struggled to make it into the first team despite captaining the reserves. His form improved which made him ineligible for the reserves, so he was loaned out to Wimbledon Dons.

After a difficult first season in the United Kingdom he returned to Australia but suffered a serious injury in a crash during February 1935, whilst riding for Australia against England in a test match. He broke his thigh and collarbone and missed the 1935 season for his parent club Wembley.

After a full years recovery, he was ready to ride again in 1936 and performed well in Australia. He returned to British speedway in 1937 signing again for Wembley but once again found himself loaned out to Wimbledon. He enjoyed a much better 1938, averaging 7.56 for Wimbledon.

Hackney Wick Wolves made an attempt to sign him in 1939 but he remained in Australia, where he finished his career and was still riding in 1949.

References

  1. "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  2. "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  3. "The Wembley Speedway". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 6 March 1934. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. "Little but Good". Daily Herald. 24 April 1934. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "1934 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  6. "Sporting Speedway Side". Daily Mirror. 4 August 1934. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Injured Speedway riders". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 12 February 1935. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "veteran Australian International". Hull Daily Mail. 23 February 1937. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  10. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  11. "More Speedway Tests in South Africa". Daily News (London). 13 January 1949. Retrieved 24 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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