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I originally described this photo as
Wester Hailes Cycle Track
But see the comments below. In fact this
photo is of
Sighthill Cycle Track
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1960s
©
Reproduced with acknowledgement to Thomas Lee, Edinburgh
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Cycle Track |
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Location
Thomas Lee, who sent
me the photograph above writes:
"This
is a picture, taken in the 1960s, of the Sighthill Hammers riding
against the Leicester Monarchs.
We
reckon it's from an area that now looks like a community centre or
Doctors surgery or the like - which nowadays would be
considered Wester Hailes."
Wester Hailes lies
about five miles to the SW of the centre of Edinburgh. It
was on the outskirts of Edinburgh when this photo was taken, but
is now a large suburb close to the Edinburgh By-Pass. |
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Reply
1
Joanne Riach |
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Thank you to Joanne Riach
who wrote: |
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Location?
"I have just
come across this photo of cycling at Wester Hailes:"
©
I think this may
be the location of the Catholic Church at the end of Sighthill
Drive. That was waste ground for many years.
Certainly the
houses look like Sighthill houses. If that's the case, then it is
technically not Wester Hailes. Wester Hailes is
further up the hill."
I used to live
in Calder Road, so I'm familiar with the area."
Joanne Riach: August 22, 2011 |
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Recollections
2.
Brian Alexander
Prestonfield, Edinburgh |
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Thank you
to Brian Alexander for responding to Joanne's comments above. Brian
wrote: |
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Sighthill Cycle Tracks
"Yes, this photo is of Sighthill Cycle
Speedway track.
©
It was in what is now the car park behind St
John Ogilvie Catholic Church on Sighthill Drive. I remember it
well.
I don't remember what the single story
building with the corrugated roof was. Perhaps it was a community
centre or similar.
There was another track at Sighthill in the
mid to late '60's, in what became the car park of the Sighthill Inn on
Calder Road."
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Other Cycle Tracks
"Cycle Speedway was a popular sport in
Edinburgh during the 1960's. There were tracks at:
- Moredun (at the junction
of Moredun Park Road and Fernieside Drive)
- Pilrig Park
- Davidson's Mains
- Harrison Park
- and no doubt
others I have forgotten.
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Bruce Alexander, Prestonfield,
Edinburgh: August 27, 2011 |
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Recollections
3.
Don Moir
Moffat, Dumfries,
Scotland |
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Thank you
to Don Moir for confirming which cycle track this was, and for also
identifying the two Sighthill riders in this photo. |
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Sighthill Hammers CSC
"I can definitely say that this photo is of
the track that was the home of Sighthill Hammers CSC until 1967.
©
At that time we moved to a new track built at
Whinhill Park, on Saughton Road where there are now houses.
The hut with the corrugated roof was "the
scout hut" which was sometimes used for hospitality for big matches.
The two Sighthill riders are Tam Daly in the
lead and John Tait on the outside looking for a way past."
(See also 'Riders' below)
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Results
"Sighthill won the Edinburgh League every year
from 1963 to 1969 inclusive, except 1968. In 1966 they won the National
Championship in Southampton, beating Offerton from Manchester by 50 points
to 46 after losing in 1965 by the same score when the final was held in
Manchester.
I know all this as I was team captain."
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Riders
"Tam Daly now lives in New Zealand and has a
gas fitting business there.
John Tait went on to race in Glasgow for
Shields Racers after Sighthill folded in 1970 and became the only Scottish
rider to win the National championship twice with two separate clubs.
Shields won in 1971 in Uxbridge, beating
Wednesfield."
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Reunion
"We had a reunion in 2006 to mark the 40th
anniversary of winning the championship and almost everybody was there,
including Tam Daly.
None of us had changed a bit !"
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Don Moir, Moffat, Dumfries, Scotland: October 21, 2011 |
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Recollections
4
Don Moir
Moffat, Dumfries,
Scotland |
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Thank you
to Don Moir for writing again.
Don wrote: |
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Cycle Speedway in Edinburgh
"Cycle Speedway is still going on in
Edinburgh, but on a vastly reduced scale. In the 1960s there were 3
divisions and dozens of tracks. Now there is just one at Redbraes Park and
I don't think they have all that many matches in a year.
It's certainly nothing like we had before.
We would race at least twice a week from March to November, and would
travel down south for national matches several time during the year.
It kept us all out of trouble - and pretty fit
too!
Don Moir, Moffat, Dumfries, Scotland: October 29, 2011 |
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Cycle Speedway in Edinburgh
Reply
I agree, Don. The cycling speedway seems to be
on nothing like on the same scale as it used to be. I think that's
probably true throughout Britain, not just in Edinburgh.
I still receive regular reports from Thomas Lee,
letting me know the progress of the Edinburgh Cycle Speedway Club that
races at Redbraes Park near Powderhall.
Their members still travel down south for races
several times a year, but the competition against other Edinbrugh clubs
seems to have vanished.
The club is now becoming more involved with schools,
so perhaps that might result in a revival of interest in the sport.
Peter Stubbs, October 30, 2011 |
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