Bill Andrew

New Zealand speedway rider and jockey

Bill Andrew
Born13 December 1940
Palmerston North, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
Career history
1962, 1964Newcastle Diamonds
1965-1966, 1968Poole Pirates
1970-1971Newport Wasps
1973Halifax Dukes
Individual honours
1965-1966Johnny Thompson Memorial Trophy
Team honours
1964Provincial League Champion

Errol Campbell Andrew (born 13 December 1940 in Palmerston North) is a New Zealand former motorcycle speedway rider[1] and jockey. During his career as a jockey, he rode as E. C. Andrew, but when he was riding speedway he was known as Bill Andrew.[2] He earned 15 international caps for the New Zealand national speedway team and 7 caps for Great Britain national speedway team.[3]

Speedway career

Andrew began riding at the Palmerston North Showgrounds track in 1961.[4] He rode for the Newcastle Diamonds in the Provincial League in 1962 and 1964.[5] He rode in the British League for the Poole Pirates from 1965 to 1968. He then had two years with the Newport Wasps. His final season was with the Halifax Dukes.[6]

He rode in two British Championship finals in 1965 and 1968 and was a member of the 1966 Great Britain team for a home and away test series with Poland. In 1966, he also rode in the Wills Internationale and the British League Riders' Championship. He was runner-up in the 1970 New Zealand Championship. From 1962 to 1973, he rode for New Zealand in team competitions in the United Kingdom and at home.

Horse racing career

Andrew rode as a jockey in New Zealand and in England.[7] When he was living in Somerset in the early 1970s he rode in steeplechase events for the Kennard Organisation. He also rode for John Richards and Stan Wright.

References

  1. ^ "Bill Andrew". WWOS backup. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  2. ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2004). Poole Pirates : 50 greats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-3257-5
  3. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  4. ^ Batt, A.(2012). The Big Thrill : Speedway at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. Speedway Classics ISBN 978-0-473-20891-2
  5. ^ "Diamonds sign two new riders". Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 6 March 1962. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Hunters' trophy meeting line-up". Leicester Daily Mercury. 18 April 1962. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.