Dusty Haigh
Born | 1903 Huddersfield, West Yorkshire |
---|---|
Died | 15 May 1936 (aged 33) Hackney, London |
Nationality | British (English) |
Career history | |
1929 | Halifax |
1930, 1932 | Belle Vue Aces |
1931, 1933 | Sheffield Tigers |
1934 | Lea Bridge |
1934 | Walthamstow Wolves |
1935-1936 | Hackney Wick Wolves |
Team honours | |
1930 | Northern League |
Herbert Haigh known as Dusty Haigh (1903–1936) was an international speedway rider who rode in the earliest days of the sport in Britain.[1]
Speedway career
Haigh started riding in 1928 at Halifax before moving to Sheffield and Belle Vue Aces in 1930 where he won the 1930 Speedway Northern League.[2] He finished fourth in the league averages during the 1931 Speedway Northern League season for Sheffield. In 1935, he moved from Lea Bridge to Walthamstow Wolves and made his test debut against Australia.[3]
During the 1936 Auto-Cycle Union Cup Haigh was killed instantly after suffering a facrtured skull riding at Hackney Wick Stadium on 15 May 1936, in the ACU Cup match between Hackney and West Ham. He fell when in front and heading for a fourth consecutive heat win and the riders behind were unable to avoid him.[4][5] The crash was reported in most national newspapers as they focused on the fact that it had been witnessed by his wife Irene.[6]
Personal life
Haigh and his wife Irene started a millinery business in 1932 but it went bankrupt in 1934.[7]
References
- ^ "PRE WAR HACKNEY HERBERT 'DUSTY' HAIGH". Hakcny Speedway. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - PRE-WAR ERA (1929-1939)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
- ^ "PRE WAR HACKNEY HERBERT 'DUSTY' HAIGH". Hackney Speedway. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "1936 ACU Cup" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "20,000 see Speedway Gladiator Killed". Daily Mirror. 16 May 1936. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Millinery and Motor Racing". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 10 May 1934. Retrieved 22 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.