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Hammers career : NL: 1987-1988; DC: 1984-1985; SW: 1988-1990,1996;
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OUR series of articles on Hammers of years past continues with a look at three riders from who held down second string roles in the Eighties….. Nigel Leaver (1987, 1988), David Cheshire (1984, 1985) and Simon Wolstenholme (1988-1990, 1996)
Nigel Leaver made his speedway debut as a youngster with British League Cradley Heath in 1985, becoming one of the first Heathens juniors to make the progression to a full member of the senior squad. By the following season he had progressed to the role of first team regular and was an ever-present during their 1986 season.
He joined the Hammers on loan in 1987 to bolster the middle order, averaging a little under six-points a match. But "Soapy", as he was known, failed to make the necessary progress during a disappointing 1988 season for the Hammers and he moved on to pastures new the following year.
Nigel followed up his two seasons at the Arena-Essex Raceway with a short spell at Long Eaton before moving on to the Hammers' local rivals Wimbledon in 1989. After spending two seasons with the Dons he had spells with Wolverhampton and Mildenhall.
After a spell of inactivity, Nigel returned to Hammers colours in the top flight in 1994 to help out an injury hit side before hanging up the leathers once again.
David Cheshire was an Australian rider who first came to the UK in 1983 to ride for Cradley Heath. He doubled up for the Hammers and Wolverhampton in 1984 before taking up a full time riding role in Essex in time for the following year.
There was much disappointment for the Hammers when David joined Birmingham as skipper in 1986, although this was matched by equal surprise in National League circles when he quit unexpectedly half way through that season.
After a four season sabbatical, David returned for Middlesbrough in the National League in 1990, helping the Bears to League and Cup runners-up positions behind the all-conquering Poole Pirates that campaign. David returned the Middlesbrough the following year but again withdrew from the scene mid-season in 1991.
Simon Wolstenholme, a Sheffield-based junior, joined the Hammers as a 16-year-old in 1987, a handful of appearances netting him a three point average. He made steady progress over the course of the next three seasons, becoming a regular in the team proper come 1989.
Despite failing to make the necessary improvement in 1990, he was expected to remain a part of the team under the Russell / Henry regime in 1991. Instead, he was squeezed out and rode on a mostly amateur basis since, becoming an asset of Wolverhampton later that year.
Simon drifted between spells at Sheffield, Oxford and Mildenhall before Peter Thorogood added strength to his 1996 Conference League outfit by persuading Simon to return to ride at the Arena-Essex Raceway.
Disappointed to left out of the 1997 team plans, Simon continued racing in the Conference League. He joined the re-formed Rye House outfit in 1999 and skippered their push for Conference League honours in 2000 before retiring once the Rockets moved into the Premier League in 2002.
Nigel Leaver
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1987 |
36 |
161 |
249 |
23 |
272 |
6.76 |
1 |
2 |
1988 |
32 |
162 |
183 |
52 |
235 |
5.80 |
0 |
0 |
1994 |
6 |
22 |
7 |
4 |
11 |
2.00 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
74 |
345 |
439 |
79 |
518 |
6.01 |
1 |
2 |
David Cheshire
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1984 |
15 |
52 |
61 |
12 |
73 |
5.62 |
0 |
0 |
1985 |
33 |
127 |
197 |
22 |
219 |
6.90 |
2 |
2 |
TOTAL |
48 |
179 |
258 |
34 |
292 |
6.53 |
2 |
2 |
Simon Wolstenholme
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1987 |
7 |
26 |
11 |
2 |
13 |
2.00 |
0 |
0 |
1988 |
32 |
98 |
90 |
23 |
113 |
4.61 |
0 |
0 |
1989 |
36 |
190 |
210 |
32 |
242 |
5.09 |
0 |
1 |
1990 |
34 |
154 |
143 |
23 |
166 |
4.31 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
109 |
468 |
454 |
80 |
534 |
4.56 |
0 |
1 |
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