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Hammers career : CR: 1994-1995; WG: 1989-1990
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CHRISTER ROHLEN and the late WAYNE GARRATT held down similar positions in Hammers' sides of the early nineties - solid, steady middle order performers fondly remembered by long-time Hammers fans.
There are just four years separating the two riders in the passage of Hammers history - but in that short space of time the Club had risen from the lower reaches of the National League to top flight British League status.
Wayne joined the Hammers in 1989 on loan from that most famous of speedway teams - Cradley Heath. He'd started his career in schoolboy grasstrack circles and was crowned British Youth Division Champion - the youngest ever - before becoming mascot to the Oxford Cheetahs at the age of nine.
Various clubs chased his speedway signature but he elected to join the Heathens, making his debut in September 1986. Wayne spent three seasons at Dudley Wood before Peter Thorogood snapped him up on loan in 1989 to bolster the Hammers' middle order.
Affectionately known as 'Bodger', Wayne was a big hit with fans, thanks to his on-track commitment to his team's cause. Such was the make-up of the struggling Hammers' sides of that era that Wayne was often earmarked to make the jump to heat leader status. He improved his seasonal points tally in 1990 and although his average dipped slightly compared to his '89 campaign, he never dropped out of the top five in an injury ravaged side.
Wayne returned to Cradley in 1991 before joining Newcastle in the Second Division in 1992. Sadly, he crashed heavily during the Diamonds' Knockout Cup clash with Peterborough in the autumn of that year and was rushed to hospital with severe injuries. He passed away on the 28th September 2002, leaving behind a legacy of tigerish commitment and universal fan support
Christer Rohlen's spell in Hammers colours was his British debut and came long after he'd embarked on a league career in his native Sweden.
He made his name riding for Swedish Elite League club Ornarna in the early nineties - and it was this connection that prompted then Hammers number one Kelvin Tatum to recommend him to bosses Terry Russell and Ivan Henry in the summer of 1994.
He was signed to act as a replacement for the injured Jan Pedersen and made an immediate impression - borrowing some equipment from Kelvin Tatum, he won his first ever race at Belle Vue.
Christer - whose surname was in fact Karlsson but he used his wife's name to avoid confusion with a whole host of other Swedish-riding Karlssons - was a useful addition to the Hammers squad and returned an average of just under six points a match in his debut season. He was a solid scorer around Arena-Essex and even more impressive away, often racking up good scores as he visited British tracks for the first time.
Following a successful debut campaign, Rohlen opted to sit out the 1995 season - but returned for six matches to help out the Hammers when Josh Larsen was injured.
Wayne Garratt
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1989 |
32 |
153 |
198 |
25 |
223 |
5.83 |
0 |
0 |
1990 |
34 |
176 |
217 |
37 |
254 |
5.77 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
66 |
329 |
415 |
62 |
477 |
5.80 |
0 |
0 |
Christer Rohlen
Year |
Matches |
Rides |
Points |
Bonus |
Total |
Average |
Full Max |
Paid Max |
1994 |
33 |
169 |
214 |
39 |
253 |
5.99 |
0 |
0 |
1995 |
6 |
25 |
33 |
5 |
38 |
6.08 |
0 |
0 |
TOTAL |
39 |
194 |
247 |
44 |
291 |
6.00 |
0 |
0 |
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