PICTURE THIS …

… A Day in June 1980

Sunday the 15^th to be exact as Ivan Mauger leads Wayne Brown into the third bend in front of a packed back straight terracing.

Not the then five-time World Champion’s first visit to Shielfield Park of course – that had been five years previous when he arrived along with the legendary gold-plated “Triple Crown” bike,his match races against future Bandit Jim McMillan added an extra layer of glamour to the 1975 Bordernapolis.

That night Ivan was untouchable, less so on the sunny 1980 Sunday afternoon when as part of the Hull quartet in the second leg of the Inter-League Four Team tournament, he managed just six points and suffering an engine failure.

Even so the Vikings side featuring Owen, Dennis Sigalos and Bobby Beaton won the meeting with 31 points edging out Halifax, 27, a Nig Close inspired Bandits, 23, and Sheffield just 15 despite the presence of former Bandit Doug Wyer. Kenny Carter, already a controversial figure in British speedway, for once did his talking on the track, racing to a superb four-ride maximum.

Finishing in the previous season’s National League top four earned our invitation to the competition. Unlike modern speedway there was a discernible gulf between the divisions in the 1980s. We managed 54 points over the four legs, Sheffield finishing with 82 while Halifax, 117, and Hull, 131, both qualified for finals day, the title eventually won by Cradley.

The top league’s attempt to replicate the hugely successful second tier fours tournament with its final, usually at a packed Peterborough, failed to capture the imagination of top league supporters and was quietly dropped after just two seasons.

This wasn’t the Galloping Mauger’s last visit to the Borders either as some of the earliest action at the newly-built Berrington Lough revolved around his legendary training schools. And of course he wasn’t the only Mauger link as son Kym raced five times in Bandits’ colours in 1985.

Pictures: Doug Booth/John Somerville Collection