Harry Riley Lees (28 January 1905 – 26 January 1982)[2] was a former international motorcycle speedway rider who rode in the first ever Speedway World Championship final in 1936. He earned 22 international caps for the England national speedway team.[3]
 | |
| Born | 28 January 1905 Bury, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 26 January 1982[1] Bury, England |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1929 | Burnley |
| 1930 | Liverpool Merseysiders |
| 1931 | Preston |
| 1932-1937 | Wembley Lions |
| Team honours | |
| 1932 | National League Champion |
| 1932 | National Trophy Winner |
| 1932, 1933 | London Cup Winner |
Career edit
Lees, born in Bury, raced in the first recognised speedway meeting held in Manchester on 3 March 1928. When the league competitions started he joined Burnley. He then moved onto Liverpool in 1930. In 1931, Lees moved onto Preston and was selected to ride for England against Australia in the third test match at Wembley. He impressed so much that he was signed up to ride for the Wembley Lions in 1932 when he won the inaugural National League.[2]
He twice won the London Cup with Wembley in 1932 and 1933.[4][5]
Lees was a regular England rider until 1934, the year he finished third in the Star Riders' Championship, the forerunner of the Speedway World Championship. He also qualified for the finals of the World Championship in 1936 and 1937, before he retired at the end of 1937.[6]
Lees also appeared in the 1933 British film Money for Speed which starred John Loder, Ida Lupino, Cyril McLaglen and Moore Marriott. Lionel van Praag, Frank Varey and speedway promoter Johnnie Hoskins also featured.[7]
World Final appearances edit
- 1936 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 15th - 11pts - 1937 - London, Wembley Stadium - 5th - 19pts
Players cigarette cards edit
Lees is listed as number 28 of 50 in the 1930s Player's cigarette card collection.[8]
References edit
- ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
- ^ a b Jacobs, N & Lipscombe, P (2005). Wembley Speedway : The Pre-War Years. Stroud: Tempus Publishing ISBN 0-7524-3750-X
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ "London Speedway Cup". Daily News (London). 30 September 1932. Retrieved 16 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "1933 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
- ^ "Money for Speed (1933)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 1 October 2008.
- ^ "Speedway Riders". Speedway Museum Online. Retrieved 14 October 2021.