Keith Ryan (speedway rider)

Keith Ryan
Born30 December 1922 (1922-12-30)
Mittagong, NSW, Australia
Died21 May 2018(2018-05-21) (aged 95)
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1947–1949Glasgow Tigers
Individual honours
19522 lap Australian champion
19523 lap Australian champion

Keith Vincent Ryan also known as Buck Ryan (30 December 1922 – 21 May 2018) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider. He was twice champion of Australia in 1952 (over 2 and 3 laps) and earned six international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1]

Biography

Ryan, born in Mittagong, was recruited by Charlie Spinks during the 1974 Australian season, for the British league tracks under the control of Johnnie Hoskins.[2] He began his British leagues career riding for Glasgow Tigers during the 1947 Speedway National League Division Two season.[3]

The following season in 1948, he improved his average to a respectable 7.20.[4] His final season in Scotland was in 1947.[5] After returning to Australia he continued to earn international caps[6] and captained the Australian national team.

He was due to return to Britain for the 1951 season but eventually did not,[7] although he gained valuable experience from his competition in the British leagues and became the Australian champion, after winning the 2 lap and 3 lap versions of the Australian Solo Championship in 1952.[8]

References

  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Speedway riders from Australia". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 9 March 1947. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "1947 fixtures". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  4. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Blaby man rides for England". Leicester Evening Mail. 11 December 1950. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Keith Buck Ryan". Edinburgh Evening News. 7 March 1951. Retrieved 22 February 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Individual Australian Championship". Historia Sportu Zuzlowego. Retrieved 22 February 2024.


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