Bert Harkins
{{Short description|Scottish former motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Bert Harkins
| image = Bert Harkins WSRA 260217.jpg
| caption =
| nationality = British (Scottish)
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1940|04|15|df=y}}
| birth_place = Govan, Glasgow, Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nickname = Haggis, Bertola
| years1 = 1962-1966, 1977, 1978-79
| career1 = Edinburgh Monarchs
| years2 = 1968-1969
| career2 = Coatbridge Monarchs
| years3 = 1970-1971
| career3 = Wembley Lions
| years4 = 1972
| career4 = Sheffield Tigers
| years5 = 1973-1975, 1979
| career5 = Wimbledon Dons
| years6 = 1977
| career6 = Wolverhampton Wolves
| years7 = 1980
| career7 = Milton Keynes Knights
| indivyear1 = 1968
| indivhonour1 = Victorian State title
| indivyear2 = 1977
| indivhonour2 = Scottish Open Champion
| indivyear3 = 1978
| indivhonour3 = South African Champion
| teamyear1 = 1974
| teamhonour1 = London Cup Winner
}}
Robert Pearson Harkins (born 15 April 1940) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Scotland.Lawson,K (2018) “Riders, Teams and Stadiums”. {{ISBN|978-0-244-72538-9}} He earned 2 caps for the Scotland national speedway team, 4 caps for the Great Britain national speedway team and 7 caps for the England national speedway team.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=6 September 2024}}
Biography
His father was a fireman and he was born in the Govan Fire Station in 1940. Harkins was initially a star of cycle speedway who represented Scotland and reached two World Finals.Oakes, Peter & Mauger, Ivan (1976) Who's Who of World Speedway, Studio Publications, {{ISBN|0-904584-04-6}}, p. 202-3"[http://www.heraldscotland.com/scots-speedway-sensation-takes-his-seat-at-sport-s-top-table-1.875582 Scots speedway sensation takes his seat at sport's top table]", Glasgow Herald, 29 February 2008, retrieved 2012-03-15 He competed on motorcycles in road racing and first rode a speedway bike in 1961. While working as a lawnmower mechanic for the Glasgow Parks Department he began his speedway career in the early 1960s, and represented Scotland against England in 1964, going on to represent Scotland several times both at home and around the world until 1973.
He began his career with Edinburgh Monarchs in 1963, riding for the team until 1969, after they had relocated to Coatbridge."[http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/club_legends/article.asp?id=28 Bert Harkins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512231023/http://www.edinburghmonarchs.co/club_legends/article.asp?id=28 |date=12 May 2014 }}", edinburghmonarchs.co, retrieved 2012-03-15 In 1968, he travelled to Australia where he won the Victorian Individual Speedway Championship.
In 1970, he signed for Wembley Lions where he spent two seasons, captaining the team after Ove Fundin retired. In 1972 Wembley sent their entire team out on loan due to extra football fixtures stopping the speedway at Wembley and Harkins moved to Sheffield Tigers.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19720229/012/0012 |title=Wembley Lions split |website=Hull Daily Mail |date=29 February 1972 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 September 2024}} He moved on to Wimbledon Dons in 1973, where he rode for three seasons and won the London Cup with them in 1974.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1974record.pdf |title=1974 fixtures and results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}} He rode in the United States in 1976 with the Bakersfield Bandits. In 1977, he returned to British League action with Edinburgh,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19770402/411/0016 |title=Reading ready to topple champions |website=Reading Evening Post |date=2 April 1977 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=26 August 2024}} staying until the end of the 1979 season. His final season in British speedway was 1980, riding for Milton Keynes Knights.
Harkins was a reserve in the 1971 British final, scoring two points. He finished fifth (with Jim McMillan) in the 1970 World Pairs Final.
A familiar figure in his glasses and tartan hat, Harkins was nicknamed 'Haggis' and also 'Bertola' (after a brand of Sherry sold in Scotland)."[http://www.world-sra.co.uk/bert%20harkins.html Bert Harkins] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110093356/http://www.world-sra.co.uk/bert%20harkins.html |date=10 November 2014 }}", World Speedway Riders Association, retrieved 2012-03-15 Harkins was also known to take his pre-meeting parade lap (on his bike) while wearing his tartan hat and kilt.
In 1977, Harkins won the Scottish Open Championship in Blantyre.
After speedway he concentrated on his motorcycle spares and accessories business, Bert Harkins Racing, and later managed the Scotland national team. In 2008 he became President of the World Speedway Riders Association, taking over the position from Ivan Mauger.
World Final appearances
= World Pairs Championship =
- 1970 - {{flagicon|SWE}} Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Jim McMillan) - 4th - 18pts (8)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120504060310/http://www.bertharkinsracing.co.uk/ Bert Harkins Racing]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harkins, Bert}}
Category:British speedway riders
Category:Scottish speedway riders
Category:Scottish motorcycle racers
Category:Edinburgh Monarchs riders
Category:Sheffield Tigers riders
Category:Wimbledon Dons riders