Carl Blackbird
{{Short description|English speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Carl Blackbird
| image =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|26 March 1965}}
| birth_place = Peterborough, England
| death_date =
| death_place =
| career1 = Mildenhall Fen Tigers
| years1 = 1981–1985
| career2 = Ipswich Witches
| years2 = 1984, 1988
| career3 = Belle Vue Aces
| years3 =1985–1987
| career4 =Reading Racers
| years4 = 1989
| career5 =Edinburgh Monarchs
| years5 = 1990
| career6 = Long Eaton Invaders
| years6 = 1991–1993
| indivyear1 = 1986
| indivhonour1 = British Championship finalist
| indivyear2 = 1985
| indivhonour2 = British Under 21 Champion
| teamyear1 = 1984
| teamhonour1 = British League Champion
| teamyear2 = 1984
| teamhonour2 = British League Knockout Cup Winner
| teamyear3 = 1984
| teamhonour3 = NL Fours Championship
}}
Carl Ivan Blackbird (born 26 March 1965) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England and Great Britain.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/268/carl-blackbird|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=22 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.wolverhampton-speedway.com/team15.php|title=2015 Wolverhampton Wolves|website=Wolverhampton Speedway|access-date=22 July 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=22 June 2023}}
Speedway career
Blackbird rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1981–1993, riding for various clubs.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=History Archive|website=British Speedway|access-date=22 July 2021}}
In 1984, he won the league and cup double with Ipswich Witches during the 1984 British League season,{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1984fixtures.pdf |title=1984 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 October 2023}} in addition to helping Mildenhall Fen Tigers win the Fours Championship during the 1984 National League season{{cite news |title=Red hot Tigers takes fours crown at last |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=23 July 1984 |access-date=8 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19840723/022/0022 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
In 1985, he became the British Under 21 Champion and reached the final of the British Speedway Championship in 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedway.org/history/|title=HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK|website=Speedway.org|access-date=22 July 2021}} In 1985, he signed for Belle Vue Aces for a £20,000 transfer fee from Mildenhall Fen Tigers and spent three years at the Manchester club.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000762/19850816/01025/0035 |title=Star-studded line-up to salute Robert Henry |website=Bury Free Press |date=16 August 1985 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=24 September 2024}} In 1988, he signed for Ipswich Witches, moving from Belle Vue.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004985/19880311/075/0075 |title=Aces land US star |website=Manchester Evening News |date=11 March 1988 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=1 September 2024}}
At retirement he had earned 8 international caps for the England national speedway team.
Family
His son Lewis Blackbird is a former speedway rider, as were Carl's brothers Mark Blackbird and Paul Blackbird.