Jack Chapman (speedway rider)
{{Short description|Australian motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Jack Chapman
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = Australian
| birth_date = {{birth date text|3 March 1907}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1994|2|14|1907|3|3|df=y}}
| death_place = City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters, Adelaide
| career1 = Sheffield Blades
| years1 = 1930
| career2 = Stamford Bridge Pensioners
| years2 = 1932
| career3 = Wimbledon Dons
| years3 = 1933
| career4 = Nottingham
| years4 = 1933
| career5 = Birmingham Bulldogs
| years5 = 1934
| career6 = Harringay Tigers
| years6 = 1939
| career7 = Edinburgh Thistles
| years7 = 1939
| indivyear1 = 1930
| indivhonour1 = Australian champion (3 lap)
| teamyear1 = 1932
| teamhonour1= National Association Trophy
}}
Wenley Jack Chapman (3 March 1907 – 14 February 1994) was an Australian motorcycle speedway rider.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=5 March 2024}}{{cite web |url=https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/resource/PRG+1631/101/32 |title=Frank Duckett and Jack Chapman, PRG 1631/101/32, Photograph |website=State Library of Australia |access-date=5 March 2024}} He earned 17 official and unofficial international caps for the Australia national speedway team.{{cite web |url=http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/australia.htm |title=Australia |website=International Speedway |access-date=5 March 2024}}
Biography
Chapman, born in Adelaide, was credited with holding the world mile record in 1928.{{cite news |title=Glasgow Speedway results |work=The Scotsman |date=13 May 1929 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19290513/352/0006 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He was one of the early pioneers of speedway, particularly in the United Kingdom, when he travelled over from Australia for the second season of the sport in 1929.{{cite news |title=Glasgow Speedway results |work=The Scotsman |date=13 May 1929 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000540/19290513/352/0006 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
After making one just cup appearance for the Sheffield in 1929, he returned home for the 1930 Australian season and became the 1930 Australian champion over 3 laps.{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmaustralii.php |title=Individual Australian Championship|website=Historia Sportu Zuzlowego |access-date=5 March 2024}} He began his British leagues career riding for Sheffield Blades during the 1930 Speedway Northern League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1930record.pdf |title=1930 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=4 March 2024}} He averaged 8.41 for the Sheffield team.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=5 March 2024}}
He missed the 1931 season but joined Stamford Bridge Pensioners in 1932,{{cite news |title=Return of Stars |work=Daily Herald |date=16 March 1932 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19320316/285/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} a season where he also captained the Australian select team.{{cite news |title=Southampton Beaten |work=Daily News (London) |date=21 April 1932 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19320421/308/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
In 1933, he rode for Nottingham and also made a couple of appearances for Wimbledon Dons.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=5 March 2024}} However, in 1934, the entire Nottingham team was transferred to the Birmingham Bulldogs, following the demise of the Nottingham team.{{cite news |title=Nottingham team Move to Hall Green |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=28 February 1934 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19340228/055/0011 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
After the 1934 season, Chapman returned home once again but this time stayed in Australia, selling Motorcycles in Adelaide.{{cite news |title=Wembley remembers the Old Timers |work=Sunday Mirror |date=11 August 1935|access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000844/19350811/265/0037 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Five years later in 1939, Chapman now aged 32, made a comeback, joining the Harringay Tigers,{{cite news |title=Speedway stars will soon adopt football training methods |work=Manchester Evening News |date=15 May 1939 |access-date=5 March 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000272/19390515/201/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} Before finishing his UK career with Edinburgh Thistles, operating at Marine Gardens in Portobello.
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Chapman, Jack}}
Category:Australian speedway riders
Category:Birmingham Bulldogs riders
Category:Edinburgh Monarchs riders
Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in Scotland
Category:Harringay Tigers riders
Category:Australian expatriate speedway riders in England
Category:Nottingham speedway riders