Peter Murray (speedway rider)

{{Short description|British speedway rider}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Peter Murray

| image =

| caption =

| nationality = British (English)

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1948|3|18|df=y}}

| birth_place = Wimbledon, London

| death_date =

| death_place =

| career1 = Wimbledon Dons

| years1 = 1967–1972

| career2 = Canterbury Crusaders

| years2 = 1968–1969, 1973–1974

| career3 = Reading Racers

| years3 = 1973

| teamyear1 = 1968, 1969, 1970

| teamhonour1= Knockout Cup (tier 1)

| teamyear2 = 1968

| teamhonour2= Knockout Cup (tier 2)

| teamyear3 = 1968, 1969, 1970

| teamhonour3= London Cup

}}

Peter Murray (born 18 March 1948) is a former English 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=30 October 2024 }}

Biography

Murray, born in Wimbledon, London, began his British leagues career making an appearance for Wimbledon Dons during the 1967 British League season season.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1967results.pdf |title=1967 season |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 October 2024 }} The following season he established himself in both division 1 with Wimbledon and division 2 with Canterbury Crusaders.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/1966/peter-murray |title=Peter Murray |website=WWOS backup |access-date=29 October 2024 }}

Murray had the distinction of winning both the division 1 and 2 Knockout Cups in 1968.{{cite book |last=Oakes |first=Peter |title=1978 Speedway Yearbook |year=1978 |page=39 |publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd |isbn=978-0904584509}} Additionally he won the London Cup with Wimbledon that year.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/wimbledon1969.pdf |title=Wimbledon 1969 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 October 2024 }}

Arguably his breakthrough year was 1969 because he topped the Canterbury team averages{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002471/19691007/326/0014 |title=Reading's Dene Davies (second from right) leads Canterbury's Peter Murray |website=Reading Evening Post |date=7 October 1969 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 October 2024 }} with an impressive 10.35, an average that was the fourth highest in the league.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 October 2024 }} In addition he won a second Knockout Cup and London Cup with Wimbledon.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/wimbledon1969.pdf |title=Wimbledon 1969 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 October 2024 }} He left Canterbury the following season,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19700313/008/0008 |title=Piddock, Murray leave Crusaders |website=Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald |date=13 March 1970 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 October 2024 }} missing out on their league title success,{{cite web |url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-70.htm |title=Speedway Teams UK 1970-1975 |website=Cyber Motorcycle |access-date=30 October 2024 }} but gained consolation with a third consecutive Knockout Cup and London Cup with Wimbledon.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/wimbledon1970.pdf |title=Wimbledon 1970 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 October 2024 }}

After a couple more seasons with the London team, he returned to Canterbury in 1973,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19730914/002/0002 |title=Draw at Hull |website=Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald |date=14 September 1973 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 October 2024 }} a season which saw him win the Invicta Ludorum Trophy{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003312/19730810/002/0002 |title=Golden boy Peter wins by a point |website=Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald |date=10 August 1973 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=30 October 2024 }}

He retired during the 1974 season.

References