Wally Hull
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox Speedway rider
| name = Wally Hull
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = British (English)
| birth_date = {{birth-date|2 March 1907}}
| birth_place = Manchester, England
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|3|10|1907|3|2|df=y}}
| death_place = Macclesfield, Cheshire, England
| career1 = White City Manchester
| years1 = 1929–1930
| career2 = Belle Vue Aces
| years2 = 1931–1932, 1947–1948
| career3 = Wimbledon Dons
| years3 = 1932
| career4 = Sheffield Tigers
| years4 = 1933
| career5 = Lea Bridge/Walthamstow Wolves
| years5 = 1934
| indivyear1 =
| indivhonour1 =
| teamyear1 = 1931
| teamhonour1 = Northern League Champion
| teamyear2 = 1931
| teamhonour2 = Northern League KO Cup Winner
| teamyear3 = 1935, 1936
| teamhonour3 = National League Champion
| teamyear4 = 1935, 1936, 1937, 1947
| teamhonour4 = National Trophy Winner
| teamyear5 = 1935, 1936, 1937
| teamhonour5 = ACU Cup
| teamyear6 = 1939
| teamhonour6 = British Speedway Cup
}}
Walter Norbury Hull (2 March 1907 – 10 March 1985) was an international motorcycle speedway rider from England. He earned two international 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=20 December 2023}}
Biography
Hull, born in Manchester, rode in the pioneer years of British speedway beginning his British leagues career riding for White City Manchester during the inaugural 1929 Speedway English Dirt Track League season.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1929record.pdf |title=1929 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 December 2023}} He was described as the Altrincham star.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Manchester Evening News |date=3 May 1929 |access-date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000272/19290503/003/0003 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} He gained recognition in 1930 and was selected to represent England against Australia.{{cite news |title=Honour for Burton |work=Leicester Evening Mail |date=17 July 1930 |access-date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003329/19300717/237/0020 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
His two seasons with the Manchester club were chaotic because they withdrew from the league on both occasions. In 1931, he joined Belle Vue Aces, where he would enjoy a better foundation and duly impressed with an 8.84 league average and helping his team become league champions.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/specialfeaturesrideraverages.pdf |title=Rider averages 1929 to 2009 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 December 2023}}
Following the amalgamation of the Southern and Northern leagues for the 1932 Speedway National League season, he was transferred, moving to London to ride for the Wimbledon Dons.{{cite news |title=Palace trio in test team |work=Daily Herald |date=23 July 1932|access-date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19320723/278/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} His form dipped and he found himself spending a season with Sheffield Tigers in 1933 and then had a fractured season in 1934, riding for the Lea Bridge/Walthamstow team.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 December 2023}}
In 1935, he returned to Belle Vue, where he would spend the remainder of his career (with a enforced break during World War II), retiring in 1948. He won several numerous trophies with the club including the 1935 and 1936 trebles.{{cite news |title=Innocents on the Speedway |work=The People |date=27 April 1947 |access-date=20 December 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000729/19470427/115/0008 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}