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Post by coombes on Dec 22, 2019 18:43:10 GMT 1
Sadly there has been a post on FB that Doug has passed away. He was very much a veteran by the time he had his two spells with the Tigers - 1970/71 at Hampden and 1975/76 at Coatbridge. A real legend of Scottish Speedway who had his prime years skippering the Monarchs at Old Meadowbank. RIP Doug.
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Post by tyretrax on Dec 22, 2019 18:54:22 GMT 1
R.I.P. Dougie.
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Post by benbulben on Dec 22, 2019 19:34:10 GMT 1
Ditto.....one of the real hard guys on track but a nice guy off it. A Tiger from 1953 and a true Scottish speedway legend.
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Post by coombes on Dec 22, 2019 22:02:07 GMT 1
Have found a meeting in 1952, v Edinburgh in National League Div2 on Sept 3rd when Doug was third in a second half race, the Novice Race. Other luminaries were Russell, Cochrane and Rennie. Not sure if this was his fiyjrst ride at the White City.
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Post by drosser on Dec 23, 2019 0:52:30 GMT 1
An absolute legend who could, possibly, have been so much more. Considering that he did not start speedway until his mid twenties and really did little regular racing until he was almost 30, his consistent high level of performance was incredible. Most riders nowadays find it difficult to combine racing with any kind of additional employment but Dougie, and brother Willie, managed to run farms, prepare their bikes and cover the grueling mileage required for Scottish based speedway riders during long racing careers. RIP Dougie.
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Post by benbulben on Dec 23, 2019 13:15:58 GMT 1
Although Dougie was regarded as a Monarch he made his debut for the Tigers in 1953 and had three spells in the Stripes. Agonisingly he missed out by one match of becoming a Tigers centurion. Or did he ? In official matches his record reads 1953 - 15 apps 21 points 1970 - 37 - 150 1971 - 38 - 144 1972 - 1 - 3 1976 - 8 - 33 Total - 99 -351 ( 1 paid maximum) He also rode in 1954 in 6 Northern Shield matches with 19 points. I have a feeling these are counted as official as Tigers completed their section before closure which would take his record to 105-370. Interestingly he won the Scottish Junior Championship on 30 June 1953 at Ashfield aged 24 and also rode in the Ken Le Breton Memorial Trophy on 29 September 1953. 1956 saw him ride once in that truncated challenge season with 1 point from two rides. His final meeting as a Tiger was 16 September at Teeside failing to score after nearly four months out after an injury at Paisley. Still, we can forgive him . He was 48 years old which makes me wonder if he was the oldest Tiger ever.
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Post by benbulben on Dec 23, 2019 21:30:20 GMT 1
Oops, somehow i have missed a season (1975) so please disregard previous post. Dougie is a Tigers centurion.His record amended ; 1953 : 15-21 1970 ; 37-150 1971 : 38-144 1972 : 1-3 ( not sure if this was as a guest or if a rider could sign for one meeting back then) 1975 :13-56 1976 : 8-33 Total =112-407 Add in the 1954 figures of 6-19 (and think these stood as NS fixtures were fulfilled) and a grand,toal of 118-426.
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Post by benbulben on Dec 23, 2019 22:06:43 GMT 1
I do hope the first programme of the season will acknowledge Dougie's contribution to Scottish speedway. Over to you, Mr Lanning or whoever is the editor.
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Post by coombes on Dec 24, 2019 10:34:38 GMT 1
Disappointingly there has been no tribute on either our website or FB page. Possibly Robert Mackenzie, also co editor of the programme, is on holiday.
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Post by coombes on Jan 2, 2020 15:06:39 GMT 1
Anyone remember Doug's sit down strike during his Coatbridge Monarchs days, possibly in a meeting against us? I missed it and quite a few other meetings that year due to working in London.
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Post by benbulben on Jan 3, 2020 12:39:08 GMT 1
Lovely two full pages on Dougie in this week's Star by Peter Oakes. Also note our programme came in 4th to which I can only say hmmmm.
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Post by tyretrax on Jan 8, 2020 20:54:27 GMT 1
Great turnout for Dougie's funeral today.
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Post by drosser on Jan 9, 2020 0:51:24 GMT 1
Great turnout for Dougie's funeral today. That's good to hear. It shows the amount of respect he had within the sport and, no doubt, within his local community. R.I.P. Doug.
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