Robbie Blackadder

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Robbie Blackadder
Robbie Blackadder.jpg
Born (1955-12-07) 7 December 1955 (age 69)
Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1975–1982 Newcastle Diamonds
1978–1980 Hull Vikings
Team honours
1976 League champion (tier 2)
1976 Knockout Cup (tier 2)

Robert Blackadder (born 7 December 1955) is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider. He earned four international caps for the Australia national speedway team. [1]

Biography

Blackadder, born in Cessnock, New South Wales, began his British leagues career riding for Newcastle Diamonds during the 1975 New National League season. [2] Newcastle had been re-formed by Ian Thomas [3] and the club signed a new team ready for 1975, which included the Owen brothers (Joe and Tom Owen), in addition to the two Australian riders, Blackadder (aged 19) and Ron Henderson (aged 17). [4]

Blackadder made an immediate impact, supporting the Owen brothers and helping the Diamonds to the runner-up position behind Birmingham Brummies. The following season in 1976, the Newcastle team dominated and won the league and cup double and the fours. [5] Blackadder improved his average to 8.61 [6] and was later called up to represent the Australian speedway team. [7]

The 1978 season resulted in further improvement with Blackadder peaking at a season average of 9.10. [6] He became the captain of Newcastle and continued to ride for Newcastle until the early part of the 1982 season, [8] which came to a premature end for him following a compound fracture of his left wrist after a crash in March 1982. [9] After the Speedway Control Board introduced new points restrictions to the team building for 1983 season, Blackadder was released by Newcastle and he returned home to Australia.

He also rode a few matches for other clubs in division 1 such as Hull Vikings. [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Ultimate Rider Index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "1975 season" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  3. ↑ "Ian Thomas buys out Sunderland" . Hull Daily Mail. 28 November 1974. Retrieved 13 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ↑ "Speedway signings" . Newcastle Journal. 12 March 1975. Retrieved 13 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ↑ "1976 to 1981". Cyber Morotcycles. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "Six Crusaders in record call for test match duty" . Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald. 15 July 1977. Retrieved 13 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ↑ "Robbie Blackadder". WWOS backup. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  9. ↑ "Speedway" . Newcastle Evening Chronicle. 22 March 1982. Retrieved 13 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ↑ "Speedway" . Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 21 April 1979. Retrieved 13 May 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
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