Robbie Blackadder

Last updated

Robbie Blackadder
Robbie Blackadder.jpg
Born (1955-12-07) 7 December 1955 (age 68)
Cessnock, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1975–1982 Newcastle Diamonds
Team honours
1976 League champion (tier 2)
1976 Knockout Cup (tier 2)

Robert Blackadder (born 7 December 1955) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Australia. 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 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]

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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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