Audenshaw

The Snipe, Ashton Old Road, Audenshaw Manchester 1928-1931 before trying Dirt Track racing the Snipe track had long been in use for trotting and athletic races.

A rare picture of Sid Meadowcroft getting to his feet Audenshaw 1929, Courtesy of Speedway in Manchester. Notice the huge piles of earth around the outside of the track.

Here is an account of a race between 2 Athletes in 1913 which gives an indication of how long the track had been in use

Hedeman had reached England by the time the World Mile Championships had been won by Hans Holmer and he immediately challenged the Canadian for the title. They were matched at the Snipe Inn ground at Audenshaw, Manchester, for a purse of £100. The Snipe Inn had been a venue for professional footracing since the 1840s. It was selected by the Lancashire Pedestrian Syndicate, who became the promoters of the match. Over two thousand spectators turned up, despite an important football match between Salford and Wigan on a neighbouring ground.

The half a mile track at the Snipe Inn ground was usually used for trotting races by horses. Such a venue, a trotting track attached to an inn had been commonly used when professional distance running had evolved in the 1850s and 1860s. Such enclosed venues could draw large crowds brought by the new railway system. The Snipe Inn trotting track, having been used by horses consequently was rather soft on top, although brushes and heavy roller had been used to make a better surface. Both Holmer and Hedeman were satisfied with the track, knowing a fast time was out of the question. The then professional world mile record was 4:12.75 by Englishman Walter George, set some twenty-seven years earlier, world title matches tended to be tactical affairs, much as they are now.

Holmer was trained for the match by the famous miler, George Blennerhassett Tincler, who himself had held the world title, while Hedeman was prepared by his fellow Australian Charles Bergmeier.

On the day of the race, the 1st November 1913, Holmer won the toss and chose the inside. He stood up in what was called the old style while Hedeman went down into a crouch start. Immediately the gun was fired, Hedeman went to the inside, and was to keep that position throughout the race. With Holmer running at his shoulder Hedeman ran relaxed. At half way, Holmer tried to spurt past him, but Hedeman held his position, and it became clear that Holmer lacked the pace to take the lead.

Some 300 yards from the finish line, Hedeman began to sprint, opening a gap of nearly five yards. Despite Holmer's desperate efforts in the last 100 yards, Hedeman hung on, despite being exhausted. He won by three yards in 4 minutes 34 seconds. Holmer at once congratulated the new world mile champion.

This programme is said to be from the second Dirt Track meeting held in the UK, High Beech got there first but hats off to Audenshaw too.

Courtesy of Google Earth
Jack Longley sent this map of the area to illustrate how close Audenshaw and Doylsden's tracks were

I have started this page after receiving emails from Ken Ward who is 82 years old. Ken says the Snipe was a Dirt Track not an actual speedway. I am showing Ken's email as he typed it below: -

Hi, My name is Ken Ward, I am 82 yrs old, I remember vividly the Audenshaw track which was a dirt track "not a speedway track" near the snipe pit Audenshaw, although I was only 4yrs old I can remember my uncle Bob putting me on his shoulders, Riskit Riley was one of the riders, he would be in his mid 20s, he rode in clogs, he had an impediment in his speech, and used to have conversations with the spectators, who used to banter him, he used to say if you can do any better come and have a try. I guess he would have been born around 1905. which would put him in his late 90s if he is still alive, My uncles who unfortunately have passed on, knew him quite well. I don't know if this will be of interest to you.

Regards Ken

I asked Ken about old time speedway footwear and he says:
Most of the older riders 1927-1931, wore Hockers this a Lancashire term for hob nailed boots with a toe cap

Just one more thing I believe Speedway Riders today have steel plates on the bottom of their boots? if this is the case Riskit wasn't so daft wearing clogs the irons on the clogs would probably suffice as a steel plate.

Regards Ken

More from Ken:

The Actual site of the Audenshaw track was Behind the Snipe Inn, about a quarter of a mile from the Droylsden Track owned by a Mr George Dodd we called it Doddys it was a Trotting track. Around Manchester they are convinced it was the the first Dirt Track in the country,. But it is said that the first meeting was held at the High Beech meeting 19th Feb 1928. getting back to Riskit Riley he is mentioned in the forward of the book "Speedway in Manchester" by Alan Morrey clerk of the course Belle Vue Speedway From its Humble beginnings at Droylsden in 1927 speedway didn't take long to hit the Big-time Audenshaw paved the way with a series of successful meetings in early 1928, with such Riders as Riskit Riley and Slider Shuttleworth, and the Drew brothers..

In the Audenshaw section of this book "sixty five entries had been approved several of these namely Alec Jackson, HARRY RILEY, Ginger Lees, Bob Harrison, Stanley Acorn Dobson, and Tommy Price who were to become household names" You will notice Harry Riley,

Regards Ken
Yes Ken it is of interest to me.

Jack Longley another Audenshaw local says:
further to Jack Riskit Riley it has been suggested he rode for Belle Vue I would rather say he rode AT Belle Vue, he also rode at Middlesborough but I believe he never rode for a team. If I look out of my front room window I can see where both Audenshaw and Droylsden tracks were situated. By the way your earlier correspondent Ken' is my cousin my father is one of the uncles he refers to.
Thanks Jack

Clem H Beckett

Jack Longley has been in touch about the above named who rode frequently at Audenshaw, Jack says:
Could I just add a little more to the subject of Audenshaw dirt track. a certain Mr Clem H Beckett from Oldham in Lancashire also rode this track and considering the Droylsden track was so close to Audenshaw I can only assume he rode there also. Clem was a communist and he joined the International Brigade and was subsequently murdered by fascists when he became involved in the Spanish Civil War. Clem also played a major part in setting up a union for speedway/dirt track riders who were being exploited by unscrupulous stadium owners who were encouraging young inexperienced kids to ride these bikes which resulted in deaths and serious injury.

There are two accounts on how Clem met his death, as follows:

This cutting refers to Audenshaw's 13th Meeting and the meetings final featured Riskit Riley and Slider Shuttleworth both of whom are pictured above