Carl Blackbird
| Born | 26 March 1965 (age 59) Peterborough, England |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Career history | |
| 1981–1985 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers |
| 1984, 1988 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1985–1987 | Belle Vue Aces |
| 1989 | Reading Racers |
| 1990 | Edinburgh Monarchs |
| 1991–1993 | Long Eaton Invaders |
| Individual honours | |
| 1986 | British Championship finalist |
| 1985 | British Under 21 Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1984 | British League Champion |
| 1984 | British League Knockout Cup Winner |
| 1984 | NL Fours Championship |
Carl Ivan Blackbird (born 26 March 1965) is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England and Great Britain.[1][2][3]
Speedway career
[edit]Blackbird rode in the top tier of British Speedway from 1981–1993, riding for various clubs.[4]
In 1984, he won the league and cup double with Ipswich Witches during the 1984 British League season,[5] in addition to helping Mildenhall Fen Tigers win the Fours Championship during the 1984 National League season[6]
In 1985, he became the British Under 21 Champion[1] and reached the final of the British Speedway Championship in 1986.[1][7] In 1985, he signed for Belle Vue Aces for a £20,000 transfer fee from Mildenhall Fen Tigers and spent three years at the Manchester club.[8] In 1988, he signed for Ipswich Witches, moving from Belle Vue.[9]
At retirement he had earned 8 international caps for the England national speedway team.[3]
Family
[edit]His son Lewis Blackbird is a former speedway rider, as were Carl's brothers Mark Blackbird and Paul Blackbird.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ a b "2015 Wolverhampton Wolves". Wolverhampton Speedway. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ a b "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
- ^ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "1984 season results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- ^ "Red hot Tigers takes fours crown at last". Cambridge Daily News. 23 July 1984. Retrieved 8 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "HISTORY SPEEDWAY and LONGTRACK". Speedway.org. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
- ^ "Star-studded line-up to salute Robert Henry". Bury Free Press. 16 August 1985. Retrieved 24 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Aces land US star". Manchester Evening News. 11 March 1988. Retrieved 1 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.