Jack Ormston

Who was Jack Ormston?

John Glaholme 'Jack' Ormston was a Speedway rider who finished runner-up in the Star Riders' Championship in 1935, the forerunner to the Speedway World Championship. He also competed in the first ever World Final in 1936.

Having ridden for Middlesbrough, he left in 1929 to become captain of the Wembley Lions team aged twenty one. While riding for Wembley in he won the first ever London Riders' Championship at the Crystal Palace as well as the Southern League twice and the London Cup. He won the inaugural National League with Wembley in 1932 and was a member of the England team in the first-ever England v Australia Test Match at Wimbledon Stadium. He rode for England in a total of 13 Test matches against Australia, of which 3 were in Australia in 1937-38.

He subsequently joined Birmingham in 1934, and then from 1935-38 rode for the Harringay Tigers in London.

Jack was the last surviving competitor from the original World Final before he died aged 97.