Garry Stead
Cradley Heath Heathens | |
1989-1992, 2007 | Stoke Potters |
---|---|
1993-1994 | Newcastle Diamonds |
1995, 1997 | Bradford Dukes |
1996 | Sheffield Tigers |
1998 | Wolverhampton Wolves |
1999-2005 | Hull Vikings |
2006 | Workington Comets |
Team honours | |
1997 | Premier League Fours Champion |
2001, 2004 | Premier League KO Cup Winner |
2000 | Premier Trophy Winner |
2004 | Young Shield Winner |
Garry Stead (born 5 January 1972 in Holmfirth, England) is a former international motorcycle speedway rider.[1][2]
Career
Cradley Heath and Stoke
Stead showed a real interest in speedway, being a regular supporter at the Shay watching the
Newcastle
Stead moved to Brough Park in 1993 to be part of the Newcastle Diamonds outfit, scoring well but did not manage to get through the season unscathed as he ended up with a broken wrist and thumb. It was during his time at Newcastle that Bradford promoter Alan Ham became aware of Garry's potential, he moved quickly to secure his services in the 1994 season and paid £15,000 for him but loaned him back to Newcastle for the rest of the season.[citation needed]
Bradford and Sheffield
In
During 1996, Bradford signed Australian Todd Wiltshire, which resulted in Stead being loaned to Sheffield Tigers. During the season he progressed to heat leader status with Tigers. The following year Alan and Bobby Ham brought him back to the Dukes. In 1997, he was part of the Elite League Championship winning team.[5] Stead joined the Wolverhampton Wolves following the demise of Bradford in 1998. He made a third British final appearance in the 1998 British Speedway Championship.
Hull
In 1999, Stead joined Hull Vikings and stayed until 2005. During his time with the Vikings he won the Premier Trophy in 2000 and the KO Cup in 2001. In 2002, he participated in his fourth British Final.
During the 2003 Elite League speedway season he guested for Poole Pirates in the KO Cup final, teaming up with Tony Rickardsson for a 5-1 which helped Poole win the final. His most successful season however was in 2004, when Hull won the treble of Premier League, the Knockout Cup and the Young Shield.[6]
Workington and back to Stoke
In 2006, Stead was signed by the
Accident
On Friday 18 May 2007, Stead's racing career came to an abrupt end at Somerset, when a racing accident left him paralysed from the waist down.[8][9][10]
References
- ISBN 0-948882-81-6
- ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ^ "2008 Rider index" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "1995 league tables". Speedway GB.
- ^ "British Final Roll of Honour". BSPA. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ "Downfall of Hull's speedway king found surrounded by crack and heroin in seedy drug dealer's flat". Hull Daily Mail. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
- ^ "2006 season fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Ex-Comet Garry in Broken Back Horror". News and Star. 21 May 2007. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
- ^ British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA)
- ^ "Ex-Comet Stead Paralysed". News and Star. 15 June 2007. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2008.