Bill Holden | |
Nationality: | British (English) |
Birth Place: | Blackburn, England |
Career1: | Southampton Saints |
Years1: | 1950–1951, 1956–1957 |
Years2: | 1951–56, 1958 |
Teamyear1: | 1951 |
Teamhonour1: | Division 3 champions |
Teamyear2: | 1952, 1955 |
Teamhonour2: | Division 2 champions |
Teamyear3: | 1952, 1955, 1956 |
Teamhonour3: | National Trophy (Div 2) |
William Holden (8 March 1923 – 14 March 2011) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1]
Holden rode for Southampton Saints (1950-1, 1957),[2] Poole Pirates 1951–56, 1958) and England (1952). He won the Division 3 championship with Poole in 1951[3] and the following year won the Division 2 title with Poole. In 1955, he won a third title when Poole won Division 2 again.
He is still regarded by some as one of the best riders ever to don the distinctive blue and white skull and crossbones race jacket. Holden was entered into the Poole Speedway Hall of Fame in 2008 having scored 1,599 points in 639 races.[4]
He is uncle to former Exeter Falcons, Poole and England rider Kevin Holden and father to former Weymouth junior Paul Holden.[5]