Jack Kitchen Explained

Jack Kitchen
Nationality:British (English)
Birth Place:Lancaster, England
Death Place:Lancaster, England
Career1:Belle Vue Aces
Years1:1958–1963
Career2:Sheffield Tigers
Years2:1960, 1963–1966
Career3:Bradford Boomerangs
Years3:1958
Career4:Bradford Panthers
Years4:1962
Teamhonour1:National League
Teamhonour2:National Trophy
Teamyear2:1958
Teamhonour3:Britannia Shield
Teamyear3:1958
Teamhonour4:Northern League
Teamyear4:1963, 1964

Christopher John Kitchen (2 August 1938 – 21 July 1990) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1] [2] [3] He earned two international caps for the Great Britain national speedway team.[1]

Career

Kitchen started his British leagues career in 1958 as he captained the Bradford Boomerangs junior side[4] and in the 1958 Speedway National League he rode for Belle Vue Aces, where he helped the team win the National Trophy.[1] [5] He would ride for the Manchester club for six years until the end of 1963. He also had spells with Bradford Panthers and Sheffield Tigers in the Provincial League.[1]

From 1963 he rode for Sheffield and in 1965 topped the team's averages, which led him to represent Sheffield in the British League Riders' Championship.[6]

His last season was in 1966 and he retired aged just 28. He was involved in a crash that resulted in the death of Ivor Hughes in 1966, which seemed instrumental in his decision to retire.

Family

His uncle Bill Kitchen was a speedway rider.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022, Jack Kitchen . British Speedway . 31 May 2023.
  2. News: Speedway News . Motherwell Times . 13 June 1958 . 31 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  3. Web site: Sheffield Tigers Speedway Post-War Legends 2001 . London Cigarette Card Company . 31 May 2023.
  4. News: Speedway Tonight . Wishaw Press . 13 June 1958 . 31 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  5. Web site: Jack Kitchen . WWOS Backup . 31 May 2023.
  6. News: Kitchen shines but Sheffield go down . Bristol Evening Post . 20 August 1960 . 31 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  7. News: Speedway News . Daily Mirror . 26 May 1959 . 31 May 2023 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .