Phil Herne Explained

Phil Herne
Nationality:Australian
Birth Date:27 March 1955
Birth Place:Ballina, New South Wales
Years1:1973–1974, 1978–1980
Career1:Birmingham Brummies
Years2:1973–1974
Career2:Wolverhampton Wolves
Years3:1974, 1983
Career3:Swindon Robins
Years4:1974
Career4:Poole Pirates
Years5:1974
Career5:Ipswich Witches
Years6:1975–1976
Career6:Newport
Years7:1977
Career7:Bristol Bulldogs
Years8:1981–1983
Career8:Leicester Lions
Indivyear1:1974
Indivhonour1:Championship of Sussex
Teamyear1:1974
Teamhonour1:British League Division Two Champion
Teamyear2:1974
Teamhonour2:British League Division Two KO Cup Winner
Teamyear3:1975
Teamhonour3:Spring Gold Cup
Teamyear4:1976
Teamhonour4:World Team Cup

Philip Edwin Herne (born 27 March 1955)[1] is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider who won the World Team Cup in 1976.[2]

Biography

Born in Ballina, New South Wales, Phil Herne began his speedway career at the Kembla Grange Speedway in Wollongong, south of Sydney, before establishing himself in the British League Division Two with Birmingham Brummies in 1973.[3] The 1974 season was his most successful for the Brummies, with fourteen full maximum scores, and an average of over ten points. In 1975 after finishing third in the Australian Championship at the Sydney Showground Speedway, he moved up to the British League with Newport, moving to Bristol Bulldogs in 1977, before returning to Birmingham for 1978, 1979 and 1980 seasons. He joined Leicester Lions in 1981, spending three seasons with the Lions before moving on to Swindon Robins during the 1983 season, which was his final season before retiring.

Herne made over thirty appearances for Australia and was part of the Australian team that won the World Team Cup in 1976.

Phil Herne was the track reserve for the 1982 Speedway World Pairs Championship final staged at his home track, the Liverpool Speedway in Sydney. He failed to finish his only ride of the night, partnering New Zealand's Mitch Shirra as a substitute for Larry Ross.

Personal life

Herne is married to Ipswich-born wife Debra and has a daughter, Ella, and sons Lee and Jay, both also professional speedway riders.[4] [5] [6] After speedway, Herne worked as a truck driver for ten years before working as a postman.

World Final appearances

World Pairs Championship

World Team Cup

Notes and References

  1. Oakes, Peter (1982) 1982 Speedway Yearbook, Studio Publications,, p. 173
  2. Web site: ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 . British Speedway . 17 June 2023.
  3. Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester, Automedia, pp. 167–8
  4. King, Elvin (2010) "Speedway veteran recalls his Sanders’ memories", lovespeedway24.co.uk, 14 July 2010, retrieved 2011-12-10
  5. "Double-header treat for Wasps fans", South Wales Argus, 24 April 2009, retrieved 2011-12-10
  6. Pearson, Nigel (2008) "Brummies in Herne swoop", Birmingham Mail, 8 July 2008, retrieved 2011-12-10