TEN YEAR MONARCH JIMMY TANNOCK HAS PASSED AWAY

NEWS Wednesday 2nd December 2015, 11:10am

by Mike Hunter

  Edinburgh Monarchs

We have to bring you the very sad news that Jimmy Tannock, former ten-year Monarch, and stalwart of the WSRA, has lost his fight with illness and passed away today.

This will come as a shock to all who have enjoyed Jimmy’s cheerful presence at the Scottish Speedway tracks, which he attended virtually every week until very recently, and also the events of the World Speedway Riders Association and its Scottish section, which he never missed. A common comment was “Jimmy looks younger now than when he was racing!”

Jimmy, who was 84, has probably become more famous in the Speedway world since he stopped racing. He was a steady rider, starting with Ashfield, then Motherwell, and finally Edinburgh Monarchs from 1960 to 1969. Along with Doug Templeton and George Hunter he was the first ten-year Monarch. He rode 127 League matches for Monarchs and scored 485 points.

But subsequently he became a stalwart of the veterans’ organisations, serving as President of the WSRA in 2004-5. Proudly wearing his chain of office (specially commissioned for him by some of his speedway friends), he has been honorary president of the Scottish section for many years, providing inimitable introductions during the annual dinners of the section. He has often toured overseas visiting old colleagues such as Bluey Scott in Australia and Joe Hicks in New Zealand.

His racing career started with grasstrack and scrambling in 1949-50, then switching to speedway on an ancient ex-Jimmy Valente frame, then buying a former Ken le Breton one from Larry Lazarus.

He rode under Norrie Isbister at Ashfield, and later alongside Gordon McGregor and Derick Close at Motherwell. As he said later, “Everywhere I went closed down!” and this was the problem for Scottish riders coming through in the fifties.

He was part of the Ian Hoskins revival at Motherwell in 1958 and moved on to Edinburgh in 1960. He then did his ten year stint at Old Meadowbank and also toured New Zealand along with Doug Templeton in 1966.

His favourite tracks he said were Edinburgh, Ashfield, Sheffield and Leicester (Blackbird Road), and the best partner he had was George Hunter. “George was the best rider to ride with. He always looked out for his partner and did a bit of team riding.”

Jimmy’s son, also Jimmy, has been keeping Jimmy’s friends in the east informed of his condition. His smiling face and ever-ready humour will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew him, and we certainly won’t forget his contribution to the sport.