The Riders - G

Dave Gatenby:  Wear-sider Gatenby was an experienced grass-track racer, and spent 3 seasons riding for his home town club Sunderland from 1971-1973 whilst on loan from the Dukes.  Rode in several meetings for Halifax during 1973 before being a permanent part of the team for 1974 and 1975.  Suffered a badly broken leg in a crash at Newport in August 1975 which ended his season - and ultimately his Dukes' career, as he never rode for the Dukes again.  Ironically, his injury came as he was in the middle of his best spell for Halifax.  Missed the entire 1976 and 1977 seasons before attempting a comeback with Middlesbrough in the National League, but retired after 22 matches, after failing to exceed a 3 point average.  Gatenby sadly died in 2016, a few days short of his 66th birthday.

Dennis Gavros:  A native of Adelaide, Australia, Gavros arrived in the UK part way through the 1965 season, and quickly forced his way into the Dukes' team.  A popular middle-order rider, Gavros was with the Dukes through their successful period of the mid to late 60s, spending 5 seasons with Halifax, before retiring at the end of 1969.  Attempted a comeback in the 1970s, notably with Hull in 1972 and 1973, and had a couple of appearances for Halifax during that time.  Retired for good during 1974, but remained connected to the Dukes - firstly in the pits, looking after the spare bike, and then eventually becoming team manager in 1976.  Gavros held that position for the next 8 seasons, before stepping down in 1984 to concentrate on his garage business.  Gavros passed away in 2023, aged 80, having spent his final years back in his native Australia.

Tom Godal:  23 year old from Norway who arrived in the UK at the start of the 1977 season to occupy a reserve berth for the Dukes.  A first race win, and a 7 point haul suggested great things lay ahead - but his form did not progress, and he finished the season with an average under 4 points.  Retained for 1978, Godal rode in several early season matches, but following the signing of Klaus Lohmann, the Dukes had 8 riders for 7 spaces, and he lost his place in the team.  He was transferred to Leicester, where he remained until the end of 1979, but never returned to the UK to race again.

Mitch Graham:  A veteran of 6 seasons, predominantly with Workington and Hull, Graham was a frequent visitor to The Shay, and rated the Halifax track among his favourites.  A dreadful 1977 season with the Vikings saw his average dip under 5 points, and the Dukes were happy to include him at reserve for the start of the 1978 season after using Graham multiple times as a guest during their injury-hit season.  He quickly became a fan favourite, renowned for his outside passing manoeuvres, but his away form during that season was very poor. He was involved in a nasty crash with Mick McKeon during the home encounter with league champions White City during August, which resulted in arm, back and hip injuries, ultimately forcing him into retirement.  An aborted comeback in 1979 with Stoke proved to be the final chapter, and talk of a comeback in the early 80s with Workington came to nothing.