The Riders - S

Les Sawyer:  Originated from Perth, Australia, and first travelled to the UK in 1978, doubling up with Oxford and parent-club Cradley Heath.  The Dukes signed him on loan from Stoke for the 1980 season to act as number 8, and due to injuries, particularly to Mick McKeon, he found himself called upon on numerous occasions to fill in.  He found the step up to British League racing tough, although contributed where he could, notably a match-winning 7 and a bonus from 4 starts, including 2 heat victories, as the Dukes edged out Wimbledon at The Shay in June. Despite some promising performances, and being a crowd-pleaser, Sawyer was not retained beyond 1980, moving on to Exeter, where he also doubled up with Poole.  He retired mid-way through the 1982 season after injury.

Les Sharpe:  Originally from Perth, Western Australia, Sharpe joined the Dukes in 1968 as the latest in the line of young Aussies to try their luck at The Shay.  His first two seasons were unspectacular and blighted by bouts of hay-fever, but the first half of the 1970 season saw Sharpe rocket from reserve to second heat-leader with some high scores. Sharpe lost interest in the sport quickly however, and after missing a handful of meetings, quit the sport in mid-1970 after getting married.  After an absence of 2 seasons, the Dukes tempted him back in 1973, but he broke his leg at Cradley in only his fifth match.  After returning from injury, it was clear he was not going to return to his scoring feats of 1970, and Sharpe did not return to the UK after the end of the season.  Subsequently had occasional outings at local track Claremont Park.

Trond-Helge Skretting: The Dukes had a reserve berth to fill at the start of the 1981 season, and overlooking options such as Sawyer and Westwell, sought to bring in the little known Norwegian.  He had over 30 matches for Wolverhampton in 1979, but missed the entire 1980 UK season.  He arrived in time for the Dukes' first League Cup home match against Hull - but ominously failed to score.  As April wore on, there was little to suggest his scores were improving, and he often appeared out of his depth. A paid 6 from 4 rides, albeit against a weak Sheffield team gave fleeting hope for optimism, but he then embarked on a run of simply not scoring.  In 14 matches, he could only muster 16 points, and was released by the Dukes before the start of the league campaign.

Alan Stansfield: Halifax-born Stansfield was a fixture at The Shay in the late 1970s, originally being mechanic for Mick McKeon and Mike Lohmann, and having won several club titles in a brief road-racing career, took up speedway himself, attending the Ellesmere Port training school.  He got his chance in 1978 and 1979, riding in 5 matches, whilst also spending some time riding for Edinburgh during 79.  Rode in a number of Dukes matches during 1980, the final appearance being an away defeat at Coventry in July.