Errol Andrew

Article by Chris Pitt

Born on 13 December 1940, in Palmerston North, New Zealand, Errol Campbell Andrew had a couple of spells riding over jumps in Britain during the early 1970s.

Nicknamed ‘Bill’, he had ridden about 30 winners in his native country from some 200 rides before making the journey to the UK. He was also noted for being a successful speedway rider.

Bill first came to Britain in 1970 and took out a Flat jockey’s licence but had no success. However, it was a different story when he tried his luck over jumps. Riding for Les Kennard, he didn’t take long to get off the mark, winning on juvenile hurdler Latan Furze at Devon & Exeter on August 20, 1970.  

He won again on Latan Furze at Cheltenham the following month, and then won twice within 48 hours at the start of October on handicap hurdler Right Proud. Also in October, Latan Furze won again at Ascot, while three-mile handicap chaser Brean Down obliged at Newton Abbot and Wincanton. However, despite all those early successes, he failed to ride another winner that term even though he continued riding right through to the end of the season.

He returned in 1973 for a brief visit, riding for Bromyard, Herefordshire trainer Stan Wright. He won twice on Wright’s two-mile chaser Sandwilan in September before heading home to New Zealand where he continued to do well.

Errol Andrew’s British winners were, in chronological order:

1. Latan Furze, Devon & Exeter, August 20, 1970.

2. Latan Furze, Cheltenham, September 16, 1970

3. Right Proud, Worcester, October 1, 1970

4. Right Proud, Chepstow, October 3, 1970

5. Latan Furze, Ascot, October 8, 1970

6. Brean Down  Newton Abbot, October 13, 1970

7. Brean Down, Wincanton, October 27, 1970

8. Sandwilan, Stratford-on-Avon, September 1, 1973

9. Sandwilan, Newton Abbot, September 14, 1973

His speedway career was as follows:

He began riding at the Palmerston North Showgrounds track in 1961. He rode for the Newcastle Diamonds in the Provincial League in 1962 and 1964. He rode in the British League for the Poole Pirates from 1965 to 1968. He then had two years with the Newport Wasps. His final season was with the Halifax Dukes.

He rode in two British Championship finals in 1965 and 1968 and was a member of the 1966 Great Britain team for a home and away test series with Poland. In 1966 he also rode in the Wills Internationale and the British League Riders' Championship. He was runner-up in the 1970 New Zealand Championship. From 1962 to 1973 he rode for New Zealand in team competitions in the United Kingdom and at home.