Doug Theobald, who I’m sure everyone knows, a history of his trials (and some footballing) career. …Doug has been a good supporter of South Midland trials for a “long, long time”. Here in Doug’s words is a brief history.
My first trial was in October 1954 on a rigid 197 DOT in an Essex and Suffolk border novice event. Dave Bickers also on a DOT won it and I was pleased to take second. I was “hooked” on trials for the rest of my life! I quickly moved up to expert status though I was playing football for the local Bury St Edmunds town team.
At eighteen I received my “call up papers” and I was posted to Rhyl in North Wales. I was pleased to establish myself in the Royal Artillery trials and football teams. When I finished my training, I was put on permanent staff! The rest of the intake were posted to Christmas Island in the South Pacific. At the time they were doing the atomic bomb testing there and sadly many of my friends are suffering from cancer as a result of the radiation fallout. So, I consider that trials and football saved me from that.
On a five hundred Ariel I managed to win several Cheshire centre trials and also my football “career” took off. I received an offer to train with Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux and I jumped at that chance and my army colonel took me down twice weekly to the ground.
It was great playing alongside Wolves and England captain Billy Wright and other National players Bert Williams and Bill Slater. My first game for Wolves was against Blackpool who had the great Stanley Mathews playing for them. Mr CuIlls the Wolves manager put me at left back and my instructions were to” stick close to Stanley and do not give him time for his body swerves and tricks”. I had a very good game and played several more times until my “demob” in March 1959. I was offered a full time professional contract with them at the princely sum of £3 a week but I took my Dad’s advice and came back to Bury and started my own coal delivery business (Ed’ that’s why he’s so tough now) which enabled me to continue my trials career.
Back to trials now…
When in the army I was chosen for the British Army team in the 1958 ISDT in Austria.
At the time I was trying to juggle football on Saturdays and trials on the Sunday.
Whilst riding in Cheshire I met Eric Adcock, a works DOT rider and he suggested that I should ride a DOT in the future. I continued riding my Ariel in Eastern and South Midland trials until 1960 when I received a letter from a Mr Scott Wade the owner of DOT motorcycles offering me a works DOT, I jumped again at that opportunity. In 1960 I rode my first SSDT and I was very pleased to win a special first class award in it nine times. In 1963 Bert Greeves offered me a works Greeves which I was pleased to accept.
It had an ally’ barrel and was a super bike, the Greeves factory team were, Don Smith, Bill Wilkinson, Tony and Malcolm Davis and Jim Sandiford. A great team and some great times.
In 1964 I was back on a DOT, square barrel, ally rims lighter forks etc. The DOT factory teams were Erick Adcock, Pat Brittain, Pat Lamper and myself, plus poor Norman Eyre who sadly died young from cancer. In 1967 Mr Wade brought out the new white strength DOT and I managed to be the best DOT rider in the Scottish, finishing 17th (if I remember correctly). At that time Bultaco’s and Montesa’s were the bike to have and when Jim Sandiford offered me a ride on a Montesa I could not resist it! It was a lovely bike but I did not click with it. Then my long time friend John Banks, who at the time was the British motocross champion persuaded Brian Martin to lend me Geoff Smith’s Bantam.
We quickly made a lighter frame and I won the Suffolk Mardle and 200cc cups in many National and South Midland events including the Bruce Dominey and Albert Glover trials.
Then came a phone call from Roy Carey the Fantic importer, offering me a ride on the new 200 Fantic with team mates Don Smith and Nigel Birkett. The bike seemed so agile, so light and smooth, it was a lovely machine.
In the sixties and seventies, John Shirt senior became a friend of mine and when he became the Gas Gas importer for the UK in the 80’s he persuaded me to ride one. Today I still ride one prepared and set up by “factory Kev”, the 125’s are superb.
So… 64 years of trials non stop, I have had a wonderful career and met thousands of lovely people along the way. I so much admire the youngsters of today they are brilliant. I will be eighty years “young” on the 28th of May but I am hoping for another few years of riding yet!
Ed’, everyone wants to see you for many more years, Doug’!