Philip Edwin Herne (born 27 March 1955)[Oakes, Peter (1982) 1982 Speedway Yearbook, Studio Publications, , p. 173] is an Australian former motorcycle speedway rider who won the World Team Cup in 1976.
Biography
Born in Ballina, New South Wales, Phil Herne began his speedway career at the Kembla Grange Speedway in
Wollongong, south of
Sydney, before establishing himself in the British League Division Two with Birmingham Brummies in 1973.
[Jones, Alan (2010) Speedway in Leicester, Automedia, pp. 167–8] The 1974 season was his most successful for the Brummies, with fourteen full maximum scores, and an average of over ten points. In 1975 after finishing third in the Australian Championship at the Sydney Showground Speedway, he moved up to the British League with
Newport Wasps, moving to
Bristol Bulldogs in 1977, before returning to Birmingham for 1978, 1979 and 1980 seasons.
He joined
Leicester Lions in 1981, spending three seasons with the Lions before moving on to
Swindon Robins during the 1983 season,
which was his final season before retiring.
Herne made over thirty appearances for Australia and was part of the Australian team that won the World Team Cup in 1976.
Phil Herne was the track reserve for the 1982 Speedway World Pairs Championship final staged at his home track, the Liverpool Speedway in Sydney. He failed to finish his only ride of the night, partnering New Zealand's Mitch Shirra as a substitute for Larry Ross.
Personal life
Herne is married to
Ipswich-born wife Debra and has a daughter, Ella, and sons
Lee Herne and
Jay Herne, both also professional speedway riders.
[King, Elvin (2010) " Speedway veteran recalls his Sanders’ memories", lovespeedway24.co.uk, 14 July 2010, retrieved 2011-12-10][" Double-header treat for Wasps fans", South Wales Argus, 24 April 2009, retrieved 2011-12-10][Pearson, Nigel (2008) " Brummies in Herne swoop", Birmingham Mail, 8 July 2008, retrieved 2011-12-10] After speedway, Herne worked as a truck driver for ten years before working as a
postman.
World Final appearances
World Pairs Championship
-
1982 - Sydney, Liverpool City Raceway - Reserve - 0pts (1 ride for New Zealand)
World Team Cup
