Ernie Lessiter

Lessiter, born in Paddington, London, began his British leagues career riding for Oxford Cheetahs during the 1952 Speedway National League Division Two season.^[2] His novice season was a disappointment because he could only record a one-point average and this resulted in him not riding the following season.^[3]

In 1954, he made a comeback and improved dramatically by not only topping the team averages for his new club Ringwood Turfs but recording the highest average of the entire division, with an impressive 10.86.^[4] The following season, he moved up to division 2 to join the Weymouth Scorchers but the Weymouth team withdrew after just seven league fixtures. This forced Lessiter to find another club and he joined the Swindon Robins.^[5]

He enjoyed four consistent seasons at Swindon from 1955 to 1958^[6] and helped the team win the National League division 2 title in 1956 and then the division 1 title in 1957.^[7] Towards the latter part of the 1958 season, Lessiter announced his intention to retire.^[8] He participated in some grasstrack meetings during 1959^[9] before returning for a few rides for Swindon in 1960. His final season was in 1961, when he rode six matches for the Wolverhampton Wolves.