Exeter Falcons Riders - R
Refurbishing
Apologies for the dropsheets, paint tins and scattered detritus. More information...
Name.......REEVE, MARK.
Seasons....1982/83.
Others.....Coventry, Milton Keynes.
Mark was the stepson of former international Jim Lightfoot, and like many
other riders, he had started out on the grass circuits before joining the
Milton Keynes camp. It was in 1982 that he was to join Exeter from Coventry on a full contract
and had been signed to help strengthen the squad.
Name.......REGELING, STEVE.
Seasons....1988/89/90/91.
Others.....Workington, Ipswich, Middlesbrough, Boston, Leicster, K.Lynn.
Born on October 2nd, 1959, Australian Steve had come to Exeter from King's
Lynn via Ipswich in 1988 owing to the Falcons being decimated through injuries
and was to become an Exeter asset the following season.Was soon to capture the
No 1 spot, finishing fourth in the 1990 averages .He had first ridden in this
country with Leicester and got off to a bad start when he had broken a leg at
Swindon soon after his arrival.
Name.......REINKE, STEVE.
Seasons....1974/75.
Others.....None.
Australian Steve had been persuaded to ride in the British League following
a brilliant performance for the Aussie test side against the British Lion's
when he became the only rider to score double figures in every match he rode.
He had also been the 1973 Australian champion, and was to continue his good showing at Exeter.
But 1975 saw Steve return back home following a period of unease with Exeter following his being
twice disciplined for failing to turn up for two matches.
Name.......RIDGEON, VIC.
Seasons....1966.
Vic was to appear in only four meetings for Exeter during the 1966 season
and secure 11 rides. He finished on an average of just 1.09.
Name.......RIVETT, ALAN.
Seasons....1986/87/88/89.
Others.....Berwick,Long Eaton.
Born in Australia on March 21st, 1956, Alan was to ride for Australia in the
World Team Cup in 1987, and during that year he never missed one of Exeter's
matches, ending the season as their top scorer with a high average of 7.59.
Somewhat ironic then, that he should leave Exeter during the start of the
1990 campaign when he could not be guaranteed a team place and he switched to
Berwick. He had made a handful of appearances at Peterborough back in 1984
before returning back home.
Name.......ROBERTS, DAVE.
Seasons....1985/86.
Others.....Poole.
Welshman Dave was to join Exeter from Poole in a swap with Ray Doyle and had
a poor start to begin with but he was to later improve on his scoring that
enabled him to keep a regular place. During the season of 1985 he was as to
appear in 14 matches, ending on a 2.42 average.
Name.......ROBINSON, BUDDY.
Seasons....1984.
Others.....Newcastle.
Its not often you find a rider from Hawaii in your line up but Exeter managed
it. He had been something of an unknown entity when he joined the Falcons and
had been brought to Exeter to try and improve their poor performances on their
return to British League racing. He was certainly to have a big impact on the
team with his great showmanship and was to be nicknamed the 'Flyin Hawaiian'
because of his exploits. After his first month, he returned home for a short
spell to fulfill race commitments, but was to return and show much improved
form. Was to miss the last couple of races at the end of1984, when Bud was
suspended for a technical fault.
Name.......ROGER, BERT.
Seasons....1948.
Others.....New Cross,West Ham,Poole.
Bert was to be one of three brothers who donned the Falcons vest around this
period. Coming on loan from New Cross, Bert was to spend just the one season
at Exeter before being recalled again. During that year he was to amass an
incredible 419 pts which appears to be a record number of points in a season
for any Exeter rider. In his days at West Ham he was to appear in 73 matches
and score 339 pts and teamed up with brother Cyril at Poole.
Name.......ROGER, BOB.
Seasons....1951.
Others.....New Cross,Birmingham,Swindon.
The second of the three Roger brothers who once rode for Exeter, and like
brother Bert, was to spend only one season with the Falcons. He was to later
move to New Cross for a fee of 250 pounds, only to later join Swindon after
the closure of the New Cross camp. It was at the Robins track in 56 that he
took third spot in the second division averages with 440 pts from 39 meetings
and during his years at Swindon, he totaled a very high 1,016 pts from 97
meetings, an average of nearly 10.5 pts. In 1957, Bob was to finish 8th in
the World Final with 8pts scored.
Name.......ROGER, CYRIL.
Seasons....1947/48.
Others.....New Cross,Norwich,Poole.
The third member of the Roger family, who rode for Exeter, and like his
brothers he was to score highly around the County Ground with a total of 502
pts from 52 meetings. Like Bert, he was to come to Exeter from the New Cross
camp and he was to later follow in his brothers tracks by returning. When
they were to be closed down, he made the switch to Norwich before eventually
rejoining brother Bob at Swindon and Cyril was to score 175 pts from his 24
meetings in the Pirate's colours. Cyril was to appear in four World Finals,
his best being in 1950 when he finished 12th on 5pts.
Name.......ROSS, WAYNE.
Seasons....1989.
Wayne Ross was brought into the side by Falcon Dave Trownson and he rode in
13 matches for Exeter that season, ending up with a 3.31 average.
Name.......ROSSITER, ALUN.
Seasons....1983, 1996
Others.....Swindon,Poole,Weymouth,Coventry,Kings Lynn
Born July 23rd, 1965, Alun had once been runner up in the National Schoolboys
Scrambles championship and an ardent Swindon fan, he caught the attention of
Bob Kilby who took him under his wing and for seven years he was the Robins
mascot. He was to later join Exeter at the close of the '82 season and became
a regular for the start of 83, a season in which he was to miss only one
meeting following a car breakdown. In '89 he was to switch to Poole where he
captained the Pirates to Nat. League titles in 1990 & 91, before returning to
his home track Swindon in 1993 and promptly scored a home maximum, against
Exeter. Alun had also been a British Finalist in 1987 and 1992. Was to return
to Exeter in 1996 before the introduction of the Elite League when he was to
again return back to Swindon.
Name.......RUMSEY, LES.
Seasons....1975/76/77/78 1981.
Others.....Canterbury,Cradley Heath,Crayford,Oxford,Birmingham
Wolves,Weymouth.
Les had come to Exeter towards the end of the 1975 season, on loan, before
becoming a full time Exeter asset in 76 and was to double up with Canterbury
where he went to on loan, before signing for Cradley in 79 thus severing his
ties with Exeter. In turn Cradley loaned him to Oxford but was unsettled and
switched to the Crayford camp for the 1980 season.Earlier had ridden for the
National League side against Australia in 75 and in the same season he was to
finish fourth in the National League Riders championship with 10 pts.
