Mark Courtney
Encyclopedia
Mark Vincent Courtney is an English former motorcycle speedway
rider who rode in the British League
for several teams between 1978 and his retirement in 1993. He returned to racing in 2000, retiring again in 2003, after which he became a mechanic, most notably for Chris Harris
.
, Essex
in 1961 and moved with his family to Workington
when he was twelve. Courtney's uncle and brother were speedway riders, and he began his speedway career with second-half races at Workington in 1977. He joined the Barrow team in the National League
the following year, moving to Middlesbrough
in 1979. He won the British Junior Championship in 1980 and moved up to the British League
on loan with the Leicester Lions the same year, splitting his time between the two leagues. In 1982 he moved to Leicester full-time after a 15,000 transfer, and in the same year finished as runner-up in the European Under-21 final. In 1983 he was the Lions' highest-average rider, and represented England four times. With the demise of the Lions at the end of the 1983 season, Courtney moved on to ride for the Belle Vue Aces
in 1984, and King's Lynn Stars
in 1985. In 1986 he dropped back down to the National League with Middlesbrough, while also making fifteen appearances for Belle Vue. A successful three-year spell at Berwick between 1988 and 1990 was followed by seasons at Glasgow, Rye House and then Middlesbrough. He was sacked by Middlesbrough at the end of the 1993 season after an incident involving a fire extinguisher
at a hotel in Swindon
. This effectively triggered his retirement from the sport, Courtney later moving into the building trade.
After being arrested in May 1997, Courtney was sentenced to six years in prison in 1988 for his part in a plot to import cannabis
with a street value of 500,000 into the UK.
After seven years away from racing, Courtney, released from prison on licence, returned in 2000 with Glasgow, moving on to Trelwany midway through 2001. He moved on to his final club, Rye House, in 2002, finally retiring at the end of the 2003 season.
Courtney's sons Scott and Jamie
followed him into speedway racing. Courtney also became part of Chris Harris's grand prix team, becoming head of his race team in 2011.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider who rode in the British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
for several teams between 1978 and his retirement in 1993. He returned to racing in 2000, retiring again in 2003, after which he became a mechanic, most notably for Chris Harris
Chris Harris (speedway rider)
Christopher Calvin "Chris" Harris in Truro, Cornwall, nicknamed Bomber, is a Great Britain international speedway rider for the Belle Vue Aces in the United Kingdom.- Early career :...
.
Biography
Courtney was born in BraintreeBraintree, Essex
Braintree is a town of about 42,000 people and the principal settlement of the Braintree district of Essex in the East of England. It is northeast of Chelmsford and west of Colchester on the River Blackwater, A120 road and a branch of the Great Eastern Main Line.Braintree has grown contiguous...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1961 and moved with his family to Workington
Workington
Workington is a town, civil parish and port on the west coast of Cumbria, England, at the mouth of the River Derwent. Lying within the Borough of Allerdale, Workington is southwest of Carlisle, west of Cockermouth, and southwest of Maryport...
when he was twelve. Courtney's uncle and brother were speedway riders, and he began his speedway career with second-half races at Workington in 1977. He joined the Barrow team in the National League
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
the following year, moving to Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
in 1979. He won the British Junior Championship in 1980 and moved up to the British League
Speedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
on loan with the Leicester Lions the same year, splitting his time between the two leagues. In 1982 he moved to Leicester full-time after a 15,000 transfer, and in the same year finished as runner-up in the European Under-21 final. In 1983 he was the Lions' highest-average rider, and represented England four times. With the demise of the Lions at the end of the 1983 season, Courtney moved on to ride for the Belle Vue Aces
Belle Vue Aces
The Belle Vue Aces are a British speedway team from Manchester in the north west of England.-Brief history:Racing first took place in 1928 at the Belle Vue greyhound stadium in Kirkmanshulme Lane before moving the following year to a specially built stadium nearby on Hyde Road. The club raced there...
in 1984, and King's Lynn Stars
King's Lynn Stars
King's Lynn Stars are a motorcycle speedway team who compete in the British Elite League. The nickname "Stars" comes from the defunct Norwich Stars team...
in 1985. In 1986 he dropped back down to the National League with Middlesbrough, while also making fifteen appearances for Belle Vue. A successful three-year spell at Berwick between 1988 and 1990 was followed by seasons at Glasgow, Rye House and then Middlesbrough. He was sacked by Middlesbrough at the end of the 1993 season after an incident involving a fire extinguisher
Fire extinguisher
A fire extinguisher or extinguisher, flame entinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations...
at a hotel in Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
. This effectively triggered his retirement from the sport, Courtney later moving into the building trade.
After being arrested in May 1997, Courtney was sentenced to six years in prison in 1988 for his part in a plot to import cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
with a street value of 500,000 into the UK.
After seven years away from racing, Courtney, released from prison on licence, returned in 2000 with Glasgow, moving on to Trelwany midway through 2001. He moved on to his final club, Rye House, in 2002, finally retiring at the end of the 2003 season.
Courtney's sons Scott and Jamie
Jamie Courtney
Jamie Courtney is an English motorcycle speedway rider who rides in the British Premier League for Leicester Lions....
followed him into speedway racing. Courtney also became part of Chris Harris's grand prix team, becoming head of his race team in 2011.