DATE OF BIRTH: 9 April 1933, Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire. BRITISH CAREER: (1959) Rye House; (1960) Rayleigh; (1961) Rayleigh, Exeter, Middlesbrough; (1962-64) Middlesbrough; (1965) Halifax, Long Eaton; (1966) Swindon; (1967) Coventry; (1968-73) Swindon; (1974) Rye House. CAREER RECORD WITH SWINDON: Meetings: 282 (226 League; 18 Knock-Out Cup; 24 Midland Cup; 14 Challenge) Rides: 1,094 Points: 1,218 Bonus: 240 Total: 1,458 Average: 5.33 Maximums: 6 (6 paid)
CLUB DEBUT: Expunged – 3 July 1965 versus Wimbledon (Home) British League; 6 points (4 rides). Official – 8 April 1966 versus Cradley Heath (Home) British League; 5+2 points (4 rides)
WITHOUT a doubt, Clive James Hitch was one of the most popular riders to ever don a Robins’ race-jacket. His career began with the homeless non-league Chiswick side in 1958 and he actually appeared in the aptly nicknamed Nomads team in their initial challenge match at Eastbourne on 8 June that year, notching 3 points in a 46-38 defeat. Interestingly, a young Ivan Mauger appeared for Eastbourne at reserve in the same match, scoring 8 points.
Clive moved into the Rye House team in 1959, competing in the Southern Area League and accumulating 33 points. A move to Rayleigh followed in 1960, when Hitch helped to make the Rockets the first-ever Champions of the Provincial League with a contribution of 76 points.
In 1961, he joined Exeter, but wasn’t too keen on the track, so moved on after only a few meetings to Middlesbrough, where he was to stay until the formation of the British League. Clive proved to be a steady scorer for the Bears, too; his best season occurring in 1963, when he registered 108 league points.
Come 1965 and Hitch was on the move again; this time to Halifax, but this was another track that he wasn’t comfortable on. He asked for a move to Swindon and to the Robins’ nest he came, making his debut at Blunsdon on 3 July against Wimbledon, scoring 6 points.
However, you won’t find any reference to his efforts on the night in any of the history books since his record was expunged by the BSPA. They altered the result of the meeting, stating that Swindon didn’t have permission to use Clive as he was in the ‘rider pool’, held by the Rider Control Committee.
He was subsequently posted to Long Eaton for the remainder of the season, netting 55 points for a league average of 5.28. In 1966, Hitch did make his legal debut for the Robins when recording 5+2 points in a home league victory over Cradley Heath on 8 April and his spectacular style quickly became a feature of meetings at Blunsdon.
Indeed, he proved to be a real crowd-pleaser and the tremendous ‘Hitchy’ dives, particularly on the third and fourth bends left the crowd breathless with excitement. Clive was a 100 per cent trier who always gave of his best for the club and, at the end of the campaign, he had knocked up 160 league points for a 5.91 average. There were several highlights along the way, including three paid maximums at Blunsdon versus Wolverhampton, Newport and Belle Vue.
The infamous Rider Control Committee then struck again, posting him to Coventry for the 1967 campaign. The change of track didn’t really do him any favours; despite remaining ever-present in a Bees side that finished as runners-up to Swindon in the final British League table, his average dropped back to 4.76.
Clive returned to Swindon in 1968 and was to remain with the club until the end of the 1973 campaign. A great team man, Hitchy was ever-present for three consecutive seasons from 1968-70, with his best year for the Robins occurring in his first term back in the fold, when he gleaned 182 league points and averaged 6.27.
The high spot undoubtedly took place at Blunsdon on 2 October, when he breezed to a four-ride paid maximum in a 57-20 triumph over Coatbridge. Clive wasn’t quite so effective on his travels, although a tally of 7+2 points at West Ham on 10 September was a vital contribution towards a 40-37 victory.
Although his average fell to 5.39 in 1969, he still registered a more than useful 167 points in the league, while providing plenty of on-track entertainment for the Blunsdon faithful. Another solid campaign saw him rack-up 163 points in 1970, as he continued to be a most reliable second-string rider, particularly at home.
Despite again recording totals in excess of 100 points, Hitch’s average dipped below 5 points per match in both 1971 and 1972, although his exciting brand of riding was sufficient for him to remain a real favourite on the terraces.
On 27 April 1973, a little bit of history was created when both Clive and his son, Martin, appeared for Swindon in a Knock-Out Cup tie at Hackney; this being the one and only time that a father and son have ridden in the same match for the Robins throughout the club’s long history!
Aside from that, there wasn’t much to savour for Hitch that year as points were hard to come by and he also endured a spell on the sidelines after sustaining a foot injury at Poole on 1 August. In 1974, Clive saw out his career back at his local track, Rye House, in the Second Division, before retiring to concentrate on business interests.
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DATE OF BIRTH: 9 April 1933, Stanstead Abbots, Hertfordshire.
Clive returned to Swindon in 1968 and was to remain with the club until the end of the 1973 campaign. A great team man, Hitchy was ever-present for three consecutive seasons from 1968-70, with his best year for the Robins occurring in his first term back in the fold, when he gleaned 182 league points and averaged 6.27.
On 27 April 1973, a little bit of history was created when both Clive and his son, Martin, appeared for Swindon in a Knock-Out Cup tie at Hackney; this being the one and only time that a father and son have ridden in the same match for the Robins throughout the club’s long history!
