SILVER HELMET MATCH RACE

Neil Collins was our most exciting rider in the excellent 1981 team. Neil really came to the fore and established himself as a top prospect for the highest honours. Recognising his rise, the authorities selected him to challenge for the Silver Helmet Match Race Championship against the league's top rider, Canterbury's Mike Ferreira. Powderhall fans were pretty confident that Neil could win, such was his form at the time, but the Zimbabwean proved them wrong. He won the first race from the gate and in the second race he was even more impressive, taking Neil with a brilliant outside pass. The Powderhall fans gave him a tumultuous reception for a great show. Neil may have been disappointed but in the first race of the following match v Ellesmere, he broke the track record!

Photographer: Bill Moodie.