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Interview: Steve Harris
Posted: 3rd February 2010 | Words and Images: Andy Whitehouse
One of cycle speedway's most respected champions of modern times is Horspath Hammers' Steve Harris. Now a veteran, the Abingdon-based rider is still a force to be reckoned with on the shale. Six times and current Indoor champion, former World Champion, 2009 silver medallist at the Open Individual Championships and holder of the most British Final appearances (20 to date), 2009 British Team Champion Captain, club chairman and the list goes on and on.
I caught up with Steve for a chat at the Hammers' track in Horspath village, to talk about the rider, the victories and what the future holds for Steve and the Horspath Hammers.
AW: So Steve where did the interest with cycle speedway begin?
SH: It started way back in 1982 when I was at school in Swindon, myself and a few mates started mucking around on our bikes racing on grass, riding around tyres...
AW: Who were your influences in the sport in those early days?
SH: Well when I started racing it had to be Jim Varnish, great ambassador for the sport, a really nice guy, still turns up occasionally but the first time I saw him, he was a big star in the sport and was always someone I looked up to. I remember beating him once when I was 18, that was the only time I think...
Above: Harris indoors and in control. Will Steve clinch a 7th indoor title in 2010?
AW: From today's crop of riders, who do you rate?
SH: Obviously Lee Aris in the last few years, he's the British number one, a great fighter and a great competitor and my team mate Mark Boaler, great to race with and a great team rider but I have to mention the young riders who are coming through who are hungry for success - far too many to name!
AW: You've been with Horspath for almost ten years now, how did the Harris/Horspath relationship begin?
SH: I used to ride for Swindon and when they pulled out of the Premier League at the end of 2001 season, Robin Carter (Horspath's manager) approached me and asked If i would like to race for the club and after a year or so I changed jobs, which allowed me to relocate close to the track. It's been a very successful few seasons for us I think.
Above: The face of a champion - Harris at the Hammers' track.
AW: What would you regard as your first major success in the sport?
SH: Well I never seemed to be that successful as a Junior. When I went into the Seniors I tended to race a lot better, don't know if it was more tactical, the first time I realised I could be a good rider was in 1986 in the British Individual Final at Stockport (Steve scored 12 points), it tipped down with rain all day and I thought "To make a British final at eighteen, well, I can mix it now".
Above: Harris keeps his balance, while all around are losing theirs
AW: And your most enjoyable match/competition?
SH: Far too many to mention to be honest but I suppose crossing the line and becoming the 1999 World Champion in Rewicz (Poland), you can't describe that feeling - it's something that will stay with me for ever. A couple of years before that in ‘97, when we won the World Team Finals in Australia - that was another special match for me. I had to finish at least third in the last race, which I did - we were World Champions and having my team-mates jump on me when I crossed the line was a special feeling. There have been so many matches like those but they are the two that stick out in my mind.
AW: We were talking a little while ago about the silver medal you won at the British Open Individual Championships In Leicester last year (2009).That was also a special day for you?
SH: Very much so. I can honestly say its the only time in my life I have been happy and proud to finish second. I think its quite an achievement to be able to compete at the top of the sport now I'm in my forties. I've raced in twenty finals (a current record) now and last year I think I managed to get the monkey off my back. Three or four years ago I never thought that would happen. I came close in 2008 but lost the run-off (to Marcus Wadhams) and finally managed to get a podium last year. Obviously Lee (Aris) was too strong for everyone else that day, a deserved champion, but I rode my heart out that day. I worked hard for that medal so I was very happy with the result.
Above Left: Harris on aboard his bike. Right: Steve looking lean and mean prior to the 2010 season.
AW: Talking a little about indoor championships, you currently hold six British Indoor Titles. Do you prefer Indoor or Outdoor riding?
SH: Cycle Speedway is outdoor racing, indoor is a bit of fun, happens a couple of days a year. There are a few people who have an exceptional ability to ride indoors and I'm lucky to be one of those riders. To be able to put the bike down that low and ride round an indoor track is...exhilarating to say the least. I'm fortunate to be able to adapt my game to ride well in both disciplines - riders who have good bike handling skills and can lean the bike over well outdoors tend to ride well indoors. Good tyres also help a lot and I use white-walled Trelleborgs but I've only got a few pairs left so if anyone knows of any, give me a call!
AW: You seem to have improved your fitness levels during the last few seasons. What training do you do on and off the bike?
SH: During the season I train at least twice a week on the track, where we do a full structured sprint session and of course the racing, you can't beat time on the bike in cycle speedway. Off the bike I spend time in the gym working on increasing leg strength, off-season I spend quite a lot of time doing gym work.
Above: Steve in the zone on the shale.
AW: And do you have a special diet?
SH: I don't drink a lot of beer, I tend not to snack during the day, that certainly helps but my main diet really is to eat healthy foods, chicken, rice vegetables etc, really just keeping the fat intake down. But at the weekend if I fancy a pizza or a curry I have one, but I'm fairly strict with myself Monday to Friday.
AW: What are your views on non-British riders riding in The Premier League and do you think there should be a cap on the number of said riders allowed to compete in any one match?
SH: I certainly don't think foreign riders are detrimental to the sport in the UK but I do think there should be a cap on the number of riders allowed to compete in any match. I think any club should only be allowed to field two foreign riders in any match. I know Horspath have rode three in the past and I believe we rode five once but I and Horspath management have never been against any cap on the number of foreign riders. I do think its a bit of a grey area when you have foreign riders living and working in the U.K but there is a difference between those and teams flying riders in to race. However, saying that, having foreign riders in the Premier League has pushed the standard of racing up. The dedication of the Polish riders has certainly helped lift the profile of the sport. I think it's a difficult one to manage and a difficult one to get right.
AW: A little closer to home, what are your thoughts about encouraging local riders?
SH: Well, Horspath has more than 20 riders under 15 years of age, all local to the club. However, our young riders, even though they have been racing a few years, aren't up to the Premier league standard yet and do you want to throw someone into the top league when they aren't up to that required standard? Every club would love to field a Premier League side from the local area but there aren't enough riders locally to achieve that yet.
AW: The Youth Junior League has proved very successful in recent years...
SH: Absolutely. It's giving kids from eight years of age the chance to race and compete against their mates of the same age and by the time they get to U16 level a lot of them will be in Premier sides. When I was young there was very little in the way of junior racing so yeah it's a great thing.
AW: Horspath has signed Jess Lamb for the 2010 season. Are you looking to go and win the women's titles as well this year?
SH: I wasn't involved with that to be honest but we have some great women riding for Horspath. Rachael Edge has been one of the best women for a number of years now and last year we entered the British Club Championships for the first time, so yeah, we're looking at that championship again and with the Women's championships new for this year it a great opportunity for us. Hopefully it will bring more women into the sport which has to be a good thing. Leicester are always going to be favourites for the Women's title, Ipswich also has a good side but I think we could do OK.
AW: What are your aims for 2010?
SH: During the off-season Horspath has talked about the European Club Championships but in the past we've never really put in a credible performance. So we may think about that and of course we'll be looking to win everything we possibly can (laughs).
AW: And a seventh indoor for Steve Harris?
SH: Well...........yeah but I've made a decision not to do the Veterans. It's too much to do in one day. I would love a seventh indoor title and another British title and another European title and a.................I'm on bonus time now but I've been working hard pre-season and I'm fitter than last year. I'm motivated to train so let's wait and see what I do this year.
AW: So no retirement just yet?
SH: No not just yet, I'm enjoying my racing too much. I'm not hanging my wheels up anytime soon.
Steve went on to talk about the incredible year 2009 had been for the Horspath club and how 12 months earlier they had debated if they were good enough to even compete in the Premier League, let alone win it. Steve also reflected upon the latter part of the season and how the team had pulled together and turned matches round to win from certain defeats. Steve praised team mate Mark Boaler with the way his dedication to the team had played a major part with the success of Horspath Hammers.
We wish Steve and The Horspath team every success for the 2010 season.
