Chris Swallow
CHRIS SWALLOW, who emigrated from his native Yorkshire to settle in Wellington, New Zealand in 2010, lost his life in the Senior Classic TT on Saturday August 24th.
His father Bill was competing in the same race.
Chris was a vastly experienced competitor on the Isle of Man, having made his Manx GP debut in 2007. He achieved two second places in the 2012 event and finished fourth in the Senior Classic in 2018. Reports say Chris lost control of the 500cc Royal Enfield he was riding for owner Ollie Linsdell as he approached Ballaugh Bridge, a very high speed section of the course, becoming the 260th competitor, and the eighth New Zealander, to die on the course since racing began there in 1907. In practice for the race, he had lapped at 105mph. In New Zealand, Chris continued his work as a physical education teacher and became a leading figure in classic racing both in NZ and regularly in Australia, where he rode Phil Price’s Velocettes, Dave Kenah’s Manx Norton (which he took to 5th place in the 2015 Senior Classic TT) and numerous other bikes.
Chris rode the Royal Enfield at the International Festival of Speed at Sydney Motor Sport Park this year and blitzed the field in tricky conditions.
He was married with two young daughters.