It is 36 years since the Wizard Of Balance made the supreme sacrifice for the sport he not only loved, but at which he excelled as no other English speedway rider has done, either before or since.

He was twice World Champion. But, until now, in spite of also winning the British crown two years in succession -- in 1962 and 1963, the year of his death on the track -- his name has been omitted from the official roll of honour of British Champions.

But now he is finally, though posthumously, to receive his just rewards, thanks to the enthusiasm and steadfast endeavour of those who held Peter in high esteem, the understanding of the Speedway Control Board for its official sanction, and the efforts of this magazine. In this last regard, we are not being immodest when we claim some credit for succeeding with a one year campaign where all others had failed, over 35 years, to produce a positive result.

That was the length of time that succeeding generations of officialdom had blocked the claims of a man who was undoubtedly one of speedway's true and greatest artists. In all that time, only one person of stature in the sport appears to have spoken up for Peter -- Charles Ochiltree of Coventry -- who backed the fight of one or our readers, Alex Broadhurst, to have Peter's name placed on the list of official title holders.

But even the formidable support of the CO was not enough. The honours continued to be denied him.

It should be remembered that, if anything, Peter Craven's achievements in 1962 and 1963 were even more meritorious than all the champions who had gone before, and who came after. They were crowned after winning one-off British Finals. In Peter's case, he had to ride not one meeting, but three in each year -- a trio of so-called 'semi-finals' -- to prove he was England's best.

It is testimony to the perfidious nature of the sport of speedway racing that, it seems, because his wins were achieved when the competition deviated slightly from the conventional, he was persistently refused due and proper recognition. And, to this day, no one in authority has been able to provide a satisfactory explanation.

The greatest tragedy is, of course, that Peter is not with us to receive in person the accolades that have been rightly his for so long. But it is to this magazine's infinite pleasure that we will be presenting to Brenda, his widow, a magnificent illuminated address to mark the occasion at this year's British Final at Coventry in the presence of members of his family.

Forgive us if we adapt a phrase by another outstanding Englishman, William Shakespeare: 'Give him his robe, and give him his crown; there is immortality upon him.' When it comes to epitaphs, it could not be more fitting.

JOHN CHAPLIN and PETER LIPSCOMB