1966 British League season

Last updated

1966 British League season
League British League
Season1966
No. of competitors19
Champions Halifax Dukes
Knockout Cup Halifax Dukes
Individual Barry Briggs
London Cup West Ham Hammers
Midland Cup Coventry Bees
Northern CupHalifax Dukes
Highest average Barry Briggs

The 1966 British League season was the 32nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the second season known as the British League. [1] Halifax Dukes won the league and then secured the league and cup double. [2]

Contents

Summary

The League expanded to 19, with a new team, the King's Lynn Stars. [3] Halifax Dukes won the league after 36 games and finished three points clear of Coventry Bees. The Halifax team success was due to the consistency of their riders, in particular Eric Boocock, Eric Boothroyd, Dave Younghusband and Tommy Roper who all scored heavily throughout the season. Halifax also completed the double winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final, they easily beat Wimbledon Dons. [4]

The four times world champion Barry Briggs topped the averages for Swindon Robins during the same season in which he sealed his fourth world title. The dangers of speedway were highlighted once again however when Welshman Ivor Hughes was killed during the league match riding for Cradley Heath Heathens against Sheffield Tigers on 20 August. [5]

Coventry won the Midland Cup, West Ham the London Cup and Halifax Dukes the Northern Cup. [6] [7]

Final table

MWDLFAPts
1 Halifax Dukes 3627091574122954
2 Coventry Bees 36251101548125551
3 Swindon Robins 36230131553124846
4 Wimbledon Dons 36220141485131444
5 Newcastle Diamonds 36200161491.51304.540
6 Poole Pirates 36192151443135640
7 West Ham Hammers 36191101499.51304.539
8 Glasgow Tigers 36180181395139436
9 Wolverhampton Wolves 36172171340.51461.536
10 Exeter Falcons 36171181392.51403.535
11 Sheffield Tigers 36170191410139434
12 Edinburgh Monarchs 35170181310.51413.534
13 Belle Vue Aces 36160201362144332
14 Hackney Hawks 36151201347.51456.531
15 Oxford Cheetahs 36142201291151030
16 King's Lynn Stars 36150211275152430
17 Newport Wasps 36121231319148625
18 Long Eaton Archers 36121231286151625
19 Cradley Heath Heathens 35100251196150620

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away BV COV CH ED EX GLA HAC HAL KL LE ND NW OX PP SHE SWI WH WIM WOL
Belle Vue Aces 44–3443–3543–3555–2342–3649–2934–4447–3151–2741–3753–2451–2735–4343–3543–3550–2840–3853–25
Coventry Bees 46–3250–2849–2953–2542–3646–3252–2553–2548–3045–3355–2347–3144–3453–2554–2442–3642–3645–33
Cradley Heathens 48–3028–50n/a33–3941–3745–3327–5134–4342–3644–3441–3746–3131–4746–3239–3833–4437–4144–34
Edinburgh Monarchs 42–3544–3449–2942–3646–3143–3537–4151–2750–2850–2847–3143–3542–3645–3345–3342–3643–3535.5–42.5
Exeter Falcons 48–3039–3949–2937–4146–3245–3236–4150–2842–3645–3347–3153–2544–3343–3548–3041–3746–3051–27
Glasgow Tigers 54–2441–3736–2943–3545–3252–2642–3653–2550–2845–3346–3245–3360–1742–3538–4039–3848–2940–38
Hackney Hawks 41–3738–4044–3446–3243–3541–3737–4142–3651–2740–3843–3542–3642.5–34.547–3141–3739–3936–4246–32
Halifax Dukes 52–2645–3351–2754–2443–3560–1844–3453–2550–2838–4057–2155–2341–3752–2642–3641–3746–3253–25
King's Lynn Stars 40–3841–3640–3843–3241–3745–3341–3742–3643–3548–2949–2937–4037–4141–3733–4543–3535–4347–31
Long Eaton Archers 40–3837–4150–2748–2948–3048–3041–3735–4244–3342–3643–3550–2841–3740–3838–3943–3534–4439–39
Newcastle Diamonds 57–2138–3953–2554–2446.5–31.552–2648–3043–3550–2853–2545–3248–3048–3041–3640–3844–3447–3050–28
Newport Wasps 53–2534–4445–3343–3538–4038–4047–3136–4243–3557–2140–3844–3439–3954–2444–3442–3643–3543–35
Oxford Cheetahs 40–3736–4250–2742–3642–3640–3850–2735–4242–3651–2742–3640–3839–3940–3840–3835–4340–3739–39
Poole Pirates 48–3049–2942–3556–2248–3048–3041–3640–3854–2345–3335–4241–3751–2755–2338–4042.5–35.549–2840–38
Sheffield Tigers 50–2842–3654–2456–2247–3149–2947–3134–4455–2347–3141–3658–2044–3455–2340–3840–3841–3748–30
Swindon Robins 53–2545–3354–2452–2652–2653–2546–3249–2953–2544–3442–3352–2560–1845–3345–3345–3343–3558–20
West Ham Hammers 44–3436–4248–2950–2850–2843–3545–3337–4151–2752–2648–3048–3051–2743–3554–2441–3736–4253–25
Wimbledon Dons 48–3044–3445–3252–2644–3448–3045–3346–3256–2251–2747–3146–3243–3544–3349–2836–4240–3851–27
Wolverhampton Wolves 53–2542–3446–3240–3844–3445–3338–4040–3741–3741–3739–3845–3344–3449–2949–2939–3836–4242–36
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top ten riders (league averages)

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Barry Briggs Flag of New Zealand.svg Swindon11.08
2 Nigel Boocock Flag of England.svg Coventry10.67
3 Gote Nordin Flag of Sweden.svg Newport10.53
4 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.41
5 Olle Nygren Flag of Sweden.svg Wimbledon10.32
6 Colin Pratt Flag of England.svg Hackney9.93
7 Ken McKinlay Flag of Scotland.svg West Ham9.78
8 Mike Broadbank Flag of England.svg Swindon9.77
9 Sverre Harrfeldt Flag of Norway.svg West Ham9.76
10 Trevor Hedge Flag of England.svg Wimbledon9.64

Knockout Cup

Halifax Dukes won the Knockout Cup and therefore secured the league and cup double. [9]

Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the second consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 22 October. [10]

Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Barry Briggs 3 3 3 3 315
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Olle Nygren 2 3 3 3 314
3 Flag of England.svg Norman Hunter 3 2 3 2 212
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ivan Mauger 3 2 0 3 311
5 Flag of England.svg Ray Wilson 3 3 2 2 exc10
6 Flag of England.svg Nigel Boocock 1 3 1 3 -8
7 Flag of Scotland.svg George Hunter 0 1 1 2 37
8 Flag of New Zealand.svg Bill Andrew 0 ef 3 1 26
9 Flag of England.svg Jimmy Gooch 1 1 2 1 16
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Vandenberg 1 1 ef 1 25
11 Flag of England.svg Terry Betts 2 1 2 ef ef5
12 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie Monk 2 F 2 1 ef5
13 Flag of England.svg Cyril Maidment 0 2 1 2 ef5
14 Flag of England.svg Tommy Sweetman 2 0 ef 0 24
15 Flag of England.svg Eric Boocock 1 2 ef ef ef3
16 Flag of England.svg Colin Pratt 0 0 1 0 12

London Cup

West Ham successfully defended their London Cup title but once again there were just three teams competing. [11]

PosTeamPWDLFAPts
1 West Ham Hammers 43012161686
2 Wimbledon Dons 4301192.5191.56
3 Hackney Hawks 4004167.5216.50
Home \ AwayHACWHWIM
Hackney43–5347.5–48.5
West Ham63–3353–42
Wimbledon52–4449–47
Source: [12]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams. [13]

Final

First leg

Wolverhampton
Peter Vandenberg 10
Gordon Guasco 9
Cyril Francis 7
Brian Maxted 6
Alan Cowland 5
Dave Hemus 2
Pete Jarman 1
39–39Coventry
Nigel Boocock 14
Rick France 13
Col Cottrell 5
Jim Lightfoot 5
Roger Hill 1
Chris Harrison 1
Tom Ridley 0
Ron Mountford r/r

Second leg

Coventry
Col Cottrell 12
Jim Lightfoot 12
Rick France 9
Nigel Boocock 8
Les Owen 6
Roger Hill 2
Chris Harrison 0
Ron Mountford r/r
49–29Wolverhampton
Gordon Guasco 8
Brian Maxted 6
Peter Vandenberg 5
Dave Hemus 4
Cyril Francis 4
Alan Cowland 2
Pete Jarman 0

Coventry won on aggregate 88–68

Northern Cup

MWLPtsBPTotal
1Halifax10737512
2Sheffield1064639
3Newcastle105553.58.5
4Glasgow954505
5Edinburgh936414
5Middlesbrough82620.52.5
Home \ AwayEDGLAHALMIDNEWSHE
Edinburgh46–3137–41N/H50–2845–33
Glasgow43–3542–36N/H45–3342–35
Halifax54–2460–1843–3545–3354–24
Middlesbrough49–2932–4532–4646–3236–42
Newcastle54–2452–2644–3346–3245–32
Sheffield56–2249–2943–3546–3139–38
Source: [17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final leading averages

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Barry Briggs Flag of New Zealand.svg Swindon11.12
2 Nigel Boocock Flag of England.svg Coventry10.54
3 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.46
4 Göte Nordin Flag of Sweden.svg Newport10.44
5 Olle Nygren Flag of Sweden.svg Wimbledon10.40
6 Colin Pratt Flag of England.svg Hackney10.00
7 Sverre Harrfeldt Flag of Norway.svg West Ham9.89
8 Ivan Mauger Flag of New Zealand.svg Newcastle9.82
9 Ken McKinlay Flag of Scotland.svg West Ham9.67
10 Mike Broadbank Flag of England.svg Swindon9.60
11 Trevor Hedge Flag of England.svg Wimbledon9.39
12 Cyril Maidment Flag of England.svg Belle Vue9.55
13 Arne Pander Flag of Denmark.svg Oxford9.53
14 Norman Hunter Flag of England.svg West Ham9.42
15 Terry Betts Flag of England.svg King's Lynn9.41
16 Trevor Hedge Flag of England.svg Wimbledon9.39
17 Eric Boothroyd Flag of England.svg Halifax9.29
18 Ron Mountford Flag of England.svg Coventry9.29
19 Charlie Monk Flag of Australia (converted).svg Glasgow9.27
20 Rick France Flag of England.svg Coventry9.22

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

Coventry

Cradley Heath

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Hackney

Halifax

King's Lynn

Long Eaton

Newcastle

Newport

Oxford

Poole

Sheffield

Swindon

West Ham

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton

See also

References

  1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  2. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 129–133. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  3. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 100. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
  4. "HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
  5. "Ivor Hughes". Cradley Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  6. "No Cup if Dukes win title" . Halifax Evening Courier. 7 October 1966. Retrieved 16 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. "Final tables" . Bristol Evening Post. 22 October 1966. Retrieved 16 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  9. "HALIFAX DUKES". Greyhound Derby.com. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  10. "Briggs keeps rider's title despite rain" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 October 1966. Retrieved 31 May 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "West Ham Hammers 1966" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  12. "1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  13. "Coventry Win Midland Cup" . Birmingham Daily Post. 20 September 1966. Retrieved 19 October 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  15. "1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  16. "Every point is vital to Dukes" . Halifax Evening Courier. June 1966. Retrieved 16 July 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. "1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 July 2025.