1970 British League season

Last updated

1970 British League season
League British League
No. of competitors19
Champions Belle Vue Aces
Knockout Cup Wimbledon Dons
Individual Barry Briggs
London Cup Wimbledon Dons
Midland Cup Coventry Bees
Highest average Ivan Mauger
Division/s below British League (Div 2)

The 1970 British League season was the 36th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the sixth season known as the British League. [1] [2]

Contents

Summary

Wembley Lions under the promotion of Trevor Redmond and Bernard Cottrel entered the British league having bought the licence - and inherited the riders - from the Coatbridge Monarchs. [3] It was the first time since 1956 that Wembley would compete in the league. [4]

Belle Vue Aces secured their first British League title. The Manchester team were once again led by the brilliant Ivan Mauger who would secure a third consecutive world champion title before the end of the season. He topped the averages with 11.18 as the team finished ten points ahead of their nearest rivals Wimbledon Dons. The Dons found some consolation when winning their third consecutive British League Knockout Cup. [5]

Final table

PosTeamPLWDLPts
1 Belle Vue Aces 36272756
2 Wimbledon Dons 362221246
3 Coventry Bees 362211345
4 Leicester Lions 362101542
5 Poole Pirates 362001640
6 Halifax Dukes 361911639
7 Sheffield Tigers 361831539
8 Glasgow Tigers 361811737
9 Wolverhampton Wolves 361621834
10 Exeter Falcons 361611934
11 Hackney Hawks 361521933
12 King's Lynn Stars 361602032
13 Oxford Cheetahs 361602032
14 Wembley Lions 361521932
15 Cradley Heath Heathens 361512031
16 Swindon Robins 361422030
17 Newcastle Diamonds 361502130
18 West Ham Hammers 361422030
19 Newport Wasps 361202424

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

Top Ten Riders (League Averages)

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Ivan Mauger Flag of New Zealand.svg Belle Vue11.23
2 Anders Michanek Flag of Sweden.svg Newcastle10.91
3 Jim Airey Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sheffield10.82
4 Ray Wilson Flag of England.svg Leicester10.77
5 Nigel Boocock Flag of England.svg Coventry10.67
6 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.59
7 Barry Briggs Flag of New Zealand.svg Swindon10.56
8 Ole Olsen Flag of Denmark.svg Wolverhampton10.27
9 Jim McMillan Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow10.26
10 Martin Ashby Flag of England.svg Exeter10.14

British League Knockout Cup

The 1970 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 32nd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Wimbledon Dons were the winners for the third consecutive year. [6] It was the first time that the competition was sponsored by the Speedway Star.

First round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
23/04Wimbledon44-34Hackney
21/04Exeter51-27King's Lynn
21/04West Ham29-49Belle Vue

Second round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
06/06Halifax43-35Coventry
06/06Swindon44-34Wolverhampton
05/06Newport35-43Leicester
01/06Newcastle41-37Wembley
28/05Oxford38-40Poole
28/05Sheffield44-34Glasgow
28/05Wimbledon49-29Cradley Heath
23/05Belle Vue49-29Exeter
07/05Romford48-30Reading

Quarter-finals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
25/07Belle Vue56-22Poole
22/07Swindon46-32Leicester
02/07Sheffield41-37Halifax
25/06Wimbledon46-32Newcastle

Semi-finals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
24/09Wimbledon44-34Swindon
23/09Belle Vue40-38Sheffield

Final

First leg

Wimbledon Dons
Trevor Hedge 12
Ronnie Moore 11
Cyril Maidment 6
Jim Tebby 6
Reg Luckhurst 5
Bob Dugard 4
Peter Murray 4
46 - 31 Belle Vue Aces
Tommy Roper 10
Ivan Mauger 8
Chris Pusey 6
Sören Sjösten 4
Ken Eyre 2
Steve Waplington 1
Mike Hiftle 0
[7]

Second leg

Belle Vue Aces
Ivan Mauger 12
Sören Sjösten 10
Tommy Roper 6
Mike Hiftle 6
Dave Hemus 4
Chris Pusey 3
Ken Eyre 3
44 - 34 Wimbledon Dons
Ronnie Moore 13
Trevor Hedge 10
Reg Luckhurst 5
Cyril Maidment 2
Jim Tebby 2
Bob Dugard 1
Peter Murray 1
[7]

Wimbledon Dons were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 80-75.

Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the sixth consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 17 October. He won a three way run off for the title. [8]

Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1 Flag of New Zealand.svg Barry Briggs 3 3 1 3 313+3
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Anders Michanek 3 2 3 3 213+2
3 Flag of England.svg Eric Boocock 2 3 2 3 313+1
4 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ronnie Moore 3 2 3 3 112
5 Flag of New Zealand.svg Ivan Mauger 3 1 3 ex 310
6 Flag of England.svg Nigel Boocock 2 3 1 2 210
7 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jim Airey 2 3 2 1 19
8 Flag of England.svg Martin Ashby 0 1 1 2 37
9 Flag of Norway.svg Reidar Eide 2 1 2 1 17
10 Flag of England.svg Ray Wilson 0 2 0 2 15
11 Flag of Sweden.svg Bernt Persson 1 1 0 1 25
12 Flag of Denmark.svg Ole Olsen 1 2 2 0 05
13 Flag of England.svg Terry Betts 0 0 0 2 24
14 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Charlie Monk 1 0 3 0 04
15 Flag of Sweden.svg Olle Nygren 0 0 1 0 01
16 Flag of Sweden.svg Hasse Holmqvist 1 0 0 0 01
17 Flag of Hungary.svg Sándor Lévai (res)1 - - - -1

Final leading averages

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1 Ivan Mauger Flag of New Zealand.svg Belle Vue11.18
2 Anders Michanek Flag of Sweden.svg Newcastle10.88
3 Jim Airey Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sheffield10.86
4 Ray Wilson Flag of England.svg Leicester10.80
5 Nigel Boocock Flag of England.svg Coventry10.66
6 Eric Boocock Flag of England.svg Halifax10.54
7 Barry Briggs Flag of New Zealand.svg Swindon10.53
8 Jim McMillan Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow10.27
9 Ole Olsen Flag of Denmark.svg Wolverhampton10.25
10 Martin Ashby Flag of England.svg Exeter10.09
11 Trevor Hedge Flag of England.svg Wimbledon9.97
12 Ronnie Moore Flag of New Zealand.svg Wimbledon9.95
13 Bob Kilby Flag of England.svg Swindon9.68
14 Sören Sjösten Flag of Sweden.svg Belle Vue9.66
15 Bengt Jansson Flag of Sweden.svg Hackney9.49
16 Bruce Cribb Flag of New Zealand.svg Exeter9.47
17 Olle Nygren Flag of Sweden.svg West Ham9.36
18 John Boulger Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leicester9.34
19 Bernt Persson Flag of Sweden.svg Cradley Heath9.29
20 Terry Betts Flag of England.svg King's Lynn922

London Cup

Wimbledon won the London Cup for the third consecutive year. [9]

PosTeamPWDLFAPts
1 Wimbledon Dons 43011781336
2 Hackney Hawks 42021741384
3 West Ham Hammers 41031291822

Results

TeamScoreTeam
Hackney56–22West Ham
Hackney37–41Wimbledon
West Ham33–45Hackney
West Ham32–46Wimbledon
Wimbledon35–42West Ham
Wimbledon42–36Hackney

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams. [10]

First round

Team oneTeam twoScore
WolverhamptonCradley42–36, 35–43
OxfordSwindon37–41, 32–46

Semi final round

Team oneTeam twoScore
CradleyCoventry43–35, 29–49
SwindonLeicester36–41, 33–45

Final

First leg

Coventry
Nigel Boocock 10
Ken McKinlay 9
Rick France 9
Col Cottrell 8
Les Owen 6
Roger Hill 2
Tony Lomas 2
46–32Leicester
Ray Wilson 10
John Boulger 9
Graham Plant 6
John Hart 6
Norman Storer 1
Malcolm Brown 0
Alan Cowland 0

Second leg

Leicester
John Boulger 12
Ray Wilson 11
Graham Plant 6
John Hart 5
Malcolm Brown 4
Norman Storer 3
Alan Cowland 0
41–37Coventry
Tony Lomas 10
Ken McKinlay 8
Nigel Boocock 7
Les Owen 5
Col Cottrell 5
Roger Hill 2
John Harrhy 0

Coventry won on aggregate 83–73

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

Coventry

Cradley Heath

Exeter

Glasgow

Hackney

Halifax

King's Lynn

Leicester

Newcastle

Newport

Oxford

Poole

Sheffield

Swindon

Wembley

West Ham

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Briggs</span> New Zealand speedway rider

Barry Briggs is a New Zealand former speedway rider.

The 1965 British League season was the 31st season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also first known as the new British League which was formed in 1965, along with the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). The league was an amalgamation of the National League and the Provincial League.

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. Halifax Dukes won the league and then secured the league and cup double.

The 1967 British League season was the 33rd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the third season known as the British League.

The 1968 British League season was the 34th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the fourth season known as the British League.

The 1969 British League season was the 35th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the fifth season known as the British League.

The 1971 British League season was the 37th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh season known as the British League.

The 1972 British League season was the 38th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the eighth season of the British League.

The 1973 British League season was the 39th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the ninth season of the British League.

The 1974 British League season was the 40th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the tenth season known as the British League.

The 1975 Gulf Oil British League season was the 41st season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 11th season known as the British League.

The 1976 Gulf British League season was the 42nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 12th season known as the British League.

The 1977 Gulf British League season was the 43rd season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 13th season known as the British League.

The 1978 Gulf British League season was the 44th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 14th season known as the British League.

The 1979 Gulf British League season was the 45th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 15th season known as the British League.

The 1955 Speedway National League was the 21st season and tenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

The 1959 National League was the 25th season and the fourteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

The 1960 National League was the 26th season and the fifteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

The 1961 National League was the 27th season and the sixteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

The 1962 National League was the 28th season and the seventeenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

References

  1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  2. Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 100. ISBN   0-86215-017-5.
  3. Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 129–133. ISBN   0-904584-45-3.
  4. Jacobs, Norman (2001). Speedway in London. ISBN   0-7524-2221-9
  5. "HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  6. "1970 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
  7. 1 2 "Season 1970" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  8. "Briggs keeps the Crown" . Sunday Mirror. 18 October 1970. Retrieved 1 June 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Wimbledon 1970" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  10. "Boulger on form for Lions" . Nottingham Evening Post. 14 October 1970. Retrieved 21 October 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.