1968 British League season

British speedway season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[1][2]

LeagueBritish League
Season1968
No. of competitors19
ChampionsCoventry Bees
Quick facts League, Season ...
1968 British League season
LeagueBritish League
Season1968
No. of competitors19
ChampionsCoventry Bees
Knockout CupWimbledon Dons
IndividualBarry Briggs
London CupWimbledon Dons
Midland CupSwindon Robins
Highest averageIvan Mauger
Division/s belowBritish League (Div 2)
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Summary

Edinburgh relocated to become the Coatbridge Monarchs. The Long Eaton team closed its doors, but a new team in Leicester returned to speedway to join the League. Long Eaton promoters Ron Wilson and Reg Fearman moved the speedway licence to Leicester Stadium because of concerns over increased stock car events damaging the Long Eaton Stadium speedway track.[3][4]

Coventry Bees secured their first title on points difference and after they scored points in the last heat of their last match away at King's Lynn. The title win came after two consecutive years as being runner-up. Coventry's Nigel Boocock was again one of the league's leading riders with his average going well above ten for the fifth consecutive year. He was well supported by Ron Mountford and Czechoslovak star Antonín Kasper Sr.[5] Wimbledon Dons who could only manage a mid table finish went on to win the British League Knockout Cup.[6]

Final table

More information M, W ...
M W D L F A Pts
1 Coventry Bees 36 22 0 14 1436 1369 44
2 Hackney Hawks 36 21 2 13 1421 1383 44
3 Exeter Falcons 36 20 1 15 1556.5 1248.5 41
4 Sheffield Tigers 36 20 1 15 1463.5 1337.5 41
5 Newcastle Diamonds 36 20 0 16 1454 1350 40
6 West Ham Hammers 36 19 1 16 1454 1348 39
7 Halifax Dukes 36 19 1 16 1424 1379 39
8 Coatbridge Monarchs 36 18 1 17 1404 1397 37
9 Wimbledon Dons 36 18 0 18 1411 1384 36
10 Belle Vue Aces 36 18 0 18 1387 1417 36
11 Swindon Robins 36 17 1 18 1448 1353 35
12 Leicester Lions 36 17 1 18 1373 1430 35
13 Newport Wasps 36 17 1 18 1348 1457 35
14 Cradley Heath Heathens 36 15 4 17 1373 1430 34
15 Oxford Cheetahs 36 17 0 19 1319 1487 34
16 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 16 0 20 1388 1413 32
17 Poole Pirates 36 13 2 21 1327 1478 28
18 King's Lynn Stars 36 13 1 22 1330 1473 27
19 Glasgow Tigers 36 13 1 22 1312 1495 27
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M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Fixtures & results

More information Home \ Away, BV ...
Home \ Away BV CM COV CH EX GLA HAC HAL KL LE ND NW OX PP SHE SWI WH WIM WOL
Belle Vue Aces 41–37 55–23 47–31 34–44 50–28 45–33 49–29 40–38 40–38 41–37 51–27 52–26 45–33 37–41 55–23 44–34 52–26 41–37
Coatbridge Monarchs 41–36 38–40 51–27 39–39 48–30 53–25 52–26 49–29 43–35 46–32 48–30 54–24 44–34 42–36 43–35 48–30 46–32 53–23
Coventry Bees 37–41 47–31 53–25 43–35 48–30 41–36 46–32 47–31 45–33 43–35 46–32 56–22 49–29 44–34 43–35 42–36 50–28 45–33
Cradley Heathens 45–33 54–24 37–41 42–36 53–25 46–32 37–41 46–32 36–42 38–40 42–36 50–28 43–35 42–35 39–39 40–38 44–34 49–29
Exeter Falcons 46–31 53–25 51–27 53–25 50–28 51–27 58–19 59–19 56–22 47–31 53–25 50–28 52–26 50–28 49–29 41–37 49–29 51–27
Glasgow Tigers 44–34 38–40 47–31 39–39 36–42 36–42 34–44 44–34 47–31 41–37 55–23 49–29 46–32 38–40 43–35 31–47 40–38 49–29
Hackney Hawks 48–30 40–36 42–36 43–35 43–35 47–31 46–32 41–37 43–35 42–36 48–30 46–32 47–31 42–35 47–31 42–36 52–26 42–36
Halifax Dukes 52–26 51–27 42–36 56–22 43–35 50–27 54–24 44–34 47–31 40–38 47–31 52–26 42–36 39–39 45–33 43–35 50–28 49–29
King's Lynn Stars 41–37 50–28 37–41 39–39 45–33 36–42 36–42 43–35 41–37 41–37 40–38 48–30 50–28 49–29 42–36 38–40 47–26 40–38
Leicester Lions 44–34 40–38 37–41 50–27 40–38 43–35 39–39 41–37 48–30 44–34 51–27 44–34 41–37 39–37 45–33 41–37 43–35 40–38
Newcastle Diamonds 59–19 48–30 52–26 40–38 50–28 45–33 46–32 50–28 40–38 40–38 53–25 41–37 43–35 46–32 46–32 49–29 49–28 40–38
Newport Wasps 46–32 43–35 42–36 47–31 41–37 49–29 46–32 45–33 42–36 44–33 51–27 53–25 48–29 49–29 47–31 39–39 46–32 45–33
Oxford Cheetahs 43–35 43–35 41–37 30–47 43–35 42–36 45–33 51–26 43–35 43–35 41–37 54–24 42–36 42–36 38–40 46–32 43–35 44–34
Poole Pirates 36–42 38–40 43–35 39–39 40–38 45–33 39–39 42–36 45–33 43–35 44–34 43–35 49–29 43–35 38–40 41–37 45–32 42–36
Sheffield Tigers 54–24 46–32 51–27 53–25 44.5–33.5 51–27 43–35 42–36 51–27 45–33 50–27 51–27 49–29 51–27 50–28 41–37 50–28 44–34
Swindon Robins 56–22 57–20 43–34 36–42 50–28 61–17 36–42 48–30 51–27 43–35 38–39 54–24 45–33 53–24 47–31 36–42 39–38 46–32
West Ham Hammers 41–36 43–35 46–32 39–38 48–30 36–42 41–37 42–35 48–30 50–28 44–34 50–28 41–37 45–33 48–29 37–40 43–35 52–25
Wimbledon Dons 54–24 51–26 54–24 42–36 50–28 49–29 46–32 42–35 49–29 47–31 46–31 49–29 37–41 41–37 55–22 43–34 41–37 41–37
Wolverhampton Wolves 45–32 51–27 33–44 45–33 43–35 45–33 40–38 54–24 50–28 46–31 47–31 43–34 43–35 48–30 49–29 43–35 41–37 34–44
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Source: [7]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top Ten Riders (League averages)

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Ivan Mauger New Zealand Newcastle 11.40
2 Barry Briggs New Zealand Swindon 10.88
3 Nigel Boocock England Coventry 10.79
4 Martin Ashby England Exeter 10.68
5 Charlie Monk Australia Sheffield 10.14
6 Eric Boocock England Halifax 10.13
7 Anders Michanek Sweden Leicester 10.07
8 Norman Hunter England West Ham 9.94
9 Sverre Harrfeldt Norway West Ham 9.88
10 Torbjörn Harrysson Sweden Newport 9.82
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British League Knockout Cup

The 1968 British League Knockout Cup was the 30th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Wimbledon were the winners.[8]

First round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
27/04Coatbridge66–42Glasgow
27/04Halifax57–51Exeter
16/04West Ham55–52Hackney
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Second round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
01/06Belle Vue64–44West Ham
14/05Leicester52–56Coventry
20/05Newcastle77–30Coatbridge
23/05Sheffield71–37Cradley Heath
25/05Swindon58–50Oxford
23/05Wimbledon60–48Kings Lynn
22/05Poole56–52Newport
17/05Wolverhampton60–47Halifax
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Third round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
17/08Belle Vue65–42Sheffield
26/07Poole54–54Swindon
27/06Wimbledon64–44Newcastle
28/06Wolverhampton58–50Coventry
23/08
replay		Swindon60–47Poole
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Semi-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
20/09Wolverhampton67–40Belle Vue
12/09Wimbledon80–28Swindon
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Final

First leg

More information Wolverhampton WolvesHasse Holmqvist 15Jim Airey 14Peter Vandenberg 8James Bond 6Dave Hemus 6Doug White 3Mick Handley 1Pete Jarman 0, 53–55 ...
Wolverhampton Wolves
Hasse Holmqvist 15
Jim Airey 14
Peter Vandenberg 8
James Bond 6
Dave Hemus 6
Doug White 3
Mick Handley 1
Pete Jarman 0		53–55Wimbledon Dons
Olle Nygren 14
Trevor Hedge 12
Reg Luckhurst 10
Bob Dugard 9
Alan Cowland 4
Jim Tebby 3
Peter Murray 3
Garry Middleton 0
[9]
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Second leg

More information Wimbledon DonsTrevor Hedge 17Olle Nygren 14Reg Luckhurst 12Garry Middleton 8Alan Cowland 6Bob Dugard 2Jim Tebby 2Peter Murray 2, 63–45 ...
Wimbledon Dons
Trevor Hedge 17
Olle Nygren 14
Reg Luckhurst 12
Garry Middleton 8
Alan Cowland 6
Bob Dugard 2
Jim Tebby 2
Peter Murray 2		63–45Wolverhampton Wolves
Hasse Holmqvist 12
James Bond 10
Peter Vandenberg 8
Jim Airey 7
Mick Handley 5
Pete Jarman 3
Dave Hemus 0
Doug White 0
[9]
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Wimbledon Dons were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 118-98.

Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the fourth consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 19 October. Briggs defeated Boocock in a run off for the title.[10]

More information Pos., Rider ...
Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1New Zealand Barry Briggs3 3 3 2 314
2England Nigel Boocock3 3 3 3 214
3New Zealand Ivan Mauger2 3 3 3 213
4Sweden Torbjörn Harrysson3 2 3 3 f11
5England Martin Ashby3 2 2 1 311
6England Terry Betts1 2 1 3 18
7Sweden Sören Sjösten2 r 2 1 38
8Sweden Anders Michanek0 3 1 2 28
9Sweden Hasse Holmqvist2 1 1 2 17
10Sweden Bernt Persson1 1 2 2 17
11Australia Charlie Monk2 2 0 0 15
12England Norman Hunter1 1 ef 0 35
13England Nigel Boocockef 0 2 1 25
14Sweden Olle Nygren0 1 ef 1 02
15England Colin Pratt1 ef 1 0 02
16England Roy Triggef ns 0 0 00
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  • ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

Final leading averages

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Ivan Mauger New Zealand Newcastle 11.37
2 Barry Briggs New Zealand Swindon 10.87
3 Nigel Boocock England Coventry 10.74
4 Martin Ashby England Exeter 10.72
5 Anders Michanek Sweden Leicester 10.19
6 Eric Boocock England Halifax 10.17
7 Charlie Monk Australia Sheffield 10.07
8 Sverre Harrfeldt Norway West Ham 9.78
9 Torbjörn Harrysson Sweden Newport 9.82
10 Norman Hunter England West Ham 9.71
11 Ron Mountford England Coventry 9.62
12 Hasse Holmqvist Sweden Wolverhampton 9.58
13 Colin Pratt England Hackney 9.58
14 Terry Betts England King's Lynn 9.45
15 Malcolm Simmons England King's Lynn 9.40
16 Ole Olsen Denmark Newcastle 9.39
17 Ray Wilson England Leicester 9.37
18 Olle Nygren England Wimbledon 9.39
19 Bernt Persson Sweden Edinburgh 9.28
20 Jim Airey Australia Wolverhampton 9.24
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London Cup

Wimbledon won the London Cup.[11]

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team P W D L F A Pts
1Wimbledon Dons43012331986
2West Ham Hammers42112252075
3Hackney Hawks40131892421
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More information Home \ Away, HAC ...
Home \ Away HAC WH WIM
Hackney 54–54 42–66
West Ham 59–49 60–48
Wimbledon 63–44 56–52
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Source: [12]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Midland Cup

Swindon won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive season. The competition consisted of six teams.[13]

First round

More information Team one, Team two ...
Team one Team two Score
OxfordWolverhampton42–36, 41–37
LeicesterCradley45–32, 41–37
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Semi final round

More information Team one, Team two ...
Team one Team two Score
LeicesterCradley45–32, 36–42
SwindonOxford46–32, 39–38
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Final

First leg

More information SwindonBarry Briggs 11 Bob Kilby 10Clive Hitch 6Pete Munday 5 Frank Shuter 5 Mike Keen 5 Mike Broadbank 0, 42–35 ...
Swindon
Barry Briggs 11
Bob Kilby 10
Clive Hitch 6
Pete Munday 5
Frank Shuter 5
Mike Keen 5
Mike Broadbank 0		42–35Leicester
Anders Michanek 10
John Boulger 9
Ray Wilson 9
John Hart 5
Graham Plant 2
George Major 0
Norman Storer 0
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Second leg

More information LeicesterRay Wilson 12Anders Michanek 10 Norman Storer 6 John Boulger 6 John Hart 3 Graham Plant 3George Major 2, 42–36 ...
Leicester
Ray Wilson 12
Anders Michanek 10
Norman Storer 6
John Boulger 6
John Hart 3
Graham Plant 3
George Major 2		42–36Swindon
Barry Briggs 9
Frank Shuter 7
Clive Hitch 6
Mike Broadbank 6
Mike Keen 3
Bob Kilby 3
Pete Munday 2
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Swindon won on aggregate 78–77

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

Coatbridge

Coventry

Cradley Heath

Exeter

Glasgow

Hackney

Halifax

King's Lynn

Leicester

Newcastle'

Newport

Oxford

Poole

Sheffield

Swindon

West Ham

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton

See also

References

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