1970 British League Division Two season

British speedway season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1970 British League Division Two season was the third season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.[1][2]

LeagueBritish League Division Two
No. of competitors17
ChampionsCanterbury Crusaders
Knockout CupIpswich Witches
Quick facts League, No. of competitors ...
1970 British League Division Two season
LeagueBritish League Division Two
No. of competitors17
ChampionsCanterbury Crusaders
Knockout CupIpswich Witches
IndividualDave Jessup
Highest averageGary Peterson
Division/s aboveBritish League (Div 1)
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Team changes

The league expanded from 16 to 17 teams in its third season. Plymouth Devils dropped out and were replaced by Peterborough Panthers. Peterborough promoted by Allied Presentations (headed by Maurice Littlechild) were to race at the East of England Showground.[3][4]

Workington Comets under the promotion of Ian Thomas and Jeff Brownhut also joined the league and raced at Derwent Park.[5][6]

Before the season got underway the 1968 and 1969 champions Belle Vue Colts disbanded with most of their riders and the promotion team moving to Rochdale and becoming the Rochdale Hornets.[7][8] Doncaster changed their nickname from Stallions to Dragons.

Summary

Two teams changed venue during the season. The first was in July when the Nelson Admirals moved to Bradford to become Bradford Northern.[9] The second saw promoters Cyril Crane and Gordon Perkins receive planning permission to construct a track at the Boston Sports Stadium and the promoters bought the second-tier team known as the King's Lynn Starlets from Maurice Littlechild and became the Boston Barracudas.[10]

Canterbury Crusaders won their first title.[11][12] New Zealander Graeme Smith averaged 10.49 for the Crusaders and was well backed up by Barry Crowson (9.17) and Barry Thomas (9.11).[13] Another New Zealander Gary Peterson topped the averages riding initially for the Nelson Admirals and then Bradford Northern.

Final table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Canterbury Crusaders 32 23 1 8 47
2 Eastbourne Eagles 32 22 1 9 45
3 Rochdale Hornets 32 21 2 9 44
4 Bradford Northern 32 21 2 9 37
5 Middlesbrough Teessiders 32 18 0 14 36
6 Ipswich Witches 32 17 2 13 36
7 Crewe Kings 32 17 1 14 35
8 Romford Bombers 32 17 1 14 35
9 Reading Racers 32 17 0 15 34
10 Peterborough Panthers 32 14 2 16 30
11 Workington Comets 32 13 1 18 27
12 Rayleigh Rockets 32 13 1 18 27
13 Boston Barracudas 32 12 2 18 26
14 Crayford Highwaymen 32 11 1 20 23
15 Doncaster Dragons 32 11 1 20 23
16 Berwick Bandits 32 10 0 22 20
17 Long Eaton Rangers 32 8 3 21 19
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Fixtures and results

More information Home \ Away, BER ...
Home \ Away BER BOS BRA CAN CRA CK DON EAS IPS LE MID PET RAY REA RH ROM WOR
Berwick 46–32 45–33 38–40 52–26 43–35 36–42 42–34 41–37 47–31 42–36 47–31 49–29 38–40 26–51 34–44 35–43
Boston/King's Lynn 43–34 49–29 40–37 51–27 47–31 35–43 38–40 40–38 47–30 37–41 37–41 43–35 44.5–32.5 26–52 42–36 39–39
Bradford/ Nelson 52–26 59–19 50–28 55–23 55–23 58–19 44–34 52–25 55–22 59–19 56–22 46–32 49–29 46–31 50–28 40–38
Canterbury 57–21 51–26 53–25 46–32 50–28 49–29 42–36 51–27 55–22 42–36 44–34 48–30 47–31 45–33 43–35 51–27
Crayford 51–26 43–35 52–25 28–50 47–31 45–33 37–41 42–36 44–34 38–40 40–38 54–24 46–32 39–39 33–42 43–35
Crewe 56–22 53–25 43–35 47–31 54–24 49–29 53–25 52–26 52–26 46–32 58–20 49–27 47–31 47–31 53–24 41–37
Doncaster 48–30 36–40 30–47 35–43 40–38 42–35 44–34 38–40 40–37 40–38 39–39 36.5–39.5 43–35 36–42 36–42 38–37
Eastbourne 55–23 44–34 52–26 45–33 51–27 58–20 50–28 53–25 56–22 47–31 44–33 56–22 41–37 42–35 50–28 44–34
Ipswich 57–21 44–34 39–39 34–44 50–28 48–30 47–31 51–27 43–35 40–38 47–30 42–36 44–34 39–39 41–36 51–27
Long Eaton 40–38 39–39 40–38 31–47 47–31 43–35 36–42 38.5–38.5 29–49 33–45 41–37 40–38 34–44 44–33 39–39 39–38
Middlesbrough 53–25 53–25 49–29 42–36 46–32 38–39 44–34 45–32 42–36 53–25 49–29 46–32 42–36 43–35 62–15 45–32
Peterborough 46–32 40–38 47–31 39–39 45–33 42–36 50–28 33–45 43–35 42–36 41–37 51–27 42–36 30–48 48–30 42–36
Rayleigh 45–32 49–29 40–38 37–40 47–31 39–39 41–37 31–47 51–27 40–38 40–37 42–35 45–33 43–35 34–43 42–36
Reading 59–19 55–23 44–34 37–41 42–36 49–29 47–31 45–33 36–41 45–33 44–34 43–34 50–27 43–35 40–38 44–33
Rochdale 58–20 61–15 51–27 51–27 63–15 41–37 52–26 53–25 54–23 57–21 49–29 45–33 57–20 53–24 50–28 47–25
Romford 44–33 46.5–31.5 36–41 41–37 46–32 48–30 51–27 38–40 36–41 49–29 50–28 54–24 41–37 35–43 47–30 40–38
Workington 52–26 37–40 46–32 41–37 42–36 51–27 55–23 33–45 47–31 44–33 46–31 48–30 44–34 40–38 29–49 35–43
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Source: [14]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top five riders (league averages)

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Gary Peterson New Zealand Bradford Northern 10.79
2 Graeme Smith New Zealand Canterbury 10.41
3 Eric Broadbelt England Rochdale 10.08
4 Paul O'Neil New Zealand Crewe 9.91
5 Archie Wilkinson England Crayford 9.85
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Knockout Cup

The 1970 British League Division Two Knockout Cup was the third edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Ipswich Witches were the winners of the competition defeating Berwick Bandits in the final. The Bandits were surprise finalists given their final league placing which was second from bottom of the table.[15]

First round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
11/04Rayleigh48-30Peterborough
19/04Rochdale43-35Long Eaton
20/04Crewe49-29Nelson
26/04Eastbourne34-44Canterbury
30/04Ipswich51-27+Crayford
02/05Berwick53-25Doncaster
07/05Teesside54-24King's Lynn
07/05Romford48-30Reading
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+ first match abandoned with score at 25–17

Quarter-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
17/05Rochdale48-30Romford
21/05Ipswich46-31Rayleigh
23/05Berwick40-36Teesside
06/06Canterbury52-26Crewe
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Semi-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
07/07Berwick44-34Canterbury
27/08Ipswich42-36Rochdale
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Final

First leg

More information Ipswich WitchesJohn Louis 12John Harrhy 11Pete Bailey 9Ron Bagley 6Stan Pepper 5Ted Spittles 4Tony Davey 0, 47 – 31 ...
Ipswich Witches
John Louis 12
John Harrhy 11
Pete Bailey 9
Ron Bagley 6
Stan Pepper 5
Ted Spittles 4
Tony Davey 0		47 – 31Berwick Bandits
Doug Wyer 11
Maury Robinson 6
Peter Kelly 6
Lex Milloy 4
Alistair Brady 2
Ken Ormand 1
Roy Williams 1
[16]
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Second leg

More information Berwick BanditsDoug Wyer 10Maury Robinson 9Alistair Brady 7Peter Kelly 5Lex Milloy 5Roy Williams 5Ken Ormand 2, 43 – 35 ...
Berwick Bandits
Doug Wyer 10
Maury Robinson 9
Alistair Brady 7
Peter Kelly 5
Lex Milloy 5
Roy Williams 5
Ken Ormand 2		43 – 35Ipswich Witches
John Louis 15
Pete Bailey 12
Stan Pepper 4
Ron Bagley 2
Ted Spittles 2
Tony Davey 0
John Harrhy R/R
[16]
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Ipswich were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 82–74.

Riders' Championship

Dave Jessup won the Rider's Championship, held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 25 September. Jessup was aged just 17 at the time.[17]

More information Pos., Rider ...
Pos.RiderPtsTotal
1England Dave Jessup3 3 3 3 214
2England Barry Crowson2 3 3 2 212+3
3New Zealand Gary Peterson2 3 1 3 312+2
4England Eric Broadbelt3 1 2 2 311
5England Tom Leadbitter3 2 3 1 110
6England John Harrhyf 3 2 3 19
7Australia Bob Valentine2 2 3 2 09
8New Zealand Paul O'Neil1 1 3 38
9England Richard May1 2 2 ef 27
10Scotland Ross Gilbertson3 ef 2 2 07
11Scotland Andy Ross1 0 1 1 25
12England Arthur Price2 2 0 1 05
13England Geoff Maloney0 1 1 1 14
14England Maury Robinsonex 0 0 03
15England Tony Childs1 1 ef 03
16Scotland Gordon McGregor1 0 0 r1
17England Ken Vale (res)00
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  • f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure

Final leading averages

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Gary Peterson New Zealand Bradford Northern/Nelson 10.76
2 Graeme Smith New Zealand Canterbury 10.49
3 Eric Broadbelt England Rochdale 10.07
5 Taffy Owen Wales Workington 9.94
5 Paul O'Neil New Zealand Crewe 9.69
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Riders' final averages

Berwick

  • Doug Wyer 8.39
  • Maury Robinson 8.13
  • Peter Kelly 7.28
  • Bernie Lagrosse/Roy Williams 6.00
  • Ken Omand 5.41
  • Alan Paynter 5.26
  • Peter Baldock 5.14
  • Ian Paterson 5.03
  • Alistair Brady 4.89
  • Andy Meldrum 4.80
  • Jimmy Gallacher 3.53

Boston/King's Lynn (Boston took over fixtures mid-season)

  • Arthur Price 7.52
  • Graham Edmonds 7.27
  • Russ Osborne 5.70
  • Jack Bywater 4.97
  • Tony Featherstone 4.26
  • John Ingamells 3.73
  • Brian Osborn 3.62

Bradford (Bradford took over Nelson's fixtures mid-season)

  • Gary Peterson 10.76
  • Alf Wells 9.32
  • Alan Knapkin 9.28
  • Dave Schofield 6.15
  • Sid Sheldrick 5.93
  • Alan Bridgett 5.85
  • Peter Thompson 5.22
  • Robin Adlington 4.35

Canterbury

Crayford

  • Archie Wilkinson 9.54
  • Tony Childs 7.97
  • George Devonport 7.00
  • Derek Timms 5.19
  • Mick Steel 4.98
  • Tony Armstrong 4.55
  • Colin Clark 4.00
  • Judd Drew 3.91

Crewe

  • Paul O'Neil 9.69
  • John Jackson 7.94
  • Barry Meeks 7.13
  • Dai Evans 6.34
  • Warren Hawkins 6.10
  • Ian Bottomley 5.91
  • Dave Parry 5.65
  • Glyn Blackburn 5.28
  • Rob Jackson 5.04

Doncaster

  • George Major 9.58
  • Gordon McGregor 9.36
  • Chris Harrison 6.82
  • Gunther Haslinger 4.99
  • Chris Roynon 4.36
  • Dennis Wasden 3.89
  • Ian Wilson 3.72
  • Malcolm Corradine 3.64
  • Cliff Emms 3.40

Eastbourne

Ipswich

  • John Harrhy 9.21
  • John Louis 8.74
  • Pete Bailey 7.60
  • Ron Bagley 7.03
  • Ted Spittles 5.92
  • Neville Slee 4.54
  • Dave Whittaker 4.15
  • Bernie Aldridge 3.91
  • Stan Pepper 3.55

Long Eaton

Middlesbrough

Peterborough

  • Andy Ross 9.08
  • John Poyser 7.65
  • Richard Greer 7.49
  • Peter Seaton 7.14
  • Brian Davies 6.91
  • Joe Hughes 5.88
  • John Stayte 5.03
  • Pete Saunders 4.61
  • Mervyn Hill 4.53

Rayleigh

Reading

  • Richard May 9.57
  • Mike Vernam 9.01
  • Bernie Leigh 6.91
  • Bob Young 6.11
  • Phil Pratt 5.36
  • Dene Davies 5.28
  • John Hammond 5.05
  • Cec Platt 4.20

Rochdale

Romford

  • Phil Woodcock 8.87
  • Ross Gilbertson 8.70
  • Geoff Penniket 8.43
  • Des Lukehurst 8.26
  • Brian Foote 6.85
  • Colin Sanders 6.17
  • Ian Gills 5.69
  • Charlie Benham 5.35
  • Kevin Holden 4.65
  • John Hibben 2.83

Workington

See also

References

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