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1978 National League season

British motorcycle speedway season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1978 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom.[1]

LeagueNational League
No. of competitors20
ChampionsCanterbury Crusaders
Knockout CupEastbourne Eagles
Quick facts League, No. of competitors ...
1978 National League season
LeagueNational League
No. of competitors20
ChampionsCanterbury Crusaders
Knockout CupEastbourne Eagles
IndividualSteve Koppe
PairsEllesmere Port Gunners
FoursPeterborough Panthers
Highest averageTom Owen
Division/s above1978 British League
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Summary

Newport Dragons dropped out of the league after just one season of second tier racing following a dispute over rent at Somerton Park.[2]

Ttwo new entrants – Milton Keynes Knights and Barrow Furness Flyers – saw the league expanded to twenty teams. Weymouth changed their nickname from Wizards to Wildcats.

Former Leicester and Teesside promoter Ron Wilson brought speedway to Milton Keynes[3] with a team called the Knights who would race at the Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium (known in speedway circles as the Groveway).[4]

Canterbury Crusaders won the National League title.[5][6] Although equal on points with Newcastle Diamonds they won by virtue of the fact that their race points difference was greater than their rival.[7] It was Canterbury's second title win in eight years, previously winning in 1970. The Crusaders were led by heavy scoring from Les Rumsey and Riders' Champion Steve Koppe, while Newcastle's Tom Owen topped the averages for the second consecutive year.[8]

Earlier in the season 18 year-old junior rider Chris Prime was representing Newcastle when he was killed in the National League match against Mildenhall on 3 April.[9]

Final table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Canterbury Crusaders 38 30 0 8 60
2 Newcastle Diamonds 38 29 2 7 60
3 Rye House Rockets 38 27 0 11 54
4 Eastbourne Eagles 38 25 1 12 51
5 Ellesmere Port Gunners 38 24 0 14 48
6 Peterborough Panthers 38 22 1 15 45
7 Oxford Cheetahs 38 20 4 14 44
8 Stoke Potters 38 21 1 16 43
9 Glasgow Tigers 38 19 1 18 39
10 Crayford Kestrels 38 16 2 20 34
11 Berwick Bandits 38 17 0 21 34
12 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 38 16 1 21 33
13 Weymouth Wildcats 38 16 0 22 32
14 Workington Comets 38 16 0 22 32
15 Edinburgh Monarchs 38 15 1 22 31
16 Milton Keynes Knights 38 12 6 20 30
17 Boston Barracudas 38 13 2 23 28
18 Teesside Tigers 38 12 0 26 24
19 Scunthorpe Saints 38 9 2 27 20
20 Barrow Furness Flyers 38 8 2 28 18
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Fixtures and results

More information Home \ Away, BAR ...
Home \ Away BAR BER BOS CAN CRY EAS ED EP GLA MIL MK NEW OX PET RH SCU STO TEE WEY WOR
Barrow 52–25 41–37 28–50 43–35 39–39 33–45 35–43 40–37 20–58 39–39 24–54 34–44 35–43 36.5–41.5 48–30 34–43 44–34 43–35 41–37
Berwick 45–33 52–26 42–36 50–28 46–32 54–24 46–31 53–25 44–34 37–41 37–41 48–29 56–22 40–38 57–21 55–23 54–24 47–31 45–33
Boston 48–29 45–32 35–42 42–35 40–38 34–44 37–41 40–37 42–36 40–38 41–37 39–39 26–51 37–41 46–32 43–35 49–29 45–33 38–40
Canterbury 53–25 59–19 53–25 56–22 45–33 51–27 47–31 53–25 48–30 47–31 36–42 44–34 49–29 59–17 48–30 40–38 48–30 50–28 47–31
Crayford 53–25 52–25 47–31 37–41 34–44 44–34 47–31 55–23 48–29 42–36 39–39 41–37 45–33 32–44 54–24 52–25 44–34 49–28 49–29
Eastbourne 54–24 61–17 42–35 48–29 58–20 46–31 46–32 57–21 54–24 61–17 42–35 51–27 46–32 54–24 56–22 56–20 57–20 49–26 54–23
Edinburgh 50–28 55–22 63–14 36–42 40–38 32–46 29–49 41–37 35–43 37–40 32–46 41–37 43–35 36–42 45–33 46–32 46–32 40–36 53–25
Ellesmere Port 61–17 53–25 50–28 40–38 44–34 48–30 46–31 48–30 45–32 46–32 43–35 50–28 40–38 43–35 38–16 52–26 53–25 50–28 46–32
Glasgow 45–33 49–27 53–22 33–45 42–36 45–33 48–30 37–40 49–28 45–33 40–38 41–37 51–27 41–37 49–29 44–34 50–28 42–36 46–32
Mildenhall 50–28 50–28 47–30 35–43 56–22 38–40 38–40 37–41 55–23 54–24 36–42 45–33 48–30 45–33 41–36 41–37 38–40 51–27 53–25
Milton Keynes 57–20 41–37 39–39 31–47 43–35 42–35 39–39 43–35 39–39 44–34 26–52 39–39 38–40 37–41 39–39 33–45 48–30 41–37 40–38
Newcastle 52–26 57–21 50–28 42–36 52–25 40–38 61–17 41–37 62–16 40–38 47–31 32–45 49–29 37–41 48–30 53–25 56–22 45–32 48–30
Oxford 62.5–15.5 61–17 55–23 41–37 57–21 42–36 51–27 50–28 58–19 39–39 58–20 39–39 38–40 43–35 47–31 43–35 50–27 42–35 57–21
Peterborough 56–22 51–27 44–34 36–42 54–24 47–31 51–27 51–27 51–27 43–35 47–30 33–45 56–22 41–37 44–34 39–39 50–28 55–23 56–22
Rye House 59–19 54–24 60–18 42–36 48–30 42–36 54–24 40–38 58–20 40–38 59–19 45–33 46–31 46–32 50–28 52–26 58–20 45–33 57–21
Scunthorpe 45–33 48–30 43–35 31–47 39–39 37–41 50–28 40–38 38–40 35–43 46–30 35–43 28–50 42–36 36–42 35–43 42–36 34–43 43–35
Stoke 53–25 57–21 56–22 29–49 57–21 48–30 51–27 42–36 54–24 42–36 41–37 38–40 45–33 44–34 47–31 47–31 55–23 43–35 43–35
Teesside 48–30 50–28 36–42 42–36 34–44 33–45 41–37 40–38 46–31 40–37 38–40 36–41 38–40 44–34 36–42 42–36 47–31 34–44 44–34
Weymouth 54–24 49–28 51–27 32–45 41–37 28–50 41–37 50–28 46–32 42–36 54–24 34–44 43–35 32–45 42–36 56–22 38–40 57–21 45–32
Workington 40–38 49–28 53–25 33–45 51–27 43–35 47–31 41–36 37–41 48–30 49–29 38–40 52–26 35–43 40–38 58–20 40–38 53–25 42–35
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Source: [10]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

National League Knockout Cup

The 1978 National League Knockout Cup was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition for the second successive year.[11]

First round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
13/05Stoke51–27Workington
12/05Workington40–38Stoke
29/05Newcastle43–33Teesside
01/06Teesside39–39Newcastle
21/05Rye House58–20Milton Keynes
23/05Milton Keynes26–52Rye House
19/05Ellesmere Port47–31Berwick
21/05Berwick35–42Ellesmere Port
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Second round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
11/06Eastbourne57–21Scunthorpe
12/06Scunthorpe28–47Eastbourne
23/06Peterborough43–35Barrow
20/06Barrow33–45Peterborough
08/06Oxford47–31Stoke
10/06Stoke43–35Oxford
25/06Mildenhall56–21Newcastle
26/06Newcastle40–38Mildenhall
11/06Rye House52–26Glasgow
16/06Glasgow39–39Rye House
04/07Crayford46–32Edinburgh
30/06Edinburgh40–38Crayford
17/06Canterbury48–27Weymouth
20/06Weymouth37–41Canterbury
07/07Ellesmere Port54–23Boston
25/06Boston36–42Ellesmere Port
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Quarter-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
06/08Eastbourne45–30Peterborough
11/08Peterborough39–38Eastbourne
10/08Oxford43–34Mildenhall
09/07Mildenhall40–38Oxford
09/07Rye House44–34Crayford
18/07Crayford39–39Rye House
12/08Canterbury55–23Ellesmere
28/07Ellesmere48–30Canterbury
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Semi-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
27/08Eastbourne56–22Oxford
07/09Oxford32–45Eastbourne
24/09Rye House57–20Canterbury
30/09Canterbury41–37Rye House
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Final

First leg

More information Eastbourne EaglesDave Kennett 10Mike Sampson 9Steve Naylor 9Eric Dugard 8Roger Abel 6Paul Woods 4Ian Fletcher 0, 46–32 ...
Eastbourne Eagles
Dave Kennett 10
Mike Sampson 9
Steve Naylor 9
Eric Dugard 8
Roger Abel 6
Paul Woods 4
Ian Fletcher 0		46–32Rye House Rockets
Bob Garrad 11
Ted Hubbard 7
Ashley Pullen 6
Kelvin Mullarkey 4
Kevin Smith 2
Karl Fiala 1
Hugh Saunders 1
[12]
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Second leg

More information Rye House RocketsTed Hubbard 10Kelvin Mullarkey 9Bob Garrad 9Hugh Saunders 5Karl Fiala 4Kevin Smith 4Ashley Pullen 0, 41–37 ...
Rye House Rockets
Ted Hubbard 10
Kelvin Mullarkey 9
Bob Garrad 9
Hugh Saunders 5
Karl Fiala 4
Kevin Smith 4
Ashley Pullen 0		41–37Eastbourne Eagles
Eric Dugard 11
Dave Kennett 7
Mike Sampson 6
Roger Abel 4
Paul Woods 4
Steve Naylor 3
Ian Fletcher 2
[12]
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Eastbourne were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 83–73.

Riders' Championship

Steve Koppe won the Riders' Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 23 September 1978.[13]

More information Pos., Rider ...
Pos.RiderPtsTotal
1Australia Steve Koppe3 3 3 2 314
2England John Jackson3 3 2 2 313
3England Ted Hubbard3 2 2 3 212+3
4England Dave Gooderham1 2 3 3 312+2
5England Ray Bales2 0 3 3 311
6England Tom Owen1 1 2 3 29
7England Arthur Price3 2 2 1 19
8England Danny Kennedy0 1 3 2 28
9England Laurie Etheridge2 3 0 1 17
10England Tony Lomas1 1 1 2 16
11England Graham Jones1 3 1 0 05
12England Rob Hollingworth0 2 1 1 04
13Scotland George Hunter2 13
14England Steve Wilcock (res)1 1 0 13
15England Nicky Allott0 0 0 0 22
16England Mike Sampson22
17England Steve Lawson0 0 0 0 00
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Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 15 July and was won by Ellesmere Port.[14]

More information Group A, Pos ...
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Semi finals

  • Newcastle bt Canterbury
  • Ellesmere Port bt Eastbourne

Final

  • Ellesmere Port bt Newcastle

Fours

Peterborough won the fours championship final for the second successive year, held at the East of England Arena on 30 July.[15][16]

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Stoke 13, Peterborough 12, Newcastle 12, Edinburgh 10
  • SF2 = Canterbury 16, Weymouth 12, Ellesmere Port 12, Eastbourne 8

Final

More information Pos, Team ...
PosTeamPtsRiders
1Peterborough Panthers18Couzens 6, Flatman 5, Hunt 4, Gooderham 3
2Stoke Potters12Robertson 4, Lomas 3, Harrhy 3, Mountford 2
3Canterbury Crusaders9Koppe 4, Clifton 3, Ferreira 2, Rumsey 0
4Ellesmere Port Gunners9Ellams 4, Collins 3, Carr L 2, Finch 0, Jackson 0
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Top Five Riders

More information Rider, Nat ...
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Tom Owen England Newcastle 10.82
2 Bob Humphreys Australia Milton Keynes 10.59
3 John Jackson England Ellesmere Port 10.36
4 Les Rumsey England Canterbury 9.81
5 Mike Sampson England Eastbourne 9.74
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Riders & final averages

Barrow

  • Charlie Monk 8.20
  • Geoff Pusey 7.22
  • Chris Bevan 6.82
  • Andy Reid 5.53
  • Chris Roynon 5.01
  • Ken Murray 4.23
  • Mark Courtney 3.61
  • Chris Robins 3.13
  • Malcolm Chambers 2.29
  • Gary Pottenger 2.29
  • Les Race 1.74
  • Dave Butt 1.73
  • Des Wilson 1.25

Berwick

Boston

  • Gary Guglielmi 8.38
  • Tony Boyle 7.95
  • Steve Clarke 7.11
  • Dave Allen 7.02
  • Paul Gilbert 6.50
  • Stuart Cope 5.36
  • Andy Fisher 5.33
  • Craig Featherby 5.26
  • Dave Mortiboys 4.94
  • Ron Cooper 4.13
  • Roger Lambert 4.00
  • Keith Bloxsome 3.79
  • Dennis Mallett 2.93

Canterbury

Crayford

  • Laurie Etheridge 9.34
  • Alan Sage 8.63
  • Alan Johns 6.28
  • Pete Wigley 5.19
  • Richard Davey 5.18
  • Tony Featherstone 5.02
  • John Hooper 4.36

Eastbourne

Edinburgh

Ellesmere Port

Glasgow

  • Steve Lawson 7.93
  • Derek Richardson 7.52
  • Merv Janke 7.51
  • Benny Rourke 6.68
  • Colin Farquharson 4.64
  • Jim Beaton 4.49
  • Charlie McKinna 3.54
  • Keith Bloxsome 3.50
  • Terry Kelly 3.48
  • Mick Newton 2.97

Mildenhall

Milton Keynes

Newcastle

Oxford

Peterborough

Rye House

Scunthorpe

Stoke

Teesside

Weymouth

Workington

  • Arthur Price 8.63
  • Brian Havelock 8.39
  • Rob Maxfield 7.66
  • Ian Hindle 6.40
  • Mark Dickinson 5.14
  • David Coles 4.82
  • Andy Margarson 4.79
  • Des Wilson 4.43
  • Tony Childs 3.27

See also

References

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