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1985 National League season

British speedway season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1985 National League was contested as the second division of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom.[1]

LeagueNational League
No. of competitors19
ChampionsEllesmere Port Gunners
Knockout CupEastbourne Eagles
Quick facts League, No. of competitors ...
1985 National League season
LeagueNational League
No. of competitors19
ChampionsEllesmere Port Gunners
Knockout CupEastbourne Eagles
IndividualNeil Middleditch
PairsEllesmere Port Gunners
FoursMiddlesbrough Tigers
London CupWimbledon Dons
Highest averageGordon Kennett
Division/s above1985 British League
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Team changes

A new team called the Barrow Blackhawks entered the league but only staged a handful of fixtures. The team failed to meet the minimum points limit resulting in the league authorities stopping their participation.[2][3] Scunthorpe Stags withdrew from the league in May.[4][5]

Weymouth Wildcats promoters Peter Ansell and Mervyn Stewkesbury, moved their team to Poole for the start of the 1985 season, following the closure of the Poole Pirates due to financial debts. The team raced as the Poole Wildcats.[6]

Boston Barracudas promoter Cyril Crane withdrew the team from the league just days before the start of the season when Crane relinquished his interests.[7][8]

Wimbledon Dons, Eastbourne Eagles and Exeter Falcons all dropped down from the British League to join the National League. Ellesmere Port Gunners and Birmingham Brummies made their returns to British Speedway in the National League.

Summary

The league title became a dramatic three horse race between Poole Wildcats, Middlesbrough Tigers and Ellesmere Port Gunners. All three teams entered October with only away matches left. Poole were two points ahead of Middlesbrough but had one meeting left, with Middlesbrough having two matches in hand. Ellesmere Port were two points behind Middlesbrough but had four meetings left. The Gunners won away at strugglers Long Eaton and Edinburgh to draw level with Poole, and Middlesbrough won at Stoke to leave all three level. Ellesmere Port drew their penultimate fixture at Peterborough who had previously won every home match whilst Poole lost heavily at Berwick to rule them out of the running. Then tragedy struck Ellesmere Port at Birmingham, having lost the KO Cup final only two days previous. With Middlesbrough losing at Eastbourne on the same night, a victory would have given the Thornton Road outfit the title. Leading by 6 points after 8 heats, top scorer Joe Owen crashed and suffered a severe back injury which was to leave him paralysed. The subsequent 0-5 and loss of their best rider saw Birmingham fight back to win leaving Middlesbrough needing a win at Glasgow to snatch the title. It wasn't until November in the last meeting of the year that the showdown took place. Glasgow were second bottom due to their dreadful away record, but were not a bad outfit at home and kept the scores level after 10 heats. Disaster struck for the away side as Steve Wilcock crashed out and Glasgow took the 5-1. Trailing by four points going into the last heat, Martin Dixon bit the dust and the title was lost. Ellesmere Port Gunners were champions.

Barrow Blackhawks and Scunthorpe Stags withdrew in May and had their results expunged.[9][10] Ellesmere Port Gunners closed after the fateful night in Birmingham, never to return.

Final table

More information Pos, Team ...
Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Ellesmere Port Gunners 36 25 2 9 52
2 Poole Wildcats 36 25 1 10 51
3 Middlesbrough Tigers 36 25 1 10 51
4 Wimbledon Dons 36 23 1 12 47
5 Hackney Kestrels 36 22 0 14 44
6 Arena Essex Hammers 36 20 2 14 42
7 Peterborough Panthers 36 19 2 15 40
8 Stoke Potters 36 20 0 16 40
9 Berwick Bandits 36 19 1 16 39
10 Eastbourne Eagles 36 18 2 16 38
11 Milton Keynes Knights 36 16 1 19 33
12 Exeter Falcons 36 16 0 20 32
13 Rye House Rockets 36 15 0 21 30
14 Birmingham Brummies 36 14 1 21 29
15 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 36 14 0 22 28
16 Canterbury Crusaders 36 14 0 22 28
17 Glasgow Tigers 36 10 2 24 22
18 Long Eaton Invaders 36 9 2 25 20
19 Edinburgh Monarchs 36 9 0 27 18
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Fixtures and results

More information Home \ Away, AE ...
Home \ Away AE BER BIR CAN EAS ED EP EX GLA HAC LE MID MIL MK PET PP RH STO WIM
Arena Essex 40–38 44–34 38–40 41–37 52–26 40–38 48–29 55–23 44–34 53–25 38–39 46–32 40–37 54–24 43–35 44–34 44–33 42–35
Berwick 55–23 50–28 49–28 38–39 53–25 38–40 56–22 53–24 41–37 44–34 39–39 46–32 49–29 55–23 53–24 57–21 43–34 50–28
Birmingham 46–32 52–26 43–35 39–39 40–38 41–36 47–31 49–29 36–38 37–40 35–43 46–32 44–34 34–43 44–34 44–33 38–40 38–39
Canterbury 36–41 33–45 37–41 43–35 49–29 34–44 42–36 52–26 44–34 54–24 32–46 40–38 43–35 53–25 36–42 51–27 37–41 42–36
Eastbourne 42–36 47–31 41–37 43–35 58–20 39–39 52–26 50–28 44–34 43–35 47–31 46–31 43–35 41–37 42–35 38–40 41–37 37–41
Edinburgh 35–43 37–41 52–26 40–38 36–41 36–41 50–28 48–29 30–45 37–41 37–41 42–36 37–41 46–31 37–41 43–34 50–27 37–41
Ellesmere Port 54–24 34–41 58–20 55–22 50–28 52–26 43–35 54–24 41–37 52–26 48–29 43–35 54–24 46–32 45–33 56–22 44–34 53–25
Exeter 49–29 57–21 37–41 43–35 42–35 48–30 49–29 56–22 50–28 50–28 48–30 51–27 58–20 55–23 38–40 48–30 59–19 51–27
Glasgow 39–39 32–46 35–43 50–28 38–39 42–36 37–38 46–32 47–31 48–30 41–37 35–43 46–32 41–37 46–32 49–28 38–39 39–39
Hackney 45–33 50–27 56–22 54–24 50–28 58–20 39–38 43–35 62–16 57–1 48–29 55–23 55–23 53–25 37–41 49–29 44–34 44–34
Long Eaton 39–39 52–26 41–36 37–41 43–35 38–40 36–42 44–34 56–22 37–40 38–39 48–30 39–39 46–32 27–51 33–44 37–40 35–43
Middlesbrough 41–37 40–38 46–32 57–21 45–33 50–28 40–38 52–26 54–24 50–28 52–26 43–34 46–30 47–31 45–33 49–29 51–27 41–37
Mildenhall 38–40 51–27 40–38 42–36 45–33 53–25 34–44 53–25 51–27 44–34 52–26 49–28 41–37 36–41 32–45 47–31 35–3 35–43
Milton Keynes 39–38 46–32 41–37 41–36 39–37 45–33 35–43 47–31 51–27 37–41 47–31 47–31 49–29 44–34 40–37 42–36 42–36 30.5–47.5
Peterborough 50–28 48–30 65–0 42–35 43–35 50–28 39–39 40–38 55–23 49–28 52–26 44–34 65–0 41–37 44–34 54–24 42–36 40–38
Poole Wildcats 49–29 45–32 50–27 51–27 51–27 56–22 40–38 53–25 53–25 43–35 56–22 40–38 51–27 57–21 39–39 55–23 55–23 56–22
Rye House 43–35 42–36 49–29 32–36 39–37 57–21 43–35 57–21 54–24 23–54 47–30 36–41 38–40 51–26 41–36 38–40 51–25 40–37
Stoke 37–41 43–35 48–30 51–26 40–38 45–33 36–41 51–27 47–31 44–34 46–32 37–40 42–36 43–35 39–21 40–38 45–33 46–32
Wimbledon 51–27 44–33 43–35 52–26 44–34 52–26 44–34 47–31 63–15 45–33 48–29 40–37 55–23 47–31 52–26 37–41 47–31 41–37
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Source: [11]
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 Gordon Kennett England Eastbourne 10.46
2 Joe Owen England Ellesmere Port 10.46
3 Mike Ferreira Zimbabwe Wimbledon 10.03
4 Stan Bear Australia Poole 9.89
5 Carl Blackbird England Mildenhall 9.82
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National League Knockout Cup

The 1985 National League Knockout Cup was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition.[12]

First round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
24/04Wimbledon62-16Poole
23/04Poole38-40Wimbledon
06/05Canterbury45-33Eastbourne
03/05Peterborough45-33Arena Essex
28/04Eastbourne47-31Canterbury
26/04Edinburgh38.5-38.5Ellesmere Port
25/04Ellesmere Port43-35Edinburgh
23/04Barrow18-24aExeter
22/04Exeter58-20Barrow
21/04Birmingham50-28Glasgow
19/04Glasgow42-36Birmingham
18/04Arena Essex55-23Peterborough
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a=Abandoned (power failure, result stood)

Second round

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
26/06Wimbledon43-35Arena Essex
24/06Exeter50.5-27.5Berwick
20/06Arena Essex40-38Wimbledon
08/06Berwick57-21Exeter
26/05Eastbourne50-28Milton Keynes
21/05Milton Keynes36-42Eastbourne
06/05Birmingham38-39Ellesmere Port
05/05Mildenhall42-35Hackney
04/05Stoke33-45Middlesbrough
03/05Hackney44-34Mildenhall
02/05Middlesbrough48-30Stoke
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Quarter-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
18/08Berwick33-45Ellesmere Port
16/08Ellesmere Port56-22Berwick
11/08Eastbourne44-33Wimbledon
07/08Wimbledon39-39Eastbourne
14/07Middlesbrough45-33Rye House
12/07Hackney47-31Long Eaton
05/06Long Eaton33-45Hackney
02/06Rye House37-41Middlesbrough
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Semi-finals

More information Date, Team one ...
Date Team one Score Team two
27/09Hackney49-29Ellesmere Port
26/09Ellesmere Port50-28Hackney
12/09Middlesbrough48-30Eastbourne
25/08Eastbourne49-29Middlesbrough
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Final

First leg

More information Eastbourne EaglesGordon Kennett 10Colin Richardson 10Martin Dugard 8Andy Buck 7Paul Clarke 6Chris Mulvihill 4Keith Pritchard 1, 46 – 32 ...
Eastbourne Eagles
Gordon Kennett 10
Colin Richardson 10
Martin Dugard 8
Andy Buck 7
Paul Clarke 6
Chris Mulvihill 4
Keith Pritchard 1		46 – 32Ellesmere Port Gunners
Joe Owen 9
Louis Carr 9
Dave Morton 8
David Walsh 4
Miles Evans 1
Phil Alderman 1
Richie Owen 0
[13][14]
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Second leg

More information Ellesmere Port GunnersLouis Carr 13Joe Owen 9Dave Morton 9David Walsh 4Gary O'Hare 2Phil Alderman 2Richie Owen 2, 41 – 37 ...
Ellesmere Port Gunners
Louis Carr 13
Joe Owen 9
Dave Morton 9
David Walsh 4
Gary O'Hare 2
Phil Alderman 2
Richie Owen 2		41 – 37Eastbourne Eagles
Gordon Kennett 12
Andy Buck 9
Colin Richardson 7
Martin Dugard 4
Paul Clarke 2
Chris Mulvihill 2
Keith Pritchard 1
[13][14]
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Eastbourne were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 83–73.

Riders' Championship

Neil Middleditch won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 10 August at Brandon Stadium.[15]

More information Pos., Rider ...
Pos.RiderPtsTotal
1England Neil Middleditch3 3 2 3 314
2England Kevin Hawkins2 3 2 3 313
3England Trevor Banks3 2 3 2 212
4Australia Stan Bear3 fx 2 2 310
5England Doug Wyer3 3 0 0 39
6England Gordon Kennett2 3 3 ef 08
7England Dave Mullett0 1 3 2 28
8England Nigel De'ath0 2 0 3 27
9England Louis Carr2 ex 1 3 17
10England Dave Perks1 1 3 0 16
11England Steve McDermott2 2 0 1 05
12Zimbabwe Mike Ferreira0 0 1 2 25
13England Carl Baldwin1 0 2 1 15
14England Tom Owen1 1 1 1 15
15England Steve Lawson1 2 0 1 t4
16England Steve Wilcock0 1 1 0 02
17England Mike Bacon (res)00
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  • f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure

Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 15 September and was won by Ellesmere Port Gunners.[16]

More information Pos, Team ...
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Semi finals

  • Poole bt Wimbledon
  • Ellesmere Port bt Peterborough

Final

  • Ellesmere Port bt Poole

Fours

Middlesbrough Tigers won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 21 July.[17][18]

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Hackney 18, Stoke 12, Berwick 10, Wimbledon 8
  • SF2 = Middlesbrough 17, Peterborough 12, Poole 11, Arena Essex 8

Final

More information Pos, Team ...
PosTeamPtsRiders
1Middlesbrough Tigers17Havelock 7, Fiora, Pusey, Wilcock, Dixon
2Peterborough Panthers12Barney 8
3Hackney Kestrels10Banks 5
4Stoke Potters9Crabtree 5, Thorp 2, Owen 1, Wilding 0, Sumner 0
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Leading averages

More information Rider, Team ...
Rider Team Average
Gordon KennettEastbourne10.47
Joe OwenEllesmere Port10.47
Mike FerreiraWimbledon9.82
Stan BearPoole9.79
Carl BlackbirdMildenhall9.64
Roger JohnsWimbledon9.64
Neil MiddleditchArena Essex9.47
Steve LawsonGlasgow9.39
Louis CarrEllesmere Port9.37
Kevin SmithPoole9.32
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London Cup

Wimbledon won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney. It was also the first time that the competition had been competed for by second tier teams.[19]

Results

More information Team, Score ...
Team Score Team
Hackney42–35Wimbledon
Wimbledon43–35Hackney
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Riders & final averages

Arena Essex

Barrow (withrew from the league)

  • Paul Price 4.40
  • Kevin Armitage 4.00
  • Gary O'Hare 3.76
  • Eric Broadbelt 3.37
  • Terry Kelly 1.87
  • Bob Coles 1.71
  • Gary Clegg 1.33
  • Wayne Jackson 1.00

Berwick

Birmingham

  • Doug Wyer 8.57
  • Reg Wilson 7.50
  • Phil White 7.39
  • Paul Evitts 6.03
  • Paul Stead 5.90
  • Linden Warner 4.50
  • Mark Stevenson 4.43
  • Ian M Stead 3.45
  • Julian Parr 2.80

Canterbury

  • Dave Mullett 8.78
  • Mike Spink 7.97
  • Rob Tilbury 6.44
  • Neville Tatum 5.72
  • Bill Barrett 5.64
  • Steve Bryenton 5.16
  • Lawrie Bloomfield 4.26
  • Mark Terry 2.13

Eastbourne

Edinburgh

Ellesmere Port

Exeter

Glasgow

  • Steve Lawson 9.39
  • Martin McKinna 6.60
  • Andy Reid 5.99
  • Kenny Brailsford 4.50
  • David Cassels 4.23
  • Jim Beaton 4.21
  • Brian Collins 4.05
  • Geoff Powell 4.00
  • Colin Caffrey 3.65

Hackney

Long Eaton

Middlesbrough

Mildenhall

Milton Keynes

Peterborough

Poole

  • Stan Bear 9.79
  • Kevin Smith 9.32
  • Martin Yeates 8.40
  • David Biles 6.39
  • Marcus Bisson 6.09
  • Guy Wilson 5.98
  • Ray Dole 5.96
  • Dave Gibbs 3.95

Rye House

Scunthorpe

  • Andy Buck 9.64
  • Rob Woffinden 7.54
  • Steve Finch 7.50
  • Derek Richardson 5.78
  • Julian Parr 4.57
  • Mark Burrows 4.40
  • Peter McNamara 1.93

Stoke

Wimbledon

  • Mike Ferreira 9.82
  • Roger Johns 9.64
  • Jamie Luckhurst 8.34
  • Kevin Teager 6.45
  • Peter Johns 5.09
  • Jeremy Luckhurst 4.94
  • Mark Baldwin 4.73

See also

References

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