1966 British League season - Misplaced Pages

British speedway season

1966 British League season
League	British League
Season	1966
No. of competitors	19
Champions	Halifax Dukes
Knockout Cup	Halifax Dukes
Individual	Barry Briggs
London Cup	West Ham Hammers
Midland Cup	Coventry Bees
Highest average	Barry Briggs
← 1965 1967 →

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.

Summary

The League expanded to 19, with a new team, the King's Lynn Stars. Halifax Dukes won the league after 36 games and finished three points clear of Coventry Bees. The Halifax team success was due to the consistency of their riders, in particular Eric Boocock, Eric Boothroyd, Dave Younghusband and Tommy Roper who all scored heavily throughout the season. Halifax also completed the double winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final, they easily beat Wimbledon Dons.

The four times world champion Barry Briggs topped the averages for Swindon Robins during the same season in which he sealed his fourth world title. The dangers of speedway were highlighted once again however when Welshman Ivor Hughes was killed during the league match riding for Cradley Heath Heathens against Sheffield Tigers on 20 August.

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away	BV	COV	CH	ED	EX	GLA	HAC	HAL	KL	LE	ND	NW	OX	PP	SHE	SWI	WH	WIM	WOL
Belle Vue Aces		44–34	43–35	43–35	55–23	42–36	49–29	34–44	47–31	51–27	41–37	53–24	51–27	35–43	43–35	43–35	50–28	40–38	53–25
Coventry Bees	46–32		50–28	49–29	53–25	42–36	46–32	52–25	53–25	48–30	45–33	55–23	47–31	44–34	53–25	54–24	42–36	42–36	45–33
Cradley Heathens	48–30	28–50		n/a	33–39	41–37	45–33	27–51	34–43	42–36	44–34	41–37	46–31	31–47	46–32	39–38	33–44	37–41	44–34
Edinburgh Monarchs	42–35	44–34	49–29		42–36	46–31	43–35	37–41	51–27	50–28	50–28	47–31	43–35	42–36	45–33	45–33	42–36	43–35	35.5–42.5
Exeter Falcons	48–30	39–39	49–29	37–41		46–32	45–32	36–41	50–28	42–36	45–33	47–31	53–25	44–33	43–35	48–30	41–37	46–30	51–27
Glasgow Tigers	54–24	41–37	36–29	43–35	45–32		52–26	42–36	53–25	50–28	45–33	46–32	45–33	60–17	42–35	38–40	39–38	48–29	40–38
Hackney Hawks	41–37	38–40	44–34	46–32	43–35	41–37		37–41	42–36	51–27	40–38	43–35	42–36	42.5–34.5	47–31	41–37	39–39	36–42	46–32
Halifax Dukes	52–26	45–33	51–27	54–24	43–35	60–18	44–34		53–25	50–28	38–40	57–21	55–23	41–37	52–26	42–36	41–37	46–32	53–25
King's Lynn Stars	40–38	41–36	40–38	43–32	41–37	45–33	41–37	42–36		43–35	48–29	49–29	37–40	37–41	41–37	33–45	43–35	35–43	47–31
Long Eaton Archers	40–38	37–41	50–27	48–29	48–30	48–30	41–37	35–42	44–33		42–36	43–35	50–28	41–37	40–38	38–39	43–35	34–44	39–39
Newcastle Diamonds	57–21	38–39	53–25	54–24	46.5–31.5	52–26	48–30	43–35	50–28	53–25		45–32	48–30	48–30	41–36	40–38	44–34	47–30	50–28
Newport Wasps	53–25	34–44	45–33	43–35	38–40	38–40	47–31	36–42	43–35	57–21	40–38		44–34	39–39	54–24	44–34	42–36	43–35	43–35
Oxford Cheetahs	40–37	36–42	50–27	42–36	42–36	40–38	50–27	35–42	42–36	51–27	42–36	40–38		39–39	40–38	40–38	35–43	40–37	39–39
Poole Pirates	48–30	49–29	42–35	56–22	48–30	48–30	41–36	40–38	54–23	45–33	35–42	41–37	51–27		55–23	38–40	42.5–35.5	49–28	40–38
Sheffield Tigers	50–28	42–36	54–24	56–22	47–31	49–29	47–31	34–44	55–23	47–31	41–36	58–20	44–34	55–23		40–38	40–38	41–37	48–30
Swindon Robins	53–25	45–33	54–24	52–26	52–26	53–25	46–32	49–29	53–25	44–34	42–33	52–25	60–18	45–33	45–33		45–33	43–35	58–20
West Ham Hammers	44–34	36–42	48–29	50–28	50–28	43–35	45–33	37–41	51–27	52–26	48–30	48–30	51–27	43–35	54–24	41–37		36–42	53–25
Wimbledon Dons	48–30	44–34	45–32	52–26	44–34	48–30	45–33	46–32	56–22	51–27	47–31	46–32	43–35	44–33	49–28	36–42	40–38		51–27
Wolverhampton Wolves	53–25	42–34	46–32	40–38	44–34	45–33	38–40	40–37	41–37	41–37	39–38	45–33	44–34	49–29	49–29	39–38	36–42	42–36

Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final table

		M	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
1	Halifax Dukes	36	27	0	9	1574	1229	54
2	Coventry Bees	36	25	1	10	1548	1255	51
3	Swindon Robins	36	23	0	13	1553	1248	46
4	Wimbledon Dons	36	22	0	14	1485	1314	44
5	Newcastle Diamonds	36	20	0	16	1491.5	1304.5	40
6	Poole Pirates	36	19	2	15	1443	1356	40
7	West Ham Hammers	36	19	1	10	1499.5	1304.5	39
8	Glasgow Tigers	36	18	0	18	1395	1394	36
9	Wolverhampton Wolves	36	17	2	17	1340.5	1461.5	36
10	Exeter Falcons	36	17	1	18	1392.5	1403.5	35
11	Sheffield Tigers	36	17	0	19	1410	1394	34
12	Edinburgh Monarchs	35	17	0	18	1310.5	1413.5	34
13	Belle Vue Aces	36	16	0	20	1362	1443	32
14	Hackney Hawks	36	15	1	20	1347.5	1456.5	31
15	Oxford Cheetahs	36	14	2	20	1291	1510	30
16	King's Lynn Stars	36	15	0	21	1275	1524	30
17	Newport Wasps	36	12	1	23	1319	1486	25
18	Long Eaton Archers	36	12	1	23	1286	1516	25
19	Cradley Heath Heathens	35	10	0	25	1196	1506	20

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

Top Ten Riders (League Averages)

	Rider	Team	C.M.A.
1	Barry Briggs	Swindon	11.08
2	Nigel Boocock	Coventry	10.67
3	Gote Nordin	Newport	10.53
4	Eric Boocock	Halifax	10.41
5	Olle Nygren	Wimbledon	10.32
6	Colin Pratt	Hackney	9.93
7	Ken McKinlay	West Ham	9.78
8	Mike Broadbank	Swindon	9.77
9	Sverre Harrfeldt	West Ham	9.76
10	Trevor Hedge	Wimbledon	9.64

Knockout Cup

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

Main article: British League Knockout Cup 1966

Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the second consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 22 October.

Pos.	Rider	Heat Scores	Total
1	Barry Briggs	3 3 3 3 3	15
2	Olle Nygren	2 3 3 3 3	14
3	Norman Hunter	3 2 3 2 2	12
4	Ivan Mauger	3 2 0 3 3	11
5	Ray Wilson	3 3 2 2 exc	10
6	Nigel Boocock	1 3 1 3 -	8
7	George Hunter	0 1 1 2 3	7
8	Bill Andrew	0 ef 3 1 2	6
9	Jimmy Gooch	1 1 2 1 1	6
10	Peter Vandenberg	1 1 ef 1 2	5
11	Terry Betts	2 1 2 ef ef	5
12	Charlie Monk	2 F 2 1 ef	5
13	Cyril Maidment	0 2 1 2 ef	5
14	Tommy Sweetman	2 0 ef 0 2	4
15	Eric Boocock	1 2 ef ef ef	3
16	Colin Pratt	0 0 1 0 1	2

ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

London Cup

West Ham successfully defended their London Cup title but once again there were just three teams competing.

Pos	Team	P	W	L	F	A	Pts
1	West Ham Hammers	4	3	1	216	168	6
2	Wimbledon Dons	4	3	1	192.5	191.5	6
3	Hackney Hawks	4	0	4	167.5	216.5	0

Results

Team	Score	Team
Hackney	47–49	Wimbledon
Wimbledon	49–47	West Ham
West Ham	53–43	Wimbledon
Hackney	43–53	West Ham
Wimbledon	52–44	Hackney
West Ham	63–33	Hackney
Hackney	47.5–48.5	Wimbledon

Final leading average

	Rider	Team	C.M.A.
1	Barry Briggs	Swindon	11.12
2	Nigel Boocock	Coventry	10.54
3	Eric Boocock	Halifax	10.46
4	Göte Nordin	Newport	10.44
5	Olle Nygren	Wimbledon	10.40
6	Colin Pratt	Hackney	10.00
7	Sverre Harrfeldt	West Ham	9.89
8	Ivan Mauger	Newcastle	9.82
9	Ken McKinlay	West Ham	9.67
10	Mike Broadbank	Swindon	9.60
11	Trevor Hedge	Wimbledon	9.39
12	Cyril Maidment	Belle Vue	9.55
13	Arne Pander	Oxford	9.53
14	Norman Hunter	West Ham	9.42
15	Terry Betts	King's Lynn	9.41
16	Trevor Hedge	Wimbledon	9.39
17	Eric Boothroyd	Halifax	9.29
18	Ron Mountford	Coventry	9.29
19	Charlie Monk	Glasgow	9.27
20	Rick France	Coventry	9.22

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams.

First round group 1

Team one	Team two	Score
Wolverhampton	Cradley	44–34, 41–37
Wolverhampton	Swindon	43–35, 26–52
Cradley	Swindon	40–38, 17–61

First round group 2

Team one	Team two	Score
Long Eaton	Coventry	37–41, 31–47
Oxford	Coventry	40–37, 33–45
Long Eaton	Oxford	32–46, 28–50

Final

First leg

16 September 1966

Wolverhampton Peter Vandenberg 10 Gordon Guasco 9 Cyril Francis 7 Brian Maxted 6 Alan Cowland 5 Dave Hemus 2 Pete Jarman 1	39–39	Coventry Nigel Boocock 14 Rick France 13 Col Cottrell 5 Jim Lightfoot 5 Roger Hill 1 Chris Harrison 1 Tom Ridley 0 Ron Mountford r/r

Monmore Green Stadium

Second leg

19 September 1966

Coventry Col Cottrell 12 Jim Lightfoot 12 Rick France 9 Nigel Boocock 8 Les Owen 6 Roger Hill 2 Chris Harrison 0 Ron Mountford r/r	49–29	Wolverhampton Gordon Guasco 8 Brian Maxted 6 Peter Vandenberg 5 Dave Hemus 4 Cyril Francis 4 Alan Cowland 2 Pete Jarman 0

Brandon Stadium

Coventry won on aggregate 88–68

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

Coventry

Cradley Heath

Edinburgh

Exeter

Glasgow

Hackney

Halifax

King's Lynn

Long Eaton

Newcastle

Newport

Oxford

Poole

Sheffield

Swindon

West Ham

Wimbledon

Wolverhampton

Peter Vandenberg 8.67
Gordon Guasco 7.77
Pete Jarman 6.57
Alan Cowland 5.47
James Bond 5.46
Cyril Francis 5.46
Brian Maxted 5.31
Dave Hemus 5.14

References

"Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. pp. 129–133. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 100. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
"HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Retrieved 29 June 2021.
"Ivor Hughes". Cradley Speedway. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
"1966 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
"HALIFAX DUKES". Greyhound Derby.com. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
"Briggs keeps rider's title despite rain". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 24 October 1966. Retrieved 31 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"West Ham Hammers 1966" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
"Coventry Win Midland Cup". Birmingham Daily Post. 20 September 1966. Retrieved 19 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.

v t e British League seasons
1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994		Speedway Elite League
Domestic cups: British League Knockout Cup		Speedway Elite League

v t e Speedway in the United Kingdom
Current leagues	SGB Premiership SGB Championship National Development League List of champions
Former leagues	Elite League Premier League National League (1932–1964) Provincial League (1960–1964) British League British League Division Two/National League Conference League National League Division Two National League Division Three English Dirt Track League/Northern League Southern League (1929–1931) Southern League (1952–1953) Provincial League (1936–1937) Southern Area League
Current team competitions	Knockout Cup League Pairs champions League Fours champions
Former team competitions	London Cup Midland Cup Craven and Young Shields Premiership Shield
Current individual competitions	British Speedway Championship League Riders' champions British U-21 British U-19 Scottish Open
Former individual competitions	London Riders' Midland Riders' Northern Riders' Southern Riders' Olympique Internationale
See also	Speedway British Speedway Promoters' Association Speedway Control Bureau

v t e United Kingdom Speedway Seasons
Tier One League Top division	1929 1929 1930 1930 1931 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Tier Two League Second division	1934 1936 1937 1938 1939 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Tier Three League Third division	1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1994 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Champions	League champions Cup winners

Categories: