1977 British League season

British speedway rider October 2023 October 2023 British League 19 Champions White City Rebels Knockout Cup King's Lynn Stars Individual Ole Olsen Pairs Ipswich Witches Spring Gold Cup Reading Racers Midland Cup Coventry Bees London Cup White City Rebels Northern Trophy Belle Vue Aces Michael Lee 1977 National League 1976 1978 The 1977 Gulf British League season was the 43rd season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United KingdomRogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129–133 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 and the 13th season known as the British League.https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Summary Newport had dropped down to the National League but their riders transferred to the Bristol Bulldogs so the league retained 19 teams. Cradley Heath reverted to their nickname of Heathens after four years of being called United.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 2 July 2021 The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a third season.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 100 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 White City Rebels won the title in only their second season of existence. The London team caused a surprise with their consistent form throughout the season with heavy scoring of Gordon Kennett leading the team. The success came from a group of five other riders hitting around a seven average to support Kennett. The five were Englishmen Mike Sampson, Steve Weatherley and Trevor Geer, Pole Marek Cieślak and Finn Kai Niemi.https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/4963/white-city Speedway riders, history and results wwosbackup 29 July 2021 Wolverhampton Wolves signed 18 year-old Danish rider Hans Nielsen. Kevin Holden of Poole Pirates had started the season in great form for his new club, following his move from Exeter Falcons. He was hitting over a 9-point average but sadly was killed during the home match against Reading on 27 April. After sliding into the fence he ruptured a blood vessel of the heart.https://www.poole-speedway.com/news/view/2019-04-27-it-happened-on-this-day IT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY.....1977 Poole Speedway 29 July 2021 Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 White City Rebels 36 27 18552 Exeter Falcons 36 25 3 8 533 Reading Racers 36 25 3 8 534 Ipswich Witches 36 25 1 10 515 Belle Vue Aces 36 19 3 14 416 King's Lynn Stars 36 19 2 15 407 Cradley Heathens 36 20 0 16 408 Coventry Bees 36 19 1 16 399 Wimbledon Dons 36 17 2 17 3610 Poole Pirates 36 17 2 17 3611 Swindon Robins 36 17 1 18 3512 Bristol Bulldogs 36 17 0 19 3413 Sheffield Tigers 36 16 2 18 3414 Hull Vikings 36 15 0 21 3015 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 14 0 22 2816 Hackney Hawks 36 13 1 22 2717 Halifax Dukes 36 12 0 24 2418 Birmingham Brummies 36 8 0 28 1619 Leicester Lions 36 6 0 30 12M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey BV BIR BRI COV CH EX HAC HAL HV IPS KL LEI PP RR SHE SWI WC WIM WOL Belle Vue 44–34 41–37 47–31 54–23 25–53 51–27 51–27 38–39 26–52 45–33 56.5–21.5 47–31 39–39 46–32 46–32 37–41 39–39 50–28 Birmingham 33–45 43–35 41–37 38–40 35–42 40–38 43–32 38–40 31–47 36–42 44–34 35–43 37–41 40–38 41–37 34–44 41–37 25–53 Bristol 40–38 47–31 59–19 48–30 35–42 48–30 43–35 47–31 44–34 43–34 58–20 45–33 57–21 43–35 42–36 40–38 36–41 42–36 Coventry 39–39 46–31 48–30 42–36 42–36 57–21 44–34 58–20 45–32 45–33 57–20 47–30 45–32 54–24 43–35 31–47 48–29 46–32 Cradley Heath 36–42 49–29 51–26 40–38 43–35 55–23 52–25 44–33 37–41 41–33 48–29 50–27 41–37 50–28 36–42 33.5–44.5 48–30 38–40 Exeter 32–46 58–20 54–23 57–21 52–26 52–26 48–30 53–25 53–25 47–31 52–26 56–21 59–19 42–36 56–22 46–32 42–36 54–24 Hackney 42–36 44–34 43–35 35–39 25–53 41–37 39–32 42–36 48–30 33–45 47–31 42–36 33–45 46–32 50–28 37.5–40.5 45–33 41–37 Halifax 32–46 52–26 45–33 48–30 36–42 34–44 54–24 48–30 44–34 40–38 49–29 48–30 36–42 46–32 49–28 38–40 41–36 37–41 Hull 36–42 51–27 42–36 44–33 44–34 36–42 48–30 48–30 44–34 38–40 41–37 47–31 31–47 52–26 41–37 38–40 43–35 52–26 Ipswich 41–37 49–28 44–34 46–32 43–35 41–37 47–30 44–34 44–34 45–33 54–24 58–20 49–29 46–32 47–31 41–37 44–34 55–23 King's Lynn 42–35 43–35 45–33 43–34 37–41 38–40 49–28 52–26 52–26 38–40 44–33 47–31 42–36 48–30 47–31 39–39 41–37 42–36 Leicester 36–42 44–34 35–42 27–51 38–40 33–45 42–36 45–33 43–35 36–42 36–42 38–40 37–41 36–42 41–37 37–40 40–37 34–44 Poole 41–36 44–33 55–23 48–30 36–42 50–28 50–27 53–25 48–30 33–41 39–39 54–24 42–36 48–30 42–36 35–43 44–34 40–38 Reading 42–36 52–26 49–29 40–38 40–38 39–39 47–31 57–21 42–36 42–36 43–35 49–29 39–39 49–29 44–34 43–35 47–31 43–35 Sheffield 49–29 46–32 49–29 43–35 42–36 39–39 39–39 43–35 44.5–33.5 49–29 43–35 42–35 46–32 37–40 54–23 51–27 44–34 45–33 Swindon 50–28 47–31 51–27 44.5–33.5 41–37 39–39 51–27 62–15 46–32 41–37 40–38 43–35 47–31 32–46 52–26 46–32 50–27 50–28 White City 43–35 49–29 49–26 40–37 51–27 47–31 61–17 53–24 54–24 42–36 37–41 50–28 46–32 36–41 46–32 52–26 42–36 42–36 Wimbledon 40–38 48–30 43–35 47–31 48–30 41–36 47–31 50–27 47–31 39–39 44–34 43–35 47–31 42–36 43–35 39–38 38–40 43–35 Wolverhampton 37–41 43–35 47–31 35–43 35–40 31–47 40–38 52–26 39–38 37–41 44–33 39–38 36–42 31–47 48–30 40–38 35–43 40–38 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1977.html Speedway Researcher 1977 fixtures & results 12 March 2025 Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.64 2 Ivan Mauger NZL Exeter 10.62 3 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 10.49 4 Gordon Kennett ENG White City 10.41 5 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 10.40 6 Billy Sanders AUSIpswich 10.39 7 Anders Michanek SWE Cradley 10.35 8 Dave Jessup ENG Reading 10.27 9 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.22 10 John Davis ENG Reading 9.84 British League Knockout Cup The 1977 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 39th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. King's Lynn Stars were the winners.https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/04/british-league-ko-cup-1977.html 1977 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two18/05 Poole 41-37 Reading25/04 Exeter 50-28 Swindon25/04 Reading 43-35 Poole15/04 Wolverhampton 51-27 Leicester12/04 Leicester 40-38 Wolverhampton Second round Date Team one Score Team two23/07 Halifax 38-40 Reading22/07 Wolverhampton 41-37 Kings Lynn28/06 White City 51-27 Birmingham20/06 Birmingham 34-44 White City18/06 Coventry 57-21 Exeter18/06 Kings Lynn 55-23 Wolverhampton17/06 Bristol 56-22 Wimbledon16/06 Wimbledon 48-30 Bristol13/06 Exeter 38-40 Coventry09/06 Sheffield 46-32 Hackney08/06 Hull 46-32 Cradley Heath11/06 Cradley Heath 42-36 Hull03/06 Hackney 49-29 Sheffield02/06 Ipswich 38-40 Belle Vue30/05 Reading 53-25 Halifax Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two22/08 Reading 51-27 Belle Vue08/08 White City 50-28 Coventry06/08 Kings Lynn 42-36 Hackney05/08 Bristol 52-26 Hull03/08 Coventry 43-35 White City03/08 Hull 49-29 Bristol29/07 Hackney 34-44 Kings Lynn Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two14/10 Bristol 42-36 Reading10/10 Reading 47-31 Bristol24/09 Kings Lynn 44-34 White City21/09 White City 42-34 Kings Lynn Final First leg 24 October 1977 Reading RacersJohn Davis 10Dave Jessup 8Hans Wassermann 7Bengt Jansson 6Doug Underwood 4Bob Humphreys 3Ian Gledhill 2 40 - 38 https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/result-archive/heatdetails/season1977.pdf Season 1977 British Speedway 25 June 2021 King's Lynn StarsMichael Lee 15Terry Betts 12Carl Glover 5Ian Turner 5Richard Hellsen 1Billy Spiers 0David Gagen 0 Smallmead Stadium Second leg 26 October 1977 King's Lynn StarsTerry Betts 10Michael Lee 7Richard Hellsen 7David Gagen 6Ian Turner 6Billy Spiers 3Carl Glover 2 41 - 37 Reading RacersDave Jessup 15John Davis 8Bengt Jansson 6Doug Underwood 4Bob Humphreys 3Hans Wassermann 1Ian Gledhill 0 King's Lynn Stadium King's Lynn Stars were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 79-77. Riders' Championship Ole Olsen won the British League Riders' Championship for the third time, it was held at Hyde Road on 15 October and sponsored by Leyland Cars.Immaculate Olsen roars to title Coventry Evening Telegraph 17 October 1977 2 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19771017/504/0030 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 DEN Ole Olsen 3 3 3 3 3 152 ENG Peter Collins 3 3 3 2 3 14 3 ENG Michael Lee 3 2 2 3 3 134 NZL Ivan Mauger 3 2 2 2 3 12 5 FIN Ila Teromaa 2 3 1 3 2 116 POL Edward Jancarz 2 1 3 2 1 97 SCO Jim McMillan 1 3 1 1 2 8 8 ENG Doug Wyer 1 0 2 2 2 7 9 ENG Bob Kilby 0 2 3 1 1 710 ENG Dave Jessup 2 0 2 1 0 511 AUS Phil Herne 1 1 0 3 0 5 12 ENG Chris Pusey0 2 1 0 1 4 13 ENG Gordon Kennett 1 1 1 0 1 414 ENG Ray Wilson 0 EF 0 1 2 3 15 AUS Billy Sanders EF 1 0 0 0 116 WAL Graham Drury 2 0 0 0 0 2 ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded Pairs The British League Pairs Championship was held at Foxhall Stadium on 29 September and was won by Ipswich Witches for the second consecutive year.Sport in Brief Birmingham Daily Post 30 September 1977 17 May 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19770930/537/0016 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos TeamPts Riders1 Ipswich Witches 26 Billy Sanders 14, John Louis 122 King's Lynn Stars 23 Michael Lee 18, David Gagen 53 White City Rebels 20 Gordon Kennett 13, Steve Weatherley 74 Wolverhampton Wolves 17 Jim McMillan 10, Finn Thomsen 75 Reading Racers 17 Dave Jessup 10, John Davis 76 Belle Vue Aces 12 Alan Wilkinson 8, Chris Morton 4 7 Sheffield Tigers 11 Craig Pendlebury 6, Doug Wyer 5 Spring Gold Cup East Group Team PL W D L PtsReading 6 5 0 1 10 Ipswich 6 4 0 2 8 King's Lynn 6 2 0 4 4 Hackney 6 1 0 5 2 West Group Team PL W D L Pts Poole 6 5 0 1 10 Exeter 6 3 0 3 6 Bristol 6 2 0 4 4Wimbledon 6 2 0 4 4 East Group main FBR grey HAC IPS KL REA Hackney 31–46 41–37 37–41 Ipswich 46–32 45–33 36–42 King's Lynn 43–35 37–41 44–34 Reading 49–29 41–37 50–28 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1977fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1977 fixtures & results 30 September 2025 West Group main FBR grey BRI EX PP WIM Bristol 38–39 54–24 55–22 Exeter 43–35 35–43 43–34 Poole 52–25 46–32 50–28 Wimbledon 44–33 45–32 37–41 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1977fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1977 fixtures & results 30 September 2025 Final Team one Team two ScorePooleReading42-36, 30-48 Final leading averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.59 2 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 10.52 3 Ivan Mauger NZL Exeter 10.50 4 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 10.46 5 Gordon Kennett ENG White City 10.41 6 Anders Michanek SWE Cradley 10.35 7 Dave Jessup ENG Reading 10.32 8 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.27 9 Billy Sanders AUS Ipswich 10.18 10 John Davis ENG Reading 9.80 Midland Cup Coventry won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams and was sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank.Super Shirra leads Bees in Cup romp Coventry Evening Telegraph 30 September 1977 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19770930/623/0043 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription First round Team one Team two ScoreBirmingham Swindon 36–42, 26–52LeicesterCradley38–40, 31–47 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreCoventrySwindon 54–24, 48–29 CradleyWolverhampton 51–27, 38–40 Final First leg 28 September 1977 CoventryMitch Shirra 11 Ole Olsen 10 Tommy Nilsson 8 Mick Bell 6 Alan Molyneux 5 Frank Smith 4 Alf Busk 3 47–31 Cradley HeathBruce Cribb 11Bob Valentine 8 Steve Bastable 5 Larry Ross (guest) 4 Arthur Price 2 Dave Perks 1 Anders Michanek r/r Brandon Stadium Second leg 29 September 1977 Cradley HeathBruce Cribb 12Steve Bastable 6 Bob Valentine 5 Les Collins (guest) 5 Arthur Price 4 Dave Perks 4 Bernt Persson r/r 36–42 CoventryMitch Shirra 13 Ole Olsen 12Alan Molyneux 9 Tommy Nilsson 6 Mick Bell 1 Alf Busk 1 Frank Smith 0 Dudley Wood Stadium Coventry won on aggregate 89–67 Northern Trophy M W D L Pts 1Belle Vue 4 4 0 0 8 2 Sheffield 5 3 0 2 6 3 Hull 5 2 0 3 4 4 Halifax 6 1 0 5 2 main FBR grey BV HAL HUL SHE Belle Vue 52–26 n–h n–h Halifax 33–45 51–26 37–41 Hull 36–42 51–27 46–32 Sheffield 34–44 47–30 53–24 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1977fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1977 fixtures & results 30 September 2025 London Cup White City Rebels won the London Cup. Two of their fixtures doubled up as League and Knockout Cup matches.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1977record.pdf 1977 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Pos Team P W D L F A Pts1 White City 4 3 0 1 161 150 62 Wimbledon 4 2 1 1 170 141 53 Hackney 4 0 1 3 136 176 1 Results Team Score TeamWhite City 42–36 WimbledonWhite City 46–32 HackneyWimbledon 51–27 HackneyWimbledon 44–33 White CityHackney 38–40 White CityHackney 39–39 Wimbledon Riders and final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Peter Collins 10.46 ENG Chris Morton 8.96 ENG Alan Wilkinson 8.56 ENG Les Collins 7.87 ENG Russ Hodgson 5.90 ENG Derek Richardson 5.07 ENG Chris Turner 4.18 DEN Kristian Praestbro 3.72 ENG Jim Brett 3.61 ENG Steve Lawson 2.30 Birmingham 22em ENG Ray Wilson 8.74 ENG Alan Grahame 6.36 ENG Richard Greer 5.58 AUS Lou Sansom 5.00 NOR Jan Terje Gravningen 4.95 ENG Malcolm Shakespeare 4.75 AUS Carl Askew 4.56 AUS Stuart Mountford 4.10 DEN Finn Jensen 3.44 Bristol 22em AUS Phil Crump 9.77 AUS Phil Herne 9.23 USA Steve Gresham 7.12 NOR Tormod Langli 6.39 ENG Nigel Boocock 6.06 ENG Phil Bass 4.61 AUS Danny Kennedy 4.56 NOR Edgar Stangeland 3.71 ENG Tom Leadbitter 3.19 AUS Tony Garard 3.17 WAL Brian Woodward 2.00 Coventry 22em DEN Ole Olsen 10.52 NZL Mitch Shirra 8.22 ENG Alan Molyneux 7.92 ENG Mick Bell 7.79 DEN Alf Busk 6.38 SWE Tommy Nilsson 6.23 ENG Frank Smith 3.85 ENG Dave Mortiboys 2.00 Cradley Heath 22em SWE Anders Michanek 10.35 SWE Bernt Persson 8.34 ENG Steve Bastable 7.86 NZL Bruce Cribb 6.54 AUS Bob Valentine 6.50 ENG Dave Perks 6.00 ENG Arthur Price 5.61 Exeter 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 10.50 USA Scott Autrey 9.13 CZE Václav Verner 8.59 AUS John Titman 8.25 AUS Mike Farrell 6.48 AUS Steve Koppe 6.33 ZIM Peter Prinsloo 6.21 AUT Walter Grubmuller 4.00 Hackney 22em ENG Dave Morton 8.67 (5 matches only) ENG Keith White 7.45 ENG Barry Thomas 6.51 ENG Ted Hubbard 6.34 DEN Bent Rasmussen 4.68 ENG Vic Harding 4.19 ENG Tony Featherstone 4.07 ENG Laurie Etheridge 3.88 Halifax 22em ENG Chris Pusey 8.11 NED Henny Kroeze 7.37 DEN Mike Lohmann 7.14 ENG Ian Cartwright 6.13 ENG Graham Plant 6.10 AUS Mick McKeon 4.83 ENG Steve Finch 4.81 NOR Tom Godal 3.80 ENG Geoff Pusey 2.81 Hull 22em WAL Graham Drury 8.63 SCO Bobby Beaton 8.01 ENG Joe Owen 6.61 ENG Tom Owen 6.00 USA Mike Curoso 5.44 ENG Frank Auffret 5.23 ENG Mitch Graham 4.69 ENG Phil Kynman 3.05 Ipswich 22em AUS Billy Sanders 10.18 ENG John Louis 9.50 ENG Tony Davey 7.97 ENG Andy Hines 5.40 ENG Kevin Jolly 5.24 ENG Ted Howgego 5.13 ENG Mike Lanham 5.07 ENG Dave Gooderham 4.62 King's Lynn 22em ENG Michael Lee 10.59 ENG Terry Betts 9.78 ENG Ian Turner 7.36 ENG David Gagen 5.93 SWE Richard Hellsen 5.17 ENG Carl Glover 4.48 ENG Paul Tyrer 4.07 ENG Billy Spiers 3.25 ENG Billy Burton 2.17 Leicester 22em FIN Ila Teromaa 8.92 AUS John Boulger 8.42 AUS Garry Middleton 6.68 POL Bolesław Proch 5.17 FIN Pepe Teromaa 4.74 AUS Doug Underwood 4.04 SWE Tommy Pettersson 4.00 ENG Ray Bales 3.89 FIN Markku Helminen 3.33 NOR Reidar Eide 3.24 AUT Adi Funk 2.96 ENG Chris Robins 2.96 AUS John McNeill 2.29 Poole 22em ENG Malcolm Simmons 10.27 SWE Christer Sjösten 7.47 ENG Eric Broadbelt 7.02 ENG Neil Middleditch 6.30 ENG Colin Gooddy 5.54 ENG Richard May 4.98 ENG Pete Smith 4.56 ENG Martin Yeates 4.52 Reading 22em ENG Dave Jessup 10.32 ENG John Davis 9.80 SWE Bengt Jansson 6.80 AUS Bob Humphreys 6.05 ENG Bernie Leigh 5.88 GER Hans Wassermann 5.58 POL Bolesław Proch 4.85 AUS Doug Underwood 4.37 ENG Ian Gledhill 3.26 AUS Glyn Taylor 2.53 Sheffield 22em ENG Doug Wyer 9.15 ENG Reg Wilson 8.84 ENG Craig Pendlebury 6.56 ENG Arnold Haley 5.43 ENG Keith Evans 5.05 AUS Tony Boyle 4.31 ENG Carl Glover 3.95 ENG Billy Burton 3.25 Swindon 22em ENG Martin Ashby 9.72 ENG Bob Kilby 8.74 SWE Jan Andersson 7.61 ENG Bobby McNeil 6.67 ENG Geoff Bouchard 5.49 SWE Soren Karlsson 5.48 ENG David Ashby 4.77 ENG Kevin Young 3.04 White City 22em ENG Gordon Kennett 10.41 ENG Mike Sampson 7.35 ENG Steve Weatherley 7.32 POL Marek Cieślak 7.15 FIN Kai Niemi 6.85 ENG Trevor Geer 6.84 ENG Ian Clark 5.07 ENG Dave Kennett 4.70 Wimbledon 22em POL Edward Jancarz 9.61 ENG Mick Hines 7.80 ENG Colin Richardson 7.74 NZL Larry Ross 7.32 SWE Stefan Salomonsso 5.47 ENG Roger Johns 5.46 NZL Graeme Stapleton 4.23 ENG Brendan Shiletto 3.67 NED Rudy Muts 2.80 ENG Rob Jones 2.40 Wolverhampton 22em SCO Jimmy McMillan 8.68 DEN Finn Thomsen 8.17 DEN Hans Nielsen 7.25 SCO George Hunter 5.70 SWE Sören Sjösten 5.33 ENG Rob Hollingworth 4.69 ENG Steve Lomas 2.76 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League Category:1977 in British motorsport Category:1977 in speedway