1970 British League Division Two season

British speedway season February 2025 February 2025 British League Division Two 17 Champions Canterbury Crusaders Knockout Cup Ipswich Witches Individual Dave Jessup Gary Peterson British League (Div 1) 1969 1971 The 1970 British League Division Two season was the third season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive 10 September 2021Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129–133 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 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.Boost for Long Eaton Rangers Derby Daily Telegraph 13 January 1970 4 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19700113/014/0014 British Newspaper Archive subscription fans decide future Derby Daily Telegraph 10 April 1970 4 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19700410/028/0028 British Newspaper Archive subscription Workington Comets under the promotion of Ian Thomas and Jeff Brownhut also joined the league and raced at Derwent Park.New Track Sports Argus 4 October 1969 3 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002192/19691004/076/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription Speedway Derby Daily Telegraph 21 November 1969 3 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19691121/029/0029 British Newspaper Archive subscription 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.https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/board/71/teams Teams wwosbackup 10 September 2021https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19691101/653/0043 Pay rates Coventry Evening Telegraph 1 November 1969 British Newspaper Archive subscription 20 February 2025 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.http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Nelson.htm Nelson Speedway Defunct Speedway 10 September 2021 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.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19700614/218/0030 Battling Boston get the go-ahead Sunday Mirror 14 June 1970 British Newspaper Archive subscription 29 September 2024 Canterbury Crusaders won their first title.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 101 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5http://www.canterburycrusaders.co.uk/ Canterbury Crusaders 1968-1987 Canterbury Crusaders 10 September 2021 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).https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/4910/canterbury Canterbury wwosbackup 10 September 2021 Another New Zealander Gary Peterson topped the averages riding initially for the Nelson Admirals and then Bradford Northern. Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Canterbury Crusaders 32 23 1 8 472 Eastbourne Eagles 32 22 1 9 453 Rochdale Hornets 32 21 2 9 444 Bradford Northern 32 21 2 9 375 Middlesbrough Teessiders 32 18 0 14 366 Ipswich Witches 32 17 2 13 367 Crewe Kings 32 17 1 14 358 Romford Bombers 32 17 1 14 359 Reading Racers 32 17 0 15 3410 Peterborough Panthers 32 14 2 16 3011 Workington Comets 32 13 1 18 2712 Rayleigh Rockets 32 13 1 18 2713 Boston Barracudas 32 12 2 18 2614 Crayford Highwaymen 32 11 1 20 2315 Doncaster Dragons 32 11 1 20 2316 Berwick Bandits 32 10 0 22 2017 Long Eaton Rangers 32 8 3 21 19 Fixtures and results main FBR grey 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 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1970.html Speedway Researcher 1970 fixtures & results 24 February 2025 Top five riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Gary Peterson NZL Bradford Northern 10.79 2 Graeme Smith NZL Canterbury 10.41 3 Eric Broadbelt ENG Rochdale 10.08 4 Paul O'Neil NZL Crewe 9.91 5 Archie Wilkinson ENG Crayford 9.85 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.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/05/british-league-second-division-ko-cup.html 1970 British League Division Two Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two11/04 Rayleigh 48-30 Peterborough19/04 Rochdale43-35Long Eaton20/04 Crewe 49-29 Nelson26/04 Eastbourne34-44Canterbury30/04 Ipswich 51-27+Crayford02/05 Berwick 53-25 Doncaster07/05 Teesside 54-24 King's Lynn07/05 Romford 48-30 Reading + first match abandoned with score at 25–17 Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two17/05 Rochdale 48-30 Romford21/05 Ipswich 46-31 Rayleigh23/05 Berwick 40-36 Teesside06/06 Canterbury 52-26 Crewe Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two07/07 Berwick 44-34 Canterbury27/08 Ipswich 42-36 Rochdale Final First leg 24 September 1970 Ipswich WitchesJohn Louis 12John Harrhy 11Pete Bailey 9Ron Bagley 6Stan Pepper 5Ted Spittles 4Tony Davey 0 47 – 31 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1970record.pdf 1970 KO cup final Speedway Researcher 12 September 2021 Berwick BanditsDoug Wyer 11Maury Robinson 6Peter Kelly 6Lex Milloy 4Alistair Brady 2Ken Ormand 1Roy Williams 1 Foxhall Stadium Second leg 26 September 1970 Berwick BanditsDoug Wyer 10Maury Robinson 9Alistair Brady 7Peter Kelly 5Lex Milloy 5Roy Williams 5Ken Ormand 2 43 – 35 Ipswich WitchesJohn Louis 15Pete Bailey 12Stan Pepper 4Ron Bagley 2Ted Spittles 2Tony Davey 0John Harrhy R/R Shielfield Park 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.Jessup roars in Daily Mirror 26 September 1970 14 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19700926/305/0026 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Pts Total1 ENG Dave Jessup 3 3 3 3 2 14 2 ENG Barry Crowson 2 3 3 2 2 12+33 NZL Gary Peterson 2 3 1 3 3 12+24 ENG Eric Broadbelt 3 1 2 2 3 11 5 ENG Tom Leadbitter 3 2 3 1 1 10 6 ENG John Harrhy f 3 2 3 1 9 7 AUS Bob Valentine 2 2 3 2 0 9 8 NZL Paul O'Neil 1 1 3 3 8 9 ENG Richard May 1 2 2 ef 2 7 10SCO Ross Gilbertson 3 ef 2 2 0 7 11 SCO Andy Ross 1 0 1 1 2 5 12 ENG Arthur Price 2 2 0 1 0 5 13 ENG Geoff Maloney 0 1 1 1 1 4 14 ENG Maury Robinson ex 0 0 0 3 15 ENG Tony Childs 1 1 ef 0 3 16 SCO Gordon McGregor 1 0 0 r 117 ENG Ken Vale (res) 0 0 f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure Final leading averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Gary Peterson NZL Bradford Northern/Nelson 10.76 2 Graeme Smith NZL Canterbury 10.49 3 Eric Broadbelt ENG Rochdale 10.07 5 Taffy Owen WALWorkington 9.94 5 Paul O'Neil NZL Crewe 9.69 Riders' final averages Berwick 22em 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) 22em 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) 22em 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 22em Graeme Smith 10.49 Barry Crowson 9.17 Barry Thomas 9.11 Graham Banks 7.53 Graham Miles 7.44 Alan Kite 4.76 Jake Rennison 4.30 Ted Hubbard 4.22 (5 matches only) Dave Smith 4.07 Mike Barkaway 3.77 Crayford 22em 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 22em 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 22em 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 22em Dave Jessup 9.66 Derek Cook 8.44 Reg Trott 7.52 Alby Golden 7.12 Phil Pratt 7.08 Gordon Kennett 6.79 Mac Woolford 6.31 Laurie Sims 5.98 Dave Kennett 3.36 Ipswich 22em 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 22em Malcolm Shakespeare 8.83 Ken Vale 6.68 Geoff Bouchard 5.85 Roy Carter 5.65 Gil Farmer 5.20 Peter Wrathall 5.12 Colin Tucker 4.43 Steve Bass 3.21 Peter Gay 2.67 Middlesbrough 22em Tom Leadbitter 9.55 Roger Mills 7.43 Bruce Forrester 7.28 Tim Swales 7.13 Bob Jameson 6.63 Dave Durham 5.63 Pete Reading 5.41 Peterborough 22em 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 22em Geoff Maloney 8.74 Hugh Saunders 7.58 Alan Jackson 7.06 Terry Stone 6.85 Nigel Rackett 6.38 Garry Moore 4.70 Allan Emmett 4.40 George Barclay 4.18 Tony Hall 3.69 Ian Champion 3.44 Reading 22em 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 22em Eric Broadbelt 10.07 Taffy Owen 9.43 Chris Bailey 8.22 Steve Waplington 8.04 Alan Wilkinson 8.00 Paul Tyrer 6.81 Ken Moss 6.25 Gerry Richardson 4.86 Colin Goad 4.46 Romford 22em 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 22em Taffy Owen 9.94 (7 matches only) Bob Valentine 9.37 Malcolm MacKay 7.56 Geoff Penniket 7.23 Reg Wilson 6.51 Lou Sansom 6.13 Ian Armstrong 5.00 Chris Blythe 4.22 Dave Kumeta 3.84 Vic Lonsdale 3.70 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League