1978 British League season

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 British League 19 Champions Coventry Bees Knockout Cup Ipswich Witches Individual Ole Olsen Pairs Cradley Heath &Coventry Bees Spring Gold Cup Exeter Falcons Midland Cup Coventry Bees London Cup Wimbledon Dons Northern League Belle Vue Aces Malcolm Simmons 1978 National League 1977 1979 The 1978 Gulf British League season was the 44th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 14th season known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Summary The list of nineteen teams that competed in the league was identical to the previous season. The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a fourth season.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 80 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 Coventry Bees won their second title and their first for ten years. Belle Vue Aces were runners-up for the fourth time in five seasons and would receive a double blow when losing in the final of the Knockout Cup. Two time world champion Ole Olsen was in sensational form for Coventry and made the difference throughout the season. Olsen would also seal his third world individual crown by the end of the season. The Coventry side consisted of an array of overseas riders including Olsen and fellow Dane Alf Busk, New Zealander Mitch Shirra, Australian Gary Guglielmi and Jiří Štancl from Czechoslovakia.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 2 July 2021 League table Pos Team M W D L Pts1 Coventry Bees362709542 Belle Vue Aces3626010523 Hull Vikings3622212464 Wimbledon Dons3622113455 Cradley Heathens3621114436 Ipswich Witches3621114437 Exeter Falcons3620115418 Sheffield Tigers3619215409 Bristol Bulldogs36190173810 Poole Pirates36173163711 Leicester Lions36170193412 Halifax Dukes36143193113 King's Lynn Stars36142203014 Reading Racers36133202915 White City Rebels36123212716 Swindon Robins36123212717 Wolverhampton Wolves36111242318 Birmingham Brummies36111242319 Hackney Hawks361012521M = 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 49–29 36–42 42–36 40–38 52–26 51–27 48–30 47–31 38–40 42–36 43–35 47–31 46–32 42–36 47–31 44–34 43–35 52–26 Birmingham 37–41 46–32 41–37 38–40 45–33 37–41 57–21 40–38 30–48 50–28 43–35 39–39 41–37 48–30 47–31 34–43 29–49 41–37 Bristol 52–26 42–36 43–35 46–31 41–37 45–33 47–31 44–34 45–33 40–38 54–24 51–27 55–23 49–29 47–31 41–37 38–41 44–33 Coventry 43–35 48–30 39–38 40–37 45–33 56–22 48–30 48–30 41–37 48–30 45–31 53–25 54–24 45–33 53–25 47–31 46–32 41–37 Cradley Heath 43–35 57–20 50–28 40–37 51–27 45–33 48–30 53–25 41–37 34.5–43.5 50–28 42–36 40–38 50–28 52–26 45.5–32.5 43–35 44–34 Exeter 40–38 52–26 46–32 47–31 37–41 56–22 61–17 56–22 45–33 56–21 52–26 47–31 53–25 53–25 53–25 52–26 49–29 47–31 Hackney 38–40 45–33 44–34 36–42 38–40 39–39 47–31 38–40 35–43 37–41 40–38 40–38 35–43 41–37 51–27 39–36 38–40 43–35 Halifax 41.5–36.5 41–37 44–34 36–42 43–35 41–36 48–29 45–33 39–39 50–28 51–27 49–27 58–20 37–41 50–28 46–32 37–41 54–24 Hull 54–24 57–21 48–30 55–22 46–32 44–33 52–26 41–37 42–36 52–26 48–29 41–37 44–33 49–29 49–29 47–31 50–28 48–30 Ipswich 46–32 48–30 56–22 35–42 44–31 42–36 43–35 51–27 46–32 42–36 50–28 41–37 39–38 51–27 50–28 48–30 43–35 41–37 King's Lynn 36–42 54–24 49–29 42–35 42–36 43–35 49–29 46–32 36–41 55–23 37–41 39–39 39–39 36–42 47–31 52–26 40–38 44–34 Leicester 32–46 43–35 39–38 37–41 37–41 41–36 48–30 48–30 55–23 46–32 42–36 43–35 40–38 51–27 46–32 42–36 43–35 48–30 Poole 35–43 53–25 46–32 38–40 44–34 45–33 49–29 46–32 48–30 42–36 43–34 45–33 41–37 51–27 43–35 53–25 39–39 43–35 Reading 35–43 45–33 44–33 38–40 38–40 40–37 53–24 46–32 39–39 39–37 43–35 43–35 38–40 42–36 39–39 34–43 40–38 43–35 Sheffield 40–37 41–37 42–35 40–38 43–35 50–28 53–25 42–36 44–34 40–38 46.5–31.5 44–34 43–35 44–34 54–24 39–39 46–32 42–36 Swindon 37–41 44–34 41–36 26–52 40–37 35–43 42–36 39–39 34–44 42–36 47–31 48–30 42–36 40–38 39–39 36–42 41–37 41–37 White City 35–43 45–33 41–37 43–34 39–39 36–42 40–38 39–39 36–42 31–47 40–37 29–49 38–40 42–36 51–27 42–29 36–42 46–32 Wimbledon 38–40 61–17 39–38 41–37 44–33 40–37 53–24 47–30 44–33 43–35 42–36 51–27 42–36 56–22 52–26 50–28 47–31 36–42 Wolverhampton 38–40 40–37 38–39 27–51 40–38 38–39 41–37 41–37 39–39 53–25 41–37 40–37 45–33 36–42 44–34 36–42 42–36 28–50 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978.html Speedway Researcher 1978 fixtures & results 17 March 2025 Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.78 2 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 10.71 3 Scott Autrey USA Exeter 10.45 4 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 10.44 5 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.40 6 Chris Morton ENG Belle Vue 10.31 7 Dave Jessup ENG Reading 10.24 8 Billy Sanders AUS Ipswich 10.23 9 Phil Crump AUS Bristol 9.99 10 Ivan Mauger NZL Hull 9.91 British League Knockout Cup The 1978 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 40th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Ipswich Witches were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/03/british-league-ko-cup-1978.html 1978 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two29/04 Kings Lynn 40-38 Hull26/04 Hull 39-39 Kings Lynn10/04 Exeter 44-34 Coventry08/04 Coventry 44-34 Exeter17/04 Birmingham 37-41 Poole12/04 Poole 48-30 Birmingham15/06 Coventry 37.5-40.5 Exeter01/06 Exeter 48-30 Coventry Second round Date Team one Score Team two19/07 Poole 49-29 Swindon15/07 Swindon 37-41 Poole09/06 Hackney 51-26 Kings Lynn03/06 Kings Lynn 31-46 Hackney06/07 Sheffield 45-33 Exeter Exeter 52-26 Sheffield10/06 Swindon 36-42 Poole21/06 Poole 36-42 Swindon03/06Belle Vue 44-34 Wimbledon08/06 Wimbledon 41-37 Belle Vue23/06 Bristol 35-43 Leicester06/06 Leicester 39-39 Bristol10/06 Cradley Heath 38-40 Reading05/06 Reading37-41 Cradley Heath13/06 White City 52-26 Halifax10/06 Halifax43-34 White City09/06 Wolverhampton 40-38 Ipswich08/06Ipswich 43-34 Wolverhampton Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two09/08 White City 23-54 Ipswich05/08 Belle Vue 44-34 Poole04/08 Poole 34-43 Belle Vue29/07 Cradley Heath 48-30 Leicester27/07 Ipswich52-26 White City21/07 Hackney 34-44 Exeter11/07 Leicester 39-39 Cradley Heath17/07 Exeter 58-20 Hackney Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two14/09 Ipswich 44-34 Cradley Heath13/09 Cradley Heath 40-38 Ipswich26/08 Belle Vue 57-21 Exeter25/08 Exeter 51-27 Belle Vue Final First leg 14 October 1978 Belle Vue AcesPeter Collins 15Chris Morton 14Les Collins 5Chris Turner 2Steve Finch 1Jim Brett 1Uno Johansson 1 39 - 39 Ipswich WitchesMike Lanham 9John Louis 8Tony Davey 7Colin Cook 6Kevin Jolly 5Billy Sanders 4Tim Hunt 0 Second leg 19 October 1978 Ipswich WitchesGeorg Hack 10Billy Sanders 9John Louis 9Tony Davey 9Mike Lanham 7Kevin Jolly 6Colin Cook 4 53 - 25 Belle Vue AcesPeter Collins 10Chris Morton 8Les Collins 4Chris Turner 1Eric Dugard (guest) 1Derek Richardson 1Uno Johansson 0 Ipswich were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92-64. Riders' Championship Ole Olsen won the British League Riders' Championship for the fourth time (and third in a row), it was held at Hyde Road on 21 October and sponsored by British Leyland Cars.Immaculate Olsen roars to title Sandwell Evening Mail 23 October 1978 4 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002487/19781023/027/0027 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 DEN Ole Olsen 1 3 3 3 3 132 ENG Peter Collins 2 2 3 3 2 12+3 3 ENG Steve Bastable 3 2 3 3 1 12+24 NZL Larry Ross 1 3 3 1 3 115 USA Scott Autrey 2 3 2 2 1 10 6 ENG Malcolm Simmons 3 3 0 1 3 10 7 AUS Billy Sanders 2 1 1 2 3 9 8 AUS John Titman 3 1 2 3 0 9 9 ENG Ian Cartright 0 2 1 2 2 7 10 AUS Phil Crump 0 2 2 1 2 7 11 ENG Doug Wyer 3 0 1 1 2 7 12 NZL Ivan Mauger 2 1 0 2 EF 5 13 AUS Phil Herne0 0 2 R 1 3 14 ENG Andy Heyes (res) 0 1 F R 0 1 0215 ENG Michael Lee 1 R - - -116 DEN Hans Nielsen FX 1 0 0 - 117 ENG Dave Jessup R - - - -0 ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired Pairs The British League Pairs Championship sponsored by Gauloises, was held at Foxhall Stadium on 12 October and was jointly won by Cradley Heath Heathens and Coventry Bees. The meeting was abandoned after 14 heats due to fog but the result stood.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 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978record.pdf 1978 Complete season records Speedway Researcher 16 May 2023 Pos TeamPts Riders1 Cradley Heath 18 Steve Bastable 10, Bruce Penhall 81 Coventry 18 Ole Olsen 10, Mitch Shirra 83 Belle Vue 12 Peter Collins 10, Chris Morton 24 Ipswich 11 Billy Sanders 8, Tony Davey 35 Exeter 10 Scott Autrey 5, Reidar Eide 56 Reading 8 Dave Jessup 5, John Davis 37 King's Lynn 7 Terry Betts 4, Michael Lee 3 Leading final averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Malcolm Simmons ENG Poole 10.77 2 Ole Olsen DEN Coventry 10.56 3 Peter Collins ENG Belle Vue 10.41 4 Scott Autrey USA Exeter 10.40 5 Michael Lee ENG King's Lynn 10.23 6 Dave Jessup ENG Reading 10.20 7 Chris Morton ENG Belle Vue 10.11 8 Billy Sanders AUS Ipswich 9.94 9 Phil Crump AUS Bristol 9.92 10 Ivan Mauger NZL Hull 9.77 Spring Gold Cup East Group Team PL W D L PtsKing's Lynn 6 4 1 1 9 Ipswich 6 4 1 1 9 Reading 6 2 1 3 5 Hackney 6 0 1 5 1 West Group Team PL W D L Pts Exeter 6 4 0 2 8 Poole 6 3 1 2 7 Wimbledon 6 3 0 3 6Bristol 6 1 0 5 2 East Group main FBR grey HAC IPS KL REA Hackney 39–39 38–40 38–40 Ipswich 45–33 39–38 46–32 King's Lynn 45.5–32.5 51–26 46–32 Reading 44–34 30–48 39–39 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1978 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 West Group main FBR grey BRI EX PP WIM Bristol 41–37 38–40 43–35 Exeter 44–34 58–20 42–36 Poole 44–34 37–41 41–37 Wimbledon 56–22 57–21 48–30 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1978 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 Final Team one Team two ScoreKing's Lynn Exeter 43-35, 25-53 Midland Cup Coventry won the Midland Cup for the third consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.Bees live up to double glory Coventry Evening Telegraph 16 October 1978 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19781016/075/0006 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription First round Team one Team two ScoreSwindonLeicester 16–26, 27–51WolverhamptonBirmimgham38–40, 47–30 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreCradleyLeicester 44–34, 26–52 WolverhamptonCoventry36–42, 36–42 Final First leg 3 October 1978 LeicesterJohn Boulger 10 John Titman 9Ila Teromaa 9John McNeill 5 Jerzy Rembas 2 Tom Godal 2 Chris Sully 0 37–41 Coventry Mitch Shirra 10Ole Olsen 9Mick Bell 6Gary Guglielmi 6 Alf Buck 4Martin Yeates (guest) 4 Alan Molyneux 2 Leicester Stadium Second leg 14 October 1978 CoventryOle Olsen 12 Mitch Shirra 12 Jiri Stancl 9 Alan Molyneux 8 Alf Buck 5 Mick Bell 5 Stuart Cope 1 52–26 LeicesterJohn Titman 7 Jerzy Rembas 7 John Boulger 5 John McNeill 4 Tom Godal 2 Chris Sully 1Ila Teromaa r/r Brandon Stadium Coventry won on aggregate 93–63 Northern Trophy M W D L Pts 1Belle Vue 6 5 0 1 10 2 Halifax 6 4 0 2 8 3 Sheffield 6 2 0 4 4 4 Hull 6 1 0 5 2 main FBR grey BV HAL HUL SHE Belle Vue 44–34 40–38 43–35 Halifax 40–38 45–33 46–32 Hull 36–42 36–42 42–36 Sheffield 38–40 43–34 46–32 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1978 fixtures & results 1 October 2025 London Cup Wimbledon won the London Cup but White City did not compete and therefore the competition consisted of just two teams.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1978record.pdf 1978 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Results Team Score TeamHackney 39–38 WimbledonWimbledon 55–23 Hackney Riders and final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Peter Collins 10.41 ENG Chris Morton 10.11 ENG Les Collins 8.00 ENG Alan Wilkinson 7.73 ENG Steve Finch 4.90 ENG Jim Brett 4.52 ENG Chris Turner 4.45 AUS Rob Maxfield 4.36 ENG Derek Richardson 4.30 ENG Keith Bloxsome 1.14 Birmingham 22em AUS Phil Herne 8.56 ENG Ray Wilson 8.30 ENG Ted Howgego 6.80 ENG Richard Greer 6.66 FIN Ari Koponen 5.05 SWE Bengt Jansson 4.94 ENG Alan Emerson 4.31 DEN Finn Jensen 4.17 Bristol 22em AUS Phil Crump 9.92 USA Steve Gresham 9.15 NOR Tormod Langli 7.29 ENG Nigel Boocock 5.90 NZL Bruce Cribb 5.32 NED Henny Kroeze 5.12 NED Henk Steman 4.69 SWE Sören Sjösten 4.49 AUS Tony Garard 3.65 ENG Paul Tyrer 3.48 Coventry 22em DEN Ole Olsen 10.56 NZL Mitch Shirra 9.49 ENG Alan Molyneux 7.85 DEN Alf Busk 6.23 CZE Jiří Štancl 6.07 AUS Gary Guglielmi 5.60 ENG Mick Bell 4.94 ENG Frank Smith 4.24 ENG Dave Mortiboys 2.86 Cradley Heath 22em ENG Steve Bastable 9.51 USA Bruce Penhall 9.26 ENG Alan Grahame 8.21 DEN Kristian Praestbro 6.56 NZL Bruce Cribb 6.22 ENG Phil Collins 5.44 ENG Dave Perks 5.23 FIN Pekka Hautamaki 5.22 AUS Dave Shields 5.05 ENG Arthur Price 3.68 Exeter 22em USA Scott Autrey 10.40 NOR Reidar Eide 8.44 CZE Václav Verner 8.35 ZIM Peter Prinsloo 7.01 AUS Mike Farrell 6.75 AUS Steve Koppe 6.09 ENG Les Rumsey 6.06 CZE Jan Verner 5.86 Hackney 22em DEN Finn Thomsen 7.70 ENG Keith White 6.70 ENG Barry Thomas 6.54 ENG Vic Harding 6.28 DEN Bo Petersen 6.14 ENG Bobby McNeil 5.27 ENG Ted Hubbard 5.24 ENG Malcolm Shakespeare 4.00 DEN Bent Rasmussen 3.65 ENG Billy Spiers 1.60 Halifax 22em ENG Ian Cartwright 8.35 DEN Mike Lohmann 8.06 ENG Mitch Graham 7.45 AUS Mick McKeon 6.19 ENG Eric Broadbelt 5.98 ENG Chris Pusey 5.83 ENG Kenny Carter 5.40 DEN Klaus Lohmann 4.81 Hull 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 9.77 ENG Joe Owen 9.06 SCO Bobby Beaton 7.26 USA Kelly Moran 7.01 ENG Tom Owen 6.74 WAL Graham Drury 6.63 ENG Frank Auffret 6.49 ENG Phil Kynman 5.04 AUS Rod Hunter 2.33 Ipswich 22em AUS Billy Sanders 9.94 ENG Tony Davey 9.60 ENG John Louis 9.03 ENG Kevin Jolly 6.82 ENG Colin Cook 4.79 ENG Ted Howgego 4.40 ENG Mike Lanham 3.94 ENG Tim Hunt 3.09 King's Lynn 22em ENG Michael Lee 10.23 ENG Terry Betts 8.10 ENG Ian Turner 7.01 SWE Richard Hellsen 5.93 ENG David Gagen 5.79 ENG Carl Glover 4.44 ENG Pete Smith 4.35 ENG Billy Spiers 3.57 NED Frits Koppe 3.37 DEN Bent Rasmussen 3.30 ENG Derek Harrison 2.09 Leicester 22em AUS John Titman 8.94 FIN Ila Teromaa 8.70 AUS John Boulger 8.41 NOR Tom Godal 4.94 POL Jerzy Rembas 4.84 AUS John McNeill 4.47 ENG Colin Meredith 4.33 ENG Neil Leeks 3.06 ENG Chris Sully 2.12 SWE Lars Ericsson 2.00 Poole 22em ENG Malcolm Simmons 10.77 ENG Neil Middleditch 7.67 SWE Christer Sjösten 7.25 USA Mike Curoso 6.46 AUS Danny Kennedy 6.03 ENG Martin Yeates 6.00 ENG Kelvin Mullarkey 5.62 POL Andrzej Tkocz 4.51 ENG Colin Gooddy 3.36 Reading 22em ENG Dave Jessup 10.20 ENG John Davis 8.93 GER Hans Wassermann 5.91 ENG Bernie Leigh 5.90 ENG Melvyn Taylor 4.53 NZL Roger Abel 4.00 AUS Bob Humphreys 3.69 POL Henryk Glücklich 2.94 ENG Kevin Bowen 2.56 Sheffield 22em ENG Doug Wyer 9.35 ENG Reg Wilson 8.59 SWE Bernt Persson 6.93 ENG Nicky Allott 6.65 ENG Craig Pendlebury 6.45 SWE Bosse Wirebrand 3.35 AUS Tony Boyle 3.20 ENG Billy Burton 2.94 ENG Phil White 2.53 Swindon 22em ENG Bob Kilby 8.44 SWE Jan Andersson 8.05 ENG Martin Ashby 7.68 ENG Geoff Bouchard 6.55 ENG David Ashby 4.39 NOR Rolf Gramstad 4.00 ENG Robert Henry 3.17 POL Jerzy Trzeszkowski 2.42 ENG Malcolm Holloway 2.29 DEN Steen Mastrup 1.88 ENG Richard Evans 1.60 POL Leonard Raba 0.00 White City 22em ENG Gordon Kennett 9.52 FIN Kai Niemi 7.17 ENG Steve Weatherley 6.67 ENG Dave Kennett 5.48 POL Marek Cieślak 5.16 POL Andrzej Jurczynski 5.05 ENG Trevor Geer 4.95 ENG Paul Gachet 4.66 Wimbledon 22em NZL Larry Ross 9.29 POL Edward Jancarz 8.61 ENG Roger Johns 7.82 ENG Mick Hines 7.26 SWE Stefan Salomonsson 6.67 NED Rudy Muts 6.53 ENG Colin Richardson 6.46 NZL Graeme Stapleton 3.56 Wolverhampton 22em DEN Hans Nielsen 8.85 SCO Jimmy McMillan 8.58 ENG Dave Morton 8.58 NOR Edgar Stangeland 4.37 WAL Brian Woodward 3.87 SWE Hasse Danielsson 3.70 DEN Knud Ellegaard 3.62 ENG Steve Lomas 2.56 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League Category:1978 in British motorsport Category:1978 in speedway