1948 Speedway National League

British speedway season September 2023 September 2023 National League Division One 7 Champions New Cross Rangers National Trophy Wembley Lions Anniversary Cup Harringay Racers Riders' champion Vic Duggan London Cup Wembley Lions Vic Duggan National League (Div 2)National League (Div 3) 1947 1949 The 1948 National League Division One was the 14th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the third post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archivehttps://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964 BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964) Official British Speedway website 11 August 2021 Summary The entrant list was the same as the previous season. New Cross Rangers won the National League for the second time.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1948.html Year by Year Speedway Researcher 11 August 2021Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 Fatalities 1948 proved to be the worst season so far in regard to fatalities. During the 1947 season two riders had died on the same day but 1948 saw three riders killed during the season. It started with 37-year-old Reg Craven, on his debut for Yarmouth Bloaters. Craven crashed with two Poole Pirates riders at Poole (on 26 April) during a National Trophy match and died eight days later (4 May) from a fractured skull in hospital.Died from crash on speedway Gloucestershire Echo 4 May 1948 11 August 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000320/19480504/080/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription Billy Wilson of Norwich Stars and Eric Dunn of Hastings Saxons from the lower divisions were also killed. Final League table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 New Cross Rangers 24 17 0 7 342 Harringay Racers 24 16 0 8 323 West Ham Hammers 24 14 1 9 294 Wembley Lions 24 12 1 11 255 Belle Vue Aces 24 12 1 11 256 Wimbledon Dons 24 5 2 17 127 Odsal Boomerangs 24 5 1 18 11 National League results Matches 1–12 Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. main FBR BEL HAR NEW ODS WEM WES WIM Belle Vue Aces Harringay Racers New Cross Rangers Odsal Boomerangs Wembley Lions West Ham Hammers Wimbledon Dons 48-36 53-31 43-41 42-42 43-41 59-25 47-37 37-47 54-29 39-45 44-40 49-35 61-23 41-43 55-28 56-27 58-26 49-35 46-35 41-43 40-42 38-46 43-40 41-41 52-31 31-50 40.5-43.5 51-33 40-44 44-39 61-23 58-26 49-35 60-22 54-30 47-37 50-33 45-38 40-44 56-27 27-57 40-43 Matches 13–24 Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. main FBR BEL HAR NEW ODS WEM WES WIM Belle Vue Aces Harringay Racers New Cross Rangers Odsal Boomerangs Wembley Lions West Ham Hammers Wimbledon Dons 50-34 33-51 47-37 48-36 52-31 52-32 45-37 44-40 58-26 53-28 59-24 54-30 38-45 40-44 53-29 37-47 51-32 54-30 38-45 40-44 53-29 37-47 51-32 54-30 59-25 35-49 41-43 57-27 39-45 60-24 49-35 48-36 49-35 48-36 38-46 64-20 35-47 35-49 46-38 58-26 35-49 41-41 Anniversary Cup On account of the small number of teams in the league the Anniversary Cup was run in a league format. Harringay Racers finished on top. Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Harringay Racers 12 9 0 3 182 Belle Vue Aces 12 7 0 5 143 Odsal Boomerangs 12 7 0 5 144 New Cross Rangers 12 6 0 6 125 West Ham Hammers 12 6 0 6 126 Wembley Lions 12 5 0 7 107 Wimbledon Dons 12 2 0 10 4 Teams play each other twice, once at home and once away. main FBR BEL HAR NEW ODS WEM WES WIM Belle Vue Aces Harringay Racers New Cross Rangers Odsal Boomerangs Wembley Lions West Ham Hammers Wimbledon Dons 46.5-49.5 50-42 65-29 53-43 54-42 65-30 52-43 49-47 59-37 59-36 59-37 59-37 57-39 49-47 51-44 49-46 58-38 42-54 53-43 52-44 48-47 66-30 51-45 61-35 45-51 47-49 49-47 61-35 60-36 60-35 58-38 50-45 62-34 48-47 49-47 60-34 47-48 46-50 42-53 46-49 40-56 53-42 Top Ten Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Vic Duggan AUS Harringay Racers 11.42 2 Ron Johnson AUS New Cross 10.33 3 Wilbur Lamoreaux USA Wembley Lions 9.71 4 George Wilks ENG Wembley Lions 9.65 5 Max Grosskreutz AUS Odsal 9.63 6 Aub Lawson AUS West Ham 9.59 7 Alec Statham ENG Wimbledon 9.48 8 Jack Parker ENG Belle Vue 9.35 9 Eric Chitty CAN 1921 West Ham 9.21 10 Norman Parker ENG Wimbledon 9.09 National Trophy The 1948 Trophy was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/04/national-trophy-1948.html 1948 National Trophy Speedway archive Qualifying Competition Round 1 Date Team one Score Team two23/04 Wombwell 31 77 Southampton17/04 Cradley Heath 66 42 Plymouth13/04 Southampton 89 19 Wombwell12/04 Exeter 81 27 Tamworth08/04 Plymouth 56 50 Cradley Heath07/04 Tamworth 82 26 Exeter Qualifying Competition Round 2 Date Team one Score Team two29/04 Stoke Hanley 64 43 Coventry27/04 Yarmouth 47 67 Poole26/04 Poole 74 32 Yarmouth07/05 Cradley Heath 78 29 Hull05/05 Tamworth 46 62 Southampton04/05 Southampton 77 31 Tamworth01/05 Coventry 48 59 Stoke Hanley01/05 Hull 42 66 Cradley Heath Qualifying Competition semifinal Date Team one Score Team two21/05 Cradley Heath 54 50 Southampton13/05 Stoke Hanley 64 44 Poole11/05 Southampton 85 23 Cradley Heath10/05 Poole 49 57 Stoke Hanley Qualifying Competition final Date Team one Score Team two27/05 Stoke Hanley 43 64 Southampton25/05 Southampton 74½ 33½ Stoke Hanley Eliminating Competition First round Date Team one Score Team two19/06 Birmingham 79 29 Southampton19/06 Edinburgh 62 46 Glasgow White City16/06 Glasgow White City 70 38 Edinburgh15/06 Southampton 41 66 Birmingham Eliminating Competition Second round Date Team one Score Team two23/06 Glasgow White City 45½ 61½ Birmingham22/06 Fleetwood 69 39 Bristol19/06 Norwich 76 32 Sheffield18/06 Bristol 65 43 Fleetwood17/06 Middlesbrough 67 40 Newcastle17/06 Sheffield 55 53 Norwich14/06 Newcastle 41 65 Middlesbrough03/07 Birmingham 80 28 Glasgow White City Eliminating Competition semifinal Date Team one Score Team two26/07 Birmingham 75 33 Fleetwood13/07 Fleetwood 49 59 Birmingham03/07 Norwich 66 41 Middlesbrough01/07 Middlesbrough 53 54 Norwich Eliminating Competition final Date Team one Score Team two02/08 Birmingham 79 28 Norwich31/07 Norwich 64 43 Birmingham First round Date Team one Score Team two04/09 Belle Vue 64 44 Wembley27/08 Harringay 67 40 Wimbledon26/08 Wembley 64 42 Belle Vue21/08 Birmingham 85 23 West Ham21/08 Bradford 62 46 New Cross19/08 New Cross 77 30 Bradford17/08 West Ham 67 41 Birmingham16/08 Wimbledon 53 55 Harringay04/09 Belle Vue 64 44 Wembley Quarterfinals Date Team one Score Team two27/08 Harringay 67-40 Wimbledon26/08 Wembley 64-42 Belle Vue21/08 Birmingham 85-23 West Ham21/08 Bradford 62-46 New Cross19/08 New Cross 77-30 Bradford17/08 West Ham 67-41 Birmingham16/08 Wimbledon 53-55 Harringay04/09 Belle Vue 64-44 Wembley Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two18/09 Birmingham 69-39 New Cross10/09 Harringay 52-56 Wembley09/09 Wembley 73-35 Harringay09/09 New Cross 83-25 Birmingham Final First leg 7 October 1948 Wembley LionsTommy Price 13Bill Gilbert 13Bill Kitchen 11Wilbur Lamoreaux 7Split Waterman 7Bob Wells 6Freddie Williams 5Roy Craighead 2 64 – 44 https://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2015/02/national-trophy-1947.html 1947 National Trophy Speedway Archive 11 August 2021 New Cross RangersRon Johnson 12Jeff Lloyd 11Eric French 6Geoff Pymar 5Ray Moore 4Bill Longley 3Frank Lawrence 3Lindsay Mitchell 0 Wembley Stadium Second leg 8 October 1948 New Cross RangersRon Johnson 18Jeff Lloyd 10Frank Lawrence 7Eric French 5Ray Moore 5Geoff Pymar 4Bill Longley 2Lindsay Mitchell 1 52 – 56 Wembley LionsBill Gilbert 15Wilbur Lamoreaux 9Bill Kitchen 7Split Waterman 7Bob Wells 6Tommy Price 5Freddie Williams 4Roy Craighead 3 New Cross Stadium Wembley were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 120–96. Riders' Championship Vic Duggan won the British Riders' Championship final held at Empire Stadium on 16 September, in front of nearly 90,000 spectators.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1948fixtures.pdf 1948 fixtures Speedway Researcher 3 June 2023Speedway title for Jack Parker Daily News (London) 17 September 1948 3 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19480917/051/0004 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 AUS Vic Duggan 2 3 3 3 3 14 2 AUS Ron Johnson 3 2 3 2 3 133 ENG Alec Statham 3 3 3 3 1134 ENG Split Waterman 3 2 2 1 2 10 5 ENG Bill Gilbert 2 1 3 3 1 10 6 ENG Jack Parker 2 E 3 1 3 9 7 ENG Oliver Hart 3 2 2 2 98 AUS Bill Longley 0 1 2 2 3 89 USA Wilbur Lamoreaux 2 2 0 0 26 10 ENG Malcolm Craven f 3 2 1 0 6 11 ENG Jeff Lloyd 1 3 0 0 1 5 12 CAN 1921 Eric Chitty 1 0 1 2 1 513 ENG Lloyd Goffe 0 1 1 1 2 514 ENG Tommy Price 1 2 0 1 F 4 15 ENG Norman Parker 0 1 0 1 0 216 ENG Dent Oliver 1 0 0 0 0 1 16 ENG Jack Hodgson (res) 0 - - - - 0 f=fell London Cup First round Team one Score Team two New Cross65–43, 43–64 Harringay Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWimbledon 57–51, 27–80 New CrossWest Ham 61–46, 40–67 Wembley Final First leg 23 September 1948 Wembley Wilbur Lamoreaux 15 Bill Gilbert 14 Bill Kitchen 10 Tommy Price 10 Split Waterman 7 Freddie Williams 4 George Saunders 3 Bob Wells 2 65–40 New Cross Ron Johnson 16 Frank Lawrence 5 Ray Moore 4 Bill Longley 4 Cyril Roger 3 Eric French 3 Jeff Lloyd 3 Geoff Pymar 2 Wembley Stadium Second leg 24 September 1948 New CrossCyril Roger 15 Ron Johnson 14, Geoff Pymar 10 Jeff Lloyd 5 Ray Moore 5 Eric French 4 Frank Lawrence 4 Bill Longley 1 58–50 Wembley Capture London Cup Daily News (London) 25 September 1948 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19480925/070/0004 British Newspaper Archive 16 September 2023 subscription Wembley Bill Gilbert 14 Bill Kitchen 13 Freddie Williams 8 Tommy Price 5 Split Waterman 5Wilbur Lamoreaux 3 Bob Wells 1 George Saunders 1 New Cross Stadium Wembley won on aggregate 115–98 Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Jack Parker 9.35 ENG Louis Lawson 7.46 ENG Dent Oliver 6.92 ENG Wally Hull 6.00 ENG Bill Pitcher 5.76 ENG Wally Lloyd 5.60 ENG Jim Boyd 4.96 AUS Jack Chignell 4.27 AUS Bill Rogers 3.75 ENG Brian Wilson 2.00 Harringay 22em AUS Vic Duggan 11.42 AUS Frank Dolan 8.53 ENG Lloyd Goffe 7.23 AUS Ray Duggan 7.23 ENG Wal Morton 6.67 AUS Jack Biggs 6.56 ENG Steve Ison 5.37 AUS Jack Arnfield 4.96 ENG Jimmy Grant 4.68 ENG Nobby Stock 3.84 New Cross 22em ENG Ron Johnson 10.33 ENG Jeff Lloyd 8.17 AUS Bill Longley 7.96 ENG Geoff Pymar 7.39 ENG Cyril Roger 7.27 ENG Ray Moore 7.15 IRE Eric French 7.12 ENG George Newton 5.48 ENG Frank Lawrence 5.79 ENG Mick Mitchell 2.00 AUS Lindsay Mitchell 0.67 Odsal 22em AUS Max Grosskreutz 9.63 ENG Oliver Hart 8.57 ENG Ernie Price 7.72 ENG Ron Clarke 7.34 ENG Eddie Rigg 6.15 ENG Joe Abbott 5.60 ENG Eric Mason 4.00 ENG Bob Lovell 3.33 AUS Andy Menzies 3.71 ENG Bill Osborne 3.20 ENG Jock Shead 2.78 ENG Norman Price 2.40 ENG Vic Emms 1.50 Wembley 22em USA Wilbur Lamoreaux 9.71 ENG George Wilks 9.65 ENG Tommy Price 8.81 ENG Split Waterman 8.27 ENG Bill Gilbert 7.63 ENG Bill Kitchen 7.17 WAL Freddie Williams 6.43 ENG Bob Wells 5.40 ENG George Saunders 4.26 ENG Roy Craighead 3.37 ENG Bill Kemp 2.50 West Ham 22em AUS Aub Lawson 9.59 CAN 1921 Eric Chitty 9.21 ENG Malcolm Craven 8.13 AUS Cliff Watson 7.01 ENG Kid Curtis 5.89 ENG Tommy Croombs 5.64 ENG Howdy Byford 5.30 ENG Bob Harrison 3.58 ENG Frank Bettis 0.67 Wimbledon 22em ENG Norman Parker 9.09 ENG Alec Statham 9.48 ENG Cyril Brine 7.19 ENG Les Wotton 5.37 ENG Mike Erskine 4.87 ENG Arch Windmill 3.80 ENG Ron Mason 3.59 ENG Dick Harris 3.43 ENG Jimmy Coy 2.35 AUS Lionel Levy 2.29 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway National League Category:1948 in speedway Category:1948 in British motorsport