1971 British League Division Two season

British motorcycle speedway season November 2023 November 2023 British League Division Two 17 Champions Eastbourne Eagles Knockout Cup Ipswich Witches Individual John Louis John Louis British League (Div 1) 1970 1972 The 1971 British League Division Two season was the second tier/division motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway ArchiveRogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 Summary The league continued with 17 teams in its fourth season despite Reading Racers moving up to Division Onehttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004973/19710106/011/0011 Reading switch Western Daily Press 6 January 1971 British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 September 2024 and two teams dropping out because there were three new entrants to the league. Doncaster Dragons disbanded for good, with the promotion and some of the riders moving to Birmingham and re-forming the Birmingham Brummies, who had last raced in 1957.http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Doncaster.htm Doncaster Speedway Defunct Speedway 12 September 2021 The Crayford Highwayman also dropped outhttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19710303/251/0027 Crayford killed by cash crisis Daily Mirror 3 March 1971 British Newspaper Archive subscription 2 November 2024 and the Middlesbrough Teessiders changed their name to Teesside Teessiders. Birmingham were one of the new entrants along with Sunderland Stars (who last raced in 1964 as the Saints).https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/board/71/teams teams wwosbackup 12 September 2021 Hull Vikings were the final new entrant when Ian Thomas brought speedway back to Hull, to race at the Boulevard Stadium.Speedway team will be Hull Kestrels Hull Daily Mail 23 January 1971 4 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19710123/008/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription Eastbourne Eagles won their first league title since their 1959 Southern Area League success.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 101 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990 BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - BRITISH LEAGUE ERA (1965-1990) Official British Speedway website 11 September 2021 Despite losing their leading rider Dave Jessup to division 1, the Eastbourne Eagles triumphed by bringing in new signing Malcolm Ballard to support the Kennett brothers Gordon and Dave. Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Eastbourne Eagles 32 22 3 7 472 Bradford Northern 32 21 1 10 433 Ipswich Witches 32 20 3 9 434 Boston Barracudas 32 18 3 11 395 Rayleigh Rockets 32 18 2 12 386 Hull Vikings 32 16 2 14 347 Crewe Kings 32 16 1 15 338 Berwick Bandits 32 16 0 16 329 Rochdale Hornets 32 16 0 16 3210 Long Eaton Rangers 32 13 3 16 2911 Birmingham Brummies 32 13 3 16 2912 Romford Bombers 32 13 0 19 2613 Teesside Teessiders 32 13 0 19 2614 Canterbury Crusaders 32 12 2 18 2615 Workington Comets 32 12 1 19 2516 Peterborough Panthers 32 11 1 20 2317 Sunderland Stars 32 9 1 22 19 Fixtures and results main FBR grey BER BIR BOS BRA CAN CK EAS HV IPS LE MID PET RAY RH ROM SUN WOR Berwick 58–20 41–36 42–36 46–32 56–21 49–29 45–33 46–32 45–33 45.5–32.5 49–29 49–29 60–18 56–22 51–27 46–32 Birmingham 42–36 43–35 42–35 44–34 50–28 39–39 41–37 47–30 44–34 51–27 52–26 36–42 36–42 43–35 52–26 42–35 Boston 52–26 50–28 44–33 47–31 53–25 45–33 42–36 37–41 43–35 55–23 45–33 41–37 44–34 45–33 56–22 45–33 Braford 45–33 54–24 54–24 57–21 54–24 52–26 41–37 47–31 53–25 48–30 41–37 43–35 46–32 46–32 54–23 43–34 Canterbury 45–33 54–24 39–39 42–36 48–30 36–41 35–42 39–39 45–33 47–30 47–31 40–38 46–32 44–34 56–22 42–36 Crewe 48–30 62–16 50–28 43–35 55–23 54–24 46–32 46–32 55–19 53–25 56–22 49–29 55–23 54–24 61–17 39–39 Eastbourne 49–29 57–21 49–28 42–33 58–20 54–23 46–32 46–31 54–23 58–20 53–25 36–40 44–34 50–28 59–19 45–32 Hull 42–36 39–39 35–43 39–39 45–33 47–31 41–37 34–44 46–32 55–23 43–35 45–33 51–27 47–30 51–27 43–33 Ipswich 42–36 55–22 43–34 37–41 48–29 45–32 39–39 42–35 49–29 44–34 49–29 40–38 58–19 45–33 55–22 55–23 Long Eaton 45–33 39–39 39–39 40–38 47–31 50–27 36–41 42–36 41–37 40–38 45–33 40–38 48–29 40–38 53–25 45–33 Middlesbrough 54–24 45–33 44–34 37–41 58–20 42–35 35–43 43–35 38–40 43–34 48–30 36–42 44–33 47.5–30.5 49–28 44–34 Peterborough 44–34 50–28 39–39 37–41 54–24 47–30 38–39 35–43 29–48 41–37 44–33 43–35 48–30 42–36 57–21 43–35 Rayleigh 44–34 42–36 36–42 43–35 43–35 38–39 39–39 45–33 39–39 44–34 49–29 41–37 53–25 45–30 44–34 43–34 Rochdale 45–33 43–35 40–38 52–26 44–34 41–37 41–37 40–38 41–37 50–28 38–40 56–22 37–40 41–37 50–28 41–34 Romford 43–35 46–32 44–34 33–45 49–29 48–30 37–40 40–38 36–42 45–33 51–27 41–36 37–40 50–28 51–27 49–26 Sunderland 46–32 40–38 32–39 42–36 42–36 40–38 31–46 38–40 43–35 38–38 41–37 49–28 36–41 37–40 42–36 38–40 Workington 48–30 50–28 42–36 36–42 52–26 53–25 37–41 36–42 37–41 40–38 43–35 49–29 46–32 47–31 37–41 48–30 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971.html Speedway Researcher 1971 fixtures & results 26 February 2025 Top five riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 John Louis ENG Ipswich 11.29 2 Alan Knapkin ENG Bradford Northern 10.26 3 Alan Wilkinson ENG Rochdale 10.15 4 Reg Wilson ENG Hull 9.93 5 Peter Collins ENG Rochdale 9.83 British League Division Two Knockout Cup The 1971 British League Division Two Knockout Cup (sponsored by the Speedway Express) was the fourth edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Ipswich Witches were the winners of the competition for the second successive year.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/05/british-league-division-two-ko-cup-1971.html 1971 British League Division Two Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two29/04 Long Eaton 46-31 Birmingham24/05 Birmingham 39-39 Long Eaton30/04 Rochdale 47-31 Hull05/05 Hull38-39 Rochdale Second round Date Team one Score Team two12/06 Ipswich 57-21 Peterborough11/06 Peterborough 33-45 Ipswich11/06 Workington 46-31 Sunderland06/06 Sunderland 37-31 Workington06/06 Eastbourne 47-31 Canterbury12/06 Canterbury 39-39 Eastbourne07/06 Crewe 54-24 Berwick12/06 Berwick 50-28 Crewe09/06 Bradford 47-31 Teesside10/06 Teesside 38-40 Bradford11/06 Rochdale 45-33 Long Eaton10/06 Long Eaton 43-35 Rochdale06/06 Boston 49-28 Romford12/06 Romford 42-36 Boston Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two29/07 Ipswich 43-35 Rayleigh24/07 Rayleigh 37-41 Ipswich23/07 Workington 51-27 Eastbourne25/07 Eastbourne 45-31 Workington19/07 Crewe 47-31 Bradford28/07 Bradford 46-32 Crewe23/07 Rochdale 41-37 Boston18/07 Boston 40-38 Rochdale Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two16/08 Crewe 49-29 Rochdale29/08 Workington38-40Ipswich02/09 Ipswich50-28 Workington03/09 Rochdale + Crewe + rained off, tie awarded to Ipswich Final First leg 11 October 1971 Crewe KingsPhil Crump 10John Jackson 6Jack Millen 6Dai Evans 6Garry Moore 5Dave Parry 4Barry Meeks 4 41 – 37 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971record.pdf 1971 KO cup final Speedway Researcher 12 September 2021 Ipswich WitchesJohn Louis 14Tony Davey 11Peter Prinsloo 9Pete Bailey 2Clive Noy 1Ted Howgego 0Ray Watkins 0 British Railways Sports Ground Second leg 14 October 1971 Ipswich WitchesJohn Louis 12Tony Davey 12Peter Prinsloo 9Pete Bailey 8Clive Noy 7Ted Howgego 5Ray Watkins 2 55 – 23 Crewe KingsJohn Jackson 7Jack Millen 7Phil Crump 6Barry Meeks 2Dai Evans 1Garry Moore 1Dave Parry 0 Foxhall Stadium Ipswich were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92–64. Leading final averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 John Louis ENG Ipswich 11.31 2 Alan Knapkin ENG Bradford Northern 10.17 3 Alan Wilkinson ENG Rochdale 10.08 4 Tony Davey ENG Ipswich 9.93 5 Malcolm Mackay ENG Workington 9.81 Riders' Championship John Louis won the Rider's Championship, held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 2 October.Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals Hull Daily Mail 4 October 1971 16 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19711004/012/0012 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Pts Total1 ENG John Louis 3 3 2 3 3 14 2 ENG Malcolm Shakespeare 2 3 3 3 2 13 3 GGY Hugh Saunders 3 3 2 2 2 12 4 ENG Peter Collins ex 2 3 3 3 11 5 AUS Phil Crump 1 1 3 3 3 11 6 ENG Arthur Price 3 2 fx 2 3 107 ENG George Major 2 1 2 2 1 8 8 ENG Reg Wilson r 2 f 2 2 6 9 ENG Russ Dent 1 1 3 1 0 610ENG Doug Wyer 0 3 2 0 0 5 11 SCO Ross Gilbertson 3 r 1 1 0 5 12 ENG Dave Baugh 2 0 1 1 1 5 13 ENG Malcolm Mackay 2 f 1 0 1 4 14 ENG Bruce Forrester 1 0 0 1 1 3 15 ENG Kevin Holden 0 2 f 0 0 2 16 ENG Roger Mills (res) 2 217 ENG Malcolm Ballard r 1 r 118 ENG Richard Greer (res) 0 0 f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure Riders' final averages Berwick 22em Doug Wyer 9.69 Maury Robinson 7.97 Andy Meldrum 7.24 Alistair Brady 7.03 Peter Kelly 5.77 Alan Paynter 5.42 Bobby Campbell 4.75 Jim Beaton 4.14 George Beaton 3.36 Birmingham 22em George Major 8.90 Terry Shearer 8.40 Archie Wilkinson 6.27 Chris Harrison 6.08 Malcolm Corradine 5.47 Cliff Emms 5.45 Ian Wilson .4.65 Gunther 'Hec' Haslinger 4.41 Boston 22em Arthur Price 8.92 Jim Ryman 8.32 Carl Glover 7.27 Russ Osborne 6.65 Jack Bywater 6.48 Tony Featherstone 6.04 Vic Cross 5.39 Ray Bales 5.28 Graham Jones 2.50 Bradford 22em Alan Knapkin 10.17 Alf Wells 9.02 Dave Baugh 8.49 Dave Schofield 7.54 Robin Adlington 7.13 Sid Sheldrick 5.15 Alan Bridgett 4.82 Brian Murray 4.43 Peter Thompson 4.35 Stan Dewhurst 1.91 Canterbury 22em Ross Gilbertson 8.93 Graham Banks 8.03 Dave Piddock 6.75 Graeme Smith 6.32 Graeme Stapleton 6.29 Phil Pratt 6.09 Ted Hubbard 5.44 Bob Tabet 4.76 Barney Kennett 4.09 John Hammond 4.00 Mike Barkaway 2.84 Crewe 22em Phil Crump 8.98 John Jackson 8.32 Dai Evans 7.72 Jack Millen 6.61 Ian Bottomley 6.48 Barry Meeks 5.71 Garry Moore 5.31 Dave Parry 5.21 Eastbourne 22em Malcolm Ballard 8.74 Gordon Kennett 8.70 Dave Kennett 7.49 Laurie Sims 7.10 Reg Trott 6.99 Roger Johns 6.89 Bobby McNeil 6.82 Mac Woolford 6.67 Hull 22em Reg Wilson 9.69 Tony Childs 9.22 George Devonport 7.71 Colin Tucker 6.20 Robin Amundson 5.94 Dennis Wasden 5.14 Pete Boston 4.47 Ian Bottomley 4.39 Peter Baldock 3.29 Ipswich 22em John Louis 11.31 Tony Davey 9.93 Pete Bailey 8.20 Peter Prinsloo 5.25 Clive Noy 5.10 Ron Bagley 5.01 Ted Howgego 4.85 Ted Spittles 4.32 Stan Pepper 3.70 Long Eaton 22em Malcolm Shakespeare 9.80 Roger Mills 9.41 Geoff Bouchard 8.26 Gil Farmer 4.42 Peter Wrathall 4.42 Phil Whittaker 4.36 Steve Bass 3.77 Ian Champion 3.45 Gerry Scott 2.47 Peterborough 22em Andy Ross 9.02 Richard Greer 7.95 Roy Carter 6.73 John Davis 5.85 Joe Hughes 5.81 John Stayte 5.59 Alan Witt 5.51 Pete Saunders 5.47 Brian Clark 5.13 Rayleigh 22em Hugh Saunders 9.41 Geoff Maloney 7.38 Bob Young 6.67 Allan Emmett 6.44 Nigel Rackett 6.38 Dingle Brown 5.93 Terry Stone 4.65 Dave "Tiger" Beech 4.33 Rochdale 22em Alan Wilkinson 10.08 Peter Collins 9.80 Paul Tyrer 7.92 Ken Moss 5.41 Graham Drury 5.40 Colin Goad 4.69 Robbie Gardner 4.66 Terry Kelly 4.27 Paul Callaghan 2.51 Clive Johnson 2.34 Romford 22em Kevin Holden 8.94 Bob Coles 8.06 Brian Foote 8.00 Stan Stevens 6.60 Mike Sampson 6.14 Mike Vernam 6.11 Colin Sanders 5.78 Charlie Benham 5.22 Ian Gills 4.78 Terry Shearer 4.59 Bruce Edgar 3.00 Sunderland 22em Russ Dent 8.16 George Barclay 7.21 John Goodall 6.43 Peter Wrathall 4.92 Alan Mackie 4.42 Brian Whaley 4.13 John Lynch 4.05 Gerry Richardson 4.00 John Knock 3.83 Teesside 22em Bruce Forrester 8.33 Tim Swales 7.04 Dave Durham 7.00 Bob Jameson 6.31 Terry Lee 6.09 Frank Auffret 5.92 Pete Reading 5.45 Tony Swales 4.97 Dene Davies 4.62 Mick Moore 4.46 Workington 22em Malcolm MacKay 9.81 Taffy Owen 8.60 Lou Sansom 7.87 Ken Vale 5.89 Dave Kumeta 4.92 Kym Amundson 4.71 Bernie Hornby 4.32 Geoff Penniket 4.15 Chris Blythe 3.93 Steve Watson 3.57 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League