1985 National League season

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 National League 19 Champions Ellesmere Port Gunners Knockout Cup Eastbourne Eagles Individual Neil Middleditch Pairs Ellesmere Port Gunners Fours Middlesbrough Tigers London Cup Wimbledon Dons Gordon Kennett 1985 British League 1984 1986 The 1985 National League was contested as the second division of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Team changes A new team called the Barrow Blackhawks entered the league but only staged a handful of fixtures. The team failed to meet the minimum points limit resulting in the league authorities stopping their participation.http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Barrow%20Park%20Road.htm A Short History Defunct Speedway 29 January 2023https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003535/19850510/179/0021 Dve leads charge on Army line-up Kentish Express 10 May 1985 British Newspaper Archive subscription 26 October 2024 Scunthorpe Stags withdrew from the league in May.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985fixtures.pdf 1985 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 14 February 2023https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990 British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990) Official British Speedway website 31 August 2021 Weymouth Wildcats promoters Peter Ansell and Mervyn Stewkesbury, moved their team to Poole for the start of the 1985 season, following the closure of the Poole Pirates due to financial debts. The team raced as the Poole Wildcats.Sports briefs Leicester Daily Mercury 14 March 1985 2 May 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002134/19590330/284/0014 British Newspaper Archive subscription Boston Barracudas promoter Cyril Crane withdrew the team from the league just days before the start of the season when Crane relinquished his interests.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005170/19841220/01134/0045 Speedway boss plans takeover talks Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian 20 December 1984 British Newspaper Archive subscription 29 September 2024https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005170/19850228/536/0040 Cudas' future hangs in balance Lincolnshire Standard and Boston Guardian 28 February 1985 British Newspaper Archive subscription 29 September 2024 Wimbledon Dons, Eastbourne Eagles and Exeter Falcons all dropped down from the British League to join the National League. Ellesmere Port Gunners and Birmingham Brummies made their returns to British Speedway in the National League. Summary The league title became a dramatic three horse race between Poole Wildcats, Middlesbrough Tigers and Ellesmere Port Gunners. All three teams entered October with only away matches left. Poole were two points ahead of Middlesbrough but had one meeting left, with Middlesbrough having two matches in hand. Ellesmere Port were two points behind Middlesbrough but had four meetings left. The Gunners won away at strugglers Long Eaton and Edinburgh to draw level with Poole, and Middlesbrough won at Stoke to leave all three level. Ellesmere Port drew their penultimate fixture at Peterborough who had previously won every home match whilst Poole lost heavily at Berwick to rule them out of the running. Then tragedy struck Ellesmere Port at Birmingham, having lost the KO Cup final only two days previous. With Middlesbrough losing at Eastbourne on the same night, a victory would have given the Thornton Road outfit the title. Leading by 6 points after 8 heats, top scorer Joe Owen crashed and suffered a severe back injury which was to leave him paralysed. The subsequent 0-5 and loss of their best rider saw Birmingham fight back to win leaving Middlesbrough needing a win at Glasgow to snatch the title. It wasn't until November in the last meeting of the year that the showdown took place. Glasgow were second bottom due to their dreadful away record, but were not a bad outfit at home and kept the scores level after 10 heats. Disaster struck for the away side as Steve Wilcock crashed out and Glasgow took the 5-1. Trailing by four points going into the last heat, Martin Dixon bit the dust and the title was lost. Ellesmere Port Gunners were champions. Barrow Blackhawks and Scunthorpe Stags withdrew in May and had their results expunged.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985fixtures.pdf 1985 fixtures Speedway Researcher 31 August 2021https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990 BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - BRITISH LEAGUE ERA (1965-1990) Official British Speedway website 11 September 2021 Ellesmere Port Gunners closed after the fateful night in Birmingham, never to return. Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Ellesmere Port Gunners 36 25 2 9 522 Poole Wildcats 36 25 1 10 513 Middlesbrough Tigers 36 25 1 10 514 Wimbledon Dons 36 23 1 12 475 Hackney Kestrels 36 22 0 14 446 Arena Essex Hammers 36 20 2 14 427 Peterborough Panthers 36 19 2 15 408 Stoke Potters 36 20 0 16 409 Berwick Bandits 36 19 1 16 3910 Eastbourne Eagles 36 18 2 16 3811 Milton Keynes Knights 36 16 1 19 3312 Exeter Falcons 36 16 0 20 3213 Rye House Rockets 36 15 0 21 3014 Birmingham Brummies 36 14 1 21 2915 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 36 14 0 22 2816 Canterbury Crusaders 36 14 0 22 2817 Glasgow Tigers 36 10 2 24 2218 Long Eaton Invaders 36 9 2 25 2019 Edinburgh Monarchs 36 9 0 27 18 Fixtures and results main FBR grey AE BER BIR CAN EAS ED EP EX GLA HAC LE MID MIL MK PET PP RH STO WIM Arena Essex 40–38 44–34 38–40 41–37 52–26 40–38 48–29 55–23 44–34 53–25 38–39 46–32 40–37 54–24 43–35 44–34 44–33 42–35 Berwick 55–23 50–28 49–28 38–39 53–25 38–40 56–22 53–24 41–37 44–34 39–39 46–32 49–29 55–23 53–24 57–21 43–34 50–28 Birmingham 46–32 52–26 43–35 39–39 40–38 41–36 47–31 49–29 36–38 37–40 35–43 46–32 44–34 34–43 44–34 44–33 38–40 38–39 Canterbury 36–41 33–45 37–41 43–35 49–29 34–44 42–36 52–26 44–34 54–24 32–46 40–38 43–35 53–25 36–42 51–27 37–41 42–36 Eastbourne 42–36 47–31 41–37 43–35 58–20 39–39 52–26 50–28 44–34 43–35 47–31 46–31 43–35 41–37 42–35 38–40 41–37 37–41 Edinburgh 35–43 37–41 52–26 40–38 36–41 36–41 50–28 48–29 30–45 37–41 37–41 42–36 37–41 46–31 37–41 43–34 50–27 37–41 Ellesmere Port 54–24 34–41 58–20 55–22 50–28 52–26 43–35 54–24 41–37 52–26 48–29 43–35 54–24 46–32 45–33 56–22 44–34 53–25 Exeter 49–29 57–21 37–41 43–35 42–35 48–30 49–29 56–22 50–28 50–28 48–30 51–27 58–20 55–23 38–40 48–30 59–19 51–27 Glasgow 39–39 32–46 35–43 50–28 38–39 42–36 37–38 46–32 47–31 48–30 41–37 35–43 46–32 41–37 46–32 49–28 38–39 39–39 Hackney 45–33 50–27 56–22 54–24 50–28 58–20 39–38 43–35 62–16 57–1 48–29 55–23 55–23 53–25 37–41 49–29 44–34 44–34 Long Eaton 39–39 52–26 41–36 37–41 43–35 38–40 36–42 44–34 56–22 37–40 38–39 48–30 39–39 46–32 27–51 33–44 37–40 35–43 Middlesbrough 41–37 40–38 46–32 57–21 45–33 50–28 40–38 52–26 54–24 50–28 52–26 43–34 46–30 47–31 45–33 49–29 51–27 41–37 Mildenhall 38–40 51–27 40–38 42–36 45–33 53–25 34–44 53–25 51–27 44–34 52–26 49–28 41–37 36–41 32–45 47–31 35–3 35–43 Milton Keynes 39–38 46–32 41–37 41–36 39–37 45–33 35–43 47–31 51–27 37–41 47–31 47–31 49–29 44–34 40–37 42–36 42–36 30.5–47.5 Peterborough 50–28 48–30 65–0 42–35 43–35 50–28 39–39 40–38 55–23 49–28 52–26 44–34 65–0 41–37 44–34 54–24 42–36 40–38 Poole Wildcats 49–29 45–32 50–27 51–27 51–27 56–22 40–38 53–25 53–25 43–35 56–22 40–38 51–27 57–21 39–39 55–23 55–23 56–22 Rye House 43–35 42–36 49–29 32–36 39–37 57–21 43–35 57–21 54–24 23–54 47–30 36–41 38–40 51–26 41–36 38–40 51–25 40–37 Stoke 37–41 43–35 48–30 51–26 40–38 45–33 36–41 51–27 47–31 44–34 46–32 37–40 42–36 43–35 39–21 40–38 45–33 46–32 Wimbledon 51–27 44–33 43–35 52–26 44–34 52–26 44–34 47–31 63–15 45–33 48–29 40–37 55–23 47–31 52–26 37–41 47–31 41–37 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985.html Speedway Researcher 1985 fixtures & results 29 April 2025 Top five riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Gordon Kennett ENG Eastbourne 10.46 2 Joe Owen ENG Ellesmere Port 10.46 3 Mike Ferreira ZIM Wimbledon 10.03 4 Stan Bear AUS Poole 9.89 5 Carl Blackbird ENG Mildenhall 9.82 National League Knockout Cup The 1985 National League Knockout Cup was the 18th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2015/04/national-league-ko-cup-1985.html 1985 National League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two24/04 Wimbledon 62-16 Poole23/04 Poole 38-40 Wimbledon06/05 Canterbury 45-33 Eastbourne03/05 Peterborough 45-33 Arena Essex28/04Eastbourne 47-31 Canterbury26/04 Edinburgh 38.5-38.5 Ellesmere Port25/04 Ellesmere Port 43-35 Edinburgh23/04 Barrow 18-24a Exeter22/04 Exeter 58-20 Barrow21/04 Birmingham 50-28 Glasgow19/04 Glasgow 42-36 Birmingham18/04 Arena Essex 55-23 Peterborough a=Abandoned (power failure, result stood) Second round Date Team one Score Team two26/06 Wimbledon 43-35 Arena Essex24/06 Exeter 50.5-27.5 Berwick20/06 Arena Essex 40-38 Wimbledon08/06 Berwick 57-21 Exeter26/05 Eastbourne 50-28 Milton Keynes21/05 Milton Keynes 36-42 Eastbourne06/05 Birmingham 38-39 Ellesmere Port05/05 Mildenhall 42-35 Hackney04/05 Stoke 33-45 Middlesbrough03/05 Hackney 44-34 Mildenhall02/05 Middlesbrough 48-30 Stoke Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two18/08 Berwick 33-45 Ellesmere Port16/08 Ellesmere Port 56-22 Berwick11/08 Eastbourne 44-33 Wimbledon07/08 Wimbledon 39-39 Eastbourne14/07 Middlesbrough 45-33 Rye House12/07 Hackney 47-31 Long Eaton05/06 Long Eaton 33-45 Hackney02/06 Rye House 37-41 Middlesbrough Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two27/09 Hackney 49-29 Ellesmere Port26/09Ellesmere Port 50-28 Hackney12/09 Middlesbrough 48-30 Eastbourne25/08 Eastbourne 49-29 Middlesbrough Final First leg 13 October 1985 Eastbourne EaglesGordon Kennett 10Colin Richardson 10Martin Dugard 8Andy Buck 7Paul Clarke 6Chris Mulvihill 4Keith Pritchard 1 46 – 32 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985fixtures.pdf 1985 KO cup final Speedway Researcher 29 September 2021https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/ellesmereport1985.pdf Ellesmere Port KO cup final Speedway Researcher 29 September 2021 Ellesmere Port GunnersJoe Owen 9Louis Carr 9Dave Morton 8David Walsh 4Miles Evans 1Phil Alderman 1Richie Owen 0 Arlington Stadium Second leg 18 October 1985 Ellesmere Port GunnersLouis Carr 13Joe Owen 9Dave Morton 9David Walsh 4Gary O'Hare 2Phil Alderman 2Richie Owen 2 41 – 37 Eastbourne EaglesGordon Kennett 12Andy Buck 9Colin Richardson 7Martin Dugard 4Paul Clarke 2Chris Mulvihill 2Keith Pritchard 1 Ellesmere Port Stadium Eastbourne were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 83–73. Riders' Championship Neil Middleditch won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 10 August at Brandon Stadium.Great, Neil Sunday Mirror 11 August 1985 21 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19850811/239/0041 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Pts Total1 ENG Neil Middleditch 3 3 2 3 3 142 ENG Kevin Hawkins 2 3 2 3 3 133 ENG Trevor Banks 3 2 3 2 2 124 AUS Stan Bear 3 fx 2 2 3 10 5 ENG Doug Wyer 3 3 0 0 3 9 6 ENG Gordon Kennett 2 3 3 ef 0 8 7 ENG Dave Mullett 0 1 3 2 2 8 8 ENG Nigel De'ath 0 2 0 3 2 7 9ENG Louis Carr 2 ex 1 3 1 7 10 ENG Dave Perks 1 1 3 0 1 6 11 ENG Steve McDermott 2 2 0 1 0 5 12 ZIM Mike Ferreira 0 0 1 2 2 5 13 ENG Carl Baldwin 1 0 2 1 1 5 14 ENG Tom Owen 1 1 1 1 1 5 15 ENG Steve Lawson 1 2 0 1 t 4 16 ENG Steve Wilcock 0 1 1 0 0 2 17 ENG Mike Bacon (res) 00 f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure Pairs The National League Pairs was held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 15 September and was won by Ellesmere Port Gunners.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/ellesmereport1985.pdf 1985 Ellesmere Port results Speedway Researcher 24 May 2023 PosTeamPtsRiders1Wimbledon 20Ferreira 11, Johns 92Ellesmere P20Carr L 11, Owen J 93Poole 18Yeates 12, Bear 64Peterborough15Hawkins 11, Poole 45Middlesbrough 15Dixon 9, Wilcock 66Hackney 15Galvin 10, Banks 57Rye House14Silver 8, Stevens 68Arena Essex13Middleditch 11, Cheshire 2 PosTeamPtsRiders9Canterbury 13Mullett 10, Tilbury 310Exeter12Cook 10, Maxfield 211Mildenhall 11Taylor 8, Baldwin 312Stoke 10Thorp 8, Owen T 213Berwick 10McDermott 8, McMillan 214Birmingham9Wyer 9, White P 015Eastbourne9Kennett 9, Richardson 016Milton Keynes8White K 8, De'ath 0 Semi finals Poole bt Wimbledon Ellesmere Port bt Peterborough Final Ellesmere Port bt Poole Fours Middlesbrough Tigers won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 21 July.Speedway Daily Mirror 22 July 1985 11 May 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19850722/260/0027 British Newspaper Archive subscription Oakes Peter Speedway Yearbook 1990 1990 46 Front Page Books 0-948882-15-8 Semi finals SF1 = Hackney 18, Stoke 12, Berwick 10, Wimbledon 8 SF2 = Middlesbrough 17, Peterborough 12, Poole 11, Arena Essex 8 Final Pos TeamPts Riders1 Middlesbrough Tigers17 Havelock 7, Fiora, Pusey, Wilcock, Dixon2 Peterborough Panthers 12 Barney 83 Hackney Kestrels 10 Banks 54 Stoke Potters 9 Crabtree 5, Thorp 2, Owen 1, Wilding 0, Sumner 0 Leading averages Rider Team Average Gordon KennettEastbourne10.47 Joe OwenEllesmere Port10.47 Mike FerreiraWimbledon9.82 Stan BearPoole9.79 Carl BlackbirdMildenhall9.64 Roger JohnsWimbledon9.64 Neil MiddleditchArena Essex9.47 Steve LawsonGlasgow9.39 Louis CarrEllesmere Port9.37 Kevin SmithPoole9.32 London Cup Wimbledon won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney. It was also the first time that the competition had been competed for by second tier teams.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1985fixtures.pdf 1985 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Results Team Score TeamHackney 42–35 WimbledonWimbledon 43–35 Hackney Riders & final averages Arena Essex 22em Neil Middleditch 9.47 Martin Goodwin 7.42 Bob Humphreys 6.96 David Cheshire 6.90 David Smart 6.29 Alan Sage 5.63 Gary Chessell 4.77 Ian Humphreys 2.44 Sean Barker 2.12 Barrow (withrew from the league) 22em Paul Price 4.40 Kevin Armitage 4.00 Gary O'Hare 3.76 Eric Broadbelt 3.37 Terry Kelly 1.87 Bob Coles 1.71 Gary Clegg 1.33 Wayne Jackson 1.00 Berwick 22em Jimmy McMillan 8.24 Steve McDermott 7.70 Bruce Cribb 7.56 Charlie McKinna 7.56 Rob Grant Sr. 7.06 Sean Courtney 5.87 Phil Kynman 5.27 Jacko Irving 4.00 Birmingham 22em Doug Wyer 8.57 Reg Wilson 7.50 Phil White 7.39 Paul Evitts 6.03 Paul Stead 5.90 Linden Warner 4.50 Mark Stevenson 4.43 Ian M Stead 3.45 Julian Parr 2.80 Canterbury 22em Dave Mullett 8.78 Mike Spink 7.97 Rob Tilbury 6.44 Neville Tatum 5.72 Bill Barrett 5.64 Steve Bryenton 5.16 Lawrie Bloomfield 4.26 Mark Terry 2.13 Eastbourne 22em Gordon Kennett 10.47 Colin Richardson 8.66 Andy Buck 7.26 Martin Dugard 5.69 Keith Pritchard 5.63 Paul Clarke 5.49 Chris Mulvihill 4.38 Derek Harrison 3.18 Dean Standing 1.21 Edinburgh 22em Brett Saunders 7.46 Bobby Beaton 7.39 Steve Finch 7.02 Dave Trownson 6.13 Phil Jeffrey 5.70 Billy Burton 5.04 Mark Burrows 4.18 Alan Mason 3.76 Gordon Whitaker 3.24 Roger Lambert 2.97 Scott Lamb 1.92 Ellesmere Port 22em Joe Owen 10.47 Louis Carr 9.37 Dave Morton 8.03 David Walsh 6.73 Gary O'Hare 6.00 Miles Evans 5.76 Phil Alderman 5.37 Richie Owen 4.78 Exeter 22em Colin Cook 7.74 Rob Maxfield 7.74 Nigel Sparshott 7.39 Steve Bishop 7.14 Kevin Price 6.91 Michael Coles 6.28 Mike Semmonds 5.30 Dave Roberts 2.42 Glasgow 22em Steve Lawson 9.39 Martin McKinna 6.60 Andy Reid 5.99 Kenny Brailsford 4.50 David Cassels 4.23 Jim Beaton 4.21 Brian Collins 4.05 Geoff Powell 4.00 Colin Caffrey 3.65 Hackney 22em Trevor Banks 8.19 Andy Galvin 8.02 Paul Whittaker 7.76 Paul Bosley 7.52 Alan Mogridge 7.32 Barry Thomas 7.29 Richard Pettman 4.98 Long Eaton 22em Chris Pidcock 8.14 Dave Perks 8.09 David Tyler 7.06 Paul Stead 6.54 Graham Drury 5.97 Alan Molyneux 5.91 Gerald Short 5.85 Pete Smith 4.78 John Proctor 4.54 John Frankland 4.44 Mark Stevenson 4.00 Derek Cooper 2.70 Middlesbrough 22em Steve Wilcock 9.23 Martin Dixon 8.93 Mark Fiora 8.57 Gary Havelock 7.33 Jim Burdfield 6.72 Geoff Pusey 6.04 Mark Crang 3.83 Ian Wedgwood 3.02 Roland Tebbs 1.54 Mildenhall 22em Carl Blackbird 9.64 Melvyn Taylor 7.84 Carl Baldwin 7.82 Robert Henry 7.46 Andy Hines 7.20 Rob Hollingworth 5.84 Dave Jackson 5.45 Richard Green 3.92 Rob Parish 3.26 Wally Hill 2.54 Milton Keynes 22em Keith White 8.55 Nigel De'ath 8.48 David Blackburn 6.28 Derek Richardson 5.94 Kevin Smart 5.70 Mark Chessell .55 Ashley Pullen 4.00 Rob Wall 3.58 Peter McNamara 3.53 Rob Price 1.94 Peterborough 22em Kevin Hawkins 9.12 Mick Poole 7.52 Dave Allen 7.27 Ian Clark 6.73 Ian Barney 6.00 Keith Bloxsome 5.92 Adrian Hume 4.81 Pete Chapman 2.82 Poole 22em Stan Bear 9.79 Kevin Smith 9.32 Martin Yeates 8.40 David Biles 6.39 Marcus Bisson 6.09 Guy Wilson 5.98 Ray Dole 5.96 Dave Gibbs 3.95 Rye House 22em Andrew Silver 8.61 Alastair Stevens 7.37 Rob Woffinden 6.84 Bobby Garrad 6.34 Kelvin Mullarkey 5.91 Kevin Brice 4.41 Neil Cotton 4.33 Keith Millard 3.11 Gary Rolls 3.11 Nigel Leaver 2.10 Scunthorpe 22em Andy Buck 9.64 Rob Woffinden 7.54 Steve Finch 7.50 Derek Richardson 5.78 Julian Parr 4.57 Mark Burrows 4.40 Peter McNamara 1.93 Stoke 22em Nigel Crabtree 8.69 Tom Owen 8.36 Paul Thorp 7.38 Graham Jones 5.70 Mike Wilding 5.53 Ian Stead 5.33 Daz Sumner 4.82 Nigel Harrhy 3.45 Wimbledon 22em Mike Ferreira 9.82 Roger Johns 9.64 Jamie Luckhurst 8.34 Kevin Teager 6.45 Peter Johns 5.09 Jeremy Luckhurst 4.94 Mark Baldwin 4.73 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League Natonal League