1983 British League season

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 British League Champions Cradley Heathens Knockout Cup Cradley Heathens League Cup Belle Vue Aces Individual Erik Gundersen Midland Cup Cradley Heathens London Cup Wimbledon Dons Hans Nielsen 1983 National League 1982 1984 The 1983 British League season was the 49th season of the top tier of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom and the 19th known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Summary Cradley Heathens won the league and cup double.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1983.php 1983 league tables Speedway GB Despite losing their double world champion Bruce Penhall to retirement the Cradley side performed just as well. Erik Gundersen, Simon Wigg and Lance King were now some of the world's leading riders and backed up by Phil Collins, Alan Grahame and Peter Ravn they were a formidable team. Even Penhall's replacement, a new signing from Denmark Jan O. Pedersen was already showing signs of a bright future.http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/years/1983.htm 1983 Cradley Speedway 30 July 2021 This would also be the final season of speedway for three-time world champion Ole Olsen, who announced his retirement.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19830221/183/0027 SportsSnaps Daily Mirror 21 February 1983 British Newspaper Archive subscription 21 January 2025 Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Cradley Heath Heathens 28 26 0 2 522 Ipswich Witches 28 22 1 5 453 Coventry Bees 28 19 0 9 384 Reading Racers 28 17 0 11 345 Belle Vue Aces 28 15 3 10 336 Wimbledon Dons 28 15 1 12 317 Hackney Hawks 28 14 0 14 288 King's Lynn Stars 28 12 1 15 259 Birmingham Brummies 28 12 0 16 2410 Sheffield Tigers 28 10 2 16 2211 Halifax Dukes 28 10 1 17 2112 Leicester Lions 28 9 2 17 2013 Poole Pirates 28 9 0 19 1814 Eastbourne Eagles 28 7 1 20 1515 Swindon Robins 28 7 0 21 14M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey BV BIR COV CH EAS HAC HAL IPS KL LEI PP RR SHE SWI WIM Belle Vue 42–36 42–36 29–49 45–33 46–31 45–33 41–37 46–32 41–37 49–28 42–36 42–36 47–31 42–36 Birmingham 40–38 38–40 36–42 55–23 38–39 53–25 40–38 48–30 45–33 52–26 44–33 50–28 43–35 36–42 Coventry 55–23 46–32 40–38 58–20 43–34 54–24 36–42 47–31 45–33 47–31 48–30 52–26 53–25 43–35 Cradley Heath 55–23 42–36 49–29 56–22 55–23 56–22 49–29 59–19 56–22 57–21 45–33 56–22 53–25 59–19 Eastbourne 40–38 41–36 36–42 22–56 31–47 42–36 35–43 40–38 43–35 38–40 32–46 45–33 40–38 39–39 Hackney 41–37 42–36 38–39 29–49 45–33 41–37 35–43 40–38 60–18 41–37 43–35 54–24 49–29 32–46 Halifax 38–40 44–34 36–42 37–41 51–27 43–35 38–40 47–31 46–32 47–31 40–38 48–30 43–35 43–35 Ipswich 39–39 50–28 41–37 46–32 45–33 47–31 50–28 42–36 42–36 47–31 42–36 43–35 41–37 47–31 King's Lynn 40–38 43–35 53–25 31–47 51–27 43–35 43–34 31–47 45–33 47–31 43–35 53–25 49–29 50–28 Leicester 39–39 42–36 40–38 22–56 50–28 48–30 40–38 35–43 39–39 44–34 37–41 55–23 38–40 50–28 Poole 41–36 42–36 36–42 27–51 38–40 49–28 56–22 37–41 45–33 43–35 36–42 38–40 41–37 42–36 Reading 45–33 41–37 43–35 35–43 43–34 43–35 50–28 45–33 46–32 40–37 46–32 51–27 48–30 44–34 Sheffield 39–39 44–34 41–37 32–46 54–24 44–34 39–39 41–37 40–38 37–41 45–33 42–36 47–30 38–40 Swindon 34–44 30–47 28–50 29–49 46–32 38–40 45–33 37–41 44–34 40–38 43–35 34–44 40–38 35–43 Wimbledon 52–26 45–33 47–30 35–43 45–33 37–40 45–33 37–41 43–35 46–31 42–36 46–32 62–16 48–30 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1983.html Speedway Researcher 1983 fixtures & results 26 March 2025 Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Dennis Sigalos USA Ipswich 10.99 2 Hans Nielsen DEN Birmingham 10.77 3 Erik Gundersen DEN Cradley 10.59 4 Mitch Shirra NZL Reading 10.38 5 Michael Lee ENG Poole 10.36 6 Kenny Carter ENG Halifax 10.34 7 Billy Sanders AUS Ipswich 10.27 8 Chris Morton ENG Belle Vue 10.17 9 Phil Crump AUS Swindon 9.88 10 Jan Andersson SWE Reading 9.61 British League Knockout Cup The 1983 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 45th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath Heathens were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/04/british-league-ko-cup-1983.html 1983 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two09/07 Belle Vue 56-22 Halifax30/06 Wimbledon 46-32 Swindon25/06 Halifax41-37 Belle Vue25/06 Swindon 34-44 Wimbledon19/06 Eastbourne 34-43 Kings Lynn11/06 Coventry 45-33 Sheffield11/06 Cradley Heath 46-32 Hackney11/06 Kings Lynn 47-31 Eastbourne09/06 Sheffield 37-41 Coventry30/05 Birmingham 43-35 Reading30/05 Reading 44-34 Birmingham27/05 Hackney 35-43 Cradley Heath24/05 Leicester 40-38 Ipswich19/05 Ipswich 43-34 Leicester Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two21/08 Kings Lynn 45-33 Belle Vue20/08 Belle Vue 58-20 Kings Lynn23/07 Coventry 44-34 Wimbledon21/07 Wimbledon 38-40 Coventry18/07 Reading 40-38 Ipswich13/07 Poole 35-43 Cradley Heath09/07 Cradley Heath 53-25 Poole07/07 Ipswich 39-39 Reading Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two09/10 Belle Vue 38-40 Coventry08/10 Coventry 44-34 Belle Vue24/09 Cradley Heath 47-31 Reading19/09 Reading 32-46 Cradley Heath Final First leg= 12 October 1983 Coventry BeesOle Olsen 10Gary Guglielmi 8Sam Nikolajsen 7Steve Bastable 5Rick Miller4Finn Thomsen (guest) 3Kevin Hawkins 2 39 - 39 https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/coventry1983.pdf Coventry Bees 1983 season Speedway Researcher 25 June 2021 Cradley HeathErik Gundersen 13Simon Wigg 11Phil Collins 8Alan Grahame 3Peter Ravn 2Jan O. Pedersen 2Lance King R/R Brandon Stadium Second leg 17 October 1983 Cradley HeathErik Gundersen 13Alan Grahame 9Peter Ravn 7Simon Wigg 7Phil Collins 6Jan O. Pedersen 5Lance King R/R 47 - 31 Coventry BeesOle Olsen 10Gary Guglielmi 10Bo Petersen (guest) 7Steve Bastable 2Rick Miller 1Kevin Hawkins 1Sam Nikolajsen 0 Dudley Wood Stadium Cradley Heath were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 86-70. League Cup The League Cup was split into North and South sections. The two-legged final was won by Belle Vue Aces beating Coventry Bees in the final 86–70 on aggregate. North Group Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Coventry Bees 12 9 1 2 192 Belle Vue Aces 12 8 0 4 163 Cradley Heathens 12 7 1 4 154 Halifax Dukes 12 5 0 7 105 Leicester Lions 12 4 0 8 86 Sheffield Tigers 12 4 0 8 87 Birmingham Brummies 12 4 0 8 8 South Group Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Wimbledon Dons 14 11 0 3 222 Ipswich Witches 14 9 0 5 183 Reading Racers 14 8 0 6 164 Poole Pirates 14 8 0 6 165 Hackney Hawks 14 8 0 6 166 King's Lynn Stars 13 6 1 6 137 Eastbourne Eagles 14 2 1 11 58 Swindon Robins 13 2 0 11 4 North Group main FBR grey BV BIR COV CH HAL LEI SHE Belle Vue 48–30 48–30 41–37 45–33 41–37 52–26 Birmingham 42–36 36–42 35–40 48–30 42–36 40–38 Coventry 40–38 40–38 39–39 37–40 53–25 49–29 Cradley 52–26 56–22 35–43 43–35 45–33 50–28 Halifax 38–40 44–34 36–42 41–37 43–35 43–35 Leicester 42–36 43–35 38–40 37–41 47–31 43–35 Sheffield 31–47 44–34 37–41 43–35 45–33 42–36 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1983fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1983 fixtures & results 8 October 2025 South Group main FBR grey EAS HAC IPS KL PP REA SWI WIM Eastbourne 37–41 43–35 39–39 32–46 32–46 43–35 31–47 Hackney 48–30 41–36 41–36 48–30 40–38 50–28 33–45 Ipswich 43–35 37–41 43–35 44–37 40–38 42–36 42–36 King's Lynn 54–24 46–32 34–44 44–34 42–36 37–35a 46–32 Poole 45–33 48–30 40–37 42–36 38–40 42–36 47–31 Reading 47–31 47–31 35–43 46–32 41–37 42–36 33–45 Swindon 43–35 43–35 34–44 31–47 36–42 32–46 37–41 Wimbledon 40–38 45–33 51–27 43–35 42–36 40–38 44–34 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1983fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1983 fixtures & results 8 October 2025 Final Date Team one Score Team two22/10 Coventry 39–39 Belle Vue23/10 Belle Vue 47–31 Coventry Leading final averages Rider Team Average DEN Hans Nielsen Birmingham10.82 USA Dennis Sigalos Ipswich 10.75 ENG Chris Morton Belle Vue10.30 ENG Kenny Carter Halifax10.28 DEN Erik Gundersen Cradley Heath10.23 ENG Michael LeePoole10.16 AUS Phil Crump Swindon10.03 NZL Mitch Shirra Reading 10.02 DEN Tommy Knudsen Coventry 9.87 AUS Billy Sanders Ipswich 9.70 DEN Ole Olsen Coventry9.56 Riders' Championship Erik Gundersen won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 15 October.Dane wins Sunday Mirror 16 October 1983 4 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19831016/305/0041 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 DEN Erik Gundersen 3 3 3 2 3 142 ENG Michael Lee 0 3 3 3 3 123 DEN Hans Nielsen 2 3 3 2 2 124 ENG Kenny Carter 1 1 2 3 3 105 ENG John Louis 0 3 1 2 3 96 AUS Billy Sanders 3 1 1 3 1 97 NZL Mitch Shirra 2 2 0 3 1 88 DEN Bo Petersen 3 2 1 0 2 89 AUS Phil Crump 3 0 2 2 1 8 10 DEN Ole Olsen 1 2 2 0 2 7 11 SWE Jan Andersson 2 1 2 1 1 712 ENG Paul Woods 2 2 0 1 0 5 13 NZL David Bargh 1 0 1 1 2 514 ENG Chris Morton 1 1 3 0 0 5 15 ENG Mark Courtney 0 0 0 1 0 116 FIN Kai Niemi 0 0 0 - - 0 17 ENG Martin Scarisbrick (res) 0 - - - - 0 18 ENG David Wild (res) 0 - - - - 0 ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired Midland Cup Cradley Heath won the Midland Cup. The competition consisted of five teams.Cradley's treble glory! Birmingham Mail 25 October 1983 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002139/19831025/035/0035 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription First round Team one Team two ScoreLeicester Swindon 38–40, 32–46 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreCoventryBirmingham48–30, 38–40 CradleySwindon 60–18, 40–38 Final First leg 19 October 1983 CoventrySeve Bastable 11Rick Miller 7 Kevin Hawkins 6 Sam Nikolajsen 5 Gary Guglielmi 4 John Davis (guest) 4 Keith White 1 38–40 Cradley HeathErik Gundersen 11 Simon Wigg 6 Alan Grahame 6 Phil Collins 6 Peter Ravn 5 Jan O Pedersen 3 Simon Cross 3 Brandon Stadium Second leg 24 October 1983 Cradley HeathLance King 11Erik Gundersen 10 Alan Grahame 9 Phil Collins 9 Peter Ravn 7 Simon Wigg 6 Jan O Pedersen 4 56–22 Coventry Jan Andersson (guest) 12Rick Miller 4Gary Guglielmi 3Seve Bastable 1 Kevin Hawkins 1 Sam Nikolajsen 1 Keith White 0 Dudley Wood Stadium Cradley won on aggregate 96–60 London Cup Wimbledon won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1983record.pdf 1983 fixtures and results Speedway Researcher 1 October 2023 Results Team Score TeamWimbledon 50–28 HackneyHackney 43–35 Wimbledon Riders & final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Chris Morton 10.30 ENG Peter Collins 9.13 NZL Larry Ross 7.37 ENG Peter Carr 5.62 ENG Louis Carr 5.38 DEN Peter Ravn 4.95 ENG Andy Smith 4.48 SCO Kenny McKinna 4.30 ENG Martin Scarisbrick 1.09 Birmingham 22em DEN Hans Nielsen 10.82 ENG Andy Grahame 8.29 ENG Neil Evitts 6.88 USA Shawn McConnell 5.71 GER Karl Maier 5.63 CZE Petr Ondrašík 5.36 DEN John Jørgensen 5.01 DEN Kent Noer 4.85 ENG Paul Thorp 3.13 ENG Mike Wilding 2.07 Coventry 22em DEN Tommy Knudsen 9.87 DEN Ole Olsen 9.56 AUS Gary Guglielmi 8.07 ENG Steve Bastable 6.79 ENG Kevin Hawkins 5.44 DEN Sam Nikolajsen 5.23 USA Rick Miller 4.87 Cradley Heath 22em DEN Erik Gundersen 10.23 ENG Simon Wigg 8.86 USA Lance King 8.74 ENG Alan Grahame 8.69 ENG Phil Collins 7.98 DEN Peter Ravn 7.97 DEN Jan O. Pedersen 6.78 ENG Simon Cross 6.00 ENG Andy Reid 2.54 AUS David Cheshire 2.33 Eastbourne 22em ENG Paul Woods 8.73 DEN John Eskildsen 6.53 ENG Mike Lanham 4.18 ENG Dave Kennett 3.87 SWE Anders Eriksson 3.79 SWE Lillebror Johansson 3.79 POL Piotr Pyszny 3.75 ZIM Denzil Kent 3.65 ENG Trevor Geer 3.56 ITA Ottaviano Righetto 2.55 DEN Rene Christiansen 1.93 GER Peter Schroeck 0.27 Hackney 22em DEN Bo Petersen 8.47 DEN Finn Thomsen 7.94 DEN Jens Rasmussen 6.74 ENG Sean Willmott 6.30 AUS John Titman 6.25 ENG Martin Hagon 4.83 CZE Antonín Kasper Jr. 4.39 ENG Bob Garrad 4.30 Halifax 22em ENG Kenny Carter 10.28 AUS Steve Baker 6.60 ENG Doug Wyer 6.17 ENG Steve Finch 5.77 ENG Martin Dixon 5.59 ENG Craig Pendlebury 5.41 ITA Gianni Famari 3.52 ENG Eric Boocock 2.40 Ipswich 22em USA Dennis Sigalos 10.75 AUS Billy Sanders 9.70 ENG Jeremy Doncaster 6.79 DEN Preben Eriksen 6.72 ENG Nigel Flatman 4.82 ENG Andy Hines 4.51 ENG Carl Baldwin 4.08 ENG Andy Hibbs 4.06 ENG Andy Nightingale 0.35 King's Lynn 22em ENG John Louis 8.45 ENG Gordon Kennett 8.39 SWE Richard Hellsen 7.02 ENG Colin Richardson 6.29 ENG Kevin Jolly 6.21 ENG Melvyn Taylor 5.95 ENG Keith Bloxsome 5.25 Leicester 22em ENG Mark Courtney 8.66 ENG Les Collins 8.24 ENG Neil Collins 7.17 AUS Steve Regeling 5.95 DEN Finn Jensen 5.11 ENG Colin Cook 5.10 ENG Mike Lanham 4.98 ENG Eric Monaghan 4.76 DEN Steen Mastrup 3.85 AUS Phil Herne 3.81 Poole 22em ENG Michael Lee 10.16 ENG John Davis 7.72 ENG Kevin Smith 6.95 CZE Václav Verner 6.06 ENG Neil Middleditch 5.38 ENG Andy Campbell 4.74 AUS Stan Bear 4.41 USA Sam Ermolenko 4.25 (4 matches only) DEN Brian Jakobsen 4.23 SWE Erik Stenlund 3.56 ENG Keith Millard 2.96 Reading 22em NZL Mitch Shirra 10.02 SWE Jan Andersson 9.47 USA Bobby Schwartz 9.02 SWE Pierre Brannefors 7.28 ENG Tim Hunt 4.31 DEN Peter Glanz 3.85 CZE Stanislav Urban 3.24 ENG John Grahame 2.74 Sheffield 22em USA Shawn Moran 9.43 NZL David Bargh 7.03 ENG Phil White 6.26 ENG Dave Morton 5.84 ENG Reg Wilson 5.09 ENG Eric Monaghan 3.97 NZL Alan Mason 3.26 ENG Gerald Short 2.13 Swindon 22em AUS Phil Crump 10.03 SWE Bjorn Andersson 7.01 AUS Phil Herne 5.65 ENG Martin Yeates 5.23 USA Steve Gresham 5.14 ENG Malcolm Holloway 4.99 DEN Alf Busk 4.31 DEN Steen Mastrup 3.57 DEN Per Sorensen 2.88 CZE Milan Špinka 1.93 Wimbledon 22em ENG Dave Jessup 9.25 ENG Malcolm Simmons 7.86 FIN Kai Niemi 7.67 FIN Ari Koponen 6.55 ENG Kelvin Tatum 6.19 ZIM Mike Ferreira 5.95 ENG Roger Johns 5.18 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League Category:1983 in British motorsport Category:1983 in speedway