1961 Provincial Speedway League

British motorcycle speedway season October 2023 October 2023 Provincial League 11 Champions Poole Pirates Knockout Cup Cradley Heathens Individual Reg Reeves Reg Reeves 1961 National League 1960 1962 The 1961 Provincial Speedway League was the second season of the Provincial League. Championship History Poole Speedway 2008 http://www.poolespeedway.net/08-website/lgerecord.php 2008-05-18 https://web.archive.org/web/20080516063211/http://www.poolespeedway.net/08-website/lgerecord.php 16 May 2008 dead Summary Eleven speedway teams took part. Liverpool, Yarmouth and Bristolhttps://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000681/19601231/248/0010 Bristol loses speedway, dog track Daily Herald 31 December 1960 British Newspaper Archive subscription 5 October 2024 had all folded at the end of the previous season and Bradford were unable to take their place in the league after the construction of their new track was delayed. Exeter, Plymouth, Wolverhampton, Middlesbrough and Newcastle all re-opened their tracks and joined the league for the start of the season. Plymouth took on Bristol's riders and Bulldog nickname. Poole were champions, finishing seven points ahead of runners up Plymouth.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html Year by Year Speedway Researcher 13 August 2021Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1946-1964 BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964) Official British Speedway website 13 August 2021 After a couple of challenge meetings held throughout 1960https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001061/19601004/009/0009 Speedway like this will pull league crowds Express and Echo 4 October 1960 British Newspaper Archive subscription 23 September 2024 Exeter returned following a five-year league absence under the promotion of Wally Mawdsley and Pete Lansdale.League Again at Exeter Express and Echo 10 August 1960 12 January 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001061/19600810/006/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription Final table Pos Team M W D L Pts1 Poole Pirates 20 15 1 4 312 Plymouth Bulldogs 20 12 0 8 243 Stoke Potters 20 12 0 8 244 Cradley Heath Heathens 20 11 1 8 235 Rayleigh Rockets 20 11 0 9 226 Edinburgh Monarchs 20 10 1 9 217 Sheffield Tigers 20 10 0 10 208 Exeter Falcons 20 9 0 11 189 Wolverhampton Wolves 20 7 0 13 1410 Middlesbrough Bears 20 6 1 13 1311 Newcastle Diamonds 20 5 0 15 10 M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey CH ED EX MID NEW PLY PP RAY SHE STO WOL Cradley Heath 42–36 40–38 51–27 59–19 40–38 38–40 43–35 40–38 42–36 45–33 Edinburgh 43–34 44–34 46–31 60–18 46–32 39–39 40–38 55–20 45–33 46–32 Exeter 45–33 52–25 57–20 48–29 41–36 27–51 48–30 47–31 40–37 53–24 Middlesbrough 39–39 34–43 53–25 43–35 40–37 51–27 51–26 36–42 37–38 48–30 Newcastle 34–44 42–36 44–34 42.5–35.5 44–33 29–49 37–40 42–36 33–45 37–40 Plymouth 54–24 46–32 44–34 47–31 48–30 40–38 45–32 47–31 41–36 44–34 Poole 56–22 58–20 50.5–27.5 63–15 52–25 39–37 55–23 50–28 56–22 53–24 Rayleigh 50–28 40–38 50–25 50–28 50–28 41–37 45–32 46–32 51–27 53–25 Sheffield 39–38 48–30 50–27 46–32 50–28 37–41 42–36 61–17 41–37 40–38 Stoke 44–34 47–29 41–37 50–28 54–22 51–26 31–47 49–29 42–35 46–31 Wolverhampton 33–45 47–31 45–33 45–33 41–37 25–53 37–41 55–23 43–35 33–45 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1961.html Speedway Researcher 1961 fixtures & results 3 February 2025 Top Five Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Reg Reeves ENG Rayleigh 11.43 2 Jack Scott AUS Plymouth 11.08 3 Ken Middleditch ENG Poole 10.55 4 Ross Gilbertson SCO Poole 10.51 5 Tony Lewis ENG Poole 10.32 Provincial League Knockout Cup The 1961 Provincial League Knockout Cup was the second edition of the Knockout Cup for the Provincial League teams. Cradley Heathens were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/provincial-league-ko-cup-1961.html 1961 Provincial League Knockout Cup Speedway archive 13 August 2021 First round Date Team one Score Team two13/05Stoke 53–41 Middlesbrough19/05Rayleigh 50–46 Exeter Second round Date Team one Score Team two18/05Sheffield 43–53 Plymouth21/06Poole 71–25 Wolverhampton24/06Stoke 46–50 Cradley Heath17/07Edinburgh 49–47 Rayleigh Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two29/07Cradley Heath 55–41 Poole12/08Edinburgh 55–40 Plymouth Final First leg 9 September 1961 Cradley HeathIvor Brown 15Harry Bastable 13Derek Timms 13Ivor Davies 10John Hart 8Tony Eadon 7Vic White 2 68 - 28 Cradley Heath to take cup now? Birmingham Weekly Mercury 10 September 1961 15 June 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19610910/027/0027 British Newspaper Archive subscription EdinburghDoug Templeton 9Willie Templeton 8Jimmy Tannock 4Wayne Briggs 4Alf Wells 2George Hunter 1Dick Campbell 0 Dudley Wood Stadium Second leg 23 September 1961 EdinburghDick Campbell 14Jimmy Tannock 10Wayne Briggs 9Doug Templeton 9Willie Templeton 8George Hunter 5Alf Wells 4 59 - 34 Cradley Heath's Trophy Birmingham Weekly Mercury 24 September 1961 15 June 2024 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001816/19610924/027/0027 British Newspaper Archive subscription Cradley HeathDerek Timms 7Ivor Brown 6Harry Bastable 6Tony Eadon 6John Hart 4Vic White 3Ivor Davies 2 Old Meadowbank Riders' Championship Reg Reeves won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Harringay Stadium on 16 September in front of 20,000 spectators. Defending champion Trevor Redmond suffered a broken chain in his last race when leading Reeves, which prevented him from winning the title again.One Long Yawn for Trevor Daily Mirror 18 September 1961 12 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19610918/195/0027 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Pts Total1 ENG Reg Reeves 3 3 3 3 3 152 NZL Trevor Redmond 3 3 3 3 ef 123 ENG Maury Mattingley 3 2 1 3 3 124 AUS Jack Scott 2 3 2 2 2 115 ENG Stan Stevens 2 1 2 2 3 116 ENG Ivor Brown 3 3 2 ef 3 117 ENG Harry Bastable 1 2 3 2 2 108 AUS Graham Warren 1 1 2 f 2 69 ENG Ken Middleditch 0 1 1 1 2 510 ENG Len Silver 2 2 0 0 1511 ENG Pete Lansdale 0 2 2 1 0 512 ENG Tony Lewis exc 0 1 3 1 513 ENG Vic Ridgeon 2 1 0 1 1 414 ENG Rick France 1 0 0 2 0 315 ENG Eric Boothroyd 2 0 1 1 0 316 ENG Peter Jarman f 0 0 f 1 1 f=fell, r-retired, exc=excluded, ef=engine failure Riders & final averages Cradley Heath 22em ENG Ivor Brown 10.14 ENG Harry Bastable 8.88 ENG Stan Stevens 7.54 ENG Ivor Davies 7.14 ENG George Bewley 6.15 ENG Derek Timms 5.97 ENG Ronnie Rolfe 5.29 ENG John Hart 5.04 ENG Alan Totney 4.44 ENG Tony Eadon 4.00 ENG Vic White 2.97 Edinburgh 22em SCO Dick Campbell 9.65 SCO Doug Templeton 8.42 SCO George Hunter 7.41 SCO Willie Templeton 6.55 NZL Wayne Briggs 5.83 SCO Jimmy Tannock 5.72 NZL Alf Wells 4.20 Exeter 22em ENG Pete Lansdale 9.33 ENG Len Silver 8.81 ENG Roy Bowers 8.12 ENG Howdy Byford 8.00 ENG Eric Hockaday 7.66 ENG Francis Cann 6.75 ENG Billy Smith 4.90 ENG Clive Hitch 3.84 ENG Eric Howe 3.60 ENG Len Glover 2.25 Middlesbrough 22em ENG Eric Boothroyd 9.05 ENG Geoff Pymar 8.50 ENG Clive Hitch 7.50 ENG Don Wilkinson 7.00 ENG Tommy Roper 6.49 ENG Fred Greenwell 6.18 ENG Wal Morton 5.65 ENG Rick France 5.56 ENG Eric Boocock 4.42 ENG Bob Webb 4.00 ENG Reg Nicholls 3.83 ENG Vic Lonsdale (Jack Thorp) 3.78 Newcastle 22em ENG Gil Goldfinch 8.65 ENG Don Wilkinson 7.05 ENG Vic Lonsdale (Jack Thorp) 5.85 ENG George Major 5.67 ENG Slant Payling 5.55 RSA 1928 George Glen 4.85 ENG Pat Flanagan 4.65 SCO Gordon Mitchell 2.61 Plymouth 22em AUS Jack Scott 11.08 ENG Maury Mattingley 9.38 ENG Cliff Cox 8.92 ENG Ron Bagley 6.86 ENG Chris Julian 6.03 ENG Pat Flanagan 4.41 CAN 1957 Chris Blewett 4.14 ENG Ray Wickett 3.36 SCO George Summers 1.23 Poole 22em ENG Ken Middleditch 10.55 SCO Ross Gilbertson 10.51 ENG Tony Lewis 10.32 AUS Geoff Mudge 7.80 ENG Tim Bungay 6.32 ENG Allan Kidd 5.88 ENG Norman Strachan 4.68 Rayleigh 22em ENG Reg Reeves 11.43 ENG Stan Stevens 8.53 ENG Harry Edwards 8.44 ENG Bob Thomas 6.68 ENG Roy Craighead 5.12 ENG Geoff Penniket 4.89 ENG Pete Sampson 4.39 ENG Terry Stone 4.36 Sheffield 22em ENG Guy Allott 9.64 ENG Clive Featherby 9.59 AUS Derrol Melbin 8.80 ENG Ronnie Rolfe 7.20 ENG Jack Winstanley 6.97 ENG Stuart Hickman 6.86 ENG Bernard McArthur 6.27 ENG Tony Robinson 6.21 ENG Col Smith 3.64 ENG Malcolm Bruce 3.40 Stoke 22em ENG Reg Fearman 9.60 ENG Ron Sharp 9.50 ENG Brian Craven 8.64 ENG Ken Adams 8.59 ENG Eric Hockaday 8.44 ENG Ray Harris 7.63 ENG Pete Jarman 6.97 ENG Peter Kelly 6.92 ENG Bill Wainwright 5.23 ENG John Edwards 5.22 ENG Frank Wooster 3.86 ENG Colin Pratt 3.00 ENG John Key 2.32 Wolverhampton 22em AUS Graham Warren 10.00 ENG Ernie Lessiter 8.33 ENG Tommy Sweetman 6.92 ENG Vic Ridgeon 6.45 ENG Terry Betts 6.24 ENG Bob Oakley 5.39 ENG Ron Taylor 4.97 ENG Derek Braithwaite 4.73 WAL Cyril Francis 4.67 WAL Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 4.62 ENG Eric Eadon 2.53 ENG Bob Warner 2.46 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway Provincial League Category:1961 in speedway