1951 Speedway National League Division Two

British speedway season October 2023 October 2023 National League Division Two 16 Champions Norwich Stars National Trophy(Div 2 final) Norwich Stars Midland Cup Leicester Hunters Central Shield Cradley Heath Northern Shield Edinburgh Southern Shield Norwich Stars Jack Young National League (Div 1) National League (Div 3) 1950 1952 The 1951 National League Division Two was the sixth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. Summary The League was extended again with 18 teams starting the season. New entrants were Motherwell Eagles and there were again three teams promoted from Division Three - the champions Oxford Cheetahs,Bamford/Shailes Robert/Glynn The History of Oxford Speedway 2007 Tempus Publishing Ltd 978-0-7524-4161-0 third-place finishers Leicester Hunters and Liverpool Chads (despite finishing 8th). Plymouth Devils moved back down in the opposite direction.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Norwich Stars retained their league title, while Cradley Heath, Edinburgh and Norwich won the early season shield competitions.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000653/19510512/003/0001 Cradley Heath win Shield Sports Argus 12 May 1951 British Newspaper Archive subscription 23 June 2025https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000640/19510507/131/0009 Chance To Be Second Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette 7 May 1951 British Newspaper Archive subscription 23 June 2025 Another rider was killed at the Firs Stadium (a fourth in five years). Twenty-one-year-old Bob Howes died after hitting the fence during a training practice race on 10 November 1951.Speedway death Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 10 November 1951 11 August 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000378/19511110/153/0008 British Newspaper Archive subscription https://national-speedway-museum.co.uk/norwich%20-%20the%20firs.html Norwich The Firs Stadium National Speedway Museum 12 August 2021 Southampton Saints and Sheffield Tigers resigned in mid-season and their records were expunged.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000452/19510705/198/0006 Well Rewarded Edinburgh Evening News 5 July 1951 British Newspaper Archive subscription 25 February 2025 Jimmy Baxter Director of Southern Speedways withdrew Southampton from the league largely due to 45% entertainment duty imposed by the government.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000290/19510608/055/0004 Tracks Tax Portsmouth Evening News 8 June 1951 British Newspaper Archive subscription 25 February 2025 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000764/19510614/008/0008 Southampton out of speedway league Bristol Evening Post 14 June 1951 British Newspaper Archive subscription 25 February 2025 and they had their results expunged. Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Norwich Stars 30 24 0 6 482 Leicester Hunters 30 19 0 11 383 Edinburgh Monarchs 30 18 0 12 364 Coventry Bees 30 16 3 11 355 Walthamstow Wolves 30 17 0 13 346 Halifax Dukes 30 17 0 13 347 Motherwell Eagles 30 16 1 13 338 Ashfield Giants 30 16 0 14 329 Hanley Potters 30 15 0 15 3010 Glasgow White City Tigers 30 14 1 15 2911 Yarmouth Bloaters 30 13 1 16 2712 Oxford Cheetahs 30 12 2 16 2613 Liverpool Chads 30 12 1 17 2514 Fleetwood Flyers 30 9 2 19 2015 Cradley Heath Heathens 30 9 0 21 1816 Newcastle Diamonds 30 7 1 22 15 Fixtures & results main FBR grey ASH COV CH ED FLE GLA HAL HAN LEI LIV MOT NEW NOR OX WAL YAR Ashfield 64–20 57–27 40–44 54–30 55–29 52–32 56–28 51–33 40–44 45–38 55–29 41–43 44–40 47–37 56–28 Coventry 51–31 57–27 51–32 60–23 42–42 52–32 36–48 43–41 44–40 59–25 57–27 45–39 43–41 44–40 63–21 Cradley 41–43 48–35 39–44 55–29 55–29 37–47 32–52 23–61 54–30 41–40 60–24 39–45 56–28 32–52 52–32 Edinburgh 46–38 38–45 61–23 58–26 55–29 55–29 55–29 37–47 50–34 36–48 64–20 37–47 51–33 48–36 52–32 Fleetwood 41–42 44–40 46–36 36–48 45–39 40–44 52–31 46–38 38–40 42–42 45–38 33–51 53–31 49–35 56–28 Glasgow 56–28 46–38 60–23 44–40 65–19 52–32 60–4 53–31 54–30 40–44 51–33 53–30 57–27 49–35 57–27 Halifax 48–36 41–43 50–34 54–30 60–24 55–29 58–26 39–45 47–37 60–24 56–28 51–33 48–36 43–41 57–27 Hanley 43–41 49–34 60–24 51–32 60–23 53–31 43–40 50–34 53–31 37–47 57–24 41–42 62–22 34–49 46–38 Leicester 49–35 44–40 55–29 47–37 57–27 51–33 40–44 47–37 58–26 52–32 60–24 48–36 50–34 48–36 55–29 Liverpool 47–37 42–42 34–50 41–43 51–32 47–37 39–45 50–34 54–30 41–43 61–23 34–49 52–32 49–35 51–33 Motherwell 41–43 43–41 43–41 40–42 55–29 50–34 53–31 55–29 43–41 34–50 40–44 46–38 61–23 47–37 65–19 Newcastle 40–44 40–43 43–41 32–52 42–42 45–39 44–40 30–54 36–47 50–34 28–56 36–48 37–46 50–34 57–27 Norwich 55–29 57–27 59–25 55–28 62–22 59–25 61–23 64–20 54–30 60–24 62–22 58–26 67–17 60–24 63–21 Oxford 56–28 42–42 45–39 45–38 61–23 47–37 48–36 49–35 32–52 50–34 53–31 55–29 40–44 33–47 50–34 Walthamstow 52–31 48–36 63–21 51–33 67–16 49–35 57–27 61–23 59–25 54–29 50–34 54–29 39–45 58–25 56–28 Yarmouth 60–24 44–38 48–35 37–47 63–18 46–38 53–31 51–33 50–34 49–35 49–35 52–31 44–40 42–42 46–38 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1951.html Speedway Researcher 1951 fixtures & results 13 January 2025 Top five riders (league only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Jack Young AUS Edinburgh 11.72 2 Bob Leverenz AUS Norwich 10.84 3 Derick Close ENG Newcastle/Motherwell 10.71 4 Tommy Miller SCO Glasgow Tigers 10.70 5 Arthur Forrest ENG Halifax 10.30 National Trophy Stage Two For Stage One - see Stage One For Stage Three - see Stage Three The 1951 National Trophy was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top-tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Norwich won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-trophy-1951.html 1951 National Trophy Speedway archive Second Division qualifying first round Date Team one Score Team two14/05 Exeter 60-47 Oxford10/05 Oxford 80-28 Exeter09/05 Fleetwood 64-44 Newcastle04/05 Southampton 60-48 Walthamstow30/04 Newcastle 71-36 Fleetwood30/04 Walthamstow 77-31 Southampton Second Division Qualifying Second round Date Team one Score Team two28/05 Cradley Heath 58-49 Coventry26/05 Coventry 48-60 Cradley Heath24/05 Oxford 61-47 Yarmouth22/05 Yarmouth 63-44 Oxford21/05 Newcastle 47-70 Norwich19/05 Norwich 79-29 Newcastle14/05 Walthamstow 81-26 Stoke Hanley12/05 Edinburgh 77-29 Leicester12/05 Stoke Hanley 59-49 Walthamstow11/05 Leicester 46-62 Edinburgh11/05 Motherwell 39-69 Halifax09/05 Halifax 79-29 Motherwell08/05 Glasgow Ashfield 70-38 Liverpool07/05 Liverpool 62-46 Glasgow Ashfield - Glasgow w/oSheffield Second Division Qualifying quarterfinals Date Team one Score Team two05/06 Glasgow Ashfield 71-37 Cradley Heath30/05 Glasgow White City 64-44 Norwich26/05 Edinburgh 68-40 Halifax23/05 Halifax 68-39 Edinburgh26/05 Norwich 14-4 Glasgow White City11/06 Walthamstow 73-35 Yarmouth09/06 Norwich 81-27 Glasgow White City29/05 Yarmouth 57-51 Walthamstow Second Division Qualifying semifinals Date Team one Score Team two07/07 Norwich 67.5-40.5 Cradley Heath11/06 Cradley Heath 83-25 Glasgow Ashfield04/07 Halifax 71-37 Walthamstow02/07 Walthamstow 74-34 Halifax Second Division Qualifying final First leg 28 July 1951 Norwich StarsPhil Clarke 17Bob Leverenz 16Paddy Mills 11Fred Pawson 10Jack Freeman 10Alec Hunter 9Fred Rogers 6Bill Codling 4 83 – 25 Walthamstow Are Swamped Weekly Dispatch (London) 29 July 1951 30 October 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003359/19510729/148/0007 British Newspaper Archive subscription https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/norwich1951.pdf Norwich 1951 results Speedway researcher 30 October 2021 Walthamstow WolvesBenny King 7Pete Lansdale 6Harry Edwards 5Jimmy Grant 3Alby Smith 2Sid Clarke 1Jim Boyd 1Reg Reeves 0 The Firs Stadium Second leg 30 July 1951 Walthamstow WolvesJim Boyd 12Benny King 12Archie Windmill 7Reg Reeves 6Harry Edwards 5Pete Lansdale 4Sid Clarke 2Jimmy Grant 2 50 – 58 Sport Summary Daily News (London) 31 July 1951 30 October 2021 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003214/19510731/155/0006 British Newspaper Archive subscription Norwich StarsBob Leverenz 18Fred Rogers 10Phil Clarke 9Jack Freeman 7Fred Pawson 6Alec Hunter 6Paddy Mills 2Bill Codling 0 Walthamstow Stadium Shields Southern Shield Team PL W D L PtsNorwich 10 7 1 2 15 Walthamstow 10 6 0 4 12 Oxford 10 6 0 4 12 Southampton 10 5 1 4 11 Yarmouth 10 2 0 8 4 Coventry 10 1 0 9 2 Central Shield Team PL W D L PtsCradley Heath 10 7 0 3 14 Leicester 10 6 0 4 12 Halifax 10 5 1 4 11 Hanley 10 5 0 5 10 Sheffield 10 3 1 6 7 Liverpool 10 2 1 7 5 main FBR grey COV NOR OX SOT WAL YAR Coventry 26–58 37–47 33–51 40–43 48–35 Norwich 55–27 51–33 61–23 56–28 63–21 Oxford 53–50 50–34 48–53 49–35 52–32 Southampton 51–33 42–42 43–41 34–50 68–16 Walthamstow 51–32 55–29 39–45 51–33 50–34 Yarmouth 55–29 23–61 36–48 54–30 28–56 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1951.html Speedway Researcher 1951 fixtures & results 17 June 2025 main FBR grey CH HAL HAN LEI LIV SHE Cradley Heath 51–33 52–31 38–46 57–26 56–28 Halifax 41–43 56–28 54–30 55–29 51–33 Hanley 45–39 62–22 45–39 62–20 52–32 Leicester 54–30 57–27 61–23 52.5–31.5 50–34 Liverpool 34–50 33–51 49–35 46–38 42–42 Sheffield 36–48 42–42 48–36 44–40 50–34 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1951.html Speedway Researcher 1951 fixtures & results 17 June 2025 Northern Shield Team PL W D L PtsEdinburgh 10 9 0 1 18 Glasgow 10 7 0 3 10 Newcastle 10 5 0 5 10 Motherwell 10 4 0 6 8 Ashfield 10 3 0 7 6 Fleetwood 10 2 0 8 4 main FBR grey ASH ED FLE GLA MOT NEW Ashfield 30–54 53–31 40–44 61–23 38–46 Edinburgh 50–32 59–25 61–23 62–21 54–30 Fleetwood 43–41 29–55 35–49 39–44 45–39 Glasgow 57–27 42–41 56–28 51–32 47–37 Motherwell 39–45 27–57 46–38 46–35 42–41 Newcastle 47–35 38–44 58–26 47–37 52–32 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1951.html Speedway Researcher 1951 fixtures & results 17 June 2025 Midland Cup Leicester won the inaugural Midland Cup, which consisted of eight teams. There was one team from division 1, five teams from division 2 and two teams from division 3. First round Team one Team two ScoreHanleyWolverhampton67–29, 60–30 Second round Team one Team two ScoreLeicesterLong Eaton 75–21, 52–44Oxford Coventry 58–38, 37–59CradleyHanley57–39, 45–50 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreCoventryLeicester 49–45, 41–55 Birmingham Cradley65–30, 62–34 Final First leg 13 October 1951 BirminghamGraham Warren 14 Alan Hunt 11 Ron Mountford 10 Eric Boothroyd 7 Lionel Watling 3 Cyril Page 2 Roy Browning 1 Jim Tolley 0 48–48 LeicesterLen Williams 14Les Beaumont 10Fred Perkins 7 Johnny Carpenter 7Lionel Benson 4 Laurie Holland 4 Harwood Pike 2Vic Pitcher 0 Perry Barr Stadium Second leg 19 October 1951 LeicesterLen Williams 13 Lionel Benson 10 Fred Perkins 9 Johnny Carpenter 7Les Beaumont 3 Harwood Pike 2 Laurie Holland 4Jock Grierson 2 50–46 Hunters' Cup Win in Last heat Leicester Daily Mercury 20 October 1951 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19511020/009/0009 British Newspaper Archive 5 October 2023 subscription BirminghamGraham Warren 11 Alan Hunt 10Eric Boothroyd 6 Ron Mountford 10 Cyril Page 4 Lionel Watling 3 Jim Tolley 2Roy Browning 0 Leicester Stadium Leicester won on aggregate 98–94 Riders & final averages Ashfield 22em ENG Bruce Semmens 9.02 AUS Merv Harding 8.57 SCO Willie Wilson 7.30 ENG Cyril Cooper 6.20 AUS Jack Gates 6.17 AUS Ron Phillips 6.07 SCO Larry Lazarus 5.61 ENG Ron Johnson 4.46 ENG Bob Lovell 4.39 SCO Eric Liddell 2.74 Coventry 22em AUS Les Hewitt 8.48 ENG Bob Fletcher 8.21 ENG Johnny Reason 8.04 ENG Stan Williams 6.99 NZL Charlie New 6.24 ENG John Yates 5.91 ENG Derrick Tailby 5.63 ENG Jack Wright 5.85 ENG Cyril Cooper 5.58 ENG Peter Brough 5.26 ENG Wilf Plant 4.73 Cradley Heath 22em ENG Brian Shepherd 9.00 ENG Laurie Schofield 6.76 ENG Gil Craven 8.56 ENG Phil Malpass 7.86 ENG Guy Allott 6.55 ENG Les Tolley 6.51 ENG Harry Bastable 6.14 ENG Dick Tolley 5.15 ENG Dennis Hitchings 4.43 ENG Wilf Willstead 4.00 ENG Bill Clifton 3.52 AUS Don Prettejohn 1.74 Edinburgh 22em AUS Jack Young 11.72 ENG Don Cuppleditch 8.45 NZL Dick Campbell 8.15 SCO Bob Mark 7.36 ENG Harold Fairhurst 7.11 ENG Johnny Green 5.74 ENG Eddie Lack 5.38 SCO Jim Turner 3.45 ENG Harold Booth 3.00 SCO Jackie Campbell 2.53 SCO Jimmy Cox 2.45 Fleetwood 22em ENG Norman Hargreaves 8.00 ENG Wilf Jay 7.93 ENG Don Potter 7.13 ENG Alf Parker 6.25 ENG Ray Harker 3.88 SCO Angus McGuire 3.40 ENG Jeff Crawford 3.04 ENG Ray Moore 2.51 ENG Russ Pursehouse 2.09 Glasgow 22em SCO Tommy Miller 10.70 AUS Junior Bainbridge 9.18 AUS Norman Lindsay 5.86 ENG Frank Hodgson 6.43 SCO Ken McKinlay 6.29 ENG Jack Hodgson 6.09 ENG Len Nicholson 4.62 SCO Jim Blyth 4.55 SCO Alf McIntosh 4.37 Halifax 22em ENG Arthur Forrest 10.30 ENG Vic Emms 9.03 ENG Jack Hughes 7.70 ENG Al Allison 6.08 ENG Bill Crosland 5.71 ENG Ray Johnson 5.18 ENG Dyson Harper 4.86 WAL Jack Dawson 4.59 ENG George Stringer 2.71 Hanley 22em ENG Ken Adams 8.71 AUS Lindsay Mitchell 7.10 ENG Gil Blake 6.65 AUS Bill Harris 6.65 GGY Johnny Fitzparick 6.36 ENG Brian Pritchett 6.34 ENG Les Jenkins 6.32 ENG Ray Harris 5.80 ENG Bill Bridgett 1.00 Leicester 22em ENG Len Williams 9.42 AUS Lionel Benson 8.43 ENG Les Beaumont 8.24 ENG Harwood Pike 7.93 ENG Fred Perkins 6.86 ENG Joe Bowkis 6.55 SCO Jock Grierson 6.17 ENG Cyril Page 5.30 ENG Ron Wilson 4.92 ENG Johnny Carpenter 4.65 ENG Vic Pitcher 3.45 NZL Laurie Holland 3.30 Liverpool 22em ENG Peter Robinson 8.80 ENG Len Read 7.83 ENG Reg Duval 7.43 ENG Tommy Allott 7.39 ENG Bill Griffiths 5.75 ENG Harry Welch 5.50 ENG Alf Webster 5.39 ENG George Newton 4.23 AUS Buck Whitby 3.71 ENG Peter Craven 2.40 Motherwell 22em ENG Derick Close 10.18 SCO Gordon McGregor 8.86 AUS Keith Gurtner 8.37 AUS Noel Watson 7.48 ENG Joe Crowther 6.32 ENG Bill Dalton 5.50 ENG Will Lowther 5.20 ENG Stan Bradbury 5.00 AUS Bluey Scott 4.59 ENG Danny Lee 2.35 SCO Bob Lindsay 2.24 SCO Bill Baird 1.95 Newcastle 22em ENG Derick Close 10.25 ENG Son Mitchell 6.80 ENG Wal Morton 6.10 ENG Herby King 6.00 ENG Don Wilkinson 5.49 AUS Jack Chignell 5.46 AUS Don Lawson 4.56 ENG Peter Orpwood 4.45 ENG Norman Johnson 4.20 ENG Johnny Green 4.19 AUS Ernie Brecknell (Ernest Blight) 4.00 ENG Roy Dook 2.93 CAN Mike Tams 2.91 Norwich 22em AUS Bob Leverenz 10.84 ENG Phil Clarke 9.50 ENG Fred Rogers 8.38 ENG Paddy Mills (Horace Burke) 7.91 ENG Fred Pawson 7.82 ENG Jack Freeman 7.73 AUS Alec Hunter 7.93 ENG Bill Codling 5.88 WAL Trevor Davies 1.00 Oxford 22em ENG Pat Clark 9.10 ENG Bill Kemp 7.23 ENG Roger Wise 7.15 ENG Bill Osborne 7.06 ENG Ernie Rawlins 7.03 ENG Harry Saunders 6.62 NZL Frank Boyle 5.53 ENG Cyril Quick 5.52 ENG Eric Irons 5.49 NZL Bob McFarlane 5.35 ENG Herby King 3.64 Sheffield (withdrew mid-season) 22em ENG Guy Allott 8.60 ENG Tommy Allott 8.00 ENG Len Williams 7.24 ENG Peter Orpwood 6.10 ENG Bill Dalton 5.89 NZL Charlie New 5.40 ENG Johnny Green 4.40 ENG Jack Winstanley 4.32 ENG Les Howe 2.60 Southampton (withdrew mid-season) 22em ENG Jimmy Squibb 8.71 ENG Tom Oakley 8.71 ENG Roy Craighead 7.43 ENG Harold McNaughton 6.71 ENG Charlie May 6.43 ENG Bill Holden 6.25 ENG Bert Croucher 5.89 ENG Les Wotton 3.16 Walthamstow 22em ENG Pete Lansdale 9.03 ENG Harry Edwards 8.21 ENG Jim Boyd 8.11 ENG Reg Reeves 7.92 ENG Benny King 7.86 ENG Jimmy Grant 6.73 ENG Arch Windmill 6.49 ENG Sid Clark 4.50 ENG Alby Smith 2.96 Yarmouth 22em ENG Fred Brand 9.57 ENG Bob Baker 9.28 ENG Reg Morgan 6.53 ENG Cyril Quick 5.63 ENG Tip Mills 4.75 ENG Vic Ridgeon 4.45 ENG Sid Hipperson 4.23 ENG Stan Page 3.80 ENG Johnny White 3.70 ENG George Flower 2.59 ENG Alby Thomas 1.73 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:Speedway National League Division Two Category:1951 in British motorsport Category:1951 in speedway