1966 British League season

British speedway season September 2023 September 2023 British League 1966 19 Champions Halifax Dukes Knockout Cup Halifax Dukes Individual Barry Briggs London Cup West Ham Hammers Midland Cup Coventry Bees Northern Cup Halifax Dukes Barry Briggs 1965 1967 The 1966 British League season was the 32nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the second season known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway Archive Halifax Dukes won the league and then secured the league and cup double.Rogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129–133 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 Summary The League expanded to 19, with a new team, the King's Lynn Stars.Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 100 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 Halifax Dukes won the league after 36 games and finished three points clear of Coventry Bees. The Halifax team success was due to the consistency of their riders, in particular Eric Boocock, Eric Boothroyd, Dave Younghusband and Tommy Roper who all scored heavily throughout the season. Halifax also completed the double winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final, they easily beat Wimbledon Dons.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 29 June 2021 The four times world champion Barry Briggs topped the averages for Swindon Robins during the same season in which he sealed his fourth world title. The dangers of speedway were highlighted once again however when Welshman Ivor Hughes was killed during the league match riding for Cradley Heath Heathens against Sheffield Tigers on 20 August.http://www.cradleyspeedway.co.uk/riders/ivorhughes.htm Ivor Hughes Cradley Speedway 28 July 2021 Coventry won the Midland Cup, West Ham the London Cup and Halifax Dukes the Northern Cup.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005231/19661007/314/0016 No Cup if Dukes win title Halifax Evening Courier 7 October 1966 British Newspaper Archive subscription 16 July 2025https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004769/19661022/037/0037 Final tables Bristol Evening Post 22 October 1966 British Newspaper Archive subscription 16 July 2025 Final table M W D L F A Pts 1Halifax Dukes 36 27 0 9 1574 1229 54 2 Coventry Bees 36 25 1 10 1548 1255 51 3 Swindon Robins 36 23 0 13 1553 1248 46 4 Wimbledon Dons 36 22 0 14 1485 1314 44 5 Newcastle Diamonds 36 20 0 16 1491.5 1304.5 40 6 Poole Pirates 36 19 2 15 1443 1356 40 7 West Ham Hammers 36 19 1 10 1499.5 1304.5 39 8 Glasgow Tigers 36 18 0 18 1395 1394 36 9 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 17 2 17 1340.5 1461.5 36 10 Exeter Falcons 36 17 1 18 1392.5 1403.5 35 11 Sheffield Tigers 36 17 0 19 1410 1394 34 12 Edinburgh Monarchs 35 17 0 18 1310.5 1413.5 34 13 Belle Vue Aces 36 16 0 20 1362 1443 32 14 Hackney Hawks 36 15 1 20 1347.5 1456.5 31 15 Oxford Cheetahs 36 14 2 20 1291 1510 30 16 King's Lynn Stars 36 15 0 21 1275 1524 30 17 Newport Wasps 36 12 1 23 1319 1486 25 18 Long Eaton Archers 36 12 1 23 1286 1516 25 19 Cradley Heath Heathens 35 10 0 25 1196 1506 20 M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures & results main FBR grey BV COV CH ED EX GLA HAC HAL KL LE ND NW OX PP SHE SWI WH WIM WOL Belle Vue Aces 44–34 43–35 43–35 55–23 42–36 49–29 34–44 47–31 51–27 41–37 53–24 51–27 35–43 43–35 43–35 50–28 40–38 53–25 Coventry Bees 46–32 50–28 49–29 53–25 42–36 46–32 52–25 53–25 48–30 45–33 55–23 47–31 44–34 53–25 54–24 42–36 42–36 45–33 Cradley Heathens 48–30 28–50 n/a 33–39 41–37 45–33 27–51 34–43 42–36 44–34 41–37 46–31 31–47 46–32 39–38 33–44 37–41 44–34 Edinburgh Monarchs 42–35 44–34 49–29 42–36 46–31 43–35 37–41 51–27 50–28 50–28 47–31 43–35 42–36 45–33 45–33 42–36 43–35 35.5–42.5 Exeter Falcons 48–30 39–39 49–29 37–41 46–32 45–32 36–41 50–28 42–36 45–33 47–31 53–25 44–33 43–35 48–30 41–37 46–30 51–27 Glasgow Tigers 54–24 41–37 36–29 43–35 45–32 52–26 42–36 53–25 50–28 45–33 46–32 45–33 60–17 42–35 38–40 39–38 48–29 40–38 Hackney Hawks 41–37 38–40 44–34 46–32 43–35 41–37 37–41 42–36 51–27 40–38 43–35 42–36 42.5–34.5 47–31 41–37 39–39 36–42 46–32 Halifax Dukes 52–26 45–33 51–27 54–24 43–35 60–18 44–34 53–25 50–28 38–40 57–21 55–23 41–37 52–26 42–36 41–37 46–32 53–25 King's Lynn Stars 40–38 41–36 40–38 43–32 41–37 45–33 41–37 42–36 43–35 48–29 49–29 37–40 37–41 41–37 33–45 43–35 35–43 47–31 Long Eaton Archers 40–38 37–41 50–27 48–29 48–30 48–30 41–37 35–42 44–33 42–36 43–35 50–28 41–37 40–38 38–39 43–35 34–44 39–39 Newcastle Diamonds 57–21 38–39 53–25 54–24 46.5–31.5 52–26 48–30 43–35 50–28 53–25 45–32 48–30 48–30 41–36 40–38 44–34 47–30 50–28 Newport Wasps 53–25 34–44 45–33 43–35 38–40 38–40 47–31 36–42 43–35 57–21 40–38 44–34 39–39 54–24 44–34 42–36 43–35 43–35 Oxford Cheetahs 40–37 36–42 50–27 42–36 42–36 40–38 50–27 35–42 42–36 51–27 42–36 40–38 39–39 40–38 40–38 35–43 40–37 39–39 Poole Pirates 48–30 49–29 42–35 56–22 48–30 48–30 41–36 40–38 54–23 45–33 35–42 41–37 51–27 55–23 38–40 42.5–35.5 49–28 40–38 Sheffield Tigers 50–28 42–36 54–24 56–22 47–31 49–29 47–31 34–44 55–23 47–31 41–36 58–20 44–34 55–23 40–38 40–38 41–37 48–30 Swindon Robins 53–25 45–33 54–24 52–26 52–26 53–25 46–32 49–29 53–25 44–34 42–33 52–25 60–18 45–33 45–33 45–33 43–35 58–20 West Ham Hammers 44–34 36–42 48–29 50–28 50–28 43–35 45–33 37–41 51–27 52–26 48–30 48–30 51–27 43–35 54–24 41–37 36–42 53–25 Wimbledon Dons 48–30 44–34 45–32 52–26 44–34 48–30 45–33 46–32 56–22 51–27 47–31 46–32 43–35 44–33 49–28 36–42 40–38 51–27 Wolverhampton Wolves 53–25 42–34 46–32 40–38 44–34 45–33 38–40 40–37 41–37 41–37 39–38 45–33 44–34 49–29 49–29 39–38 36–42 42–36 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1966fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1966 fixtures & results 9 July 2024 Top ten riders (league averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Barry Briggs NZL Swindon 11.08 2 Nigel Boocock ENG Coventry 10.67 3 Gote Nordin SWE Newport 10.53 4 Eric Boocock ENG Halifax 10.41 5 Olle Nygren SWE Wimbledon 10.32 6 Colin Pratt ENG Hackney 9.93 7 Ken McKinlay SCO West Ham 9.78 8 Mike Broadbank ENG Swindon 9.77 9 Sverre Harrfeldt NOR West Ham 9.76 10 Trevor Hedge ENG Wimbledon 9.64 Knockout Cup Halifax Dukes won the Knockout Cup and therefore secured the league and cup double.http://www.greyhoundderby.com/halifax_dukes.htm HALIFAX DUKES Greyhound Derby.com 25 June 2021 British League Knockout Cup 1966 Riders' Championship Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the second consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 22 October.Briggs keeps rider's title despite rain Coventry Evening Telegraph 24 October 1966 31 May 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19661024/104/0012 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 NZL Barry Briggs 3 3 3 3 3 152 SWE Olle Nygren 2 3 3 3 3 143 ENG Norman Hunter 3 2 3 2 2 124 NZL Ivan Mauger 3 2 0 3 3 115 ENG Ray Wilson 3 3 2 2 exc106 ENG Nigel Boocock 1 3 1 3 - 87 SCO George Hunter 0 1 1 2 3 78 NZL Bill Andrew 0 ef 3 1 2 69 ENG Jimmy Gooch 1 1 2 1 1 610 AUS Peter Vandenberg 1 1 ef 1 2 511 ENG Terry Betts 2 1 2 ef ef 512 AUS Charlie Monk 2 F 2 1 ef 513 ENG Cyril Maidment 0 2 1 2 ef 514 ENG Tommy Sweetman 2 0 ef 0 2 415 ENG Eric Boocock 1 2 ef ef ef 316 ENG Colin Pratt 0 0 1 0 1 2 ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded London Cup West Ham successfully defended their London Cup title but once again there were just three teams competing.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/westham1966.pdf West Ham Hammers 1966 Speedway Researcher 30 September 2023 Pos Team P W D L F A Pts1 West Ham Hammers 4 3 0 1216 168 62 Wimbledon Dons 4 30 1 192.5 191.5 63 Hackney Hawks 4 0 0 4 167.5 216.5 0 main FBR grey HAC WH WIM Hackney 43–53 47.5–48.5 West Ham 63–33 53–42 Wimbledon 52–44 49–47 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1966fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1966 fixtures & results 15 July 2025 Midland Cup Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams.Coventry Win Midland Cup Birmingham Daily Post 20 September 1966 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19660920/231/0012 British Newspaper Archive 19 October 2023 subscription Midland Cup (group 1) M W D L Pts 1Wolverhampton 4 3 0 1 6 2 Swindon 4 2 0 2 4 3 Cradley Heath 4 1 0 3 2 Midland Cup (group 2) M W D L Pts 1Coventry 4 3 0 1 6 2 Oxford 4 3 0 1 6 3 Long Eaton 4 0 0 4 0 main FBR grey CH SWI WOL Cradley 40–38 37–41 Swindon 61–17 52–26 Wolverhampton 44–34 43–35 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1966fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1966 fixtures & results 15 July 2025 main FBR grey COV LE OX Coventry 47–31 45–33 Long Eaton 37–41 32–46 Oxford 40–37 50–28 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1966fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1966 fixtures & results 15 July 2025 Final First leg 16 September 1966 WolverhamptonPeter Vandenberg 10 Gordon Guasco 9 Cyril Francis 7 Brian Maxted 6 Alan Cowland 5 Dave Hemus 2 Pete Jarman 1 39–39 CoventryNigel Boocock 14 Rick France 13 Col Cottrell 5 Jim Lightfoot 5 Roger Hill 1 Chris Harrison 1 Tom Ridley 0 Ron Mountford r/r Monmore Green Stadium Second leg 19 September 1966 CoventryCol Cottrell 12 Jim Lightfoot 12 Rick France 9 Nigel Boocock 8 Les Owen 6 Roger Hill 2Chris Harrison 0Ron Mountford r/r 49–29 WolverhamptonGordon Guasco 8 Brian Maxted 6 Peter Vandenberg 5 Dave Hemus 4Cyril Francis 4Alan Cowland 2 Pete Jarman 0 Brandon Stadium Coventry won on aggregate 88–68 Northern Cup Due to the late entry of Edinburgh and Glasgow, several British league results doubled for the Northern Cup.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005231/19660609/454/0014 Every point is vital to Dukes Halifax Evening Courier June 1966 British Newspaper Archive subscription 16 July 2025 M W L Pts BP Total 1Halifax 10 7 3 7 5 12 2 Sheffield 10 6 4 6 3 9 3 Newcastle 10 5 5 5 3.5 8.5 4 Glasgow 9 5 4 5 0 5 5 Edinburgh 9 3 6 4 1 4 5 Middlesbrough 8 2 6 2 0.5 2.5 main FBR grey ED GLA HAL MID NEW SHE Edinburgh 46–31 37–41 N/H 50–28 45–33 Glasgow 43–35 42–36 N/H 45–33 42–35 Halifax 54–24 60–18 43–35 45–33 54–24 Middlesbrough 49–29 32–45 32–46 46–32 36–42 Newcastle 54–24 52–26 44–33 46–32 45–32 Sheffield 56–22 49–29 43–35 46–31 39–38 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1966fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1966 fixtures & results 16 July 2025 Final leading averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Barry Briggs NZL Swindon 11.12 2 Nigel Boocock ENG Coventry 10.54 3 Eric Boocock ENG Halifax 10.46 4 Göte Nordin SWE Newport 10.44 5 Olle Nygren SWE Wimbledon 10.40 6 Colin Pratt ENG Hackney 10.00 7 Sverre Harrfeldt NOR West Ham 9.89 8 Ivan Mauger NZL Newcastle 9.82 9 Ken McKinlay SCO West Ham 9.67 10 Mike Broadbank ENG Swindon 9.60 11 Trevor Hedge ENG Wimbledon 9.39 12 Cyril Maidment ENG Belle Vue 9.55 13 Arne Pander DEN Oxford 9.53 14 Norman Hunter ENG West Ham 9.42 15 Terry Betts ENG King's Lynn 9.41 16 Trevor Hedge ENG Wimbledon 9.39 17 Eric Boothroyd ENG Halifax 9.29 18 Ron Mountford ENG Coventry 9.29 19 Charlie Monk AUS Glasgow 9.27 20 Rick France ENG Coventry 9.22 Riders and final averages Belle Vue 22em ENG Cyril Maidment 9.55 HUN Sándor Lévai 7.79 ENG Dick Fisher 7.54 ENG Norman Nevitt 5.86 SCO Gordon McGregor 5.35 ENG Bill Powell 5.01 ENG Jim Yacoby 4.27 WAL Taffy Owen 0.36 Coventry 22em ENG Nigel Boocock 10.54 ENG Ron Mountford 9.29 ENG Rick France 9.22 ENG Jim Lightfoot 8.81 ENG Col Cottrell 5.52 ENG Les Owen 4.31 ENG Chris Harrison 3.06 ENG Roger Hill 2.74 ENG Tom Ridley 2.12 Cradley Heath 22em ENG Ivor Brown 7.88 ENG Chris Julian 6.51 AUS Chum Taylor 6.32 ENG Clive Featherby 6.10 WAL Ivor Hughes 5.65 WAL Howard Cole (Kid Brodie) 5.48 ENG Eric Hockaday 3.64 ENG Ron Cooper 3.58 AUT Joe Weichlbauer 2.40 ENG Matt Mattocks 2.33 ENG Ken Wakefield 2.00 Edinburgh 22em SCO George Hunter 8.17 SWE Bengt Jansson 7.65 SCO Doug Templeton 7.42 NOR Reidar Eide 5.83 AUS Dudley McKean 5.27 SCO Bill Landels 5.20 SCO Bert Harkins 4.81 SCO Jimmy Tannock 4.55 Exeter 22em ENG Tommy Sweetman 9.11 AUS Neil Street 8.23 ENG Colin Gooddy 7.32 ENG Jimmy Squibb 6.61 AUS Jack Geran 6.23 CAN Chris Blewett 5.37 POL Ted Laessing 4.80 ENG Alan Smith 4.77 ENG Doug Dearden 2.40 Glasgow 22em AUS Charlie Monk 9.27 NZL Alf Wells 7.47 AUS Bluey Scott 7.06 SCO Willie Templeton 6.75 ENG Maury Mattingley 6.35 NOR Jonny Faafeng 5.30 SCO Bill McMillan 4.95 SCO Jimmy McMillan 3.54 Hackney 22em ENG Colin Pratt 10.00 ENG Roy Trigg 8.63 ENG Gerry Jackson 6.81 ENG Les McGillivray 5.40 ENG Brian Davies 5.25 ENG Malcolm Brown 4.58 ENG Ernie Baker 3.44 ENG Sandy McGillivray 2.86 ENG John Poyser 2.00 Halifax 22em ENG Eric Boocock 10.46 ENG Eric Boothroyd 9.29 ENG Dave Younghusband 8.82 ENG Tommy Roper 7.54 AUS Bert Kingston 6.00 AUS Bob Jameson 5.38 AUS Dennis Gavros 4.98 AUS Greg Kentwell 4.00 ENG Maury Robinson 2.33 King's Lynn 22em ENG Terry Betts 9.41 AUS Peter Moore 9.18 ENG David Crane 6.20 ENG Alan Jay 4.90 ENG Stan Stevens 4.73 ENG Alan Smith 3.75 ENG Howdy Byford 3.55 ENG Ken Adams 2.61 ENG John Mills 2.61 ENG Cyril Crane 2.17 Long Eaton 22em SWE Ove Fundin 9.64 ENG Ray Wilson 8.63 SWE Leif Enecrona 7.68 AUS Ray Cresp 6.72 ENG Norman Storer 5.14 ENG Vic White 4.97 ENG Dennis Newton 4.96 ENG John Mills 4.44 SWE Nils Ringstrom 4.12 AUS Greg Kentwell 4.00 Newcastle 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 9.82 ENG Peter Kelly 8.05 ENG Brian Brett 7.74 NZL Graham Coombes 6.37 ENG Mike Watkin 6.11 ENG Russ Dent 5.82 NZL Dave Gifford 4.57 ENG Alan Butterfield 5.20 Newport 22em SWE Gote Nordin 10.44 AUS Jack Biggs 7.23 ENG Jon Erskine 6.03 ENG Tim Bungay 5.54 ENG Geoff Penniket 5.43 ENG Alby Golden 5.34 WAL Bob Hughes 4.75 ENG Ken Vale 3.68 Oxford 22em DEN Arne Pander 9.53 ENG Jimmy Gooch 8.14 ENG Eddie Reeves 5.96 ENG John Bishop 5.86 ENG Maury McDermott 5.04 ENG Des Lukehurst 4.10 ENG Tony Clarke 3.93 ENG Peter Seaton 1.00 Poole 22em NZL Bill Andrew 9.12 ENG Ronnie Genz 8.83 AUS Geoff Mudge 8.22 NZL Colin McKee 6.18 ENG Pete Smith 5.76 NZL Wayne Briggs 5.48 ENG Norman Strachan 5.43 NZL Bruce Cribb 4.20 Sheffield 22em ENG John Dews 8.12 ENG Bob Paulson 7.81 ENG Billy Bales 7.27 ENG Jack Kitchen 7.16 ENG George Major 6.86 ENG John Hart 5.93 ENG Eric Hockaday 5.70 ENG Arnold Haley 5.68 ENG Alan Jay 4.82 Swindon 22em NZL Barry Briggs 11.12 ENG Mike Broadbank 9.60 ENG Martin Ashby 9.01 ENG Clive Hitch 5.88 ENG Bob Kilby 5.67 ENG Mike Keen 5.29 NZL Frank Shuter 4.48 ENG Pete Munday 2.48 West Ham 22em NOR Sverre Harrfeldt 9.89 SCO Ken McKinlay 9.67 ENG Norman Hunter 9.42 ENG Malcolm Simmons 6.14 ENG Brian Leonard 5.89 ENG Reg Trott 4.30 ENG Ted Ede 3.53 ENG Don Smith 3.00 ENG Terry Stone 2.32 Wimbledon 22em SWE Olle Nygren 10.40 ENG Trevor Hedge 9.39 ENG Reg Luckhurst 8.68 ENG Bob Dugard 6.95 ENG Jim Tebby 3.97 ENG Tony Childs 3.23 ENG Peter Jackson 3.20 ENG John Edwards 2.88 Wolverhampton 22em NED Peter Vandenberg 8.67 AUS Gordon Guasco 7.77 ENG Pete Jarman 6.57 ENG Alan Cowland 5.47 ENG James Bond 5.46 WAL Cyril Francis 5.46 ENG Brian Maxted 5.31 ENG Dave Hemus 5.14 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League Category:1966 in British motorsport Category:1966 in speedway