1971 British League season

British motorcycle speedway season October 2023 October 2023 British League 19 Champions Belle Vue Aces Knockout Cup Hackney Hawks Individual Ivan Mauger London Cup Hackney Hawks Midland Cup Coventry Bees Metropolitan Cup Hackney Hawks Ivan Mauger British League (Div 2) 1970 1972 The 1971 British League season was the 37th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh season known as the British League.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html Historic league tables Speedway ArchiveRogers Martin The Illustrated History of Speedway 1978 129–133 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-904584-45-3 Summary Reading Racers moved up from Division 2 after taking the Newcastle Diamonds division 1 licence.https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004973/19710106/011/0011 Reading switch Western Daily Press 6 January 1971 British Newspaper Archive subscription 19 September 2024Oakes Peter 1981 Speedway Yearbook 1981 100 Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd 0-86215-017-5 Belle Vue Aces retained their title to become the first team to win the title for the second time. The team included three time world champion Ivan Mauger, Swedish international Sören Sjösten, Tommy Roper, Eric Broadbelt, Chris Pusey and a 17 year old Peter Collins in his debut season.https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive HISTORY ARCHIVE British Speedway 1 July 2021 Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Belle Vue Aces 36 25 1 10 512 Leicester Lions 36 22 3 11 473 Coventry Bees 36 23 0 13 464 Sheffield Tigers 36 21 1 14 435 Swindon Robins 36 19 3 14 406 Reading Racers 36 18 4 14 417 Hackney Hawks 36 17 4 15 388 Newport Wasps 36 19 0 17 379 Wembley Lions 36 17 3 16 3710 Wimbledon Dons 36 18 1 17 3611 Poole Pirates 36 17 2 17 3512 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 17 1 18 3413 King's Lynn Stars 36 16 2 18 3414 Halifax Dukes 36 16 2 18 3215 Exeter Falcons 36 16 0 20 3116 Glasgow Tigers 36 15 1 20 2517 Oxford Cheetahs 36 12 1 23 2018 Cradley Heath Heathens 36 8 4 24 2019 West Ham Hammers 36 9 1 26 19M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points Fixtures and results main FBR grey BV COV CRA EX GLA HAC HAL KL LEI NW OX PP RR SHE SWI WEM WH WIM WOL Belle Vue 43–35 46–32 51–27 46–32 42–36 48–30 42–36 35–37 48–30 61–17 46–32 46–32 48–30 55–23 59–19 55–23 59–19 49–29 Coventry 41–37 52–26 62–16 48–30 47–31 43–35 47–30 43–35 55–23 52–26 41–37 52–26 49–29 49–29 45–33 51–27 47–31 36–42 Cradley 33–45 44–34 39–38 38–40 39–39 49–29 34–44 39–39 40–37 39–39 41–37 38–40 41–37 36–42 39–39 49–29 37–41 42–36 Exeter 40–38 38–40 55–23 52–25 42–36 41–37 42–36 36–41 40–38 52–26 49–29 45–33 43–35 36–42 47–31 52–26 46–32 37–39 Glasgow 32–46 49–29 47–30 40–38 52–26 39–39 35–43 47–1 41–37 54–24 37–41 51–27 41–37 50–28 45–33 54–24 49–29 41–37 Hackney 36–42 42–36 48–30 40–38 41–37 46–32 39–38 38–40 46–32 41–37 52–26 43–35 46–32 33–45 38–40 56–22 41–37 36–42 Halifax 41–37 43–35 42–36 44–34 41–37 49–29 49–29 34–44 46–32 50–28 55–23 46–32 39–39 40–38 48–30 42–36 50–28 44–34 King's Lynn 42–36 38–40 47–31 40–38 41–37 39–39 53–25 36–42 34–44 42–36 39–39 41–37 41.5–35.5 44–34 48–30 42–36 42–36 37–39 Leicester 38–40 44–33 43–35 48–30 47–31 47–30 57–21 42–36 49–29 47–31 38–40 37–41 38–40 47–31 39–39 48–30 41–37 45–33 Newport 40–38 40–38 43–35 59–19 40–38 37–41 48–30 51–27 46–32 43–35 44–34 43–35 40–38 47–31 40–38 48–30 42–36 42–36 Oxford 42–36 38–40 40–38 37–41 40–38 41–37 45–31 42–36 33–45 42–36 44–34 37–40 48–30 36–41 38–40 45–33 39–38 53–24 Poole 52–26 50–28 52–26 43–35 56–20 38–40 43–35 42–36 41–37 48–30 49–29 39–39 38–40 40–38 44–34 46–32 36–42 45–33 Reading 38–39 49–29 42–36 42–36 49–29 38–38 45–33 48–30 44–34 41–37 48.5–28.5 57–21 52–26 39–39 40–38 46–32 51–27 41–37 Sheffield 41–37 43–35 43–35 42–36 46–32 44–34 46–32 40–38 44–34 44–34 61–17 48–30 43–35 47–31 44–34 56–22 45.5–32.5 50–28 Swindon 36–41 48–30 42–36 37–41 43–35 39–39 42–36 35–43 38–40 47–31 49–29 42–36 45–33 41–37 43–34 47–31 50–28 42–36 Wembley 30–48 37–41 51–27 54–24 44–34 50–28 52–26 47–31 39–39 45–33 44–34 37–41 46–32 45–33 43–35 49–29 49–29 48–30 West Ham 34–44 36–42 46–32 40–38 40–38 32–46 42–36 41–37 37–41 38–40 52–26 40–38 39–39 38–40 37–41 32–46 41–37 43–35 Wimbledon 43–35 50–28 40–38 46–32 47–31 33–44 48–30 41–37 40–38 52–26 52–26 40.5–37.5 47–31 48–30 39–39 45–33 43–34 42–35 Wolverhampton 39–39 35–42 43–35 53–25 43–35 43–35 43–34 35–43 32–46 49–29 43–35 42–36 40–34 44–34 38–40 44–32 46–32 45–33 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971.html Speedway Researcher 1971 fixtures & results 25 February 2025 Top Ten Riders (League Averages) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ivan Mauger NZL Belle Vue 11.42 2 Ray Wilson ENG Leicester 10.97 3 Ole Olsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.96 4 Jim Airey AUS Sheffield 10.70 5 Barry Briggs NZL Swindon 10.64 6 Bengt Jansson SWE Hackney 10.21 7 Eric Boocock ENG Halifax 10.14 8 Anders Michanek SWE Reading 10.03 9 Nigel Boocock ENG Coventry 9.95 10 Ronnie Moore NZL Wimbledon 9.93 British League Knockout Cup The 1971 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 33rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Hackney were the winners.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2014/03/british-league-division-two-ko-cup-1971.html 1971 British League Knockout Cup Speedway archive First round Date Team one Score Team two08/05 Halifax 49–29 West Ham08/05 Swindon 43–35 Wimbledon06/05 Oxford 46–32 Poole Second round Date Team one Score Team two25/06 Wolverhampton 43–35 Belle Vue21/06 Reading 38–40 Cradley Heath17/06 Oxford 39–38 Exeter12/06 King's Lynn 46–32 Newport11/06 Glasgow 43–34 Leicester10/06 Sheffield 48–30 Wembley05/06 Halifax 42–36 Coventry05/06 Swindon 36–42 Hackney Quarter-finals Date Team one Score Team two14/08 Halifax 43–35 Sheffield06/08 Wolverhampton 45–32 Oxford31/07 King's Lynn 39–39 Hackney31/07 Cradley Heath 40–38 Glasgow03/09 Hackney 49–29 King's Lynn Semi-finals Date Team one Score Team two17/09Hackney 50–27 Halifax06/09 Cradley Heath 50–28 Wolverhampton Final First leg 4 October 1971 Cradley HeathBernt Persson 11Bob Andrews 9Mick Handley 7Pete Jarman 6John Hart 5Roy Trigg 3Cyril Francis 0 41–37 https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/result-archive/heatdetails/season1971.pdf Season 1971 British Speedway 25 June 2021 Hackney HawksBengt Jansson 10Barry Thomas 8Hugh Saunders 8Garry Middleton 7Laurie Etheridge 2Geoff Maloney 1Eddie Reeves 1 Dudley Wood Stadium Second leg 8 October 1971 Hackney HawksBengt Jansson 12Garry Middleton 10Barry Thomas 9Dave Kennett 9Hugh Saunders 6Eddie Reeves 3Laurie Etheridge 2 51–27 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19350202/260/0027 Cradley crash at Hackney Wolverhampton Express and Star 9 October 1971 British Newspaper Archive subscription 28 September 2024 Cradley HeathHoward Cole (guest) 13Bob Andrews 5Roy Trigg 3John Hart 3Pete Jarman 2Mick Handley 1Ralph Waller 0 Hackney Wick Stadium Hackney Hawks were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 88-68. Riders' Championship Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.Speedway Sunday Mirror 17 October 1971 2 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19711017/346/0046 British Newspaper Archive subscription Pos. Rider Heat Scores Total1 NZL Ivan Mauger 3 3 3 3 2 14 2 NZL Barry Briggs 2 2 3 2 3 123 SCO Jim McMillan 1 3 2 3 3 124 ENG Bob Kilby 3 0 2 2 3 105 ENG Nigel Boocock 3 2 1 3 0 96 ENG Eric Boocock 2 2 1 1 3 97 DEN Ole Olsen 3 3 2 f fx 8 8 SWE Christer Löfqvist 2 1 0 3 2 89 AUS Jim Airey 1 1 3 1 1 710 ENG Ray Wilson 1 3 1 1 f 611 NOR Reidar Eide 0 2 3 0 1 6 12 SWE Anders Michanek 2 1 0 0 2 513 NZL Ronnie Moore 0 1 2 2 0 5 14 HUN Sándor Lévai 0 0 1 2 1 4 15 ENG Terry Betts 0 0 0 1 1 2 16 SCO Bert Harkins (res) 2 - - - - 217 SWE Bengt Jansson 1 0 0 0 0 1 ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded Final leading averages Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Ivan Mauger NZL Belle Vue 11.33 2 Ole Olsen DEN Wolverhampton 10.99 3 Ray Wilson ENG Leicester 10.94 4 Jim Airey AUS Sheffield 10.74 5 Barry Briggs NZL Swindon 10.67 6 Bengt Jansson SWE Hackney 10.26 7 Eric Boocock ENG Halifax 10.19 8 Anders Michanek SWE Reading 10.05 9 Nigel Boocock ENG Coventry 9.95 10 Ronnie Moore NZL Wimbledon 9.89 11 Martin Ashby ENG Swindon 9.76 12 Bernt Persson SWE Cradley Heath 9.68 13 Terry Betts ENG King's Lynn 9.62 14 Malcolm Simmons ENG King's Lynn 9.22 15 Trevor Hedge ENG Wimbledon 9.18 16 Jim McMillan SCO Glasgow 9.18 17 Sören Sjösten SWE Belle Vue 9.11 18 Reidar Eide NOR Poole 9.10 19 Göte Nordin SWE Wembley 9.04 20 John Boulger AUS Leicester 8.99 London Cup Hackney won the London Cup for only the second time, after previously winning it back in 1936.https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/hackney1971.pdf Hackney 1971 Speedway Researcher 30 September 2023 Pos Team P W D L F A Pts1 Hackney Hawks 440017713582 West Ham Hammers 410315615623 Wimbledon Dons 41031351772 main FBR grey HAC WH WIM Hackney 40–38 53–25 West Ham 36–42 45–33 Wimbledon 36–42 41–37 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1971 fixtures & results 15 July 2025 Midland Cup Coventry won the Midland Cup for the third consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.Fifth heat settles Lions Leicester Daily Mercury 13 October 1971 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19711013/028/0028 British Newspaper Archive 21 October 2023 subscription First round Team one Team two ScoreWolverhamptonSwindon 41–36, 41–35Oxford Cradley38–40, 33–45 Semi final round Team one Team two ScoreLeicesterWolverhampton 41–37, 42–36CradleyCoventry33–45, 27–51 Final First leg 9 October 1971 CoventryTony Lomas 11Nigel Boocock 10Ron Mountford 7Jan Simensen 7John Haarhy 5Roger Hill 4Les Owen 1 45–33 LeicesterRay Wilson 12John Boulger 11Alan Cowland 3Graham Plant 2Norman Storer 2Tom Leadbitter 2Malcolm Brown 1 Brandon Stadium Second leg 12 October 1971 LeicesterJohn Boulger 12Ray Wilson 8Graham Plant 6Malcolm Shakespeare 6Norman Storer 5Alan Cowland 4Malcolm Brown 0 41–37 CoventryTony Lomas 8Ron Mountford 8Jan Simensen 8Nigel Boocock 5Roger Hill 5Les Owen 3John Haarhy 0 Leicester Stadium Coventry won on aggregate 82–74 Metropolitan Gold Cup M W D L Pts 1Hackney 6 5 0 1 10 2 Reading 6 3 0 3 6 3 Wimbledon 6 2 1 3 5 4 West Ham 6 1 1 4 3 main FBR grey HAC REA WH WIM Hackney 37–41 45–33 44–34 Reading 35–43 40–38 45–33 West Ham 35–43 40–38 39–39 Wimbledon 50–28 35–43 41–37 complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1971fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1971 fixtures & results 16 September 2025 Riders and final averages Belle Vue 22em NZL Ivan Mauger 11.33 SWE Sören Sjösten 9.11 ENG Tommy Roper 7.14 ENG Eric Broadbelt 7.01 ENG Dave Hemus 6.97 ENG Peter Collins 6.36 ENG Chris Pusey 6.30 ENG Ken Eyre 5.27 ENG Alan Wilkinson 4.74 ENG Mike Hiftle 4.50 Coventry 22em ENG Nigel Boocock 9.95 ENG Tony Lomas 7.81 SWE Jan Simensen 7.66 ENG Roger Hill 6.16 ENG Les Owen 5.91 ENG Ron Mountford 5.59 ENG John Harrhy 5.07 Cradley Heath 22em SWE Bernt Persson 9.68 ENG Bob Andrews 7.73 ENG Roy Trigg 7.25 ENG Mick Handley 6.00 ENG Pete Jarman 5.57 ENG Jimmy Squibb 4.66 ENG John Hart 4.25 ENG Barry Duke 3.60 SWE Bengt Andersson 2.10 ENG Richard Eslick 1.54 Exeter 22em NZL Bruce Cribb 8.92 ENG Bob Kilby 8.87 ENG Peter Ingram 6.42 NZL Wayne Briggs 5.94 ENG Chris Julian 5.28 SWE Tommy Bergqvist 5.10 ENG Phil Woodcock 4.42 ENG Bob Coles 4.10 Glasgow 22em SCO Jimmy McMillan 9.18 SCO George Hunter 8.29 SCO Bobby Beaton 7.27 AUS Charlie Monk 6.99 SCO Willie Templeton 4.80 SCO Doug Templeton 4.69 SCO Bill McMillan 3.46 Hackney 22em SWE Bengt Jansson 10.26 AUS Garry Middleton 8.97 ENG Barry Thomas 7.28 ENG Laurie Etheridge 5.44 ENG Hugh Saunders 4.88 ENG Eddie Reeves 4.81 ENG Dave Kennett 4.65 ENG Geoff Maloney 4.49 ENG Graham Miles 4.36 DEN Preben Rosenkilde 4.00 Halifax 22em ENG Eric Boocock 10.19 ENG Dave Younghusband 8.80 ENG Alan Jay 6.11 AUS Greg Kentwell 6.09 NZL Paul O'Neal 5.01 ENG Malcolm MacKay 4.56 ENG Mike Hiftle 4.46 ENG Chris Bailey 4.24 ENG Terry Lee 3.75 King's Lynn 22em ENG Terry Betts 9.62 ENG Malcolm Simmons 9.22 WAL Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 8.11 ENG Clive Featherby 5.49 ENG Ian Turner 5.15 ENG Barry Crowson 4.93 AUS Bob Humphreys 4.38 AUS Jim Ryman 3.91 ENG Arthur Price 3.79 Leicester 22em ENG Ray Wilson 10.94 AUS John Boulger 8.99 ENG Graham Plant 8.78 ENG Alan Cowland 5.47 ENG Norman Storer 5.08 ENG Malcolm Brown 4.88 ENG Malcolm Shakespeare 4.44 ENG Tom Leadbitter 3.33 Newport 22em HUN Sándor Lévai 8.76 SWE Tommy Johansson 8.03 NOR Edgar Stangeland 7.87 NZL Bill Andrew 7.24 POL Ted Laessing 4.84 WAL Bob Hughes 4.53 SWE Bengt Brannefors 4.42 ENG Ronnie Genz 4.38 AUS Dave O'Connor 2.11 Oxford 22em NOR Øyvind S. Berg 7.60 SCO Ken McKinlay 6.98 ENG Colin Gooddy 6.86 ENG Ronnie Genz 6.77 NZL Rick Timmo 6.70 ENG Tommy Roper 6.55 ENG Norman Strachan 4.58 ENG Col Cottrell 3.89 ENG John Jackson 2.57 Poole 22em NOR Reidar Eide 9.10 NOR Odd Fossengen 7.76 ENG Pete Smith 7.76 SWE Bo Wirebrand 6.03 AUS John Langfield 6.01 ENG Mike Cake 4.93 ENG Derek Cook 3.14 Reading 22em SWE Anders Michanek 10.05 NOR Dag Lövaas 7.74 AUS Geoff Mudge 7.23 AUS Geoff Curtis 6.74 ENG Richard May 6.13 ENG Mick Bell 5.25 ENG Bernie Leigh 4.75 GER Josef Angermüller 3.30 Sheffield 22em AUS Jim Airey 10.74 ENG Arnold Haley 7.58 SWE Bengt Larsson 7.04 ENG Bob Paulson 6.60 AUS Bob Valentine 6.03 ENG Doug Wyer 5.92 ENG Reg Wilson 5.11 ENG Brian Maxted 4.60 Swindon 22em NZL Barry Briggs 10.67 ENG Martin Ashby 9.76 ENG Mike Keen 6.63 ENG Mike Broadbank 4.98 ENG Clive Hitch 4.78 SCO Jimmy Gallacher 3.80 ENG Pete Munday 3.79 ENG James Bond 3.43 Wembley 22em SWE Göte Nordin 9.04 SCO Bert Harkins 8.28 NOR Sverre Harrfeldt 7.80 ENG Dave Jessup 7.43 ENG Tony Clarke 7.23 ENG Brian Leonard 5.72 SWE Christer Sjösten 4.21 ZIM Peter Prinsloo 1.33 West Ham 22em SWE Christer Löfqvist 8.73 SWE Olle Nygren 8.14 ENG Reg Luckhurst 6.51 DEN Preben Rosenkilde 4.93 ENG Barry Duke 4.44 ENG Mick Handley 3.82 ENG Alan Bellham 3.66 ENG Alan Sage 3.13 ENG Stan Stevens 2.98 Wimbledon 22em NZL Ronnie Moore 9.89 ENG Trevor Hedge 9.18 ENG Cyril Maidment 6.25 ENG John Dews 5.31 ENG Jim Tebby 5.13 ENG Peter Murray 4.69 ENG John Bishop 4.19 Wolverhampton 22em DEN Ole Olsen 10.99 ENG Norman Hunter 7.61 NZL Gary Peterson 6.87 ENG Dave Baugh 6.56 ENG Jon Erskine 5.06 ENG Bill Powell .4.97 ENG Geoff Ambrose 4.80 DEN Niels Weiss 4.75 SWE Bengt Brannefors 3.43 ENG George Devonport 2.67 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:British League League British League