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1978 National League season

The 1978 National League was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom.

Summary

Newport Dragons dropped out of the league after just one season of second tier racing following a dispute over rent at Somerton Park.

Ttwo new entrants – Milton Keynes Knights and Barrow Furness Flyers – saw the league expanded to twenty teams. Weymouth changed their nickname from Wizards to Wildcats.

Former Leicester and Teesside promoter Ron Wilson brought speedway to Milton Keynes with a team called the Knights who would race at the Milton Keynes Greyhound Stadium (known in speedway circles as the Groveway).

Canterbury Crusaders won the National League title. Although equal on points with Newcastle Diamonds they won by virtue of the fact that their race points difference was greater than their rival. It was Canterbury's second title win in eight years, previously winning in 1970. The Crusaders were led by heavy scoring from Les Rumsey and Riders' Champion Steve Koppe, while Newcastle's Tom Owen topped the averages for the second consecutive year.

Earlier in the season 18 year-old junior rider Chris Prime was representing Newcastle when he was killed in the National League match against Mildenhall on 3 April.

Final table

Fixtures and results

National League Knockout Cup

The 1978 National League Knockout Cup was the 11th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition for the second successive year.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

Second leg

Eastbourne were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 83–73.

Riders' Championship

Steve Koppe won the Riders' Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 23 September 1978.

Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 15 July and was won by Ellesmere Port.

Semi finals

  • Newcastle bt Canterbury
  • Ellesmere Port bt Eastbourne

Final

  • Ellesmere Port bt Newcastle

Fours

Peterborough won the fours championship final for the second successive year, held at the East of England Arena on 30 July.

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Stoke 13, Peterborough 12, Newcastle 12, Edinburgh 10
  • SF2 = Canterbury 16, Weymouth 12, Ellesmere Port 12, Eastbourne 8

Final

Top Five Riders

Riders & final averages

Barrow

  • Charlie Monk 8.20
  • Geoff Pusey 7.22
  • Chris Bevan 6.82
  • Andy Reid 5.53
  • Chris Roynon 5.01
  • Ken Murray 4.23
  • Mark Courtney 3.61
  • Chris Robins 3.13
  • Malcolm Chambers 2.29
  • Gary Pottenger 2.29
  • Les Race 1.74
  • Dave Butt 1.73
  • Des Wilson 1.25

Berwick

Boston

  • Gary Guglielmi 8.38
  • Tony Boyle 7.95
  • Steve Clarke 7.11
  • Dave Allen 7.02
  • Paul Gilbert 6.50
  • Stuart Cope 5.36
  • Andy Fisher 5.33
  • Craig Featherby 5.26
  • Dave Mortiboys 4.94
  • Ron Cooper 4.13
  • Roger Lambert 4.00
  • Keith Bloxsome 3.79
  • Dennis Mallett 2.93

Canterbury

Crayford

  • Laurie Etheridge 9.34
  • Alan Sage 8.63
  • Alan Johns 6.28
  • Pete Wigley 5.19
  • Richard Davey 5.18
  • Tony Featherstone 5.02
  • John Hooper 4.36

Eastbourne

Edinburgh

Ellesmere Port

Glasgow

  • Steve Lawson 7.93
  • Derek Richardson 7.52
  • Merv Janke 7.51
  • Benny Rourke 6.68
  • Colin Farquharson 4.64
  • Jim Beaton 4.49
  • Charlie McKinna 3.54
  • Keith Bloxsome 3.50
  • Terry Kelly 3.48
  • Mick Newton 2.97

Mildenhall

Milton Keynes

Newcastle

Oxford

Peterborough

Rye House

Scunthorpe

Stoke

Teesside

Weymouth

Workington

  • Arthur Price 8.63
  • Brian Havelock 8.39
  • Rob Maxfield 7.66
  • Ian Hindle 6.40
  • Mark Dickinson 5.14
  • David Coles 4.82
  • Andy Margarson 4.79
  • Des Wilson 4.43
  • Tony Childs 3.27

See also

References