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1981 National League season

The 1981 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom.

Summary

The league started with 20 teams with Nottingham Outlaws dropping out after the BSPA refused an application by promoter Maurice Jones to run during 1981. However, Wolverhampton Wolves joined having moved down from the British League. Wolves promoter Mike Parker was replaced by Dan McCormick for the 1981 season.

Berwick Bandits were forced to quit after 26 league meetings, their record being expunged. Middlesbrough Tigers comfortably won their first ever title.

Exeter Falcons rider Tony Sanford died following an accident at the County Ground Stadium on 7 September. He was racing in a match against Milton Keynes when he hit a barrier near the final bend. A memorial trophy was held in subsequent years in his memory.

Final table

Fixtures and results

National League Knockout Cup

The 1981 National League Knockout Cup was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Edinburgh Monarchs were the winners of the competition.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg

Second leg

Edinburgh were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 101–89.

Riders' Championship

Mike Ferreira won the Riders' Championship, held at Wimbledon Stadium on 26 September 1981.

  • f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure

Pairs

The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 18 July and was won by Canterbury Crusaders.

Semi finals

  • Canterbury bt Wolverhampton
  • Berwick bt Mildenhall

Final

  • Canterbury bt Berwick

Fours

Edinburgh Monarchs won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 26 July.

Semi finals

  • SF1 = Wolverhampton 16, Edinburgh 16, Mildenhall 13, Crayford 3
  • SF2 = Middlesbrough 16, Newcastle 16, Peterborough 11, Weymouth 4

Final

Leading final averages

Riders & final averages

Berwick (withdrew from league)

Boston

Canterbury

  • Mike Ferreira 10.87
  • Denzil Kent 7.75
  • Barney Kennett 6.81
  • Mark Martin 4.69
  • Darryl Simpson 4.43
  • Kevin Brice 4.21
  • Brendan Shiletto 4.07
  • Jamie Luckhurst 3.78
  • Rob Dolman 3.30
  • Graham Knowler 2.67

Crayford

  • Barry Thomas 9.02
  • Alan Sage 7.88
  • Laurie Etheridge 6.90
  • Mike Pither 5.72
  • Trevor Barnwell 5.70
  • Mike Spinks 4.83
  • Paul Hollingsbee 4.47
  • Keith Pritchard 4.15
  • Paul Bosley 2.24

Edinburgh

Ellesmere Port

Exeter

  • Rob Maxfield 9.07
  • Bob Coles 8.24
  • Martin Hewlett 8.10
  • John Barker 7.85
  • Les Sawyer 7.68
  • Andy Campbell 6.53
  • Keith Wright 6.00
  • John Williams 5.99
  • Keith Millard 4.30
  • Tony Sanford 3.20

Glasgow

Middlesbrough

Mildenhall

Milton Keynes

  • Bob Humphreys 9.14
  • Graham Plant 6.38
  • Andy Hibbs 6.00
  • Mick Blaynee 4.77
  • Barry Allaway 4.41
  • Mark Baldwin 4.36
  • Steve Payne 4.30
  • Nigel Davis 4.20
  • Brett Alderton 4.15

Newcastle

Oxford

Peterborough

Rye House

Scunthorpe

  • Kevin Teager 7.56
  • Nicky Allott 7.51
  • Mark DeKok 5.71
  • Tony Featherstone 5.33
  • Rob Woffinden 5.19
  • Tony Childs 3.62
  • Graeme Beardsley 3.45
  • Julian Parr 2.99
  • Phil Kynman 2.73

Stoke

Weymouth

Wolverhampton

  • Bruce Cribb 9.99
  • Les Rumsey 8.77
  • Neil Evitts 7.80
  • Billy Burton 6.74
  • Tony Boyle 5.95
  • Paul Stead 5.51
  • Mike Wilding 4.11
  • Rob Carter 3.55
  • John Hough 3.49
  • Steve Crockett 1.41

Workington

  • Terry Kelly 6.97
  • Wayne Jackson 6.22
  • Mark Dickinson 5.67
  • Guy Wilson 4.47
  • Des Wilson 4.42
  • Kevin Clapham 3.67
  • David Blackburn 3.51
  • John Frankland 2.69
  • Michael Irving 0.89

See also

References