# 1967 British League season

The 1967 British League season was the 33rd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the third season known as the British League.

## Summary

The league was made up of the same 19 teams that competed in the previous year. Swindon Robins led by the world champion Barry Briggs won their first top-tier league title but were pushed all the way by Coventry Bees and West Ham Hammers. Swindon finished with four riders with averages over eight, Briggs topped the entire league with 11.05 but the contributions from Martin Ashby (8.83), Bob Kilby (8.61) and Mike Broadbank (8.55) were pivotal in the Swindon's success. Coventry Bees gained some consolation for finishing runner-up two seasons running by winning the Knockout Cup.

## Final table

| | | M | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Swindon Robins | 36 | 24 | 0 | 12 | 1536 | 1266 | 48 |
| 2 | Coventry Bees | 36 | 22 | 2 | 12 | 1524 | 1275 | 46 |
| 3 | West Ham Hammers | 36 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 1514 | 1288 | 45 |
| 4 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 36 | 20 | 2 | 14 | 1485 | 1318 | 42 |
| 5 | Hackney Hawks | 36 | 20 | 1 | 15 | 1402 | 1400 | 41 |
| 6 | Poole Pirates | 36 | 17 | 3 | 16 | 1462 | 1339 | 37 |
| 7 | Halifax Dukes | 36 | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1456 | 1347 | 37 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 36 | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1423 | 1376 | 37 |
| 9 | Sheffield Tigers | 36 | 18 | 1 | 17 | 1333.5 | 1470.5 | 37 |
| 10 | Newcastle Diamonds | 36 | 18 | 0 | 18 | 1386 | 1417 | 36 |
| 11 | Wimbledon Dons | 36 | 16 | 3 | 17 | 1392 | 1409 | 35 |
| 12 | Newport Wasps | 36 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 1387 | 1413 | 35 |
| 13 | Glasgow Tigers | 36 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 1343 | 1457 | 34 |
| 14 | Oxford Cheetahs | 36 | 16 | 1 | 19 | 1368.5 | 1432.5 | 33 |
| 15 | Exeter Falcons | 36 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 1384.5 | 1418.5 | 32 |
| 16 | Belle Vue Aces | 36 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 1333.5 | 1463.5 | 32 |
| 17 | Long Eaton Archers | 36 | 14 | 3 | 19 | 1322 | 1481 | 31 |
| 18 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 36 | 12 | 0 | 24 | 1262 | 1533 | 24 |
| 19 | King's Lynn Stars | 36 | 11 | 0 | 25 | 1297 | 1505 | 22 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures & results

| Home \ Away | BV | COV | CH | ED | EX | GLA | HAC | HAL | KL | LE | ND | NW | OX | PP | SHE | SWI | WH | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue Aces | | 43–35 | 48–30 | 35–43 | 43–35 | 47–31 | 46–31 | 45–33 | 46–32 | 34–44 | 47–31 | 44–32 | 39–38 | 40–38 | 37–41 | 43–35 | 34–43 | 40–38 | 45–33 |
| Coventry Bees | 44–31 | | 56–22 | 48–30 | 46–32 | 56–22 | 51–27 | 56–22 | 57–21 | 44–34 | 54–24 | 41–36 | 57–21 | 46–32 | 54–24 | 37–41 | 47–31 | 44–34 | 44–33 |
| Cradley Heathens | 54–24 | 36–41 | | 34–44 | 47–30 | 37–41 | 44–34 | 36–42 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 37–41 | 35–43 | 38–39 | 40–37 | 42–36 | 46–31 | 42–35 | 46–32 | 41–37 |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 56–22 | 49–29 | 59–19 | | 55–23 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 45–33 | 49–28 | 46–32 | 47–31 | 50–28 | 47–31 | 45–32 | 50–28 | 50–28 | 39–39 | 46–31 | 45–33 |
| Exeter Falcons | 41–36 | 36–42 | 54–24 | 51–27 | | 50–28 | 49–29 | 43–35 | 50–28 | 46–32 | 51–27 | 38–40 | 50–28 | 47–31 | 61–17 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 44–34 |
| Glasgow Tigers | 36–41 | 42–35 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 42–34 | | 48–30 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 50–28 | 36–42 | 43–34 | 44–34 | 39–39 | 49–29 | 35–43 | 32–46 | 40–38 | 57–21 |
| Hackney Hawks | 45–33 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 42–35 | 50–28 | 39–39 | | 43–35 | 54–24 | 42–36 | 46–31 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 45–33 | 41–37 | 57–21 | 53–25 |
| Halifax Dukes | 47–31 | 39–39 | 38–39 | 42–36 | 49–29 | 45–33 | 43–35 | | 61–17 | 43–35 | 54–24 | 60–18 | 52–26 | 52–26 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 48–29 | 52–26 | 44–34 |
| King's Lynn Stars | 53–24 | 47–31 | 47–31 | 36–42 | 48–29 | 42–35 | 35–43 | 45–33 | | 55–23 | 43–35 | 35–42 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 36–42 | 46–32 | 34–44 | 43–35 | 38–40 |
| Long Eaton Archers | 42–36 | 32–46 | 50–28 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 38–40 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 40–38 | | 40–38 | 41–36 | 45–33 | 40–38 | 47–31 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 39–39 | 39–39 |
| Newcastle Diamonds | 43–35 | 51–27 | 40–38 | 45–32 | 45–33 | 56–22 | 58–20 | 34–44 | 43–35 | 40–38 | | 47–31 | 44–33 | 40–38 | 49–29 | 32–46 | 54–24 | 46–32 | 40–38 |
| Newport Wasps | 42–36 | 39–39 | 55–22 | 38–40 | 43–35 | 44–34 | 56–22 | 41–37 | 49–29 | 50–28 | 45–33 | | 50–28 | 37–41 | 53–25 | 38–40 | 41–37 | 46–32 | 52–26 |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 44–34 | 38–39 | 51–27 | 45–33 | 47.5–30.5 | 41–36 | 55–23 | 55–23 | 47–31 | 46–32 | 49–29 | 56–22 | | 39–39 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 43–34 | 36–42 | 40–38 |
| Poole Pirates | 38–40 | 48–30 | 45–33 | 39–39 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 43–34 | 47–31 | 57–21 | 57–21 | 45–33 | 45–33 | 52–25 | | 48–30 | 48–30 | 46–31 | 40–38 | 41–37 |
| Sheffield Tigers | 43.5–34.5 | 41–37 | 48–27 | 59–19 | 53–25 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 43–35 | 45–33 | 47–31 | 41–37 | 47–31 | 42–36 | 41–37 | | 43–35 | 33–45 | 39–39 | 40–37 |
| Swindon Robins | 51–27 | 47–31 | 44–33 | 46–32 | 56–22 | 52–26 | 55–23 | 52–26 | 44–34 | 47–31 | 53–24 | 52–26 | 53–25 | 42–35 | 51–27 | | 50–28 | 47–31 | 45–33 |
| West Ham Hammers | 53–25 | 48–30 | 52–26 | 51–27 | 48–30 | 51–27 | 37–40 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 45–33 | 49–28 | 60–18 | 52–26 | 44–34 | 54–24 | 44–34 | | 43–35 | 43–35 |
| Wimbledon Dons | 41–37 | 35–42 | 43–35 | 46–32 | 45–33 | 43–34 | 42–36 | 44–33 | 42–36 | 42–35 | 43–35 | 48–29 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 38–39 | 39–39 | | 52–26 |
| Wolverhampton Wolves | 47–31 | 45–33 | 51–27 | 40–38 | 47–31 | 58–20 | 38–39 | 46–32 | 51–27 | 48–27 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 49–28 | 45–32 | 49–29 | 42–35 | 43–35 | 40–38 | |

## Top Ten Riders (League averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 11.05 |
| 2 | Charlie Monk | Glasgow | 10.72 |
| 3 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 10.43 |
| 4 | Ray Wilson | Long Eaton | 10.43 |
| 5 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.38 |
| 6 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 10.30 |
| 7 | Torbjörn Harrysson | Newport | 10.05 |
| 8 | Gote Nordin | Poole | 10.00 |
| 9 | Bengt Jansson | Hackney | 9.86 |
| 10 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 9.70 |

## Knockout Cup

The cup was won by Coventry Bees.

## Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the third consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 21 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | 3 3 3 3 3 | 15 |
| 2 | Nigel Boocock | 2 3 3 3 3 | 14 |
| 3 | Ray Wilson | 3 3 3 2 1 | 12 |
| 4 | Torbjörn Harrysson | 2 0 3 3 2 | 10 |
| 5 | Eric Boocock | 3 3 2 2 0 | 10 |
| 6 | Ivan Mauger | 1 2 2 3 2 | 10 |
| 7 | Olle Nygren | 1 2 2 1 3 | 9 |
| 8 | Bengt Jansson | 3 1 0 1 3 | 8 |
| 9 | Göte Nordin | 1 1 2 2 0 | 6 |
| 10 | Ove Fundin | 2 0 0 2 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Charlie Monk | 2 0 1 1 2 | 6 |
| 12 | Jim Airey | ef 2 1 1 1 | 5 |
| 13 | Ken McKinlay | 0 2 1 0 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Terry Betts | 1 1 1 0 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Wayne Briggs | 0 1 0 r n | 1 |
| 16 | Roy Trigg | 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Brian Brett (res) | 0 - - - - | 0 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 11.05 |
| 2 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 10.52 |
| 3 | Charlie Monk | Glasgow | 10.50 |
| 4 | Ray Wilson | Long Eaton | 10.43 |
| 5 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.29 |
| 6 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 10.25 |
| 7 | Torbjörn Harrysson | Newport | 10.05 |
| 8 | Göte Nordin | Poole | 9.99 |
| 9 | Bengt Jansson | Hackney | 9.87 |
| 10 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 9.74 |
| 11 | Ove Fundin | Belle Vue | 9.65 |
| 12 | Arne Pander | Oxford | 9.57 |
| 13 | Ken McKinlay | West Ham | 9.53 |
| 14 | Olle Nygren | Wimbledon | 9.52 |
| 15 | Roy Trigg | Oxford | 9.37 |
| 16 | Ivan Mauger | Newcastle | 9.32 |
| 17 | Hasse Holmqvist | Wolverhampton | 9.29 |
| 18 | Bernt Persson | Edinburgh | 9.19 |
| 19 | Dave Younghusband | Halifax | 9.12 |
| 20 | Jim Airey | Wolverhampton | 9.08 |

## London Cup

West Ham won the three team London Cup for the third consecutive year.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | West Ham Hammers | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 154 | 8 |
| 2 | Wimbledon Dons | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 181 | 202 | 24 |
| 3 | Hackney Hawks | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 164 | 219 | 2 |
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Wimbledon | 62–33 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 42–54 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 60–36 | Wimbledon |
| Wimbledon | 37–59 | West Ham |
| Hackney | 50–46 | Wimbledon |
| West Ham | 57–39 | Hackney |

## Midland Cup

Swindon won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Long Eaton | Oxford | 40–37, 35–43 |
| Cradley | Wolverhampton | 40–38, 29–49 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Swindon | Oxford | 48–30, 40–38 |
| Wolverhampton | Coventry | 38–40, 29–49 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Swindon won on aggregate 88–68

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Ove Fundin 9.65
* Sören Sjösten 9.03
* Cyril Maidment 8.32
* Tommy Roper 7.83
* Norman Nevitt 6.42
* Sándor Lévai 5.89
* Eric Broadbelt 3.56
* Jim Yacoby 3.31
* Paul O'Neal 2.75
* John Woodcock 2.72
* Garry Middleton 2.60
* Dave Hardy 2.55
Coventry
* Nigel Boocock 10.52
* Rick France 8.97
* Ron Mountford 8.66
* Col Cottrell 6.33
* Les Owen 6.25
* Clive Hitch 4.89
* Roger Hill 4.08
* Chris Harrison 3.23
Cradley
* Ivor Brown 7.54
* Brian Brett 7.34
* Tommy Bergqvist 7.32
* Chris Julian 7.04
* Jack Scott 6.37
* Graham Coombes 6.04
* Jack Biggs 5.67
* Alan Totney 3.76
* Ken Wakefield 3.39
* Peter Wrathall 3.16
* Dave Schofield 2.60
Edinburgh
* Bernt Persson 9.19
* Reidar Eide 8.99
* George Hunter 8.13
* Oyvind Berg 6.50
* Doug Templeton 6.46
* Bill Landels 5.84
* Bert Harkins 5.31
* Brian Black 5.14
* Brian Collins 3.56
Exeter
* Gunnar Malmqvist 8.21
* Wayne Briggs 7.83
* Jimmy Squibb 7.38
* Neil Street 7.25
* Colin Gooddy 6.78
* Jack Geran 6.66
* Per Gerhardsson 6.57
* Tommy Sweetman 6.42
* Chris Blewett 5.55
* Mike Cake 3.90
* Tim Bungay 3.28
Glasgow
* Charlie Monk 10.50
* Bo Josefsson 6.90
* Alf Wells 6.47
* Maury Mattingley 6.41
* Willie Templeton 6.36
* Russ Dent 5.98
* Jonny Faafeng 5.40
* Jimmy McMillan 4.68
* Bill McMillan 4.00
* Nils Ringstrom 3.80
* Brian Whaley 3.07
Hackney
* Bengt Jansson 9.87
* Colin Pratt 8.95
* Colin McKee 6.25
* Les McGillivray 5.82
* Gerry Jackson 5.33
* Malcolm Brown 5.05
* Gary Everett 4.97
* Brian Davies 4.66
Halifax
* Eric Boocock 10.29
* Dave Younghusband 9.12
* Eric Boothroyd 8.42
* Dennis Gavros 6.00
* Bert Kingston 4.78
* Greg Kentwell 4.76
* Maury Robinson 4.34
* Bob Jameson 4.14
* Les Bentzen 2.75
King's Lynn
* Terry Betts 9.74
* David Crane 7.95
* Clive Featherby 6.27
* Peter Moore 6.05
* Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 5.72
* Ted Laessing 4.39
* Stan Stevens 4.00
* John Mills 3.39
* John Poyser 2.73
* Doug White 2.73
Long Eaton
* Ray Wilson 10.43
* Anders Michanek 8.74
* Jim Lightfoot 7.10
* John Boulger 5.77
* Norman Storer 4.82
* Vic White 3.97
* John Poyser 2.92
* Ian Champion 2.72
Newcastle
* Ivan Mauger 9.32
* Ole Olsen 7.54
* Mike Watkin 6.10
* Alan Butterfield 6.04
* Russ Dent 6.00
* Peter Kelly 5.98
* Goog Allan 5.93
* Dave Gifford 5.63
* Alan Paynter 1.65
Newport
* Torbjorn Harrysson 10.05
* Jimmy Gooch 8.27
* Jon Erskine 6.63
* Alby Golden 6.29
* Cyril Francis 6.08
* Bob Hughes 4.76
* John Bishop 4.24
Oxford
* Arne Pander 9.57
* Roy Trigg 9.37
* Colin Gooddy 8.29
* Eddie Reeves 7.51
* Des Lukehurst 6.06
* Leo McAuliffe 4.95
* Rick Timmo 4.68
* Maury McDermott 4.00
* Peter Seaton 2.40
Poole
* Göte Nordin 9.99
* Geoff Mudge 8.25
* Ronnie Genz 8.00
* Tony Lewis 8.00
* Pete Smith 6.29
* Norman Strachan 5.91
* Bruce Cribb 4.94
* Geoff Penniket 4.68
Sheffield
* Bengt Larsson 7.08
* Arnold Haley 7.04
* John Hart 6.97
* Bob Paulson 6.65
* Alan Jay 6.22
* John Dews 6.02
* Billy Bales 5.82
* George Major 5.45
* Eric Hockaday 3.78
Swindon
* Barry Briggs 11.05
* Martin Ashby 8.83
* Bob Kilby 8.61
* Mike Broadbank 8.55
* Frank Shuter 4.46
* Mike Keen 4.41
* Pete Munday 4.25
West Ham
* Sverre Harrfeldt 10.25
* Ken McKinlay 9.53
* Norman Hunter 7.54
* Malcolm Simmons 7.09
* Brian Leonard 7.03
* George Barclay 4.76
* Stan Stevens 4.46
* Tony Clarke 4.36
* Dai Evans 0.80
Wimbledon
* Olle Nygren 9.52
* Trevor Hedge 8.49
* Reg Luckhurst 8.23
* Bob Dugard 6.00
* Jim TebbyJ 5.86
* Alan Cowland 5.23
* Garry Middleton 4.56
* Leif Soderberg 3.19
* Murray Burt 2.06
Wolverhampton
* Hasse Holmqvist 9.29
* Jim Airey 9.08
* Peter Vandenberg 8.21
* Pete Jarman 7.92
* James Bond 5.56
* Dave Hemus 5.04
* Brian Maxted 4.72
* Mick Handley 1.95