# 1966 British League season

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. Halifax Dukes won the league and then secured the league and cup double.

## Summary

The League expanded to 19, with a new team, the King's Lynn Stars. 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.
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.

## Final table

| | | M | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Halifax 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

| Home \ Away | 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 | |

## Top Ten Riders (League averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 11.08 |
| 2 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 10.67 |
| 3 | Gote Nordin | Newport | 10.53 |
| 4 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.41 |
| 5 | Olle Nygren | Wimbledon | 10.32 |
| 6 | Colin Pratt | Hackney | 9.93 |
| 7 | Ken McKinlay | West Ham | 9.78 |
| 8 | Mike Broadbank | Swindon | 9.77 |
| 9 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 9.76 |
| 10 | Trevor Hedge | Wimbledon | 9.64 |

## Knockout Cup

Halifax Dukes won the Knockout Cup and therefore secured the league and cup double.

## Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the second consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 22 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | 3 3 3 3 3 | 15 |
| 2 | Olle Nygren | 2 3 3 3 3 | 14 |
| 3 | Norman Hunter | 3 2 3 2 2 | 12 |
| 4 | Ivan Mauger | 3 2 0 3 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Ray Wilson | 3 3 2 2 exc | 10 |
| 6 | Nigel Boocock | 1 3 1 3 - | 8 |
| 7 | George Hunter | 0 1 1 2 3 | 7 |
| 8 | Bill Andrew | 0 ef 3 1 2 | 6 |
| 9 | Jimmy Gooch | 1 1 2 1 1 | 6 |
| 10 | Peter Vandenberg | 1 1 ef 1 2 | 5 |
| 11 | Terry Betts | 2 1 2 ef ef | 5 |
| 12 | Charlie Monk | 2 F 2 1 ef | 5 |
| 13 | Cyril Maidment | 0 2 1 2 ef | 5 |
| 14 | Tommy Sweetman | 2 0 ef 0 2 | 4 |
| 15 | Eric Boocock | 1 2 ef ef ef | 3 |
| 16 | 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.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | West Ham Hammers | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 216 | 168 | 6 |
| 2 | Wimbledon Dons | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 192.5 | 191.5 | 6 |
| 3 | Hackney Hawks | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 167.5 | 216.5 | 0 |
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Hackney | 47–49 | Wimbledon |
| Wimbledon | 49–47 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 53–43 | Wimbledon |
| Hackney | 43–53 | West Ham |
| Wimbledon | 52–44 | Hackney |
| West Ham | 63–33 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 47.5–48.5 | Wimbledon |

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 11.12 |
| 2 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 10.54 |
| 3 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.46 |
| 4 | Göte Nordin | Newport | 10.44 |
| 5 | Olle Nygren | Wimbledon | 10.40 |
| 6 | Colin Pratt | Hackney | 10.00 |
| 7 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 9.89 |
| 8 | Ivan Mauger | Newcastle | 9.82 |
| 9 | Ken McKinlay | West Ham | 9.67 |
| 10 | Mike Broadbank | Swindon | 9.60 |
| 11 | Trevor Hedge | Wimbledon | 9.39 |
| 12 | Cyril Maidment | Belle Vue | 9.55 |
| 13 | Arne Pander | Oxford | 9.53 |
| 14 | Norman Hunter | West Ham | 9.42 |
| 15 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 9.41 |
| 16 | Trevor Hedge | Wimbledon | 9.39 |
| 17 | Eric Boothroyd | Halifax | 9.29 |
| 18 | Ron Mountford | Coventry | 9.29 |
| 19 | Charlie Monk | Glasgow | 9.27 |
| 20 | Rick France | Coventry | 9.22 |

## Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams.
First round group 1
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Wolverhampton | Cradley | 44–34, 41–37 |
| Wolverhampton | Swindon | 43–35, 26–52 |
| Cradley | Swindon | 40–38, 17–61 |
First round group 2
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Long Eaton | Coventry | 37–41, 31–47 |
| Oxford | Coventry | 40–37, 33–45 |
| Long Eaton | Oxford | 32–46, 28–50 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate 88–68

## Riders and final averages

Belle Vue
* Cyril Maidment 9.55
* Sándor Lévai 7.79
* Dick Fisher 7.54
* Norman Nevitt 5.86
* Gordon McGregor 5.35
* Bill Powell 5.01
* Jim Yacoby 4.27
* Taffy Owen 0.36
Coventry
* Nigel Boocock 10.54
* Ron Mountford 9.29
* Rick France 9.22
* Jim Lightfoot 8.81
* Col Cottrell 5.52
* Les Owen 4.31
* Chris Harrison 3.06
* Roger Hill 2.74
* Tom Ridley 2.12
Cradley Heath
* Ivor Brown 7.88
* Chris Julian 6.51
* Chum Taylor 6.32
* Clive Featherby 6.10
* Ivor Hughes 5.65
* Howard Cole (Kid Brodie) 5.48
* Eric Hockaday 3.64
* Ron Cooper 3.58
* Joe Weichlbauer 2.40
* Matt Mattocks 2.33
* Ken Wakefield 2.00
Edinburgh
* George Hunter 8.17
* Bengt Jansson 7.65
* Doug Templeton 7.42
* Reidar Eide 5.83
* Dudley McKean 5.27
* Bill Landels 5.20
* Bert Harkins 4.81
* Jimmy Tannock 4.55
Exeter
* Tommy Sweetman 9.11
* Neil Street 8.23
* Colin Gooddy 7.32
* Jimmy Squibb 6.61
* Jack Geran 6.23
* Chris Blewett 5.37
* Ted Laessing 4.80
* Alan Smith 4.77
* Doug Dearden 2.40
Glasgow
* Charlie Monk 9.27
* Alf Wells 7.47
* Bluey Scott 7.06
* Willie Templeton 6.75
* Maury Mattingley 6.35
* Jonny Faafeng 5.30
* Bill McMillan 4.95
* Jimmy McMillan 3.54
Hackney
* Colin Pratt 10.00
* Roy Trigg 8.63
* Gerry Jackson 6.81
* Les McGillivray 5.40
* Brian Davies 5.25
* Malcolm Brown 4.58
* Ernie Baker 3.44
* Sandy McGillivray 2.86
* John Poyser 2.00
Halifax
* Eric Boocock 10.46
* Eric Boothroyd 9.29
* Dave Younghusband 8.82
* Tommy Roper 7.54
* Bert Kingston 6.00
* Bob Jameson 5.38
* Dennis Gavros 4.98
* Greg Kentwell 4.00
* Maury Robinson 2.33
King's Lynn
* Terry Betts 9.41
* Peter Moore 9.18
* David Crane 6.20
* Alan Jay 4.90
* Stan Stevens 4.73
* Alan Smith 3.75
* Howdy Byford 3.55
* Ken Adams 2.61
* John Mills 2.61
* Cyril Crane 2.17
Long Eaton
* Ove Fundin 9.64
* Ray Wilson 8.63
* Leif Enecrona 7.68
* Ray Cresp 6.72
* Norman Storer 5.14
* Vic White 4.97
* Dennis Newton 4.96
* John Mills 4.44
* Nils Ringstrom 4.12
* Greg Kentwell 4.00
Newcastle
* Ivan Mauger 9.82
* Peter Kelly 8.05
* Brian Brett 7.74
* Graham Coombes 6.37
* Mike Watkin 6.11
* Russ Dent 5.82
* Dave Gifford 4.57
* Alan Butterfield 5.20
Newport
* Gote Nordin 10.44
* Jack Biggs 7.23
* Jon Erskine 6.03
* Tim Bungay 5.54
* Geoff Penniket 5.43
* Alby Golden 5.34
* Bob Hughes 4.75
* Ken Vale 3.68
Oxford
* Arne Pander 9.53
* Jimmy Gooch 8.14
* Eddie Reeves 5.96
* John Bishop 5.86
* Maury McDermott 5.04
* Des Lukehurst 4.10
* Tony Clarke 3.93
* Peter Seaton 1.00
Poole
* Bill Andrew 9.12
* Ronnie Genz 8.83
* Geoff Mudge 8.22
* Colin McKee 6.18
* Pete Smith 5.76
* Wayne Briggs 5.48
* Norman Strachan 5.43
* Bruce Cribb 4.20
Sheffield
* John Dews 8.12
* Bob Paulson 7.81
* Billy Bales 7.27
* Jack Kitchen 7.16
* George Major 6.86
* John Hart 5.93
* Eric Hockaday 5.70
* Arnold Haley 5.68
* Alan Jay 4.82
Swindon
* Barry Briggs 11.12
* Mike Broadbank 9.60
* Martin Ashby 9.01
* Clive Hitch 5.88
* Bob Kilby 5.67
* Mike Keen 5.29
* Frank Shuter 4.48
* Pete Munday 2.48
West Ham
* Sverre Harrfeldt 9.89
* Ken McKinlay 9.67
* Norman Hunter 9.42
* Malcolm Simmons 6.14
* Brian Leonard 5.89
* Reg Trott 4.30
* Ted Ede 3.53
* Don Smith 3.00
* Terry Stone 2.32
Wimbledon
* Olle Nygren 10.40
* Trevor Hedge 9.39
* Reg Luckhurst 8.68
* Bob Dugard 6.95
* Jim Tebby 3.97
* Tony Childs 3.23
* Peter Jackson 3.20
* John Edwards 2.88
Wolverhampton
* Peter Vandenberg 8.67
* Gordon Guasco 7.77
* Pete Jarman 6.57
* Alan Cowland 5.47
* James Bond 5.46
* Cyril Francis 5.46
* Brian Maxted 5.31
* Dave Hemus 5.14