# 1965 British League season

The 1965 British League season was the 31st season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also first known as the new British League which was formed in 1965, along with the British Speedway Promoters Association (BSPA). The league was an amalgamation of the National League and the Provincial League.

## Summary

Norwich Stars had closed and therefore did not compete and Reg Fearman moved his Middlesbrough promotion to The Shay, which revived the Halifax Dukes who had last competed in the 1951 division 2.
West Ham Hammers were the first ever British League winners. It was their first league success since 1937. The West Ham team included Scot Ken McKinlay who finished the season third with an average of 10.72 and the Norwegian champion Sverre Harrfeldt who finished fifth in the averages. They were supported well by British internationals Norman Hunter and Malcolm Simmons. The West Ham team completed the double winning the British League Knockout Cup. In the final they defeated Exeter Falcons 63–33. The season was not a complete success because during a challenge match at West Ham Stadium a junior rider called David John Wills was killed in a race after a crash. West Ham also won the London Cup but the competition only had three teams competing.
Wimbledon Dons headed by leading Swedish rider Olle Nygren fought West Ham throughout the season and only lost the league by a single point.

## Final table

| | | M | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | West Ham Hammers | 34 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 1430 | 1215 | 47 |
| 2 | Wimbledon Dons | 34 | 22 | 2 | 10 | 1396 | 1245 | 46 |
| 3 | Coventry Bees | 34 | 20 | 0 | 14 | 1384 | 1258 | 40 |
| 4 | Oxford Cheetahs | 34 | 19 | 2 | 13 | 1308 | 1340 | 40 |
| 5 | Halifax Dukes | 33 | 18 | 3 | 12 | 1322 | 1240 | 39 |
| 6 | Newport Wasps | 34 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 1360 | 1288 | 38 |
| 7 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 34 | 18 | 1 | 15 | 1429 | 1216 | 37 |
| 8 | Hackney Hawks | 34 | 18 | 1 | 15 | 1327.5 | 1319.5 | 37 |
| 9 | Exeter Falcons | 34 | 18 | 0 | 16 | 1325.5 | 1323.5 | 36 |
| 10 | Poole Pirates | 34 | 17 | 1 | 16 | 1378 | 1266 | 35 |
| 11 | Sheffield Tigers | 34 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 1300 | 1346 | 34 |
| 12 | Newcastle Diamonds | 34 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 1363 | 1282 | 33 |
| 13 | Glasgow Tigers | 34 | 15 | 1 | 18 | 1315 | 1329 | 31 |
| 14 | Belle Vue Aces | 34 | 15 | 0 | 19 | 1328 | 1312 | 30 |
| 15 | Swindon Robins | 34 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 1345 | 1300 | 28 |
| 16 | Cradley Heathens | 33 | 11 | 1 | 21 | 1132 | 1438 | 23 |
| 17 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 34 | 11 | 0 | 23 | 1173 | 1428 | 22 |
| 18 | Long Eaton Archers | 34 | 7 | 0 | 27 | 1107 | 1534 | 14 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures & results

| Home \ Away | BV | COV | CH | ED | EX | GLA | HAC | HAL | LE | ND | NW | OX | PP | SHE | SWI | WH | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue Aces | | 44–34 | 55–23 | 47–30 | 43–35 | 36–42 | 51–27 | 45–33 | 53–25 | 41–37 | 55–23 | 60–18 | 43–35 | 55–26 | 43–35 | 30–47 | 44–34 | 50–28 |
| Coventry Bees | 45–31 | | 47–31 | 58–20 | 52–26 | 51–26 | 42–36 | 47–30 | 42–36 | 45–33 | 41–36 | 37–41 | 47–30 | 47–30 | 48–30 | 39–38 | 40–38 | 41–37 |
| Cradley Heathens | 42–35 | 27–51 | | 43–35 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 49–29 | n/a | 43–35 | 40–38 | 35–43 | 36–42 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 31–47 | 29–49 | 41–37 |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 47–30 | 31–46 | 40–38 | | 45–33 | 36–42 | 40–38 | 35–42 | 38–40 | 36–41 | 43–35 | 47–31 | 39–38 | 47–31 | 40–38 | 34–44 | 40–38 | 42–36 |
| Exeter Falcons | 54–24 | 41–37 | 51–27 | 52–26 | | 46–32 | 54–24 | 40–38 | 45–33 | 44–34 | 51–27 | 52–26 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 48–30 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 30–48 |
| Glasgow Tigers | 46–32 | 56–22 | 53–25 | 48–30 | 54–24 | | 59–19 | 33–44 | 60–18 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 38–40 | 49–29 | 37–41 | 40–38 | 46–32 | 37–41 | 43–34 |
| Hackney Hawks | 48–29 | 44–34 | 45–32 | 50–28 | 41.5–36.5 | 54–24 | | 45–33 | 48–30 | 59–18 | 47–31 | 46–32 | 43–35 | 54–24 | 40–38 | 40–37 | 35–43 | 44–34 |
| Halifax Dukes | 50–28 | 40–38 | 62–16 | 48–30 | 50–27 | 39–39 | 44–34 | | 36–41 | 44–32 | 42–35 | 41–36 | 50–28 | 43–34 | 39–39 | 39–38 | 39–39 | 48–30 |
| Long Eaton Archers | 41–36 | 29–49 | 45–32 | 52–26 | 32–44 | 41–37 | 38–40 | 36–41 | | 36–41 | 32–46 | 38–39 | 31–47 | 37–40 | 40–37 | 37–41 | 34–44 | 32–45 |
| Newcastle Diamonds | 45–33 | 51–27 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 57–21 | 48–30 | 50–28 | 49–29 | 50–28 | | 51–27 | 39–39 | 41–37 | 48–30 | 43–35 | 46–32 | 38–40 | 38–39 |
| Newport Wasps | 54–24 | 47–31 | 56–22 | 51–37 | 45–33 | 50–28 | 56–22 | 46–32 | 52–26 | 44–34 | | 44–34 | 41–37 | 44–34 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 49–29 | 41–37 |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 41–37 | 42–36 | 41–37 | 48–30 | 44–34 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 40–38 | 45–32 | | 34–44 | 41–36 | 41–37 | 33–45 | 38–40 | 47–31 |
| Poole Pirates | 47–29 | 47–31 | 52–26 | 46–32 | 37–41 | 49–26 | 48–30 | 36–42 | 59–19 | 45–33 | 44–34 | 42–36 | | 50–28 | 37–40 | 51–27 | 45–33 | 45–33 |
| Sheffield Tigers | 41–37 | 35–42 | 40–38 | 53–25 | 54–24 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 53–25 | 48–30 | 41–37 | 47–31 | 55–23 | | 40–38 | 37–41 | 49–29 | 42–36 |
| Swindon Robins | 41–37 | 45–33 | 38–40 | 49–29 | 46–32 | 54–24 | 46–32 | 38–40 | 44–34 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 38–40 | 39–39 | 52–26 | | 45–33 | 36–37 | 42–36 |
| West Ham Hammers | 44–34 | 42–36 | 40–37 | 49–29 | 51–27 | 47–30 | 36–42 | 45–33 | 60–18 | 44–34 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 51–27 | 48–30 | | 48–30 | 42–35 |
| Wimbledon Dons | 44–32 | 42–36 | 52–26 | 46–30 | 46–32 | 49–29 | 44–34 | 45–33 | 63–15 | 41–36 | 40–38 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 50–28 | 41–37 | 38–40 | | 42–35 |
| Wolverhampton Wolves | 51–27 | 46–32 | 53–25 | 44–34 | 45–33 | 56–21 | 44–34 | 49–29 | 53–25 | 47–31 | 64–14 | 46–32 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 54–24 | 39–39 | 50–28 | |

## Top Ten Riders (League Average)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 11.09 |
| 2 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.91 |
| 3 | Ken McKinlay | West Ham | 10.72 |
| 4 | Mike Broadbanks | Swindon | 10.54 |
| 5 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 10.35 |
| 6 | Olle Nygren | Wimbledon | 10.31 |
| 7 | Charlie Monk | Glasgow | 10.22 |
| 8 | Ron How | Oxford | 10.16 |
| 9 | Arne Pander | Oxford | 10.01 |
| 10 | Jimmy Gooch | Oxford | 9.97 |

## Knockout Cup

West Ham Hammers won the Knockout Cup and completed the double of league and cup.

## Riders' Championship

Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Barry Briggs | 3 3 3 2 3 | 14 |
| 2 | Jimmy Gooch | 2 2 3 3 3 | 13 |
| 3 | Cyril Maidment | 3 3 3 ef 3 | 12 |
| 4 | Olle Nygren | 1 3 2 2 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Nigel Boocock | 1 2 3 3 2 | 11 |
| 6 | Charlie Monk | 2 3 1 2 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Ivan Mauger | 3 f 2 1 2 | 8 |
| 8 | Pete Jarman | 2 1 2 3 ef | 8 |
| 9 | Eric Boocock | 2 2 1 1 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Colin Gooddy | 1 0 1 2 2 | 6 |
| 11 | Jack Kitchen | 1 1 ef 3 0 | 5 |
| 12 | Ken McKinlay | 3–2 f - | 5 |
| 13 | Gerry Jackson | 0 2 0 0 1 | 3 |
| 14 | George Major | 0 1 ef 1 1 | 3 |
| 15 | Ronnie Genz | 0 0 0 ef 2 | 2 |
| 16 | Alby Golden | 0 1 1 0 0 | 2 |
| 17 | Alf Wells (res) | 1 - - - - | 1 |
| 18 | Kid Brodie (res) | 0 - - - - | 0 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 11.12 |
| 2 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.93 |
| 3 | Ken McKinlay | West Ham | 10.83 |
| 4 | Mike Broadbanks | Swindon | 10.48 |
| 5 | Sverre Harrfeldt | West Ham | 10.46 |
| 6 | Charlie Monk | Glasgow | 10.28 |
| 7 | Olle Nygren | Wimbledon | 10.22 |
| 8 | Ron How | Oxford | 10.16 |
| 9 | Arne Pander | Oxford | 10.03 |
| 10 | Jimmy Gooch | Oxford | 9.90 |
| 11 | Cyril Maidment | Belle Vue | 9.65 |
| 12 | Ronnie Genz | Poole | 9.45 |
| 13 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 9.43 |
| 14 | Norman Hunter | West Ham | 9.42 |
| 15 | George Hunter | Edinburgh | 9.35 |
| 16 | Ivor Brown | Cradley Heath | 9.27 |
| 17 | Colin Gooddy | Exeter | 9.24 |
| 18 | Reg Luckhurst | Wimbledon | 9.14 |
| 19 | Bill Andrew | Poole | 9.07 |
| 20 | Dave Younghusband | Halifax | 9.06 |

## London Cup

| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | West Ham Hammers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 196 | 188 | 5 |
| 2 | Hackney Hawks | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 189 | 194 | 4 |
| 3 | Wimbledon Dons | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 190 | 193 | 3 |
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Wimbledon | 53–43 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 52–44 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 50–46 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 48–47 | Wimbledon |
| Wimbledon | 48–48 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 54–42 | Wimbledon |

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Cyril Maidment 9.65
* Dick Fisher 8.06
* Gordon McGregor 7.52
* Sándor Lévai 6.37
* Norman Nevitt 6.03
* Bill Powell 5.50
* Dent Oliver 5.25
* Jim Yacoby 4.12
* Vic White 4.10
* Dave Schofield 1.67
Coventry
* Nigel Boocock 11.12
* Ron Mountford 8.74
* Jim Lightfoot 8.65
* Rick France 6.30
* Col Cottrell 6.00
* Les Owen 4.27
* Chris Harrison 3.08
* Fred Hodder 2.12
* Howie Booton 0.64
Cradley Heath
* Ivor Brown 9.27
* John Hart 7.78
* George Major 7.63
* Eric Hockaday 6.29
* Leo McAuliffe 5.87
* Goog Allan 5.10
* Chris Julian 5.09
* Harry Bastable 4.79
* Tim Bungay 3.35
* John Debbage 3.31
* Ivor Hughes 2.89
* Ron Cooper 1.65
Edinburgh
* George Hunter 9.35
* Doug Templeton 7.34
* Colin McKee 6.61
* Henry Harrfeldt 5.42
* Bill Landels 4.94
* Alf Wells 4.83
* Wayne Briggs 4.42
* Bert Harkins 4.17
* Kevin Torpie 3.88
* Ross Nickisson 2.50
Exeter
* Colin Gooddy 9.24
* Jimmy Squibb 7.72
* Jack Geran 7.62
* Alan Cowland 7.37
* Chris Blewett 6.05
* Tim Bungay 6.00
* Ivor Hughes 6.00
* Des Lukehurst 5.78
* Maury McDermott 4.36
* Doug Dearden 3.61
Glasgow
* Charlie Monk 10.28
* Bluey Scott 7.61
* Willie Templeton 7.16
* Nils Paulsen 6.58
* Maury Mattingley 6.12
* Graham Coombes 5.23
* Bruce Ovenden 4.76
* Bill McMillan 4.12
Hackney
* Gerry Jackson 8.69
* Colin Pratt 8.51
* Roy Trigg 7.51
* John Poyser 6.79
* Les McGillivray 6.60
* Howdy Byford 5.49
* Malcolm Brown 5.15
* Brian Davies 5.04
* Sandy McGillivray 3.45
Halifax
* Eric Boocock 9.43
* Dave Younghusband 9.06
* Eric Boothroyd 8.00
* Tommy Roper 7.29
* Bryan Elliott 6.30
* Dennis Gavros 4.91
* Bert Kingston 4.07
* Ray Day 4.00
* Clive Hitch 3.75
* Bob Jameson 2.93
Long Eaton
* Ray Cresp 7.96
* Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 6.84
* Norman Storer 6.64
* Ray Wilson 6.55
* Ken Adams 5.19
* Clive Hitch 5.08
* John Mills 4.77
* Paul Sharples 3.45
* Rim Malskaitis 2.61
Newcastle
* Ivan Mauger 8.76
* Brian Brett 8.75
* Peter Kelly 7.35
* Brian Craven 7.30
* Mike Watkin 6.23
* Russ Dent 5.92
* Ken Sharples 5.77
* Goog Allan 5.44
* Dave Gifford 2.92
Newport
* Jack Biggs 9.00
* Dick Bradley 7.90
* Peter Vandenberg 7.78
* Alby Golden 7.74
* Geoff Penniket 5.88
* Jon Erskine 5.77
* Vic White 5.41
* Bob Hughes 4.88
Oxford
* Ron How 10.16
* Arne Pander 10.03
* Jimmy Gooch 9.90
* Maury McDermott 4.53
* Ken Vale 4.51
* John Bishop 4.34
* Eddie Reeves 4.25
* Jimmy Heard 3.83
* Stan Stevens 3.32
* Glyn Chandler 2.45
* John Hook 1.71
Poole
* Ronnie Genz 9.45
* Bill Andrew 9.07
* Ross Gilbertson 7.76
* Geoff Mudge 7.43
* Norman Strachan 6.14
* Pete Smith 5.52
* Pete Munday 3.23
* Bruce Cribb 3.04
* Pete Swain 0.61
Sheffield
* Jack Kitchen 8.69
* Clive Featherby 8.06
* Billy Bales 7.43
* John Dews 6.05
* David Crane 5.63
* Alan Jay 5.08
* Bob Paulson 4.54
Swindon
* Barry Briggs 10.93
* Mike Broadbank 10.48
* Martin Ashby 8.83
* Roy Bowers 4.29
* Bob Kilby 4.00
* Mike Keen 3.93
* Pete Sampson 3.24
* Alan Jackson 2.00
* Frank Shuter 1.47
West Ham
* Ken McKinlay 10.83
* Sverre Harrfeldt 10.46
* Norman Hunter 9.42
* Malcolm Simmons 6.56
* Reg Trott 4.65
* Tony Clarke 4.48
* Brian Leonard 3.65
* Ted Ede 2.80
* Ray Wickett 2.40
Wimbledon
* Olle Nygren 10.22
* Reg Luckhurst 9.14
* Trevor Hedge 8.55
* Bob Dugard 6.77
* Jim Tebby 6.01
* John Edwards 4.91
* Mike Coomber 2.60
* Geoff Hughes 1.44
Wolverhampton
* Pete Jarman 8.70
* Bob Andrews 8.33
* Jim Airey 8.19
* Tommy Sweetman 7.39
* Cyril Francis 7.20
* Gordon Guasco 6.98
* Brian Maxted 5.64
* James Bond 4.62