# 1970 British League Division Two season

The 1970 British League Division Two season was the third season of second tier motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

## Team changes

The league expanded from 16 to 17 teams in its third season. Plymouth Devils dropped out and were replaced by Peterborough Panthers. Peterborough promoted by Allied Presentations (headed by Maurice Littlechild) were to race at the East of England Showground.
Workington Comets under the promotion of Ian Thomas and Jeff Brownhut also joined the league and raced at Derwent Park.
Before the season got underway the 1968 and 1969 champions Belle Vue Colts disbanded with most of their riders and the promotion team moving to Rochdale and becoming the Rochdale Hornets. Doncaster changed their nickname from Stallions to Dragons.

## Summary

Two teams changed venue during the season. The first was in July when the Nelson Admirals moved to Bradford to become Bradford Northern. The second saw promoters Cyril Crane and Gordon Perkins receive planning permission to construct a track at the Boston Sports Stadium and the promoters bought the second tier team known as the King's Lynn Starlets from Maurice Littlechild and became the Boston Barracudas.
Canterbury Crusaders won their first title. New Zealander Graeme Smith averaged 10.49 for the Crusaders and was well backed up by Barry Crowson (9.17) and Barry Thomas (9.11). Another New Zealander Gary Peterson topped the averages riding initially for the Nelson Admirals and then Bradford Northern.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Canterbury Crusaders | 32 | 23 | 1 | 8 | 47 |
| 2 | Eastbourne Eagles | 32 | 22 | 1 | 9 | 45 |
| 3 | Rochdale Hornets | 32 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 44 |
| 4 | Bradford Northern | 32 | 21 | 2 | 9 | 37 |
| 5 | Middlesbrough Teessiders | 32 | 18 | 0 | 14 | 36 |
| 6 | Ipswich Witches | 32 | 17 | 2 | 13 | 36 |
| 7 | Crewe Kings | 32 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 35 |
| 8 | Romford Bombers | 32 | 17 | 1 | 14 | 35 |
| 9 | Reading Racers | 32 | 17 | 0 | 15 | 34 |
| 10 | Peterborough Panthers | 32 | 14 | 2 | 16 | 30 |
| 11 | Workington Comets | 32 | 13 | 1 | 18 | 27 |
| 12 | Rayleigh Rockets | 32 | 13 | 1 | 18 | 27 |
| 13 | Boston Barracudas | 32 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 26 |
| 14 | Crayford Highwaymen | 32 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 23 |
| 15 | Doncaster Dragons | 32 | 11 | 1 | 20 | 23 |
| 16 | Berwick Bandits | 32 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 20 |
| 17 | Long Eaton Rangers | 32 | 8 | 3 | 21 | 19 |

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | BER | BOS | BRA | CAN | CRA | CK | DON | EAS | IPS | LE | MID | PET | RAY | REA | RH | ROM | WOR |
| Berwick | | 46–32 | 45–33 | 38–40 | 52–26 | 43–35 | 36–42 | 42–34 | 41–37 | 47–31 | 42–36 | 47–31 | 49–29 | 38–40 | 26–51 | 34–44 | 35–43 |
| Boston/King's Lynn | 43–34 | | 49–29 | 40–37 | 51–27 | 47–31 | 35–43 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 47–30 | 37–41 | 37–41 | 43–35 | 44.5–32.5 | 26–52 | 42–36 | 39–39 |
| Bradford/ Nelson | 52–26 | 59–19 | | 50–28 | 55–23 | 55–23 | 58–19 | 44–34 | 52–25 | 55–22 | 59–19 | 56–22 | 46–32 | 49–29 | 46–31 | 50–28 | 40–38 |
| Canterbury | 57–21 | 51–26 | 53–25 | | 46–32 | 50–28 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 51–27 | 55–22 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 48–30 | 47–31 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 51–27 |
| Crayford | 51–26 | 43–35 | 52–25 | 28–50 | | 47–31 | 45–33 | 37–41 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 54–24 | 46–32 | 39–39 | 33–42 | 43–35 |
| Crewe | 56–22 | 53–25 | 43–35 | 47–31 | 54–24 | | 49–29 | 53–25 | 52–26 | 52–26 | 46–32 | 58–20 | 49–27 | 47–31 | 47–31 | 53–24 | 41–37 |
| Doncaster | 48–30 | 36–40 | 30–47 | 35–43 | 40–38 | 42–35 | | 44–34 | 38–40 | 40–37 | 40–38 | 39–39 | 36.5–39.5 | 43–35 | 36–42 | 36–42 | 38–37 |
| Eastbourne | 55–23 | 44–34 | 52–26 | 45–33 | 51–27 | 58–20 | 50–28 | | 53–25 | 56–22 | 47–31 | 44–33 | 56–22 | 41–37 | 42–35 | 50–28 | 44–34 |
| Ipswich | 57–21 | 44–34 | 39–39 | 34–44 | 50–28 | 48–30 | 47–31 | 51–27 | | 43–35 | 40–38 | 47–30 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 39–39 | 41–36 | 51–27 |
| Long Eaton | 40–38 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 31–47 | 47–31 | 43–35 | 36–42 | 38.5–38.5 | 29–49 | | 33–45 | 41–37 | 40–38 | 34–44 | 44–33 | 39–39 | 39–38 |
| Middlesbrough | 53–25 | 53–25 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 38–39 | 44–34 | 45–32 | 42–36 | 53–25 | | 49–29 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 43–35 | 62–15 | 45–32 |
| Peterborough | 46–32 | 40–38 | 47–31 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 33–45 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 41–37 | | 51–27 | 42–36 | 30–48 | 48–30 | 42–36 |
| Rayleigh | 45–32 | 49–29 | 40–38 | 37–40 | 47–31 | 39–39 | 41–37 | 31–47 | 51–27 | 40–38 | 40–37 | 42–35 | | 45–33 | 43–35 | 34–43 | 42–36 |
| Reading | 59–19 | 55–23 | 44–34 | 37–41 | 42–36 | 49–29 | 47–31 | 45–33 | 36–41 | 45–33 | 44–34 | 43–34 | 50–27 | | 43–35 | 40–38 | 44–33 |
| Rochdale | 58–20 | 61–15 | 51–27 | 51–27 | 63–15 | 41–37 | 52–26 | 53–25 | 54–23 | 57–21 | 49–29 | 45–33 | 57–20 | 53–24 | | 50–28 | 47–25 |
| Romford | 44–33 | 46.5–31.5 | 36–41 | 41–37 | 46–32 | 48–30 | 51–27 | 38–40 | 36–41 | 49–29 | 50–28 | 54–24 | 41–37 | 35–43 | 47–30 | | 40–38 |
| Workington | 52–26 | 37–40 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 51–27 | 55–23 | 33–45 | 47–31 | 44–33 | 46–31 | 48–30 | 44–34 | 40–38 | 29–49 | 35–43 | |

## Top five riders (league averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Gary Peterson | Bradford Northern | 10.79 |
| 2 | Graeme Smith | Canterbury | 10.41 |
| 3 | Eric Broadbelt | Rochdale | 10.08 |
| 4 | Paul O'Neil | Crewe | 9.91 |
| 5 | Archie Wilkinson | Crayford | 9.85 |

## Knockout Cup

The 1970 British League Division Two Knockout Cup was the third edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Ipswich Witches were the winners of the competition defeating Berwick Bandits in the final. The Bandits were surprise finalists given their final league placing which was second from bottom of the table.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 11/04 | Rayleigh | 48-30 | Peterborough |
| 19/04 | Rochdale | 43-35 | Long Eaton |
| 20/04 | Crewe | 49-29 | Nelson |
| 26/04 | Eastbourne | 34-44 | Canterbury |
| 30/04 | Ipswich | 51-27+ | Crayford |
| 02/05 | Berwick | 53-25 | Doncaster |
| 07/05 | Teesside | 54-24 | King's Lynn |
| 07/05 | Romford | 48-30 | Reading |
+ first match abandoned with score at 25-17
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 17/05 | Rochdale | 48-30 | Romford |
| 21/05 | Ipswich | 46-31 | Rayleigh |
| 23/05 | Berwick | 40-36 | Teesside |
| 06/06 | Canterbury | 52-26 | Crewe |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 07/07 | Berwick | 44-34 | Canterbury |
| 27/08 | Ipswich | 42-36 | Rochdale |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Ipswich were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 82–74.

## Riders' Championship

Dave Jessup won the Rider's Championship, held at Hackney Wick Stadium on 25 September. Jessup was aged just 17 at the time.
| Pos. | Rider | Pts | Total |
| 1 | Dave Jessup | 3 3 3 3 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Barry Crowson | 2 3 3 2 2 | 12+3 |
| 3 | Gary Peterson | 2 3 1 3 3 | 12+2 |
| 4 | Eric Broadbelt | 3 1 2 2 3 | 11 |
| 5 | Tom Leadbitter | 3 2 3 1 1 | 10 |
| 6 | John Harrhy | f 3 2 3 1 | 9 |
| 7 | Bob Valentine | 2 2 3 2 0 | 9 |
| 8 | Paul O'Neil | 1 1 3 3 | 8 |
| 9 | Richard May | 1 2 2 ef 2 | 7 |
| 10 | Ross Gilbertson | 3 ef 2 2 0 | 7 |
| 11 | Andy Ross | 1 0 1 1 2 | 5 |
| 12 | Arthur Price | 2 2 0 1 0 | 5 |
| 13 | Geoff Maloney | 0 1 1 1 1 | 4 |
| 14 | Maury Robinson | ex 0 0 0 | 3 |
| 15 | Tony Childs | 1 1 ef 0 | 3 |
| 16 | Gordon McGregor | 1 0 0 r | 1 |
| 17 | Ken Vale (res) | 0 | 0 |
* f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Gary Peterson | Bradford Northern/Nelson | 10.76 |
| 2 | Graeme Smith | Canterbury | 10.49 |
| 3 | Eric Broadbelt | Rochdale | 10.07 |
| 5 | Taffy Owen | Workington | 9.94 |
| 5 | Paul O'Neil | Crewe | 9.69 |

## Riders' final averages

Berwick
* Doug Wyer 8.39
* Maury Robinson 8.13
* Peter Kelly 7.28
* Bernie Lagrosse/Roy Williams 6.00
* Ken Omand 5.41
* Alan Paynter 5.26
* Peter Baldock 5.14
* Ian Paterson 5.03
* Alistair Brady 4.89
* Andy Meldrum 4.80
* Jimmy Gallacher 3.53
Boston/King's Lynn (Boston took over fixtures mid-season)
* Arthur Price 7.52
* Graham Edmonds 7.27
* Russ Osborne 5.70
* Jack Bywater 4.97
* Tony Featherstone 4.26
* John Ingamells 3.73
* Brian Osborn 3.62
Bradford (Bradford took over Nelson's fixtures mid-season)
* Gary Peterson 10.76
* Alf Wells 9.32
* Alan Knapkin 9.28
* Dave Schofield 6.15
* Sid Sheldrick 5.93
* Alan Bridgett 5.85
* Peter Thompson 5.22
* Robin Adlington 4.35
Canterbury
* Graeme Smith 10.49
* Barry Crowson 9.17
* Barry Thomas 9.11
* Graham Banks 7.53
* Graham Miles 7.44
* Alan Kite 4.76
* Jake Rennison 4.30
* Ted Hubbard 4.22 (5 matches only)
* Dave Smith 4.07
* Mike Barkaway 3.77
Crayford
* Archie Wilkinson 9.54
* Tony Childs 7.97
* George Devonport 7.00
* Derek Timms 5.19
* Mick Steel 4.98
* Tony Armstrong 4.55
* Colin Clark 4.00
* Judd Drew 3.91
Crewe
* Paul O'Neil 9.69
* John Jackson 7.94
* Barry Meeks 7.13
* Dai Evans 6.34
* Warren Hawkins 6.10
* Ian Bottomley 5.91
* Dave Parry 5.65
* Glyn Blackburn 5.28
* Rob Jackson 5.04
Doncaster
* George Major 9.58
* Gordon McGregor 9.36
* Chris Harrison 6.82
* Gunther Haslinger 4.99
* Chris Roynon 4.36
* Dennis Wasden 3.89
* Ian Wilson 3.72
* Malcolm Corradine 3.64
* Cliff Emms 3.40
Eastbourne
* Dave Jessup 9.66
* Derek Cook 8.44
* Reg Trott 7.52
* Alby Golden 7.12
* Phil Pratt 7.08
* Gordon Kennett 6.79
* Mac Woolford 6.31
* Laurie Sims 5.98
* Dave Kennett 3.36
Ipswich
* John Harrhy 9.21
* John Louis 8.74
* Pete Bailey 7.60
* Ron Bagley 7.03
* Ted Spittles 5.92
* Neville Slee 4.54
* Dave Whittaker 4.15
* Bernie Aldridge 3.91
* Stan Pepper 3.55
Long Eaton
* Malcolm Shakespeare 8.83
* Ken Vale 6.68
* Geoff Bouchard 5.85
* Roy Carter 5.65
* Gil Farmer 5.20
* Peter Wrathall 5.12
* Colin Tucker 4.43
* Steve Bass 3.21
* Peter Gay 2.67
Middlesbrough
* Tom Leadbitter 9.55
* Roger Mills 7.43
* Bruce Forrester 7.28
* Tim Swales 7.13
* Bob Jameson 6.63
* Dave Durham 5.63
* Pete Reading 5.41
Peterborough
* Andy Ross 9.08
* John Poyser 7.65
* Richard Greer 7.49
* Peter Seaton 7.14
* Brian Davies 6.91
* Joe Hughes 5.88
* John Stayte 5.03
* Pete Saunders 4.61
* Mervyn Hill 4.53
Rayleigh
* Geoff Maloney 8.74
* Hugh Saunders 7.58
* Alan Jackson 7.06
* Terry Stone 6.85
* Nigel Rackett 6.38
* Garry Moore 4.70
* Allan Emmett 4.40
* George Barclay 4.18
* Tony Hall 3.69
* Ian Champion 3.44
Reading
* Richard May 9.57
* Mike Vernam 9.01
* Bernie Leigh 6.91
* Bob Young 6.11
* Phil Pratt 5.36
* Dene Davies 5.28
* John Hammond 5.05
* Cec Platt 4.20
Rochdale
* Eric Broadbelt 10.07
* Taffy Owen 9.43
* Chris Bailey 8.22
* Steve Waplington 8.04
* Alan Wilkinson 8.00
* Paul Tyrer 6.81
* Ken Moss 6.25
* Gerry Richardson 4.86
* Colin Goad 4.46
Romford
* Phil Woodcock 8.87
* Ross Gilbertson 8.70
* Geoff Penniket 8.43
* Des Lukehurst 8.26
* Brian Foote 6.85
* Colin Sanders 6.17
* Ian Gills 5.69
* Charlie Benham 5.35
* Kevin Holden 4.65
* John Hibben 2.83
Workington
* Taffy Owen 9.94 (7 matches only)
* Bob Valentine 9.37
* Malcolm MacKay 7.56
* Geoff Penniket 7.23
* Reg Wilson 6.51
* Lou Sansom 6.13
* Ian Armstrong 5.00
* Chris Blythe 4.22
* Dave Kumeta 3.84
* Vic Lonsdale 3.70