# 1971 British League season

The 1971 British League season was the 37th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh season known as the British League.

## Summary

Reading Racers moved up from Division 2 after taking the Newcastle Diamonds division 1 licence. Belle Vue Aces retained their title to become the first team to win the title for the second time. The team included three time world champion Ivan Mauger, Swedish international Sören Sjösten, Tommy Roper, Eric Broadbelt, Chris Pusey and a 17 year old Peter Collins in his debut season.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Belle Vue Aces | 36 | 25 | 1 | 10 | 51 |
| 2 | Leicester Lions | 36 | 22 | 3 | 11 | 47 |
| 3 | Coventry Bees | 36 | 23 | 0 | 13 | 46 |
| 4 | Sheffield Tigers | 36 | 21 | 1 | 14 | 43 |
| 5 | Swindon Robins | 36 | 19 | 3 | 14 | 40 |
| 6 | Reading Racers | 36 | 18 | 4 | 14 | 41 |
| 7 | Hackney Hawks | 36 | 17 | 4 | 15 | 38 |
| 8 | Newport Wasps | 36 | 19 | 0 | 17 | 37 |
| 9 | Wembley Lions | 36 | 17 | 3 | 16 | 37 |
| 10 | Wimbledon Dons | 36 | 18 | 1 | 17 | 36 |
| 11 | Poole Pirates | 36 | 17 | 2 | 17 | 35 |
| 12 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 36 | 17 | 1 | 18 | 34 |
| 13 | King's Lynn Stars | 36 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 34 |
| 14 | Halifax Dukes | 36 | 16 | 2 | 18 | 32 |
| 15 | Exeter Falcons | 36 | 16 | 0 | 20 | 31 |
| 16 | Glasgow Tigers | 36 | 15 | 1 | 20 | 25 |
| 17 | Oxford Cheetahs | 36 | 12 | 1 | 23 | 20 |
| 18 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 36 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 20 |
| 19 | West Ham Hammers | 36 | 9 | 1 | 26 | 19 |
M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

## Fixtures and results

| Home \ Away | BV | COV | CRA | EX | GLA | HAC | HAL | KL | LEI | NW | OX | PP | RR | SHE | SWI | WEM | WH | WIM | WOL |
| Belle Vue | | 43–35 | 46–32 | 51–27 | 46–32 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 35–37 | 48–30 | 61–17 | 46–32 | 46–32 | 48–30 | 55–23 | 59–19 | 55–23 | 59–19 | 49–29 |
| Coventry | 41–37 | | 52–26 | 62–16 | 48–30 | 47–31 | 43–35 | 47–30 | 43–35 | 55–23 | 52–26 | 41–37 | 52–26 | 49–29 | 49–29 | 45–33 | 51–27 | 47–31 | 36–42 |
| Cradley | 33–45 | 44–34 | | 39–38 | 38–40 | 39–39 | 49–29 | 34–44 | 39–39 | 40–37 | 39–39 | 41–37 | 38–40 | 41–37 | 36–42 | 39–39 | 49–29 | 37–41 | 42–36 |
| Exeter | 40–38 | 38–40 | 55–23 | | 52–25 | 42–36 | 41–37 | 42–36 | 36–41 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 49–29 | 45–33 | 43–35 | 36–42 | 47–31 | 52–26 | 46–32 | 37–39 |
| Glasgow | 32–46 | 49–29 | 47–30 | 40–38 | | 52–26 | 39–39 | 35–43 | 47–1 | 41–37 | 54–24 | 37–41 | 51–27 | 41–37 | 50–28 | 45–33 | 54–24 | 49–29 | 41–37 |
| Hackney | 36–42 | 42–36 | 48–30 | 40–38 | 41–37 | | 46–32 | 39–38 | 38–40 | 46–32 | 41–37 | 52–26 | 43–35 | 46–32 | 33–45 | 38–40 | 56–22 | 41–37 | 36–42 |
| Halifax | 41–37 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 44–34 | 41–37 | 49–29 | | 49–29 | 34–44 | 46–32 | 50–28 | 55–23 | 46–32 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 50–28 | 44–34 |
| King's Lynn | 42–36 | 38–40 | 47–31 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 39–39 | 53–25 | | 36–42 | 34–44 | 42–36 | 39–39 | 41–37 | 41.5–35.5 | 44–34 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 37–39 |
| Leicester | 38–40 | 44–33 | 43–35 | 48–30 | 47–31 | 47–30 | 57–21 | 42–36 | | 49–29 | 47–31 | 38–40 | 37–41 | 38–40 | 47–31 | 39–39 | 48–30 | 41–37 | 45–33 |
| Newport | 40–38 | 40–38 | 43–35 | 59–19 | 40–38 | 37–41 | 48–30 | 51–27 | 46–32 | | 43–35 | 44–34 | 43–35 | 40–38 | 47–31 | 40–38 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 42–36 |
| Oxford | 42–36 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 37–41 | 40–38 | 41–37 | 45–31 | 42–36 | 33–45 | 42–36 | | 44–34 | 37–40 | 48–30 | 36–41 | 38–40 | 45–33 | 39–38 | 53–24 |
| Poole | 52–26 | 50–28 | 52–26 | 43–35 | 56–20 | 38–40 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 41–37 | 48–30 | 49–29 | | 39–39 | 38–40 | 40–38 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 36–42 | 45–33 |
| Reading | 38–39 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 42–36 | 49–29 | 38–38 | 45–33 | 48–30 | 44–34 | 41–37 | 48.5–28.5 | 57–21 | | 52–26 | 39–39 | 40–38 | 46–32 | 51–27 | 41–37 |
| Sheffield | 41–37 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 46–32 | 44–34 | 46–32 | 40–38 | 44–34 | 44–34 | 61–17 | 48–30 | 43–35 | | 47–31 | 44–34 | 56–22 | 45.5–32.5 | 50–28 |
| Swindon | 36–41 | 48–30 | 42–36 | 37–41 | 43–35 | 39–39 | 42–36 | 35–43 | 38–40 | 47–31 | 49–29 | 42–36 | 45–33 | 41–37 | | 43–34 | 47–31 | 50–28 | 42–36 |
| Wembley | 30–48 | 37–41 | 51–27 | 54–24 | 44–34 | 50–28 | 52–26 | 47–31 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 44–34 | 37–41 | 46–32 | 45–33 | 43–35 | | 49–29 | 49–29 | 48–30 |
| West Ham | 34–44 | 36–42 | 46–32 | 40–38 | 40–38 | 32–46 | 42–36 | 41–37 | 37–41 | 38–40 | 52–26 | 40–38 | 39–39 | 38–40 | 37–41 | 32–46 | | 41–37 | 43–35 |
| Wimbledon | 43–35 | 50–28 | 40–38 | 46–32 | 47–31 | 33–44 | 48–30 | 41–37 | 40–38 | 52–26 | 52–26 | 47–31 | 40.5–37.5 | 48–30 | 39–39 | 45–33 | 43–34 | | 42–35 |
| Wolverhampton | 39–39 | 35–42 | 43–35 | 53–25 | 43–35 | 43–35 | 43–34 | 35–43 | 32–46 | 49–29 | 43–35 | 42–36 | 40–34 | 44–34 | 38–40 | 44–32 | 46–32 | 45–33 | |

## Top Ten Riders (League Averages)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | Belle Vue | 11.42 |
| 2 | Ray Wilson | Leicester | 10.97 |
| 3 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 10.96 |
| 4 | Jim Airey | Sheffield | 10.70 |
| 5 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.64 |
| 6 | Bengt Jansson | Hackney | 10.21 |
| 7 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.14 |
| 8 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 10.03 |
| 9 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 9.95 |
| 10 | Ronnie Moore | Wimbledon | 9.93 |

## British League Knockout Cup

The 1971 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 33rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Hackney were the winners.
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 08/05 | Halifax | 49–29 | West Ham |
| 08/05 | Swindon | 43–35 | Wimbledon |
| 06/05 | Oxford | 46–32 | Poole |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 25/06 | Wolverhampton | 43–35 | Belle Vue |
| 21/06 | Reading | 38–40 | Cradley Heath |
| 17/06 | Oxford | 39–38 | Exeter |
| 12/06 | King's Lynn | 46–32 | Newport |
| 11/06 | Glasgow | 43–34 | Leicester |
| 10/06 | Sheffield | 48–30 | Wembley |
| 05/06 | Halifax | 42–36 | Coventry |
| 05/06 | Swindon | 36–42 | Hackney |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 14/08 | Halifax | 43–35 | Sheffield |
| 06/08 | Wolverhampton | 45–32 | Oxford |
| 31/07 | King's Lynn | 39–39 | Hackney |
| 31/07 | Cradley Heath | 40–38 | Glasgow |
| 03/09 | Hackney | 49–29 | King's Lynn |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 17/09 | Hackney | 50–27 | Halifax |
| 06/09 | Cradley Heath | 50–28 | Wolverhampton |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Hackney Hawks were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 88-68.

## Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | 3 3 3 3 2 | 14 |
| 2 | Barry Briggs | 2 2 3 2 3 | 12 |
| 3 | Jim McMillan | 1 3 2 3 3 | 12 |
| 4 | Bob Kilby | 3 0 2 2 3 | 10 |
| 5 | Nigel Boocock | 3 2 1 3 0 | 9 |
| 6 | Eric Boocock | 2 2 1 1 3 | 9 |
| 7 | Ole Olsen | 3 3 2 f fx | 8 |
| 8 | Christer Löfqvist | 2 1 0 3 2 | 8 |
| 9 | Jim Airey | 1 1 3 1 1 | 7 |
| 10 | Ray Wilson | 1 3 1 1 f | 6 |
| 11 | Reidar Eide | 0 2 3 0 1 | 6 |
| 12 | Anders Michanek | 2 1 0 0 2 | 5 |
| 13 | Ronnie Moore | 0 1 2 2 0 | 5 |
| 14 | Sándor Lévai | 0 0 1 2 1 | 4 |
| 15 | Terry Betts | 0 0 0 1 1 | 2 |
| 16 | Bert Harkins (res) | 2 - - - - | 2 |
| 17 | Bengt Jansson | 1 0 0 0 0 | 1 |
* ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded

## Final leading averages

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Ivan Mauger | Belle Vue | 11.33 |
| 2 | Ole Olsen | Wolverhampton | 10.99 |
| 3 | Ray Wilson | Leicester | 10.94 |
| 4 | Jim Airey | Sheffield | 10.74 |
| 5 | Barry Briggs | Swindon | 10.67 |
| 6 | Bengt Jansson | Hackney | 10.26 |
| 7 | Eric Boocock | Halifax | 10.19 |
| 8 | Anders Michanek | Reading | 10.05 |
| 9 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry | 9.95 |
| 10 | Ronnie Moore | Wimbledon | 9.89 |
| 11 | Martin Ashby | Swindon | 9.76 |
| 12 | Bernt Persson | Cradley Heath | 9.68 |
| 13 | Terry Betts | King's Lynn | 9.62 |
| 14 | Malcolm Simmons | King's Lynn | 9.22 |
| 15 | Trevor Hedge | Wimbledon | 9.18 |
| 16 | Jim McMillan | Glasgow | 9.18 |
| 17 | Sören Sjösten | Belle Vue | 9.11 |
| 18 | Reidar Eide | Poole | 9.10 |
| 19 | Göte Nordin | Wembley | 9.04 |
| 20 | John Boulger | Leicester | 8.99 |

## London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup for only the second time, after previously winning it back in 1936.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts |
| 1 | Hackney Hawks | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 177 | 135 | 8 |
| 2 | West Ham Hammers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 156 | 156 | 2 |
| 3 | Wimbledon Dons | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 135 | 177 | 2 |
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
| Hackney | 40–38 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 45–33 | Wimbledon |
| Hackney | 53–25 | Wimbledon |
| Wimbledon | 41–37 | West Ham |
| West Ham | 36–42 | Hackney |
| Wimbledon | 36–42 | Hackney |

## Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup for the third consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Wolverhampton | Swindon | 41–36, 41–35 |
| Oxford | Cradley | 38–40, 33–45 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Leicester | Wolverhampton | 41–37, 42–36 |
| Cradley | Coventry | 33–45, 27–51 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate 82–74

## Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
* Ivan Mauger 11.33
* Sören Sjösten 9.11
* Tommy Roper 7.14
* Eric Broadbelt 7.01
* Dave Hemus 6.97
* Peter Collins 6.36
* Chris Pusey 6.30
* Ken Eyre 5.27
* Alan Wilkinson 4.74
* Mike Hiftle 4.50
Coventry
* Nigel Boocock 9.95
* Tony Lomas 7.81
* Jan Simensen 7.66
* Roger Hill 6.16
* Les Owen 5.91
* Ron Mountford 5.59
* John Harrhy 5.07
Cradley Heath
* Bernt Persson 9.68
* Bob Andrews 7.73
* Roy Trigg 7.25
* Mick Handley 6.00
* Pete Jarman 5.57
* Jimmy Squibb 4.66
* John Hart 4.25
* Barry Duke 3.60
* Bengt Andersson 2.10
* Richard Eslick 1.54
Exeter
* Bruce Cribb 8.92
* Bob Kilby 8.87
* Peter Ingram 6.42
* Wayne Briggs 5.94
* Chris Julian 5.28
* Tommy Bergqvist 5.10
* Phil Woodcock 4.42
* Bob Coles 4.10
Glasgow
* Jimmy McMillan 9.18
* George Hunter 8.29
* Bobby Beaton 7.27
* Charlie Monk 6.99
* Willie Templeton 4.80
* Doug Templeton 4.69
* Bill McMillan 3.46
Hackney
* Bengt Jansson 10.26
* Garry Middleton 8.97
* Barry Thomas 7.28
* Laurie Etheridge 5.44
* Hugh Saunders 4.88
* Eddie Reeves 4.81
* Dave Kennett 4.65
* Geoff Maloney 4.49
* Graham Miles 4.36
* Preben Rosenkilde 4.00
Halifax
* Eric Boocock 10.19
* Dave Younghusband 8.80
* Alan Jay 6.11
* Greg Kentwell 6.09
* Paul O'Neal 5.01
* Malcolm MacKay 4.56
* Mike Hiftle 4.46
* Chris Bailey 4.24
* Terry Lee 3.75
King's Lynn
* Terry Betts 9.62
* Malcolm Simmons 9.22
* Howard Cole (Kid Bodie) 8.11
* Clive Featherby 5.49
* Ian Turner 5.15
* Barry Crowson 4.93
* Bob Humphreys 4.38
* Jim Ryman 3.91
* Arthur Price 3.79
Leicester
* Ray Wilson 10.94
* John Boulger 8.99
* Graham Plant 8.78
* Alan Cowland 5.47
* Norman Storer 5.08
* Malcolm Brown 4.88
* Malcolm Shakespeare 4.44
* Tom Leadbitter 3.33
Newport
* Sándor Lévai 8.76
* Tommy Johansson 8.03
* Edgar Stangeland 7.87
* Bill Andrew 7.24
* Ted Laessing 4.84
* Bob Hughes 4.53
* Bengt Brannefors 4.42
* Ronnie Genz 4.38
* Dave O'Connor 2.11
Oxford
* Øyvind S. Berg 7.60
* Ken McKinlay 6.98
* Colin Gooddy 6.86
* Ronnie Genz 6.77
* Rick Timmo 6.70
* Tommy Roper 6.55
* Norman Strachan 4.58
* Col Cottrell 3.89
* John Jackson 2.57
Poole
* Reidar Eide 9.10
* Odd Fossengen 7.76
* Pete Smith 7.76
* Bo Wirebrand 6.03
* John Langfield 6.01
* Mike Cake 4.93
* Derek Cook 3.14
Reading
* Anders Michanek 10.05
* Dag Lövaas 7.74
* Geoff Mudge 7.23
* Geoff Curtis 6.74
* Richard May 6.13
* Mick Bell 5.25
* Bernie Leigh 4.75
* Josef Angermüller 3.30
Sheffield
* Jim Airey 10.74
* Arnold Haley 7.58
* Bengt Larsson 7.04
* Bob Paulson 6.60
* Bob Valentine 6.03
* Doug Wyer 5.92
* Reg Wilson 5.11
* Brian Maxted 4.60
Swindon
* Barry Briggs 10.67
* Martin Ashby 9.76
* Mike Keen 6.63
* Mike Broadbank 4.98
* Clive Hitch 4.78
* Jimmy Gallacher 3.80
* Pete Munday 3.79
* James Bond 3.43
Wembley
* Göte Nordin 9.04
* Bert Harkins 8.28
* Sverre Harrfeldt 7.80
* Dave Jessup 7.43
* Tony Clarke 7.23
* Brian Leonard 5.72
* Christer Sjösten 4.21
* Peter Prinsloo 1.33
West Ham
* Christer Löfqvist 8.73
* Olle Nygren 8.14
* Reg Luckhurst 6.51
* Preben Rosenkilde 4.93
* Barry Duke 4.44
* Mick Handley 3.82
* Alan Bellham 3.66
* Alan Sage 3.13
* Stan Stevens 2.98
Wimbledon
* Ronnie Moore 9.89
* Trevor Hedge 9.18
* Cyril Maidment 6.25
* John Dews 5.31
* Jim Tebby 5.13
* Peter Murray 4.69
* John Bishop 4.19
Wolverhampton
* Ole Olsen 10.99
* Norman Hunter 7.61
* Gary Peterson 6.87
* Dave Baugh 6.56
* Jon Erskine 5.06
* Bill Powell .4.97
* Geoff Ambrose 4.80
* Niels Weiss 4.75
* Bengt Brannefors 3.43
* George Devonport 2.67