# 1951 Speedway National League Division Two

The 1951 National League Division Two was the sixth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

## Summary

The League was extended again with 18 teams starting the season. New entrants were Motherwell Eagles and there were again three teams promoted from Division Three - the champions Oxford Cheetahs, third-place finishers Leicester Hunters and Liverpool Chads (despite finishing 8th). Plymouth Devils moved back down in the opposite direction.
Norwich Stars retained their title. However, after the season had finished a fourth rider in five years was killed at their Firs Stadium. 21-year-old Bob Howes died after hitting the fence during a training practice race on 10 November 1951.
Southampton Saints and Sheffield Tigers resigned in mid-season and their records were expunged. Jimmy Baxter Director of Southern Speedways withdrew Southampton from the league largely due to 45% entertainment duty imposed by the government. and they had their results expunged.

## Final table

| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
| 1 | Norwich Stars | 30 | 24 | 0 | 6 | 48 |
| 2 | Leicester Hunters | 30 | 19 | 0 | 11 | 38 |
| 3 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 30 | 18 | 0 | 12 | 36 |
| 4 | Coventry Bees | 30 | 16 | 3 | 11 | 35 |
| 5 | Walthamstow Wolves | 30 | 17 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
| 6 | Halifax Dukes | 30 | 17 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
| 7 | Motherwell Eagles | 30 | 16 | 1 | 13 | 33 |
| 8 | Ashfield Giants | 30 | 16 | 0 | 14 | 32 |
| 9 | Hanley Potters | 30 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 30 |
| 10 | Glasgow White City Tigers | 30 | 14 | 1 | 15 | 29 |
| 11 | Yarmouth Bloaters | 30 | 13 | 1 | 16 | 27 |
| 12 | Oxford Cheetahs | 30 | 12 | 2 | 16 | 26 |
| 13 | Liverpool Chads | 30 | 12 | 1 | 17 | 25 |
| 14 | Fleetwood Flyers | 30 | 9 | 2 | 19 | 20 |
| 15 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 30 | 9 | 0 | 21 | 18 |
| 16 | Newcastle Diamonds | 30 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 15 |

## Fixtures & results

| Home \ Away | ASH | COV | CH | ED | FLE | GLA | HAL | HAN | LEI | LIV | MOT | NEW | NOR | OX | WAL | YAR |
| Ashfield | | 64–20 | 57–27 | 40–44 | 54–30 | 55–29 | 52–32 | 56–28 | 51–33 | 40–44 | 45–38 | 55–29 | 41–43 | 44–40 | 47–37 | 56–28 |
| Coventry | 51–31 | | 57–27 | 51–32 | 60–23 | 42–42 | 52–32 | 36–48 | 43–41 | 44–40 | 59–25 | 57–27 | 45–39 | 43–41 | 44–40 | 63–21 |
| Cradley | 41–43 | 48–35 | | 39–44 | 55–29 | 55–29 | 37–47 | 32–52 | 23–61 | 54–30 | 41–40 | 60–24 | 39–45 | 56–28 | 32–52 | 52–32 |
| Edinburgh | 46–38 | 38–45 | 61–23 | | 58–26 | 55–29 | 55–29 | 55–29 | 37–47 | 50–34 | 36–48 | 64–20 | 37–47 | 51–33 | 48–36 | 52–32 |
| Fleetwood | 41–42 | 44–40 | 46–36 | 36–48 | | 45–39 | 40–44 | 52–31 | 46–38 | 38–40 | 42–42 | 45–38 | 33–51 | 53–31 | 49–35 | 56–28 |
| Glasgow | 56–28 | 46–38 | 60–23 | 44–40 | 65–19 | | 52–32 | 60–4 | 53–31 | 54–30 | 40–44 | 51–33 | 53–30 | 57–27 | 49–35 | 57–27 |
| Halifax | 48–36 | 41–43 | 50–34 | 54–30 | 60–24 | 55–29 | | 58–26 | 39–45 | 47–37 | 60–24 | 56–28 | 51–33 | 48–36 | 43–41 | 57–27 |
| Hanley | 43–41 | 49–34 | 60–24 | 51–32 | 60–23 | 53–31 | 43–40 | | 50–34 | 53–31 | 37–47 | 57–24 | 41–42 | 62–22 | 34–49 | 46–38 |
| Leicester | 49–35 | 44–40 | 55–29 | 47–37 | 57–27 | 51–33 | 40–44 | 47–37 | | 58–26 | 52–32 | 60–24 | 48–36 | 50–34 | 48–36 | 55–29 |
| Liverpool | 47–37 | 42–42 | 34–50 | 41–43 | 51–32 | 47–37 | 39–45 | 50–34 | 54–30 | | 41–43 | 61–23 | 34–49 | 52–32 | 49–35 | 51–33 |
| Motherwell | 41–43 | 43–41 | 43–41 | 40–42 | 55–29 | 50–34 | 53–31 | 55–29 | 43–41 | 34–50 | | 40–44 | 46–38 | 61–23 | 47–37 | 65–19 |
| Newcastle | 40–44 | 40–43 | 43–41 | 32–52 | 42–42 | 45–39 | 44–40 | 30–54 | 36–47 | 50–34 | 28–56 | | 36–48 | 37–46 | 50–34 | 57–27 |
| Norwich | 55–29 | 57–27 | 59–25 | 55–28 | 62–22 | 59–25 | 61–23 | 64–20 | 54–30 | 60–24 | 62–22 | 58–26 | | 67–17 | 60–24 | 63–21 |
| Oxford | 56–28 | 42–42 | 45–39 | 45–38 | 61–23 | 47–37 | 48–36 | 49–35 | 32–52 | 50–34 | 53–31 | 55–29 | 40–44 | | 33–47 | 50–34 |
| Walthamstow | 52–31 | 48–36 | 63–21 | 51–33 | 67–16 | 49–35 | 57–27 | 61–23 | 59–25 | 54–29 | 50–34 | 54–29 | 39–45 | 58–25 | | 56–28 |
| Yarmouth | 60–24 | 44–38 | 48–35 | 37–47 | 63–18 | 46–38 | 53–31 | 51–33 | 50–34 | 49–35 | 49–35 | 52–31 | 44–40 | 42–42 | 46–38 | |

## Top Five Riders (League only)

| | Rider | Team | C.M.A. |
| 1 | Jack Young | Edinburgh | 11.72 |
| 2 | Bob Leverenz | Norwich | 10.84 |
| 3 | Derick Close | Newcastle/Motherwell | 10.71 |
| 4 | Tommy Miller | Glasgow Tigers | 10.70 |
| 5 | Arthur Forrest | Halifax | 10.30 |

## National Trophy Stage Two

* For Stage One - see Stage One
* For Stage Three - see Stage Three
The 1951 National Trophy was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top-tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Norwich won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.
Second Division qualifying first round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 14/05 | Exeter | 60-47 | Oxford |
| 10/05 | Oxford | 80-28 | Exeter |
| 09/05 | Fleetwood | 64-44 | Newcastle |
| 04/05 | Southampton | 60-48 | Walthamstow |
| 30/04 | Newcastle | 71-36 | Fleetwood |
| 30/04 | Walthamstow | 77-31 | Southampton |
Second Division Qualifying Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 28/05 | Cradley Heath | 58-49 | Coventry |
| 26/05 | Coventry | 48-60 | Cradley Heath |
| 24/05 | Oxford | 61-47 | Yarmouth |
| 22/05 | Yarmouth | 63-44 | Oxford |
| 21/05 | Newcastle | 47-70 | Norwich |
| 19/05 | Norwich | 79-29 | Newcastle |
| 14/05 | Walthamstow | 81-26 | Stoke Hanley |
| 12/05 | Edinburgh | 77-29 | Leicester |
| 12/05 | Stoke Hanley | 59-49 | Walthamstow |
| 11/05 | Leicester | 46-62 | Edinburgh |
| 11/05 | Motherwell | 39-69 | Halifax |
| 09/05 | Halifax | 79-29 | Motherwell |
| 08/05 | Glasgow Ashfield | 70-38 | Liverpool |
| 07/05 | Liverpool | 62-46 | Glasgow Ashfield |
| - | Glasgow | w/o | Sheffield |
Second Division Qualifying quarterfinals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 05/06 | Glasgow Ashfield | 71-37 | Cradley Heath |
| 30/05 | Glasgow White City | 64-44 | Norwich |
| 26/05 | Edinburgh | 68-40 | Halifax |
| 23/05 | Halifax | 68-39 | Edinburgh |
| 26/05 | Norwich | 14-4 | Glasgow White City |
| 11/06 | Walthamstow | 73-35 | Yarmouth |
| 09/06 | Norwich | 81-27 | Glasgow White City |
| 29/05 | Yarmouth | 57-51 | Walthamstow |
Second Division Qualifying semifinals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
| 07/07 | Norwich | 67.5-40.5 | Cradley Heath |
| 11/06 | Cradley Heath | 83-25 | Glasgow Ashfield |
| 04/07 | Halifax | 71-37 | Walthamstow |
| 02/07 | Walthamstow | 74-34 | Halifax |

### Second Division Qualifying final

First leg
Second leg

## Midland Cup

Leicester won the inaugural Midland Cup, which consisted of eight teams. There was one team from division 1, five teams from division 2 and two teams from division 3.
First round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Hanley | Wolverhampton | 67–29, 60–30 |
Second round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Leicester | Long Eaton | 75–21, 52–44 |
| Oxford | Coventry | 58–38, 37–59 |
| Cradley | Hanley | 57–39, 45–50 |
Semi final round
| Team one | Team two | Score |
| Coventry | Leicester | 49–45, 41–55 |
| Birmingham | Cradley | 65–30, 62–34 |

### Final

First leg
Second leg
Leicester won on aggregate 98–94

## Riders & final averages

Ashfield
* Bruce Semmens 9.02
* Merv Harding 8.57
* Willie Wilson 7.30
* Cyril Cooper 6.20
* Jack Gates 6.17
* Ron Phillips 6.07
* Larry Lazarus 5.61
* Ron Johnson 4.46
* Bob Lovell 4.39
* Eric Liddell 2.74
Coventry
* Les Hewitt 8.48
* Bob Fletcher 8.21
* Johnny Reason 8.04
* Stan Williams 6.99
* Charlie New 6.24
* John Yates 5.91
* Derrick Tailby 5.63
* Jack Wright 5.85
* Cyril Cooper 5.58
* Peter Brough 5.26
* Wilf Plant 4.73
Cradley Heath
* Brian Shepherd 9.00
* Laurie Schofield 6.76
* Gil Craven 8.56
* Phil Malpass 7.86
* Guy Allott 6.55
* Les Tolley 6.51
* Harry Bastable 6.14
* Dick Tolley 5.15
* Dennis Hitchings 4.43
* Wilf Willstead 4.00
* Bill Clifton 3.52
* Don Prettejohn 1.74
Edinburgh
* Jack Young 11.72
* Don Cuppleditch 8.45
* Dick Campbell 8.15
* Bob Mark 7.36
* Harold Fairhurst 7.11
* Johnny Green 5.74
* Eddie Lack 5.38
* Jim Turner 3.45
* Harold Booth 3.00
* Jackie Campbell 2.53
* Jimmy Cox 2.45
Fleetwood
* Norman Hargreaves 8.00
* Wilf Jay 7.93
* Don Potter 7.13
* Alf Parker 6.25
* Ray Harker 3.88
* Angus McGuire 3.40
* Jeff Crawford 3.04
* Ray Moore 2.51
* Russ Pursehouse 2.09
Glasgow
* Tommy Miller 10.70
* Junior Bainbridge 9.18
* Norman Lindsay 5.86
* Frank Hodgson 6.43
* Ken McKinlay 6.29
* Jack Hodgson 6.09
* Len Nicholson 4.62
* Jim Blyth 4.55
* Alf McIntosh 4.37
Halifax
* Arthur Forrest 10.30
* Vic Emms 9.03
* Jack Hughes 7.70
* Al Allison 6.08
* Bill Crosland 5.71
* Ray Johnson 5.18
* Dyson Harper 4.86
* Jack Dawson 4.59
* George Stringer 2.71
Hanley
* Ken Adams 8.71
* Lindsay Mitchell 7.10
* Gil Blake 6.65
* Bill Harris 6.65
* Johnny Fitzparick 6.36
* Brian Pritchett 6.34
* Les Jenkins 6.32
* Ray Harris 5.80
* Bill Bridgett 1.00
Leicester
* Len Williams 9.42
* Lionel Benson 8.43
* Les Beaumont 8.24
* Harwood Pike 7.93
* Fred Perkins 6.86
* Joe Bowkis 6.55
* Jock Grierson 6.17
* Cyril Page 5.30
* Ron Wilson 4.92
* Johnny Carpenter 4.65
* Vic Pitcher 3.45
* Laurie Holland 3.30
Liverpool
* Peter Robinson 8.80
* Len Read 7.83
* Reg Duval 7.43
* Tommy Allott 7.39
* Bill Griffiths 5.75
* Harry Welch 5.50
* Alf Webster 5.39
* George Newton 4.23
* Buck Whitby 3.71
* Peter Craven 2.40
Motherwell
* Derick Close 10.18
* Gordon McGregor 8.86
* Keith Gurtner 8.37
* Noel Watson 7.48
* Joe Crowther 6.32
* Bill Dalton 5.50
* Will Lowther 5.20
* Stan Bradbury 5.00
* Bluey Scott 4.59
* Danny Lee 2.35
* Bob Lindsay 2.24
* Bill Baird 1.95
Newcastle
* Derick Close 10.25
* Son Mitchell 6.80
* Wal Morton 6.10
* Herby King 6.00
* Don Wilkinson 5.49
* Jack Chignell 5.46
* Don Lawson 4.56
* Peter Orpwood 4.45
* Norman Johnson 4.20
* Johnny Green 4.19
* Ernie Brecknell (Ernest Blight) 4.00
* Roy Dook 2.93
* Mike Tams 2.91
Norwich
* Bob Leverenz 10.84
* Phil Clarke 9.50
* Fred Rogers 8.38
* Paddy Mills (Horace Burke) 7.91
* Fred Pawson 7.82
* Jack Freeman 7.73
* Alec Hunter 7.93
* Bill Codling 5.88
* Trevor Davies 1.00
Oxford
* Pat Clark 9.10
* Bill Kemp 7.23
* Roger Wise 7.15
* Bill Osborne 7.06
* Ernie Rawlins 7.03
* Harry Saunders 6.62
* Frank Boyle 5.53
* Cyril Quick 5.52
* Eric Irons 5.49
* Bob McFarlane 5.35
* Herby King 3.64
Sheffield (withdrew mid-season)
* Guy Allott 8.60
* Tommy Allott 8.00
* Len Williams 7.24
* Peter Orpwood 6.10
* Bill Dalton 5.89
* Charlie New 5.40
* Johnny Green 4.40
* Jack Winstanley 4.32
* Les Howe 2.60
Southampton (withdrew mid-season)
* Jimmy Squibb 8.71
* Tom Oakley 8.71
* Roy Craighead 7.43
* Harold McNaughton 6.71
* Charlie May 6.43
* Bill Holden 6.25
* Bert Croucher 5.89
* Les Wotton 3.16
Walthamstow
* Pete Lansdale 9.03
* Harry Edwards 8.21
* Jim Boyd 8.11
* Reg Reeves 7.92
* Benny King 7.86
* Jimmy Grant 6.73
* Arch Windmill 6.49
* Sid Clark 4.50
* Alby Smith 2.96
Yarmouth
* Fred Brand 9.57
* Bob Baker 9.28
* Reg Morgan 6.53
* Cyril Quick 5.63
* Tip Mills 4.75
* Vic Ridgeon 4.45
* Sid Hipperson 4.23
* Stan Page 3.80
* Johnny White 3.70
* George Flower 2.59
* Alby Thomas 1.73