Oxford lead the BL at the start of the month but are missing Ron How and lose fairly badly at Sheffield and Wolves but manage a narrow 39-38 win at Long Eaton to keep their flickering title hopes alive. Newport and Hackney are close on their tail but this is largely due to having had more home meetings than aways where they have both struggled to make an impression.

Drama at Old Meadowbank where George Hunter walks out after another rainy night at Old Meadowbank which saw Coventry run out convincing victors but the big talking point was George Hunter walking out after one race saying “The track is absolutely ridiculous. I’m packing it in” At the time Hoskins took a fairly conservative line telling the public that Hunter was off colour and wouldn’t be riding again. However positions hardened later in the week, with Hunter, already reported to the Control Board, claiming he would do it again if no improvements were made. Hoskins retorted that he wouldn’t get the chance to walk out again and that he rides as an ordinary member of the team and sent him a strongly worded letter to this effect. Hunter turned up the following week, only for the meeting to be rained off, but said that he had no regrets as his requested improvements had now been made. A tentative truce for worried Edinburgh fans. With the following weeks home meeting against Swindon falling victim of the rain, the next meeting was the second leg of the Scottish Cup against Glasgow, who come through defending a 14 point lead, something that had evaporated by the interval with the Monarchs leading 34-19. A Monk- Coombes 5-1 over Hunter restored Tigers aggregate lead of just one point, only for the Monarchs to hit back with a maximum heat advantage of their own through Doug Templeton and Colin McKee. However Bluey Scott and Graham Coombes took a 5-1 in heat 15 again giving the Tigers a single point lead. In the last heat Monk and Mattingley seemed content to let Hunter go for the win but to block out Kevin Torpie , the last heat hero of the previous year and the Cup went West.

 

Plenty of KO Cup action this month. West Ham were held to a 48-48 draw by Wimbledon and to the horror of the fans found that Norman Hunter wasn’t going to be available for the hurriedly arranged replay as he was getting married that day and Sverre Harrfeldt was out after sustaining an eye injury at Hackney the night before. There were reports of Hammers fans turning back on hearing that they would be missing two of their heatleaders. Those that did missed an epic meeting which turned out to be the Hammers greatest night of the season as their patched up side edge the Dons out 49-47 with Mal Simmonds top scoring with 14 and Brain Leonard hitting 9 with Reg Trott excelling with 7 as the Hammers give their supporters a night to remember.

Glasgow too had to make changes to their side for their home tie against Swindon.

Drawing the Robins at home was going to be a tough task. The Robins had lost 40-38 when in Glasgow earlier in the season and had won their first round tie at Newcastle, against a Diamonds side that controversially tracked both Mauger and his replacement Brett.

Tigers had to make two enforced late changes. First Willie Templeton was stricken with whooping cough and wasn’t able to ride and then Bruce Ovenden phoned to say he had broken down en route from his Manchester base. Bill McMillan and Red Monteith deputised. Charlie Monk was in scintillating form and was the only Tiger capable of containing the Briggs/ Broadbanks/ Ashby spearhead, beating Barry Briggs twice on his way to a five ride maximum. However the lesser lights won numerous battles with their opposite numbers, with the sterling efforts of replacements Bill McMillan and Red Monteith being vital in clinching a narrow 49-46 win. Tigers would meet West Hm at The White City in the semi final with the other tie being Exeter v Wolves.

Bjorn Knutson returned to the UK with the Vargarna touring side which included Gote Nordin, Leif Larsson and Bernt Persson, the latter subsequently being signed by Edinburgh. The strong touring side won at Newport, Wolves, Belle Vue and Sheffield, drew at West Ham and lost at Newcastle.

The month finished with the British Final being staged at West Ham on August 31 after being rained off the previous week . A full report on this controversial meeting is included elsewhere on these pages. Oxford maintained their place at the top of the BL with Coventry second. West Ham were mid table but were about to mount a charge – but that’s for next month.