The BL's First Season - July 1965
The BL’S First Season – July 1965
The highlight this month was the Russian Test Match Series which certainly caught the fans imagination, particularly those of the former PL teams for whom it was the first chance to see the Ruskies. This year the GB team, which centred on Barry Briggs, Nigel Boocock, Ken McKinlay, Charlie Monk, Ron How and George Hunter, proved too strong and took the series 5-0. The Russians did better in regional meetings against Scotland in Edinburgh, where they won 57-51 on a very wet night, and the West of England at Exeter where they lost 56-51 again on a very wet night. GB’s win came at a high cost to Oxford as Ron How’s shoulder injury sustained at Wimbledon ruled him out for the season and ultimately finished his career. The Cheetahs were well placed prior to How’s injury and arguably could have won at West Ham on July 20 had he been available to ride, a win that could have proved pivotal in deciding the league title.
T
| Venue | Score | GB Top Scorers | Russia Top Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 71-36 | Briggs 17, N Boocock 16, Monk 14 | Sokolov 13, Plechanov 10 |
| Coventry | 66-42 | Briggs 18, N Boocock 16, McKinlay 9 | Kurilenko 12, Plechanov 10 |
| Sheffield | 73-35 | Briggs 17, N Boocock 17, Monk 15 | Plechanov 15, Sokolov 9 |
| Belle Vue | 69-39 | Briggs 17, N Boocock 16, Fisher 11 | Plechanov 15, Kurilenko 8 |
| Newport | 63-45 | McKinlay 15, Briggs 14, Monk 11 | Kurilenko 14, Plechanov 12 |
he Russians weren’t the only foreign visitors this month, with Polish club side Gornik from Rybnik, strengthened with a couple of internationalists, won four of their seven meetings in a whistlestop tour, drawing one and losing at Oxford and Newcastle, now tracking both Mauger and Brett.
| Venue | Score | Top Scorers | Gornik Top Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle | 41-37 | Kelly 9, Sharples 7 | Wyglenda 13, Woryna 6, Tkocz 6 |
| Long Eaton | 35-43 | Bodie 9, Wilson 9 | Maj 9, Pogorzelski 9, Wyglenda 8 |
| Wolverhampton | 38-39 | Sweetman 9, Airey 7 | Wyglenda 12, Woryna 11, Pogorzelski 11 |
| Halifax | 39-39 | Roper 11, E Boocock 10 | Maj 9, Tkocz 8, Wyglenda 7 Woryna 7 |
| Cradley | 36-42 | N Boocock 14, Hart 11 | Pogorzelkski 11, Maj 9 Tkocz 8 |
| Poole | 26-52 | Andrew 8, Genz 8 | Pogorzelski 12, Tkocz 11, Woryna 9 |
| Oxford | 46-32 | Gooch 12, Pander 11 | Tkocz 11, Woryna 7, Maj 6 |
George Hunter was Briggo’s third Golden Helmet challenger and he suffered the same fate as Monk and McKinlay before him. Interesting that the three were the Scotland sides spearhead in tests against England, reflecting the high standing of Scottish speedway at the time.
Another wretched month for injury hit Long Eaton and Cradley , with the Archers losing all six meetings including a 63-15 hammering at Wimbledon with Ken Adams and Norman Storer each taling a second place to avoid the whitewash. Cradley did marginally better winning at home against Edinburgh who also were toiling to field a team and borrowed local junior Fred Priest to make up their numbers. On the same night in Scotland Fife Lions beat The Rest Of Scotland in what would prove to be the final meeting at Cowdenbeath.
A surprising number of challenge meetings were staged this month with Belle Vue racing Sheffield home and away in the Battle of the Roses; Coventry v Oxford in the Midland Cup; Hackney, West Ham and Wimbledon contesting the London Cup; Halifax v London Stars; Newcastle v Wolves; Newport v Oxford in the Kings of Oxford Trophy; Oxford v Swindon; a Four Team at Wolverhampton with Swindon, Cradley and Sheffield taking part. In retrospect perhaps it would have been better to stage league meetings as most tracks had to run well into October to complete their season.
British Semi Finals were held at Glasgow and Poole won bt Monk and Nigel Boocock respectively.
Oxford, despite missing How, keep up their title challenge with a narrow win at Swindon.
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