1968 British League season#British League Knockout Cup
{{Short description|British speedway season}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox speedway league season
| competition = British League
| season = 1968
| competitors = 19
| domesticcup1 = Champions
| domesticcup1 winners = Coventry Bees
| leagues below = British League (Div 2)
| domesticcup2 = Knockout Cup
| domesticcup2 winners = Wimbledon Dons
| domesticcup3 = Individual
| domesticcup3 winners = Barry Briggs
| domesticcup4 = London Cup
| domesticcup4 winners = Wimbledon Dons
| domesticcup5 = Midland Cup
| domesticcup5 winners = Swindon Robins
| highest average = Ivan Mauger
| prevseason = 1967
| nextseason = 1969
}}
The 1968 British League season was the 34th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the fourth season known as the British League.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=100|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}}
Summary
Edinburgh relocated to become the Coatbridge Monarchs. The Long Eaton team closed its doors, but a new team in Leicester returned to speedway to join the League. Long Eaton promoters Ron Wilson and Reg Fearman moved the speedway licence to Leicester Stadium because of concerns over increased stock car events damaging the Long Eaton Stadium speedway track.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003893/19680221/020/0020 |title=Speedway at Long Eaton in danger |website=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 February 1968 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}}{{cite book|last=Rogers|first=Martin|title=The Illustrated History of Speedway|year=1978|pages=129–133|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-904584-45-3}}
Coventry Bees secured their first title on points difference and after they scored points in the last heat of their last match away at King's Lynn. The title win came after two consecutive years as being runner-up. Coventry's Nigel Boocock was again one of the league's leading riders with his average going well above ten for the fifth consecutive year. He was well supported by Ron Mountford and Czechoslovakian star Antonín Kasper Sr.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/historyarchive|title=HISTORY ARCHIVE|website=British Speedway|access-date=29 June 2021}} Wimbledon Dons who could only manage a mid table finish went on to win the British League Knockout Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1968record.pdf |title=Season 1968 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=20 October 2023}}
Final table
class=wikitable
! ! ! M ! W ! D ! L ! F ! A ! Pts |
align="center" | 1
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 1436 | align="center" | 1369 | align="center" | 44 |
align="center" | 2
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 1421 | align="center" | 1383 | align="center" | 44 |
align="center" | 3
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 1556.5 | align="center" | 1248.5 | align="center" | 41 |
align="center" | 4
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 1463.5 | align="center" | 1337.5 | align="center" | 41 |
align="center" | 5
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 1454 | align="center" | 1350 | align="center" | 40 |
align="center" | 6
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 1454 | align="center" | 1348 | align="center" | 39 |
align="center" | 7
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 1424 | align="center" | 1379 | align="center" | 39 |
align="center" | 8
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1404 | align="center" | 1397 | align="center" | 37 |
align="center" | 9
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1411 | align="center" | 1384 | align="center" | 36 |
align="center" | 10
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1387 | align="center" | 1417 | align="center" | 36 |
align="center" | 11
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1448 | align="center" | 1353 | align="center" | 35 |
align="center" | 12
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1373 | align="center" | 1430 | align="center" | 35 |
align="center" | 13
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1348 | align="center" | 1457 | align="center" | 35 |
align="center" | 14
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1373 | align="center" | 1430 | align="center" | 34 |
align="center" | 15
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 1319 | align="center" | 1487 | align="center" | 34 |
align="center" | 16
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 1388 | align="center" | 1413 | align="center" | 32 |
align="center" | 17
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 1327 | align="center" | 1478 | align="center" | 28 |
align="center" | 18
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 1330 | align="center" | 1473 | align="center" | 27 |
align="center" | 19
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 1312 | align="center" | 1495 | align="center" | 27 |
Fixtures & results
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BV|team2=CM|team3=COV|team4=CH|team5=EX|team6=GLA|team7=HAC|team8=HAL|team9=KL|team10=LE|team11=ND|team12=NW|team13=OX|team14=PP|team15=SHE|team16=SWI|team17=WH|team18=WIM|team19=WOL
|name_BV=Belle Vue Aces
|match_BV_COV=55–23
|match_BV_CH=47–31
|match_BV_CM=41–37
|match_BV_EX=34–44
|match_BV_GLA=50–28
|match_BV_HAC=45–33
|match_BV_HAL=49–29
|match_BV_KL=40–38
|match_BV_LE=40–38
|match_BV_ND=41–37
|match_BV_NW=51–27
|match_BV_OX=52–26
|match_BV_PP=45–33
|match_BV_SHE=37–41
|match_BV_SWI=55–23
|match_BV_WH=44–34
|match_BV_WIM=52–26
|match_BV_WOL=41–37
|name_COV=Coventry Bees
|match_COV_BV=37–41
|match_COV_CH=53–25
|match_COV_CM=47–31
|match_COV_EX=43–35
|match_COV_GLA=48–30
|match_COV_HAC=41–36
|match_COV_HAL=46–32
|match_COV_KL=47–31
|match_COV_LE=45–33
|match_COV_ND=43–35
|match_COV_NW=46–32
|match_COV_OX=56–22
|match_COV_PP=49–29
|match_COV_SHE=44–34
|match_COV_SWI=43–35
|match_COV_WH=42–36
|match_COV_WIM=50–28
|match_COV_WOL=45–33
|name_CH=Cradley Heathens
|match_CH_BV=45–33
|match_CH_COV=37–41
|match_CH_CM=54–24
|match_CH_EX=42–36
|match_CH_GLA=53–25
|match_CH_HAC=46–32
|match_CH_HAL=37–41
|match_CH_KL=46–32
|match_CH_LE=36–42
|match_CH_ND=38–40
|match_CH_NW=42–36
|match_CH_OX=50–28
|match_CH_PP=43–35
|match_CH_SHE=42–35
|match_CH_SWI=39–39
|match_CH_WH=40–38
|match_CH_WIM=44–34
|match_CH_WOL=49–29
|name_CM=Coatbridge Monarchs
|match_CM_BV=41–36
|match_CM_COV=38–40
|match_CM_CH=51–27
|match_CM_EX=39–39
|match_CM_GLA=48–30
|match_CM_HAC=53–25
|match_CM_HAL=52–26
|match_CM_KL=49–29
|match_CM_LE=43–35
|match_CM_ND=46–32
|match_CM_NW=48–30
|match_CM_OX=54–24
|match_CM_PP=44–34
|match_CM_SHE=42–36
|match_CM_SWI=43–35
|match_CM_WH=48–30
|match_CM_WIM=46–32
|match_CM_WOL=53–23
|name_EX=Exeter Falcons
|match_EX_BV=46–31
|match_EX_COV=51–27
|match_EX_CH=53–25
|match_EX_CM=53–25
|match_EX_GLA=50–28
|match_EX_HAC=51–27
|match_EX_HAL=58–19
|match_EX_KL=59–19
|match_EX_LE=56–22
|match_EX_ND=47–31
|match_EX_NW=53–25
|match_EX_OX=50–28
|match_EX_PP=52–26
|match_EX_SHE=50–28
|match_EX_SWI=49–29
|match_EX_WH=41–37
|match_EX_WIM=49–29
|match_EX_WOL=51–27
|name_GLA=Glasgow Tigers
|match_GLA_BV=44–34
|match_GLA_COV=47–31
|match_GLA_CH=39–39
|match_GLA_CM=38–40
|match_GLA_EX=36–42
|match_GLA_HAC=36–42
|match_GLA_HAL=34–44
|match_GLA_KL=44–34
|match_GLA_LE=47–31
|match_GLA_ND=41–37
|match_GLA_NW=55–23
|match_GLA_OX=49–29
|match_GLA_PP=46–32
|match_GLA_SHE=38–40
|match_GLA_SWI=43–35
|match_GLA_WH=31–47
|match_GLA_WIM=40–38
|match_GLA_WOL=49–29
|name_HAC=Hackney Hawks
|match_HAC_BV=48–30
|match_HAC_COV=42–36
|match_HAC_CH=43–35
|match_HAC_CM=40–36
|match_HAC_EX=43–35
|match_HAC_GLA=47–31
|match_HAC_HAL=46–32
|match_HAC_KL=41–37
|match_HAC_LE=43–35
|match_HAC_ND=42–36
|match_HAC_NW=48–30
|match_HAC_OX=46–32
|match_HAC_PP=47–31
|match_HAC_SHE=42–35
|match_HAC_SWI=47–31
|match_HAC_WH=42–36
|match_HAC_WIM=52–26
|match_HAC_WOL=42–36
|name_HAL=Halifax Dukes
|match_HAL_BV=52–26
|match_HAL_COV=42–36
|match_HAL_CH=56–22
|match_HAL_CM=51–27
|match_HAL_EX=43–35
|match_HAL_GLA=50–27
|match_HAL_HAC=54–24
|match_HAL_KL=44–34
|match_HAL_LE=47–31
|match_HAL_ND=40–38
|match_HAL_NW=47–31
|match_HAL_OX=52–26
|match_HAL_PP=42–36
|match_HAL_SHE=39–39
|match_HAL_SWI=45–33
|match_HAL_WH=43–35
|match_HAL_WIM=50–28
|match_HAL_WOL=49–29
|name_KL=King's Lynn Stars
|match_KL_BV=41–37
|match_KL_COV=37–41
|match_KL_CH=39–39
|match_KL_CM=50–28
|match_KL_EX=45–33
|match_KL_GLA=36–42
|match_KL_HAC=36–42
|match_KL_HAL=43–35
|match_KL_LE=41–37
|match_KL_ND=41–37
|match_KL_NW=40–38
|match_KL_OX=48–30
|match_KL_PP=50–28
|match_KL_SHE=49–29
|match_KL_SWI=42–36
|match_KL_WH=38–40
|match_KL_WIM=47–26
|match_KL_WOL=40–38
|name_LE=Leicester Lions
|match_LE_BV=44–34
|match_LE_COV=37–41
|match_LE_CH=50–27
|match_LE_CM=40–38
|match_LE_EX=40–38
|match_LE_GLA=43–35
|match_LE_HAC=39–39
|match_LE_HAL=41–37
|match_LE_KL=48–30
|match_LE_ND=44–34
|match_LE_NW=51–27
|match_LE_OX=44–34
|match_LE_PP=41–37
|match_LE_SHE=39–37
|match_LE_SWI=45–33
|match_LE_WH=41–37
|match_LE_WIM=43–35
|match_LE_WOL=40–38
|name_ND=Newcastle Diamonds
|match_ND_BV=59–19
|match_ND_COV=52–26
|match_ND_CH=40–38
|match_ND_CM=48–30
|match_ND_EX=50–28
|match_ND_GLA=45–33
|match_ND_HAC=46–32
|match_ND_HAL=50–28
|match_ND_KL=40–38
|match_ND_LE=40–38
|match_ND_NW=53–25
|match_ND_OX=41–37
|match_ND_PP=43–35
|match_ND_SHE=46–32
|match_ND_SWI=46–32
|match_ND_WH=49–29
|match_ND_WIM=49–28
|match_ND_WOL=40–38
|name_NW=Newport Wasps
|match_NW_BV=46–32
|match_NW_COV=42–36
|match_NW_CH=47–31
|match_NW_CM=43–35
|match_NW_EX=41–37
|match_NW_GLA=49–29
|match_NW_HAC=46–32
|match_NW_HAL=45–33
|match_NW_KL=42–36
|match_NW_LE=44–33
|match_NW_ND=51–27
|match_NW_OX=53–25
|match_NW_PP=48–29
|match_NW_SHE=49–29
|match_NW_SWI=47–31
|match_NW_WH=39–39
|match_NW_WIM=46–32
|match_NW_WOL=45–33
|name_OX=Oxford Cheetahs
|match_OX_BV=43–35
|match_OX_COV=41–37
|match_OX_CH=30–47
|match_OX_CM=43–35
|match_OX_EX=43–35
|match_OX_GLA=42–36
|match_OX_HAC=45–33
|match_OX_HAL=51–26
|match_OX_KL=43–35
|match_OX_LE=43–35
|match_OX_ND=41–37
|match_OX_NW=54–24
|match_OX_PP=42–36
|match_OX_SHE=42–36
|match_OX_SWI=38–40
|match_OX_WH=46–32
|match_OX_WIM=43–35
|match_OX_WOL=44–34
|name_PP=Poole Pirates
|match_PP_BV=36–42
|match_PP_COV=43–35
|match_PP_CH=39–39
|match_PP_CM=38–40
|match_PP_EX=40–38
|match_PP_GLA=45–33
|match_PP_HAC=39–39
|match_PP_HAL=42–36
|match_PP_KL=45–33
|match_PP_LE=43–35
|match_PP_ND=44–34
|match_PP_NW=43–35
|match_PP_OX=49–29
|match_PP_SHE=43–35
|match_PP_SWI=38–40
|match_PP_WH=41–37
|match_PP_WIM=45–32
|match_PP_WOL=42–36
|name_SHE=Sheffield Tigers
|match_SHE_BV=54–24
|match_SHE_COV=51–27
|match_SHE_CH=53–25
|match_SHE_CM=46–32
|match_SHE_EX=44.5–33.5
|match_SHE_GLA=51–27
|match_SHE_HAC=43–35
|match_SHE_HAL=42–36
|match_SHE_KL=51–27
|match_SHE_LE=45–33
|match_SHE_ND=50–27
|match_SHE_NW=51–27
|match_SHE_OX=49–29
|match_SHE_PP=51–27
|match_SHE_SWI=50–28
|match_SHE_WH=41–37
|match_SHE_WIM=50–28
|match_SHE_WOL=44–34
|name_SWI=Swindon Robins
|match_SWI_BV=56–22
|match_SWI_COV=43–34
|match_SWI_CH=36–42
|match_SWI_CM=57–20
|match_SWI_EX=50–28
|match_SWI_GLA=61–17
|match_SWI_HAC=36–42
|match_SWI_HAL=48–30
|match_SWI_KL=51–27
|match_SWI_LE=43–35
|match_SWI_ND=38–39
|match_SWI_NW=54–24
|match_SWI_OX=45–33
|match_SWI_PP=53–24
|match_SWI_SHE=47–31
|match_SWI_WH=36–42
|match_SWI_WIM=39–38
|match_SWI_WOL=46–32
|name_WH=West Ham Hammers
|match_WH_BV=41–36
|match_WH_COV=46–32
|match_WH_CH=39–38
|match_WH_CM=43–35
|match_WH_EX=48–30
|match_WH_GLA=36–42
|match_WH_HAC=41–37
|match_WH_HAL=42–35
|match_WH_KL=48–30
|match_WH_LE=50–28
|match_WH_ND=44–34
|match_WH_NW=50–28
|match_WH_OX=41–37
|match_WH_PP=45–33
|match_WH_SHE=48–29
|match_WH_SWI=37–40
|match_WH_WIM=43–35
|match_WH_WOL=52–25
|name_WIM=Wimbledon Dons
|match_WIM_BV=54–24
|match_WIM_COV=54–24
|match_WIM_CH=42–36
|match_WIM_CM=51–26
|match_WIM_EX=50–28
|match_WIM_GLA=49–29
|match_WIM_HAC=46–32
|match_WIM_HAL=42–35
|match_WIM_KL=49–29
|match_WIM_LE=47–31
|match_WIM_ND=46–31
|match_WIM_NW=49–29
|match_WIM_OX=37–41
|match_WIM_PP=41–37
|match_WIM_SHE=55–22
|match_WIM_SWI=43–34
|match_WIM_WH=41–37
|match_WIM_WOL=41–37
|name_WOL=Wolverhampton Wolves
|match_WOL_BV=45–32
|match_WOL_CH=45–33
|match_WOL_COV=33–44
|match_WOL_CM=51–27
|match_WOL_EX=43–35
|match_WOL_GLA=45–33
|match_WOL_HAC=40–38
|match_WOL_HAL=54–24
|match_WOL_KL=50–28
|match_WOL_LE=46–31
|match_WOL_ND=47–31
|match_WOL_NW=43–34
|match_WOL_OX=43–35
|match_WOL_PP=48–30
|match_WOL_SHE=49–29
|match_WOL_SWI=43–35
|match_WOL_WH=41–37
|match_WOL_WIM=34–44
|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1967fixtures.pdf |publisher=Speedway Researcher|title=1968 fixtures & results |access-date=10 July 2024}}
}}
Top Ten Riders (League averages)
class=wikitable
! ! Rider ! Nat ! Team ! C.M.A. |
align="center" | 1
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} | Newcastle | 11.40 |
align="center" | 2
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} | Swindon | 10.88 |
align="center" | 3
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Coventry | 10.79 |
align="center" | 4
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Exeter | 10.68 |
align="center" | 5
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} | Sheffield | 10.14 |
align="center" | 6
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Halifax | 10.13 |
align="center" | 7
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Leicester | 10.07 |
align="center" | 8
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | West Ham | 9.94 |
align="center" | 9
| {{Flagicon|NOR}} | West Ham | 9.88 |
align="center" | 10
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Newport | 9.82 |
British League Knockout Cup
The 1968 British League Knockout Cup was the 30th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Wimbledon were the winners.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/05/british-league-division-one-ko-cup.html|title=1968 British League Knockout Cup|publisher=Speedway archive}}
First round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
27/04 | Coatbridge | 66–42 | Glasgow |
27/04 | Halifax | 57–51 | Exeter |
16/04 | West Ham | 55–52 | Hackney |
Second round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
01/06 | Belle Vue | 64–44 | West Ham |
14/05 | Leicester | 52–56 | Coventry |
20/05 | Newcastle | 77–30 | Coatbridge |
23/05 | Sheffield | 71–37 | Cradley Heath |
25/05 | Swindon | 58–50 | Oxford |
23/05 | Wimbledon | 60–48 | Kings Lynn |
22/05 | Poole | 56–52 | Newport |
17/05 | Wolverhampton | 60–47 | Halifax |
Third round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
17/08 | Belle Vue | 65–42 | Sheffield |
26/07 | Poole | 54–54 | Swindon |
27/06 | Wimbledon | 64–44 | Newcastle |
28/06 | Wolverhampton | 58–50 | Coventry |
23/08 replay | Swindon | 60–47 | Poole |
Semi-finals
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
20/09 | Wolverhampton | 67–40 | Belle Vue |
12/09 | Wimbledon | 80–28 | Swindon |
=Final=
First leg
{{football box
|date = 18 October 1968
|team1 =Wolverhampton Wolves
Hasse Holmqvist 15
Jim Airey 14
Peter Vandenberg 8
James Bond 6
Dave Hemus 6
Doug White 3
Mick Handley 1
Pete Jarman 0
|score = 53–55
|team2 = Wimbledon Dons
Olle Nygren 14
Trevor Hedge 12
Reg Luckhurst 10
Bob Dugard 9
Alan Cowland 4
Jim Tebby 3
Peter Murray 3
Garry Middleton 0
|stadium = Monmore Green Stadium
}}
Second leg
{{football box
|date = 31 October 1968
|team1 =Wimbledon Dons
Trevor Hedge 17
Olle Nygren 14
Reg Luckhurst 12
Garry Middleton 8
Alan Cowland 6
Bob Dugard 2
Jim Tebby 2
Peter Murray 2
|score = 63–45
|team2 = Wolverhampton Wolves
Hasse Holmqvist 12
James Bond 10
Peter Vandenberg 8
Jim Airey 7
Mick Handley 5
Pete Jarman 3
Dave Hemus 0
Doug White 0
|stadium = Wimbledon Stadium
}}
Wimbledon Dons were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 118-98.
Riders' Championship
Barry Briggs won the British League Riders' Championship for the fourth consecutive year, held at Hyde Road on 19 October. Briggs defeated Boocock in a run off for the title.{{cite news |title=Briggs foils Boocock bid |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=21 October 1968 |access-date=1 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19681021/015/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
class=wikitable
!width=25px|Pos. | width=200px|Rider | width=70px|Heat Scores | width=50px|Total |
align=center {{speedway color|g}}
|1 | align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Barry Briggs | 3 3 3 2 3 | 14 |
align=center
|2 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Boocock | 3 3 3 3 2 | 14 |
align=center
|3 | align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Ivan Mauger | 2 3 3 3 2 | 13 |
align=center
|4 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Torbjörn Harrysson | 3 2 3 3 f | 11 |
align=center
|5 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Martin Ashby | 3 2 2 1 3 | 11 |
align=center
|6 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Terry Betts | 1 2 1 3 1 | 8 |
align=center
|7 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Sören Sjösten | 2 r 2 1 3 | 8 |
align=center
|8 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Anders Michanek | 0 3 1 2 2 | 8 |
align=center
|9 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Hasse Holmqvist | 2 1 1 2 1 | 7 |
align=center
|10 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Bernt Persson | 1 1 2 2 1 | 7 |
align=center
|11 | align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Charlie Monk | 2 2 0 0 1 | 5 |
align=center
|12 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Norman Hunter | 1 1 ef 0 3 | 5 |
align=center
|13 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Boocock | ef 0 2 1 2 | 5 |
align=center
|14 | align=left|{{flagicon|SWE}} Olle Nygren | 0 1 ef 1 0 | 2 |
align=center
|15 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Colin Pratt | 1 ef 1 0 0 | 2 |
align=center
|16 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Roy Trigg | ef ns 0 0 0 | 0 |
- ef=engine failure, f=fell, exc=excluded
Final leading averages
class=wikitable
! ! Rider ! Nat ! Team ! C.M.A. |
align="center" | 1
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} | Newcastle | 11.37 |
align="center" | 2
| {{Flagicon|NZL}} | Swindon | 10.87 |
align="center" | 3
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Coventry | 10.74 |
align="center" | 4
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Exeter | 10.72 |
align="center" | 5
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Leicester | 10.19 |
align="center" | 6
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Halifax | 10.17 |
align="center" | 7
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} | Sheffield | 10.07 |
align="center" | 8
| {{Flagicon|NOR}} | West Ham | 9.78 |
align="center" | 9
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Newport | 9.82 |
align="center" | 10
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | West Ham | 9.71 |
align="center" | 11
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Coventry | 9.62 |
align="center" | 12
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Wolverhampton | 9.58 |
align="center" | 13
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Hackney | 9.58 |
align="center" | 14
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | King's Lynn | 9.45 |
align="center" | 15
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | King's Lynn | 9.40 |
align="center" | 16
| {{Flagicon|DEN}} | Newcastle | 9.39 |
align="center" | 17
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Leicester | 9.37 |
align="center" | 18
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | Wimbledon | 9.39 |
align="center" | 19
| {{Flagicon|SWE}} | Edinburgh | 9.28 |
align="center" | 20
| {{Flagicon|AUS}} | Wolverhampton | 9.24 |
London Cup
Wimbledon won the London Cup.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/wimbledon1968.pdf |title=Wimbledon 1968 |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=30 September 2023}}
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
!width=20| Pos !width=150| Team !width=20| P !width=20| W !width=20| D !width=20| L !width=20| F !width=20| A !width=20| Pts | ||||||||
align=center style="background:#ACE1AF;"
|1 | align="left"|Wimbledon Dons | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 233 | 198 | 6 |
align=center
|2 | align="left"|West Ham Hammers | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 225 | 207 | 5 |
align=center
|3 | align="left"|Hackney Hawks | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 189 | 242 | 1 |
Results
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
!width=100| Team !width=70| Score !width=100| Team | ||
West Ham | 59–49 | Hackney |
Wimbledon | 56–22 | West Ham |
West Ham | 60–48 | Wimbledon |
Wimbledon | 63–44 | Hackney |
Hackney | 42–66 | Wimbledon |
Hackney | 54–54 | West Ham |
Midland Cup
Swindon won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive season. The competition consisted of six teams.{{cite news |title=Lions Lode By Point On Aggregate |work=Leicester Daily Mercury |date=16 October 1968 | url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000760/19681016/024/0024 | via = British Newspaper Archive| access-date=19 October 2023 |url-access=subscription }}
First round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one !width=150| Team two !width=120| Score | ||
Oxford | Wolverhampton | 42–36, 41–37 |
Leicester | Cradley | 45–32, 41–37 |
Semi final round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=150| Team one !width=150| Team two !width=120| Score | ||
Leicester | Cradley | 45–32, 36–42 |
Swindon | Oxford | 46–32, 39–38 |
=Final=
First leg
{{football box
|date = 5 October 1968
|team1 = Swindon
Barry Briggs 11
Bob Kilby 10
Clive Hitch 6
Pete Munday 5
Frank Shuter 5
Mike Keen 5
Mike Broadbank 0
|score = 42–35
|report =
|team2 = Leicester
Anders Michanek 10
John Boulger 9
Ray Wilson 9
John Hart 5
Graham Plant 2
George Major 0
Norman Storer 0
|stadium = Abbey Stadium
|attendance =
}}
Second leg
{{football box
|date = 15 October 1968
|team1 = Leicester
Ray Wilson 12
Anders Michanek 10
Norman Storer 6
John Boulger 6
John Hart 3
Graham Plant 3
George Major 2
|score = 42–36
|report =
|team2 = Swindon
Barry Briggs 9
Frank Shuter 7
Clive Hitch 6
Mike Broadbank 6
Mike Keen 3
Bob Kilby 3
Pete Munday 2
|stadium = Leicester Stadium
|attendance =
}}
Swindon won on aggregate 78–77
Riders & final averages
Belle Vue
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Sören Sjösten}} 9.13
- {{player||ENG|Tommy Roper}} 8.50
- {{player||HUN|Sándor Lévai}} 7.40
- {{player||ENG|Cyril Maidment}} 7.34
- {{player||ENG|Bill Powell}} 5.62
- {{player||ENG|Norman Nevitt}} 5.56
- {{player||WAL|Taffy Owen}} 4.48
- {{player||ENG|Ken Eyre}} 4.29
- {{player||ENG|Chris Pusey}} 3.65
- {{player||ENG|Eric Broadbelt}} 2.78
{{div col end}}
Coatbridge
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Bernt Persson}} 9.28
- {{player||NOR|Reidar Eide}} 9.02
- {{player||SCO|George Hunter}} 6.48
- {{player||SCO|Bert Harkins}} 6.36
- {{player||SCO|Doug Templeton}} 6.05
- {{player||SCO|Brian Collins}} 4.39
- {{player||SCO|Alec Hughson}} 3.62
{{div col end}}
Coventry
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Nigel Boocock}} 10.74
- {{player||ENG|Ron Mountford}} 9.62
- {{player||CZE|Antonín Kasper Sr.}} 7.51
- {{player||ENG|Col Cottrell}} 7.09
- {{player||ENG|Les Owen}} 6.46
- {{player||ENG|Rick France}} 6.13
- {{player||ENG|Roger Hill}} 5.46
- {{player||ENG|Tom Ridley}} 4.73
- {{player||ENG|Chris Harrison}} 3.40
- {{player||ENG|Dave Callington}} 1.88
{{div col end}}
Cradley Heath
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Roy Trigg}} 8.91
- {{player||ENG|Bob Andrews}} 7.70
- {{player||NZL|Graham Coombes}} 6.71
- {{player||ENG|Chris Julian}} 6.32
- {{player||SWE|Lars Jansson}} 6.20
- {{player||ENG|Ivor Brown}} 5.67
- {{player||SWE|Tommy Bergqvist}} 5.02
- {{player||ENG|Ken Wakefield}} 5.02
- {{player||ENG|Archie Wilkinson}} 4.19
- {{player||ENG|Peter Wrathall}} 3.62
- {{player||ENG|Alan Totney}} 3.16
{{div col end}}
Exeter
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Martin Ashby}} 10.72
- {{player||NZL|Wayne Briggs}} 7.70
- {{player||AUS|Neil Street}} 7.51
- {{player||ENG|Jimmy Squibb}} 7.46
- {{player||ENG|Tommy Sweetman}} 7.31
- {{player||ENG|Mike Cake}} 6.37
- {{player||CAN|Chris Blewett}} 5.71
- {{player||ENG|Chris Bass}} 4.64
{{div col end}}
Glasgow
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SCO|Jimmy McMillan}} 8.31
- {{player||NOR|Oyvind Berg}} 7.91
- {{player||NZL|Alf Wells}} 7.43
- {{player||SWE|Bo Josefsson}} 6.79
- {{player||ENG|Russ Dent}} 5.78
- {{player||SWE|Lars Jansson}} 5.68
- {{player||SCO|Willie Templeton}} 4.92
- {{player||SCO|Bill McMillan}} 4.79
- {{player||SWE|Åke Andersson}} 4.17
- {{player||AUS|Brian Whaley}} 2.37
{{div col end}}
Hackney
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Colin Pratt}} 9.58
- {{player||SWE|Bengt Jansson}} 8.99
- {{player||ENG|Les McGillivray}} 6.74
- {{player||ENG|Des Lukehurst}} 6.24
- {{player||AUS|Jack Biggs}} 6.08
- {{player||ENG|Malcolm Brown}} 5.31
- {{player||ENG|Alan Jackson}} 4.40
- {{player||ENG|Gary Everett}} 4.08
- {{player||ENG|Laurie Etheridge}} 3.17
{{div col end}}
Halifax
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Eric Boocock}} 10.17
- {{player||ENG|Dave Younghusband}} 8.83
- {{player||ENG|Eric Boothroyd}} 7.95
- {{player||ENG|Alan Jay}} 6.27
- {{player||AUS|Greg Kentwell}} 5.94
- {{player||AUS|Dennis Gavros}} 5.43
- {{player||AUS|Les Sharpe}} 3.88
- {{player||AUS|Bob Jameson}} 3.75
- {{player||ENG|Maury Robinson}} 3.69
{{div col end}}
King's Lynn
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Terry Betts}} 9.45
- {{player||ENG|Malcolm Simmons}} 9.40
- {{player||ENG|Clive Featherby}} 6.11
- {{player||WAL|Howard Cole}} (Kid Bodie) 5.94
- {{player||ENG|Brian Davies}} 5.24
- {{player||ENG|David Crane}} 5.10
- {{player||ENG|Geoff Penniket}} 4.34
- {{player||ENG|Alan Bellham}} 4.29
- {{player||NZL|Allan Brown}} 4.00
{{div col end}}
Leicester
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Anders Michanek}} 10.19
- {{player||ENG|Ray Wilson}} 9.37
- {{player||AUS|John Boulger}} 6.62
- {{player||ENG|George Major}} 5.51
- {{player||ENG|John Hart}} 5.43
- {{player||ENG|Norman Storer}} 5.24
- {{player||ENG|Vic White}} 4.06
- {{player||ENG|Graham Plant}} 2.80
- {{player||ENG|Roger Mills}} 2.58
{{div col end}}
Newcastle'
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||NZL|Ivan Mauger}} 11.37
- {{player||DEN|Ole Olsen}} 9.39
- {{player||NZL|Dave Gifford}} 6.86
- {{player||ENG|Alan Butterfield}} 6.08
- {{player||NZL|Goog Allan}} 5.76
- {{player||ENG|Mike Watkin}} 5.48
- {{player||NZL|Alf Wells}} 5.09
- {{player||ENG|Alan Jay}} 5.05
- {{player||AUS|Alan Paynter}} 3.67
- {{player||NZL|Gary Peterson}} 3.56
- {{player||NZL|Murray Burt}} 2.24
{{div col end}}
Newport
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Torbjörn Harrysson}} 9.73
- {{player||ENG|Jimmy Gooch}} 7.97
- {{player||ENG|Jon Erskine}} 6.56
- {{player||ENG|Norman Strachan}} 6.47
- {{player||WAL|Bob Hughes}} 6.26
- {{player||WAL|Cyril Francis}} 5.69
- {{player||ENG|Alby Golden}} 5.72
- {{player||NZL|Terry Shearer}} 2.00
{{div col end}}
Oxford
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||ENG|Ronnie Genz}} 8.53
- {{player||ENG|Eddie Reeves}} 7.32
- {{player||ENG|Colin Gooddy}} 6.87
- {{player||WAL|Leo McAuliffe}} 6.58
- {{player||NZL|Rick Timmo}} 5.52
- {{player||ENG|John Bishop}} 4.38
- {{player||ENG|Peter Seaton}} 2.77
{{div col end}}
Poole
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||NZL|Bill Andrew}} 8.32
- {{player||AUS|Geoff Mudge}} 7.67
- {{player||ENG|Pete Smith}} 7.46
- {{player||NOR|Odd Fossengen}} 6.94
- {{player||NZL|Bruce Cribb}} 5.71
- {{player||POL|Ted Laessing}} 5.25
- {{player||ENG|Maury Mattingley}} 5.14
- {{player||ENG|Tim Bungay}} 4.53
- {{player||ENG|Tony Lewis}} 4.36
{{div col end}}
Sheffield
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||AUS|Charlie Monk}} 10.07
- {{player||SWE|Bengt Larsson}} 7.97
- {{player||ENG|Arnold Haley}} 7.54
- {{player||ENG|Bob Paulson}} 6.79
- {{player||ENG|John Dews}} 6.39
- {{player||ENG|Brian Maxted}} 6.13
- {{player||ENG|Billy Bales}} 4.76
- {{player||ENG|Dave Baugh}} 1.49
{{div col end}}
Swindon
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||NZL|Barry Briggs}} 10.87
- {{player||ENG|Mike Broadbank}} 8.51
- {{player||ENG|Bob Kilby}} 8.20
- {{player||ENG|Mike Keen}} 6.18
- {{player||ENG|Clive Hitch}} 5.99
- {{player||NZL|Frank Shuter}} 5.25
- {{player||ENG|Pete Munday}} 4.94
- {{player||ENG|Peter Jackson}} 4.29
{{div col end}}
West Ham
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||NOR|Sverre Harrfeldt}} 9.78
- {{player||ENG|Norman Hunter}} 9.71
- {{player||SCO|Ken McKinlay}} 9.11
- {{player||ENG|Brian Leonard}} 5.36
- {{player||ENG|Tony Clarke}} 4.95
- {{player||ENG|Stan Stevens}} 4.46
- {{player||ENG|George Barclay}} 3.33
- {{player||ENG|Barry Crowson}} 2.57
{{div col end}}
Wimbledon
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Olle Nygren}} 9.31
- {{player||ENG|Trevor Hedge}} 9.15
- {{player||ENG|Reg Luckhurst}} 7.93
- {{player||AUS|Garry Middleton}} 5.87
- {{player||ENG|Jim Tebby}} 5.61
- {{player||ENG|Alan Cowland}} 5.49
- {{player||ENG|Bob Dugard}} 5.18
- {{player||ENG|Peter Murray}} 3.54
{{div col end}}
Wolverhampton
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- {{player||SWE|Hasse Holmqvist}} 9.58
- {{player||AUS|Jim Airey}} 9.24
- {{player||NED|Peter Vandenberg}} 7.68
- {{player||ENG|James Bond}} 6.82
- {{player||ENG|Pete Jarman}} 5.97
- {{player||ENG|Dave Hemus}} 4.86
- {{player||ENG|Mick Handley}} 4.30
- {{player||AUS|Doug White}} 2.86
- {{player||ENG|Geoff Ambrose}} 2.35
- {{player||ENG|Dave Parry}} 2.29
{{div col end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{British Speedway League seasons}}
{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}