1979 National League season#National League Knockout Cup
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox speedway league
| competition = National League
| competitors = 19
| domesticcup1 = Champions
| domesticcup1 winners = Mildenhall Fen Tigers
| domesticcup2 = Knockout Cup
| domesticcup2 winners = Rye House Rockets
| domesticcup3 = Individual
| domesticcup3 winners = Ian Gledhill
| domesticcup4 = Pairs
| domesticcup4 winners = Milton Keynes Knights
| domesticcup5 = Fours
| domesticcup5 winners = Ellesmere Port Gunners
| highest average = Tom Owen
| league above = 1979 British League
| prevseason = 1978
| nextseason = 1980
}}
The 1979 National League was contested as the second division/tier of Speedway in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}}{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|page=95|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}
Summary
The league was reduced from 20 teams to 19 from the previous season. White City Rebels closure saw their riders move to Eastbourne Eagles, who moved up to the British League and Barrow Furness Flyers dropped out. Teesside Tigers changed their name to Middlesbrough Tigers and Scunthorpe Saints changed their name to Scunthorpe Stags and left the Quibell Park Stadium for Ashby Ville Stadium.{{cite news |title=Brewery boost for Stadium |work=Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph |date=16 February 1978 |access-date=3 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001336/19780216/016/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web|url=http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Scunthorpe%20(Ashby%20Ville).htm |title=Speedway Ashby Ville |website=Defunct Speedway |access-date=3 May 2024}} Long Eaton Stadium saw the return of speedway under the promotion of Dan McCormick but his decision to call the team the "Nottingham Outlaws" upset the supporters club.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003304/19790301/242/0017 |title=Speedway one of the greatest |website=Stapleford & Sandiacre News |date=1 March 1979 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 September 2024}}
Tom Owen of Newcastle topped the averages for the third consecutive year and Ian Gledhill, riding for Stoke won the Riders' Championship but both Newcastle and Stoke finished well behind Mildenhall Fen Tigers and Rye House Rockets in the league table.{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/board/71/teams|title=Teams|website=wwosbackup|access-date=14 October 2021}} In a season that would go down to the last match, Mildenhall won their first title in their history. The consistency of four riders, Ray Bales, Mick Hines, Melvyn Taylor and Robert Henry was the crucial factor to their success.
There was a controversial end to the season when Rye House visited Mildenhall, needing a draw to win the title. Needing a 5-1 in the last heat to tie the match, Rocket Karl Fiala's exclusion prompted team-mate Bob Garrad to withdraw from the re-run in protest. Mildenhall went on to win at bottom club Scunthorpe Saints in the last match of the season to win the title by one point.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1965-1990|title=BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - BRITISH LEAGUE ERA (1965-1990)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=11 September 2021}}{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=101|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}}
Final table
class=wikitable width="450"
! Pos ! Team ! PL ! W ! D ! L ! Pts |
1
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 30 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 60 |
2
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 29 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 6 | align="center" | 59 |
3
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 24 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 11 | align="center" | 49 |
4
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 12 | align="center" | 45 |
5
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 42 |
6
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 40 |
7
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 38 |
8
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 38 |
9
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 37 |
10
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 36 |
11
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 17 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 18 | align="center" | 35 |
12
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 16 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 20 | align="center" | 32 |
13
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 19 | align="center" | 32 |
14
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 29 |
15
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 29 |
16
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 28 |
17
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 27 |
18
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 26 | align="center" | 19 |
19
| align="center" | 36 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 31 | align="center" | 9 |
Fixtures and results
{{#invoke:sports results|main
|matches_style=FBR|solid_cell=grey
|team1=BER|team2=BOS|team3=CAN|team4=CRY|team5=ED|team6=EP|team7=GLA|team8=MID|team9=MIL|team10=MK|team11=NEW|team12=NOT|team13=OX|team14=PET|team15=RH|team16=SCU|team17=STO|team18=WEY|team19=WOR
|name_BER=Berwick
|match_BER_BOS=52–25
|match_BER_CAN=57–21
|match_BER_CRY=45–33
|match_BER_ED=55–23
|match_BER_EP=44–34
|match_BER_GLA=40–38
|match_BER_MID=52–26
|match_BER_MIL=45–33
|match_BER_MK=50–28
|match_BER_NEW=46–32
|match_BER_NOT=54–24
|match_BER_OX=60–18
|match_BER_PET=53–25
|match_BER_RH=39–39
|match_BER_SCU=57–21
|match_BER_STO=48–30
|match_BER_WEY=57–20
|match_BER_WOR=56–22
|name_BOS=Boston
|match_BOS_BER=36–42
|match_BOS_CAN=39–39
|match_BOS_CRY=59–19
|match_BOS_ED=51–26
|match_BOS_EP=31–46
|match_BOS_GLA=43–35
|match_BOS_MID=33–45
|match_BOS_MIL=50–28
|match_BOS_MK=53–25
|match_BOS_NEW=38–40
|match_BOS_NOT=37–41
|match_BOS_OX=42–36
|match_BOS_PET=44–34
|match_BOS_RH=39–38
|match_BOS_SCU=48–30
|match_BOS_STO=42–35
|match_BOS_WEY=45–33
|match_BOS_WOR=46–32
|name_CAN=Canterbury
|match_CAN_BER=34–44
|match_CAN_BOS=45–33
|match_CAN_CRY=43–35
|match_CAN_ED=55–23
|match_CAN_EP=46–32
|match_CAN_GLA=49–29
|match_CAN_MID=45–33
|match_CAN_MIL=42–36
|match_CAN_MK=42–36
|match_CAN_NEW=47–31
|match_CAN_NOT=53–25
|match_CAN_OX=38–39
|match_CAN_PET=39–39
|match_CAN_RH=35–43
|match_CAN_SCU=63–15
|match_CAN_STO=43–35
|match_CAN_WEY=43–35
|match_CAN_WOR=59–19
|name_CRY=Crayford
|match_CRY_BER=45–33
|match_CRY_BOS=53–25
|match_CRY_CAN=41–37
|match_CRY_ED=40–38
|match_CRY_EP=45–33
|match_CRY_GLA=49–29
|match_CRY_MID=40–37
|match_CRY_MIL=30–47
|match_CRY_MK=40–38
|match_CRY_NEW=33–45
|match_CRY_NOT=48–29
|match_CRY_OX=34–44
|match_CRY_PET=46–31
|match_CRY_RH=31–47
|match_CRY_SCU=60–18
|match_CRY_STO=47–31
|match_CRY_WEY=40–38
|match_CRY_WOR=45–33
|name_ED=Edinburgh
|match_ED_BER=40.5–37.5
|match_ED_BOS=49–28
|match_ED_CAN=48–30
|match_ED_CRY=41–37
|match_ED_EP=46–31
|match_ED_GLA=41–37
|match_ED_MID=40–38
|match_ED_MIL=29–49
|match_ED_MK=35–43
|match_ED_NEW=36–41
|match_ED_NOT=47–31
|match_ED_OX=36–42
|match_ED_PET=35–43
|match_ED_RH=33–45
|match_ED_SCU=59–19
|match_ED_STO=38–40
|match_ED_WEY=46–32
|match_ED_WOR=48–30
|name_EP=Ellesmere Port
|match_EP_BER=39–39
|match_EP_BOS=45–33
|match_EP_CAN=46–32
|match_EP_CRY=43–35
|match_EP_ED=51–26
|match_EP_GLA=49–29
|match_EP_MID=48–30
|match_EP_MIL=36–42
|match_EP_MK=45–33
|match_EP_NEW=43–35
|match_EP_NOT=40–38
|match_EP_OX=45–32
|match_EP_PET=56–22
|match_EP_RH=38–40
|match_EP_SCU=60–16
|match_EP_STO=56–22
|match_EP_WEY=56–22
|match_EP_WOR=49–29
|name_GLA=Glasgow
|match_GLA_BER=45–33
|match_GLA_BOS=52–25
|match_GLA_CAN=52–26
|match_GLA_CRY=46–30
|match_GLA_ED=51–27
|match_GLA_EP=51–27
|match_GLA_MID=62–16
|match_GLA_MIL=47–31
|match_GLA_MK=41–37
|match_GLA_NEW=43–35
|match_GLA_NOT=52–26
|match_GLA_OX=41–37
|match_GLA_PET=44–33
|match_GLA_RH=45–32
|match_GLA_SCU=51–27
|match_GLA_STO=50–27
|match_GLA_WEY=51–27
|match_GLA_WOR=53–25
|name_MID=Middlesbrough
|match_MID_BER=42–36
|match_MID_BOS=41–37
|match_MID_CAN=40–38
|match_MID_CRY=38–40
|match_MID_ED=33–44
|match_MID_EP=43–35
|match_MID_GLA=50–27
|match_MID_MIL=34–43
|match_MID_MK=48–30
|match_MID_NEW=44–34
|match_MID_NOT=46–32
|match_MID_OX=45–33
|match_MID_PET=43–35
|match_MID_RH=34–44
|match_MID_SCU=42–36
|match_MID_STO=56–22
|match_MID_WEY=42–36
|match_MID_WOR=47–31
|name_MIL=Mildenhall
|match_MIL_BER=59–18
|match_MIL_BOS=48–30
|match_MIL_CAN=46–32
|match_MIL_CRY=60–18
|match_MIL_ED=49–29
|match_MIL_EP=50–28
|match_MIL_GLA=55–23
|match_MIL_MID=55–23
|match_MIL_MK=50–27
|match_MIL_NEW=54–24
|match_MIL_NOT=55–23
|match_MIL_OX=52–26
|match_MIL_PET=42–35
|match_MIL_RH=43–34
|match_MIL_SCU=60–18
|match_MIL_STO=49–29
|match_MIL_WEY=52–26
|match_MIL_WOR=56–22
|name_MK=Milton Keynes
|match_MK_BER=52–26
|match_MK_BOS=47–31
|match_MK_CAN=46–32
|match_MK_CRY=46–32
|match_MK_ED=45–32
|match_MK_EP=49–29
|match_MK_GLA=54–24
|match_MK_MID=46–32
|match_MK_MIL=36–41
|match_MK_NEW=35–42
|match_MK_NOT=46–31
|match_MK_OX=38–39
|match_MK_PET=41–37
|match_MK_RH=41–36
|match_MK_SCU=51–26
|match_MK_STO=43–35
|match_MK_WEY=43–35
|match_MK_WOR=39–38
|name_NEW=Newcastle
|match_NEW_BER=41–37
|match_NEW_BOS=54–24
|match_NEW_CAN=51–26
|match_NEW_CRY=54–24
|match_NEW_ED=57–21
|match_NEW_EP=41–37
|match_NEW_GLA=45–33
|match_NEW_MID=43–35
|match_NEW_MIL=37–41
|match_NEW_MK=38–40
|match_NEW_NOT=38–40
|match_NEW_OX=37–41
|match_NEW_PET=55–23
|match_NEW_RH=36–42
|match_NEW_SCU=59–18
|match_NEW_STO=50–28
|match_NEW_WEY=46–31
|match_NEW_WOR=40–38
|name_NOT=Nottingham
|match_NOT_BER=39–39
|match_NOT_BOS=45–33
|match_NOT_CAN=35–43
|match_NOT_CRY=45–33
|match_NOT_ED=47–31
|match_NOT_EP=48–30
|match_NOT_GLA=52–26
|match_NOT_MID=49–28
|match_NOT_MIL=36.5–41.5
|match_NOT_MK=37–41
|match_NOT_NEW=40–38
|match_NOT_OX=33–45
|match_NOT_PET=44–34
|match_NOT_RH=36–42
|match_NOT_SCU=46–32
|match_NOT_STO=48–30
|match_NOT_WEY=43–35
|match_NOT_WOR=51–27
|name_OX=Oxford
|match_OX_BER=49–29
|match_OX_BOS=53–24
|match_OX_CAN=46–32
|match_OX_CRY=48–30
|match_OX_ED=54–23
|match_OX_EP=53–24
|match_OX_GLA=52–26
|match_OX_MID=52–26
|match_OX_MIL=40–37
|match_OX_MK=38–40
|match_OX_NEW=41–37
|match_OX_NOT=43–34
|match_OX_PET=50–28
|match_OX_RH=37–41
|match_OX_SCU=57–21
|match_OX_STO=58–20
|match_OX_WEY=58–20
|match_OX_WOR=57–21
|name_PET=Peterborough
|match_PET_BER=45–33
|match_PET_BOS=39–39
|match_PET_CAN=49–29
|match_PET_CRY=51–27
|match_PET_ED=55–23
|match_PET_EP=46–32
|match_PET_GLA=46–32
|match_PET_MID=46–32
|match_PET_MIL=35–43
|match_PET_MK=43–35
|match_PET_NEW=37–41
|match_PET_NOT=41–37
|match_PET_OX=41–36
|match_PET_RH=41–37
|match_PET_SCU=57–21
|match_PET_STO=49–29
|match_PET_WEY=52–26
|match_PET_WOR=46–32
|name_RH=Rye House
|match_RH_BER=49–27
|match_RH_BOS=60–18
|match_RH_CAN=53–25
|match_RH_CRY=60–18
|match_RH_ED=55–22
|match_RH_EP=61–17
|match_RH_GLA=54–24
|match_RH_MID=57–21
|match_RH_MIL=46–32
|match_RH_MK=40–38
|match_RH_NEW=51–27
|match_RH_NOT=47–31
|match_RH_OX=45–33
|match_RH_PET=45–33
|match_RH_SCU=59–18
|match_RH_STO=58–20
|match_RH_WEY=60–18
|match_RH_WOR=47–31
|name_SCU=Scunthorpe
|match_SCU_BER=38–39
|match_SCU_BOS=36–40
|match_SCU_CAN=37–40
|match_SCU_CRY=37–41
|match_SCU_ED=39–39
|match_SCU_EP=38–40
|match_SCU_GLA=36–42
|match_SCU_MID=36–42
|match_SCU_MIL=32–45
|match_SCU_MK=37–41
|match_SCU_NEW=37–40
|match_SCU_NOT=41–37
|match_SCU_OX=31–45
|match_SCU_PET=41–36
|match_SCU_RH=25–53
|match_SCU_STO=32–42
|match_SCU_WEY=44–34
|match_SCU_WOR=41–37
|name_STO=Stoke
|match_STO_BER=40–38
|match_STO_BOS=41–37
|match_STO_CAN=49–29
|match_STO_CRY=42–36
|match_STO_ED=42–36
|match_STO_EP=40–38
|match_STO_GLA=42–36
|match_STO_MID=39–39
|match_STO_MIL=32–45
|match_STO_MK=38–40
|match_STO_NEW=33–44
|match_STO_NOT=44–34
|match_STO_OX=38–40
|match_STO_PET=36–42
|match_STO_RH=47–31
|match_STO_SCU=58–19
|match_STO_WEY=52–26
|match_STO_WOR=50–28
|name_WEY=Weymouth
|match_WEY_BER=37–41
|match_WEY_BOS=53–25
|match_WEY_CAN=37–41
|match_WEY_CRY=42–36
|match_WEY_ED=56–21
|match_WEY_EP=37–41
|match_WEY_GLA=41–36
|match_WEY_MID=38–40
|match_WEY_MIL=29–49
|match_WEY_MK=40–38
|match_WEY_NEW=41–37
|match_WEY_NOT=46–32
|match_WEY_OX=39–39
|match_WEY_PET=36–42
|match_WEY_RH=26–52
|match_WEY_SCU=46–32
|match_WEY_STO=33.5–44.5
|match_WEY_WOR=41–37
|name_WOR=Workington
|match_WOR_BER=42–36
|match_WOR_BOS=44–34
|match_WOR_CAN=50–28
|match_WOR_CRY=43–35
|match_WOR_ED=36–42
|match_WOR_EP=42–36
|match_WOR_GLA=49–29
|match_WOR_MID=43–34
|match_WOR_MIL=38–40
|match_WOR_MK=45–33
|match_WOR_NEW=43–35
|match_WOR_NOT=46–32
|match_WOR_OX=42–36
|match_WOR_PET=47–31
|match_WOR_RH=37–41
|match_WOR_SCU=54–23
|match_WOR_STO=39–39
|match_WOR_WEY=47–31
|update=complete|source={{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979.html |publisher=Speedway Researcher |title=1979 fixtures & results |access-date=19 March 2025 }}
}}
National League Knockout Cup
The 1979 National League Knockout Cup was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Rye House Rockets were the winners of the competition.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/06/national-league-ko-cup-1979.html|title=1979 National 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 | |||
29/04 | Rye House | 56-22 | Weymouth |
22/05 | Weymouth | 34-44 | Rye House |
20/04 | Edinburgh | 46-32 | Boston |
10/06 | Boston | 44-34 | Edinburgh |
Second round
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
03/06 | Rye House | 54-24 | Glasgow |
08/06 | Glasgow | 47-31 | Rye House |
15/06 | Workington | 46-30 | Middlesbrough |
14/06 | Middlesbrough | 45-32 | Workington |
10/06 | Mildenhall | 53-25 | Ellesmere Port |
08/06 | Ellesmere Port | 41-37 | Mildenhall |
19/06 | Crayford | 44-34 | Edinburgh |
06/07 | Edinburgh | 39-39 | Crayford |
09/06 | Berwick | 60-18 | Scunthorpe |
04/06 | Scunthorpe | 38-40 | Berwick |
14/06 | Oxford | 45-33 | Peterborough |
08/06 | Peterborough | 34-44 | Oxford |
18/06 | Newcastle | 57-21 | Canterbury |
26/05 | Canterbury | 39-39 | Newcastle |
12/06 | Milton Keynes | 50-28 | Stoke |
09/06 | Stoke | 42-36 | Milton Keynes |
Quarter-finals
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
15/07 | Rye House | 59-19 | Workington |
29/06 | Workington | 49-29 | Rye House |
25/07 | Mildenhall | 56-22 | Crayford |
10/07 | Crayford | 39-39 | Mildenhall |
? | Berwick | 51-27 | Oxford |
05/07 | Oxford | 44-34 | Berwick |
09/07 | Newcastle | 53-25 | Milton Keynes |
10/07 | Milton Keynes | 35-42 | Newcastle |
Semi-finals
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=80| Date !width=250| Team one !width=80| Score !width=250| Team two | |||
27/08 | Rye House | 44-34 | Mildenhall |
26/08 | Mildenhall | 38-40 | Rye House |
22/09 | Berwick | 47-31 | Newcastle |
19/08 | Newcastle | 46-32 | Berwick |
=Final=
First leg
{{footballbox
|date = 14 October 1979
|team1 = Rye House Rockets
Bob Garrad 10
Karl Fiala 10
Kelvin Mullarkey 10
Ashley Pullen 9
Ted Hubbar 8
Peter Tarrant 6
Simon Aindow 1
|score = 54 – 24
|team2 = Berwick Bandits
Wayne Brown 8
Nigel Close 6
Graham Jones 3
Mike Fullerton 3
Roger Wright 2
Phil Kynman 2
Rob Grant 0
|stadium = Rye House Stadium
}}
Second leg
{{footballbox
|date = 27 October 1979
|team1 = Berwick Bandits
Roger Wright 10
Wayne Brown 10
Nigel Close 8
Graham Jones 4
Mike Caroline 4
Rob Grant 4
Phil Kynman 0
|score = 40 – 38
|team2 = Rye House Rockets
Karl Fiala 11
Bob Garrad 7
Kelvin Mullarkey 7
Ashley Pullen 5
Ted Hubbard 5
Peter Tarrant 3
Simon Aindow 0
|stadium = Shielfield Park
}}
Rye House were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 92–64.
Riders' Championship
Ian Gledhill won the Riders' Championship, sponsored by Gauloises and held at Wimbledon Stadium on 29 September 1979.{{cite news |title=Outlaw's Crash |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=1 October 1979 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19791001/021/0021 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
class=wikitable
!width=25px|Pos. | width=180px|Rider | width=100px|Pts | width=50px|Total |
align=center {{speedway color|g}}
|1 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Gledhill | 3 3 3 3 2 | 14 |
align=center
|2 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Wilcock | 2 2 3 3 2 | 12 |
align=center
|3 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Grahame | 1 3 2 3 2 | 11+3 |
align=center
|4 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Boocock | 2 2 3 1 3 | 11+2 |
align=center
|5 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Emerson | 1 1 1 3 3 | 9 |
align=center
|6 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Karl Fiala | 3 1 2 2 1 | 9 |
align=center
|7 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Hollingworth | 0 3 3 1 1 | 8 |
align=center
|8 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Jackson | 3 2 1 2 0 | 8 |
align=center
|9 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Les Rumsey | 1 2 2 0 3 | 8 |
align=center
|10 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ray Bales | 3 0 0 2 3 | 8 |
align=center
|11 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Flatman | 2 1 2 1 2 | 8 |
align=center
|12 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Perks | 2 3 1 ret 1 | 7 |
align=center
|13 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Lawson | 0 0 1 2 0 | 3 |
align=center
|14 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Naylor | 0 1 0 1 1 | 3 |
align=center
|15 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Woodward | 1 f 0 0 0 | 1 |
align=center
|16 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Graham Jones | 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 |
align=center
|17 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Brewer (res) | 0 | 0 |
- f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure
Pairs
The National League Pairs was held at The Shay on 21 July and was won by Milton Keynes Knights.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979record.pdf |title=1979 season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=22 May 2023}}{{cite news |title=Diamonds out in semi finals |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=22 July 1979 |access-date=22 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19790722/023/0023 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-4}}
class="wikitable"
!colspan="4"|Group A | ||
width=20|Pos
!width=80|Team !width=20|Pts !width=100|Riders | ||
---|---|---|
style="background:#ACE1AF;"
!1 |Milton Keynes | 13 | Humphreys 9 Grahame 4 |
2
|Mildenhall||13||Hines 8 | ||
3
|Crayford || 7|| Naylor 5 | ||
4
|Edinburgh||5||Mouncer 2 |
{{col-4}}
class="wikitable"
!colspan="4"|Group B | ||
width=20|Pos
!width=80|Team !width=20|Pts !width=100|Riders | ||
---|---|---|
style="background:#ACE1AF;"
!1 |Nottingham | 15 | Perks 8 Sampson 7 |
2
|Boston||9||Allen 6 | ||
3
|Rye House||6||Pullen 4 | ||
4
|Workington||6||Havelock 6 |
{{col-4}}
class="wikitable"
!colspan="4"|Group C | ||
width=20|Pos
!width=80|Team !width=20|Pts !width=100|Riders | ||
---|---|---|
style="background:#ACE1AF;"
!1 |Newcastle | 12 | Owen T 7 Blackadder 5 |
2
|Middlesbrough||11||Wilcock 9 | ||
3
|Glasgow||9||Richardson 6 | ||
4
|Berwick||4||Fullerton 3 |
{{col-4}}
class="wikitable"
!colspan="4"|Group D | ||
width=20|Pos
!width=80|Team !width=20|Pts !width=100|Riders | ||
---|---|---|
style="background:#ACE1AF;"
!1 |Ellesmere P | 11 | Finch 6 Jackson 5 |
2
|Stoke||11||Burton 6 | ||
3
|Canterbury||11||Boocock 9 | ||
4
|Oxford||1||Rumsey 1 |
{{col-end}}
Semi finals
- Milton Keynes bt Newcastle
- Ellesmere Port bt Nottingham
Final
- Milton Keynes bt Ellesmere Port
Fours
Ellesmere Port Gunners won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 29 July.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=30 July 1979 |access-date=10 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19790730/233/0027 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979record.pdf |title=1979 full season results |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=11 May 2023}}
Semi finals
- SF1 = Peterborough 18, Ellesmere Port 14, Rye House 12, Oxford 4
- SF2 = Mildenhall 18, Berwick 11, Newcastle 10, Boston 9
Final
class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;"
!width=25px|Pos | width=150px|Team | width=50px|Pts | width=400px|Riders |
align=center
|1 | align=left|Ellesmere Port Gunners | 17 | Jackson 6, Carr L 6, Finch 5, Ellams 0, Monaghan 0 |
align=center
|2 | align=left|Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 15 | Hines 5, Bales 4, Taylor 3, Henry 3 |
align=center
|3 | align=left|Peterborough Panthers | 9 | Gooderham 4, Flatman 2, Hines 1, Spink 1, Clark B 1 |
align=center
|4 | align=left|Berwick Bandits | 7 | Brown 5, Close 2, Kynman 0, Jones 0, Matthews 0 |
Final leading averages
The top ten averages of the National League.{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|page=96|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}
class=wikitable
! ! Rider ! Nat ! Team ! C.M.A. |
align="center" | 1
| Tom Owen | {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 11.18 |
align="center" | 2
| {{Flagicon|SCO}} | 10.86 |
align="center" | 3
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 10.13 |
align="center" | 4
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.78 |
align="center" | 5
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.62 |
align="center" | 6
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.57 |
align="center" | 7
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.52 |
align="center" | 8
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.51 |
align="center" | 9
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.31 |
align="center" | 10
| {{Flagicon|ENG}} | 9.27 |
Riders & final averages
Berwick
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve McDermott 9.13
- Wayne Brown 9.00
- Mike Fullerton 7.71
- Graham Jones 7.58
- Nigel Close 7.24
- Phil Kynman 6.20
- Roger Wright 6.16
- Mike Caroline 4.36
- Rob Grant Sr. 4.00
{{div col end}}
Boston
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- David Gagen 9.27
- Rob Hollingworth 8.91
- Dave Allen 8.23
- Tony Featherstone 6.12
- Dennis Mallett 4.85
- Andy Fisher 4.48
- Dave Mortiboys 3.80
- Andy Hibbs 3.67
- Colin Ackroyd 2.60
{{div col end}}
Canterbury
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Mike Ferreira 8.35
- Nigel Boocock 8.32
- Barney Kennett 7.17
- Dave Piddock 7.00
- Tim Hunt 6.93
- Roger Abel 5.08
- Mick Wilde 4.13
- Graham Clifton 4.11
- Peter Christopher 4.00
- Neil Farnish 3.92
- Tony Reynolds 2.67
{{div col end}}
Crayford
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve Naylor 9.03
- Alan Sage 8.14
- Laurie Etheridge 8.00
- Paul Woods 7.63
- Les Rumsey 4.76
- Richard Davey 4.26
- Paul Gilbert 3.53
- Paul Hollingsbee 3.37
- John Hooper 3.31
- Jack Bibby 0.94
{{div col end}}
Edinburgh
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Dave Trownson 7.78
- Steve Lomas 7.18
- Bert Harkins 6.72
- Brian Collins 6.56
- Alan Bridgett 5.51
- Ivan Blacka 5.30
- Benny Rourke 5.25
- Rob Mouncer 5.21
- Roger Lambert 3.03
{{div col end}}
Ellesmere Port
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve Finch 9.52
- John Jackson 9.27
- Louis Carr 6.95
- John Williams 5.98
- Pete Ellams 5.23
- Eric Monaghan 4.69
- Robert Craven 4.00
- Paul Tyrer 3.83
- Paul Embley 3.80
- Peter Carr 2.44
{{div col end}}
Glasgow
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Merv Janke 9.06
- Steve Lawson 9.06
- Derek Richardson 8.05
- Andy Reid 6.25
- Colin Caffrey 6.12
- Charlie McKinna 5.89
- Jim Beaton 5.76
- Keith Bloxsome 5.23
{{div col end}}
Middlesbrough
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve Wilcock 8.97
- Malcolm Corradine 7.88
- Geoff Pusey 6.96
- Mark Courtney 6.92
- Martin Dixon 5.02
- Martyn Cusworth 4.76
- Paul Stead 3.77
- Mike Sanderson 1.90
{{div col end}}
Mildenhall
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Ray Bales 9.51
- Mick Hines 9.31
- Melvyn Taylor 9.06
- Robert Henry 8.87
- Mike Spink 6.58
- Mick Bates 6.52
- Richard Knight 5.66
- Mark Baldwin 4.96
{{div col end}}
Milton Keynes
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Andy Grahame 9.57
- Bob Humphreys 9.29
- Derek Harrison 8.04
- Malcolm Holloway 5.96
- David Ashby 5.43
- Harry Maclean 4.41
- Greg McNeill 3.93
- Chris Robins 3.59
{{div col end}}
Newcastle
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Tom Owen 11.18
- Robbie Blackadder 7.93
- Rod Hunter 7.86
- Graeme Stapleton 6.57
- David Bargh 5.91
- Neil Coddington 5.75
- Nigel Crabtree 4.72
- Paul Brown 1.90
- Mick Easton 1.60
{{div col end}}
Nottingham
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Dave Perks 10.13
- Mike Sampson 9.62
- Kevin Hawkins 8.03
- Glenn MacDonald 5.28
- Les Sawyer 5.07
- Nigel Wasley 4.83
- Craig Featherby 4.82
- John Homer 3.19
- Mark Williams 1.07
{{div col end}}
Oxford
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- George Hunter 10.86
- Les Rumsey 9.78
- Pip Lamb 9.27
- John Hack 6.81
- Carl Askew 6.62
- John Barker 6.47
- Mick Handley 5.32
- Colin Ackroyd 3.15
- Rob Dole 2.60
{{div col end}}
Peterborough
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Nigel Flatman 8.52
- Richard Greer 7.50
- Dave Gooderham 7.33
- Andy Hines 7.26
- Ian Clark 6.71
- Nigel Couzens 6.06
- Brian Clark 5.77
- Peter Spink 5.70
- Steve Popely 4.41
- Paul Tapp 4.00
- Ken Matthews 3.69
{{div col end}}
Rye House
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Karl Fiala 9.20
- Bobby Garrad 9.11
- Kelvin Mullarkey 8.71
- Kevin Smith 8.19
- Ted Hubbard 8.16
- Ashley Pullen 7.34
- Hugh Saunders 6.57
- Peter Tarrant 5.23
{{div col end}}
Scunthorpe
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Phil White 7.59
- Arthur Browning 7.28
- Rob Maxfield 6.77
- Arthur Price 4.73
- Kevin Teager 4.18
- Trevor Whiting 3.78
- Stuart Cope 3.25
- Ian Jeffcoate 3.19
- Phil Cain 2.78
- Rob Woffinden 2.50
{{div col end}}
Stoke
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Ian Gledhill 8.21
- Billy Burton 7.06
- Tony Lomas 6.76
- Chris Turner 6.42
- Ian Robertson 6.19
- Stuart Mountford 6.17
- Nicky Allott 5.57
- Frank Smith 5.53
- Alan MacLean 3.33
- Ian Jeffcoate 2.94
- Paul Evitts 2.31
{{div col end}}
Weymouth
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Brian Woodward 8.01
- Doug Underwood 7.19
- Bob Coles 7.09
- Malcolm Shakespeare 6.23
- Terry Tulloch 4.74
- Garry May 4.20
- Kevin Bowen 3.70
- Nigel Davis 3.24
- Mark DeKok 2.15
{{div col end}}
Workington
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Alan Emerson 8.99
- Brian Havelock 7.58
- Arnold Haley 6.87
- Ian Hindle 6.7
- Mark Dickinson 6.54
- Neil Collins 6.13
- Andy Margarson
- Mick Blaynee 3.88
- Des Wilson 3.60
- Tim Nichol 1.91
{{div col end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Speedway British League Division Two seasons}}
{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}
Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League