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

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 30

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | 60

2

| Rye House Rockets

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 29

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 6

| align="center" | 59

3

| Oxford Cheetahs

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 24

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 11

| align="center" | 49

4

| Berwick Bandits

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 3

| align="center" | 12

| align="center" | 45

5

| Milton Keynes Knights

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 42

6

| Newcastle Diamonds

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 40

7

| Glasgow Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 38

8

| Peterborough Panthers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 38

9

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 37

10

| Canterbury Crusaders

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 36

11

| Middlesbrough Tigers

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 17

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 18

| align="center" | 35

12

| Crayford Kestrels

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 16

| align="center" | 0

| align="center" | 20

| align="center" | 32

13

| Stoke Potters

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 15

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 19

| align="center" | 32

14

| Nottingham Outlaws

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 29

15

| Workington Comets

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 14

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 29

16

| Boston Barracudas

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | 2

| align="center" | 21

| align="center" | 28

17

| Edinburgh Monarchs

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 13

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 22

| align="center" | 27

18

| Weymouth Wildcats

| align="center" | 36

| align="center" | 9

| align="center" | 1

| align="center" | 26

| align="center" | 19

19

| Scunthorpe Stags

| 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

29/04Rye House56-22Weymouth
22/05Weymouth34-44Rye House
20/04Edinburgh46-32Boston
10/06Boston44-34Edinburgh

Second round

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

03/06Rye House54-24Glasgow
08/06Glasgow47-31Rye House
15/06Workington46-30Middlesbrough
14/06Middlesbrough45-32Workington
10/06Mildenhall53-25Ellesmere Port
08/06Ellesmere Port41-37Mildenhall
19/06Crayford44-34Edinburgh
06/07Edinburgh39-39Crayford
09/06Berwick60-18Scunthorpe
04/06Scunthorpe38-40Berwick
14/06Oxford45-33Peterborough
08/06Peterborough34-44Oxford
18/06Newcastle57-21Canterbury
26/05Canterbury39-39Newcastle
12/06Milton Keynes50-28Stoke
09/06Stoke42-36Milton Keynes

Quarter-finals

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

15/07Rye House59-19Workington
29/06Workington49-29Rye House
25/07Mildenhall56-22Crayford
10/07Crayford39-39Mildenhall
?Berwick51-27Oxford
05/07Oxford44-34Berwick
09/07Newcastle53-25Milton Keynes
10/07Milton Keynes35-42Newcastle

Semi-finals

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

!width=80| Date

!width=250| Team one

!width=80| Score

!width=250| Team two

27/08Rye House44-34Mildenhall
26/08Mildenhall38-40Rye House
22/09Berwick47-31Newcastle
19/08Newcastle46-32Berwick

=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

|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1979record.pdf|title=1979 KO cup final|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=27 September 2021}}

|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

|report =

|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|Riderwidth=100px|Ptswidth=50px|Total
align=center {{speedway color|g}}

|1

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ian Gledhill3 3 3 3 214
align=center

|2

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Wilcock2 2 3 3 212
align=center

|3

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Andy Grahame1 3 2 3 211+3
align=center

|4

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Boocock2 2 3 1 311+2
align=center

|5

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Alan Emerson1 1 1 3 39
align=center

|6

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Karl Fiala3 1 2 2 19
align=center

|7

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Rob Hollingworth0 3 3 1 18
align=center

|8

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} John Jackson3 2 1 2 08
align=center

|9

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Les Rumsey1 2 2 0 38
align=center

|10

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Ray Bales3 0 0 2 38
align=center

|11

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Nigel Flatman2 1 2 1 28
align=center

|12

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Perks2 3 1 ret 17
align=center

|13

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Lawson0 0 1 2 03
align=center

|14

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Naylor0 1 0 1 13
align=center

|15

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Brian Woodward1 f 0 0 01
align=center

|16

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Graham Jones0 0 0 0 00
align=center

|17

align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Dave Brewer (res)00

  • 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

13Humphreys 9
Grahame 4
2

|Mildenhall||13||Hines 8
Taylor 5

3

|Crayford || 7|| Naylor 5
Etheridge 2

4

|Edinburgh||5||Mouncer 2
Stansfield 1

{{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

15Perks 8
Sampson 7
2

|Boston||9||Allen 6
Featherstone 3

3

|Rye House||6||Pullen 4
Fiala 2

4

|Workington||6||Havelock 6
Dickinson 0

{{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

12Owen T 7
Blackadder 5
2

|Middlesbrough||11||Wilcock 9
Courtney 2

3

|Glasgow||9||Richardson 6
Lawson 3

4

|Berwick||4||Fullerton 3
Jones 1

{{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

11Finch 6
Jackson 5
2

|Stoke||11||Burton 6
Gledhill 5

3

|Canterbury||11||Boocock 9
Sheard (G) 2

4

|Oxford||1||Rumsey 1
Hunter 0

{{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|Teamwidth=50px|Ptswidth=400px|Riders
align=center

|1

align=left|Ellesmere Port Gunners17Jackson 6, Carr L 6, Finch 5, Ellams 0, Monaghan 0
align=center

|2

align=left|Mildenhall Fen Tigers15Hines 5, Bales 4, Taylor 3, Henry 3
align=center

|3

align=left|Peterborough Panthers9Gooderham 4, Flatman 2, Hines 1, Spink 1, Clark B 1
align=center

|4

align=left|Berwick Bandits7Brown 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}}

| Newcastle Diamonds

| 11.18

align="center" | 2

| George Hunter

| {{Flagicon|SCO}}

| Oxford Cheetahs

| 10.86

align="center" | 3

| Dave Perks

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Nottingham Outlaws

| 10.13

align="center" | 4

| Les Rumsey

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Oxford Cheetahs

| 9.78

align="center" | 5

| Mike Sampson

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Nottingham Outlaws

| 9.62

align="center" | 6

| Andy Grahame

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Milton Keynes Knights

| 9.57

align="center" | 7

| Steve Finch

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| 9.52

align="center" | 8

| Ray Bales

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| 9.51

align="center" | 9

| Mick Hines

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| 9.31

align="center" | 10

| John Jackson

| {{Flagicon|ENG}}

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| 9.27

Riders & final averages

Berwick

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{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}}

{{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}}

{{div col end}}

Ellesmere Port

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{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}}

{{div col end}}

Mildenhall

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Milton Keynes

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Newcastle

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Nottingham

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Oxford

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Peterborough

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Rye House

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{div col end}}

Scunthorpe

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{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}}

{{div col end}}

Workington

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

{{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