1979 British League season

The 1979 Gulf British League season was the 15th season on the British League, the top tier of speedway in the UK since 1965.[1]

1979 British League season
LeagueBritish League
Season1979
ChampionsCoventry Bees
No. of competitors18
Knockout CupCradley Heath Heathens
Division/s below1979 National League

Summary

The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a fifth season. It comprised 18 teams - one fewer than the previous season. White City Rebels had folded and their riders became Eastbourne Eagles assets as Eastbourne were promoted from the National League. Bristol Bulldogs also dropped out after only two seasons back in the top flight. Coventry Bees won the league for the second year running. Hull Vikings' second place was their best ever finish.[2]

Final table
Team PL W D L Pts
Coventry Bees 34260852
Hull Vikings 34242850
Cradley Heath Heathens 342401048
King's Lynn Stars 342211145
Exeter Falcons 332001340
Halifax Dukes 341801636
Reading Racers 341701734
Swindon Robins 331531533
Wimbledon Dons 341611733
Belle Vue Aces 341441632
Wolverhampton Wolves 341511831
Poole Pirates 341431731
Sheffield Tigers 341421830
Birmingham Brummies 341321928
Ipswich Witches 341222026
Eastbourne Eagles 341022222
Leicester Lions 341002420
Hackney Hawks 34912419

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

Top Ten Riders
Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Scott Autrey Exeter Falcons 10.91
2 Ivan Mauger Hull Vikings 10.54
3 Phil Crump Swindon Robins 10.36
4 Michael Lee King's Lynn Stars 10.29
5 John Davis Reading Racers 10.22
6 Hans Nielsen Wolverhampton Wolves 10.16
7 Gordon Kennett Eastbourne Eagles 10.13
8 Ole Olsen Coventry Bees 10.03
9 Bruce Penhall Cradley Heathens 10.02
10 Dave Jessup King's Lynn Stars 9.80

British League Knockout Cup

The 1979 British League Knockout Cup was the 41st edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath were the winners.[3]

First Round
Date Team One Score Team Two
16/06Cradley Heath66-42Leicester
29/05Leicester40-68Cradley Heath
20/04Eastbourne65-43Ipswich
19/04Ipswich53-54Eastbourne

Second Round
Date Team One Score Team Two
10/09Cradley Heath78-29Wimbledon
09/08Wimbledon54-53Cradley Heath
06/07Eastbourne65-43Reading
18/06Birmingham59-49Swindon
16/06Coventry74-34Poole
16/06King's Lynn53-55Wolverhampton
16/06Swindon62-46Birmingham
15/06Poole59-48Coventry
15/06Wolverhampton56-52King's Lynn
11/06Reading77-31Eastbourne
02/06Belle Vue61-47Exeter
01/06Hull81-25Sheffield
31/05Exeter70-38Belle Vue
31/05Sheffield60-48Hull

Quarter Finals
Date Team One Score Team Two
24/09Cradley Heath71-37Wolverhampton
21/09Wolverhampton52-56Cradley Heath
20/08Reading53-55Halifax
14/07Halifax79-29Reading
03/08Exeter56-52Swindon
18/07Hull75-34Coventry
14/07Coventry60-48Hull
14/07Swindon46-62Exeter

Semi Finals
Date Team One Score Team Two
07/10Halifax49-59Cradley Heath
06/10Cradley Heath43-23Halifax
19/09Hull70-38Exeter
17/09Exeter60-48Hull

Final
Date Team One Score Team Two
15/10Cradley Heath62-46Hull
31/10Hull50-58Cradley Heath

See also

List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions

References
  1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  2. "1979 league tables". Speedway GB.
  3. "1979 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
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