1951 Speedway National League Division Two

1951 Speedway National League Division Two
LeagueNational League Division Two
No. of competitors16
ChampionsNorwich Stars
National Trophy
(Div 2 final)		Norwich Stars
Midland CupLeicester Hunters
Central ShieldCradley Heath
Northern ShieldEdinburgh
Southern ShieldNorwich Stars
Highest averageJack Young
Division/s aboveNational League (Div 1)
Division/s belowNational League (Div 3)

The 1951 National League Division Two was the sixth post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

Summary

The League was extended again with 18 teams starting the season. New entrants were Motherwell Eagles and there were again three teams promoted from Division Three - the champions Oxford Cheetahs,[1] third-place finishers Leicester Hunters and Liverpool Chads (despite finishing 8th). Plymouth Devils moved back down in the opposite direction.[2]

Norwich Stars retained their league title, while Cradley Heath, Edinburgh and Norwich won the early season shield competitions.[3][4]

Another rider was killed at the Firs Stadium (a fourth in five years). Twenty-one-year-old Bob Howes died after hitting the fence during a training practice race on 10 November 1951.[5][6]

Southampton Saints and Sheffield Tigers resigned in mid-season and their records were expunged.[7] Jimmy Baxter Director of Southern Speedways withdrew Southampton from the league largely due to 45% entertainment duty imposed by the government.[8][9] and they had their results expunged.

Final table

Pos Team PL W D L Pts
1 Norwich Stars 30 24 0 6 48
2 Leicester Hunters 30 19 0 11 38
3 Edinburgh Monarchs 30 18 0 12 36
4 Coventry Bees 30 16 3 11 35
5 Walthamstow Wolves 30 17 0 13 34
6 Halifax Dukes 30 17 0 13 34
7 Motherwell Eagles 30 16 1 13 33
8 Ashfield Giants 30 16 0 14 32
9 Hanley Potters 30 15 0 15 30
10 Glasgow White City Tigers 30 14 1 15 29
11 Yarmouth Bloaters 30 13 1 16 27
12 Oxford Cheetahs 30 12 2 16 26
13 Liverpool Chads 30 12 1 17 25
14 Fleetwood Flyers 30 9 2 19 20
15 Cradley Heath Heathens 30 9 0 21 18
16 Newcastle Diamonds 30 7 1 22 15

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away ASH COV CH ED FLE GLA HAL HAN LEI LIV MOT NEW NOR OX WAL YAR
Ashfield 64–20 57–27 40–44 54–30 55–29 52–32 56–28 51–33 40–44 45–38 55–29 41–43 44–40 47–37 56–28
Coventry 51–31 57–27 51–32 60–23 42–42 52–32 36–48 43–41 44–40 59–25 57–27 45–39 43–41 44–40 63–21
Cradley 41–43 48–35 39–44 55–29 55–29 37–47 32–52 23–61 54–30 41–40 60–24 39–45 56–28 32–52 52–32
Edinburgh 46–38 38–45 61–23 58–26 55–29 55–29 55–29 37–47 50–34 36–48 64–20 37–47 51–33 48–36 52–32
Fleetwood 41–42 44–40 46–36 36–48 45–39 40–44 52–31 46–38 38–40 42–42 45–38 33–51 53–31 49–35 56–28
Glasgow 56–28 46–38 60–23 44–40 65–19 52–32 60–4 53–31 54–30 40–44 51–33 53–30 57–27 49–35 57–27
Halifax 48–36 41–43 50–34 54–30 60–24 55–29 58–26 39–45 47–37 60–24 56–28 51–33 48–36 43–41 57–27
Hanley 43–41 49–34 60–24 51–32 60–23 53–31 43–40 50–34 53–31 37–47 57–24 41–42 62–22 34–49 46–38
Leicester 49–35 44–40 55–29 47–37 57–27 51–33 40–44 47–37 58–26 52–32 60–24 48–36 50–34 48–36 55–29
Liverpool 47–37 42–42 34–50 41–43 51–32 47–37 39–45 50–34 54–30 41–43 61–23 34–49 52–32 49–35 51–33
Motherwell 41–43 43–41 43–41 40–42 55–29 50–34 53–31 55–29 43–41 34–50 40–44 46–38 61–23 47–37 65–19
Newcastle 40–44 40–43 43–41 32–52 42–42 45–39 44–40 30–54 36–47 50–34 28–56 36–48 37–46 50–34 57–27
Norwich 55–29 57–27 59–25 55–28 62–22 59–25 61–23 64–20 54–30 60–24 62–22 58–26 67–17 60–24 63–21
Oxford 56–28 42–42 45–39 45–38 61–23 47–37 48–36 49–35 32–52 50–34 53–31 55–29 40–44 33–47 50–34
Walthamstow 52–31 48–36 63–21 51–33 67–16 49–35 57–27 61–23 59–25 54–29 50–34 54–29 39–45 58–25 56–28
Yarmouth 60–24 44–38 48–35 37–47 63–18 46–38 53–31 51–33 50–34 49–35 49–35 52–31 44–40 42–42 46–38
Source: [10]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top five riders (league only)

Rider Nat Team C.M.A.
1 Jack Young Edinburgh 11.72
2 Bob Leverenz Norwich 10.84
3 Derick Close Newcastle/Motherwell 10.71
4 Tommy Miller Glasgow Tigers 10.70
5 Arthur Forrest Halifax 10.30

National Trophy Stage Two

The 1951 National Trophy was the 14th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top-tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Norwich won stage two and therefore qualified for stage three.[11]

Second Division qualifying first round

Date Team one Score Team two
14/05 Exeter 60-47 Oxford
10/05 Oxford 80-28 Exeter
09/05 Fleetwood 64-44 Newcastle
04/05 Southampton 60-48 Walthamstow
30/04 Newcastle 71-36 Fleetwood
30/04 Walthamstow 77-31 Southampton

Second Division Qualifying Second round

Date Team one Score Team two
28/05 Cradley Heath 58-49 Coventry
26/05 Coventry 48-60 Cradley Heath
24/05 Oxford 61-47 Yarmouth
22/05 Yarmouth 63-44 Oxford
21/05 Newcastle 47-70 Norwich
19/05 Norwich 79-29 Newcastle
14/05 Walthamstow 81-26 Stoke Hanley
12/05 Edinburgh 77-29 Leicester
12/05 Stoke Hanley 59-49 Walthamstow
11/05 Leicester 46-62 Edinburgh
11/05 Motherwell 39-69 Halifax
09/05 Halifax 79-29 Motherwell
08/05 Glasgow Ashfield 70-38 Liverpool
07/05 Liverpool 62-46 Glasgow Ashfield
- Glasgow w/o Sheffield

Second Division Qualifying quarterfinals

Date Team one Score Team two
05/06 Glasgow Ashfield 71-37 Cradley Heath
30/05 Glasgow White City 64-44 Norwich
26/05 Edinburgh 68-40 Halifax
23/05 Halifax 68-39 Edinburgh
26/05 Norwich 14-4 Glasgow White City
11/06 Walthamstow 73-35 Yarmouth
09/06 Norwich 81-27 Glasgow White City
29/05 Yarmouth 57-51 Walthamstow

Second Division Qualifying semifinals

Date Team one Score Team two
07/07 Norwich 67.5-40.5 Cradley Heath
11/06 Cradley Heath 83-25 Glasgow Ashfield
04/07 Halifax 71-37 Walthamstow
02/07 Walthamstow 74-34 Halifax

Second Division Qualifying final

First leg

Norwich Stars
Phil Clarke 17
Bob Leverenz 16
Paddy Mills 11
Fred Pawson 10
Jack Freeman 10
Alec Hunter 9
Fred Rogers 6
Bill Codling 4		83 – 25Walthamstow Wolves
Benny King 7
Pete Lansdale 6
Harry Edwards 5
Jimmy Grant 3
Alby Smith 2
Sid Clarke 1
Jim Boyd 1
Reg Reeves 0
[12][13]

Second leg

Walthamstow Wolves
Jim Boyd 12
Benny King 12
Archie Windmill 7
Reg Reeves 6
Harry Edwards 5
Pete Lansdale 4
Sid Clarke 2
Jimmy Grant 2		50 – 58Norwich Stars
Bob Leverenz 18
Fred Rogers 10
Phil Clarke 9
Jack Freeman 7
Fred Pawson 6
Alec Hunter 6
Paddy Mills 2
Bill Codling 0
[14][13]

Shields

Northern Shield

Team PL W D L Pts
Edinburgh 10 9 0 1 18
Glasgow 10 7 0 3 10
Newcastle 10 5 0 5 10
Motherwell 10 4 0 6 8
Ashfield 10 3 0 7 6
Fleetwood 10 2 0 8 4
Home \ Away ASH ED FLE GLA MOT NEW
Ashfield 30–54 53–31 40–44 61–23 38–46
Edinburgh 50–32 59–25 61–23 62–21 54–30
Fleetwood 43–41 29–55 35–49 39–44 45–39
Glasgow 57–27 42–41 56–28 51–32 47–37
Motherwell 39–45 27–57 46–38 46–35 42–41
Newcastle 47–35 38–44 58–26 47–37 52–32
Source: [17]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Midland Cup

Leicester won the inaugural Midland Cup, which consisted of eight teams. There was one team from division 1, five teams from division 2 and two teams from division 3.

First round

Team one Team two Score
Hanley Wolverhampton 67–29, 60–30

Second round

Team one Team two Score
Leicester Long Eaton 75–21, 52–44
Oxford Coventry 58–38, 37–59
Cradley Hanley 57–39, 45–50

Semi final round

Team one Team two Score
Coventry Leicester 49–45, 41–55
Birmingham Cradley 65–30, 62–34

Final

First leg

Birmingham
Graham Warren 14
Alan Hunt 11
Ron Mountford 10
Eric Boothroyd 7
Lionel Watling 3
Cyril Page 2
Roy Browning 1
Jim Tolley 0		48–48Leicester
Len Williams 14
Les Beaumont 10
Fred Perkins 7
Johnny Carpenter 7
Lionel Benson 4
Laurie Holland 4
Harwood Pike 2
Vic Pitcher 0

Second leg

Leicester
Len Williams 13
Lionel Benson 10
Fred Perkins 9
Johnny Carpenter 7
Les Beaumont 3
Harwood Pike 2
Laurie Holland 4
Jock Grierson 2		50–46Birmingham
Graham Warren 11
Alan Hunt 10
Eric Boothroyd 6
Ron Mountford 10
Cyril Page 4
Lionel Watling 3
Jim Tolley 2
Roy Browning 0
[18]

Leicester won on aggregate 98–94

Riders & final averages

Ashfield

Coventry

  • Les Hewitt 8.48
  • Bob Fletcher 8.21
  • Johnny Reason 8.04
  • Stan Williams 6.99
  • Charlie New 6.24
  • John Yates 5.91
  • Derrick Tailby 5.63
  • Jack Wright 5.85
  • Cyril Cooper 5.58
  • Peter Brough 5.26
  • Wilf Plant 4.73

Cradley Heath

  • Brian Shepherd 9.00
  • Laurie Schofield 6.76
  • Gil Craven 8.56
  • Phil Malpass 7.86
  • Guy Allott 6.55
  • Les Tolley 6.51
  • Harry Bastable 6.14
  • Dick Tolley 5.15
  • Dennis Hitchings 4.43
  • Wilf Willstead 4.00
  • Bill Clifton 3.52
  • Don Prettejohn 1.74

Edinburgh

  • Jack Young 11.72
  • Don Cuppleditch 8.45
  • Dick Campbell 8.15
  • Bob Mark 7.36
  • Harold Fairhurst 7.11
  • Johnny Green 5.74
  • Eddie Lack 5.38
  • Jim Turner 3.45
  • Harold Booth 3.00
  • Jackie Campbell 2.53
  • Jimmy Cox 2.45

Fleetwood

  • Norman Hargreaves 8.00
  • Wilf Jay 7.93
  • Don Potter 7.13
  • Alf Parker 6.25
  • Ray Harker 3.88
  • Angus McGuire 3.40
  • Jeff Crawford 3.04
  • Ray Moore 2.51
  • Russ Pursehouse 2.09

Glasgow

Halifax

  • Arthur Forrest 10.30
  • Vic Emms 9.03
  • Jack Hughes 7.70
  • Al Allison 6.08
  • Bill Crosland 5.71
  • Ray Johnson 5.18
  • Dyson Harper 4.86
  • Jack Dawson 4.59
  • George Stringer 2.71

Hanley

  • Ken Adams 8.71
  • Lindsay Mitchell 7.10
  • Gil Blake 6.65
  • Bill Harris 6.65
  • Johnny Fitzparick 6.36
  • Brian Pritchett 6.34
  • Les Jenkins 6.32
  • Ray Harris 5.80
  • Bill Bridgett 1.00

Leicester

  • Len Williams 9.42
  • Lionel Benson 8.43
  • Les Beaumont 8.24
  • Harwood Pike 7.93
  • Fred Perkins 6.86
  • Joe Bowkis 6.55
  • Jock Grierson 6.17
  • Cyril Page 5.30
  • Ron Wilson 4.92
  • Johnny Carpenter 4.65
  • Vic Pitcher 3.45
  • Laurie Holland 3.30

Liverpool

Motherwell

Newcastle

  • Derick Close 10.25
  • Son Mitchell 6.80
  • Wal Morton 6.10
  • Herby King 6.00
  • Don Wilkinson 5.49
  • Jack Chignell 5.46
  • Don Lawson 4.56
  • Peter Orpwood 4.45
  • Norman Johnson 4.20
  • Johnny Green 4.19
  • Ernie Brecknell (Ernest Blight) 4.00
  • Roy Dook 2.93
  • Mike Tams 2.91

Norwich

Oxford

  • Pat Clark 9.10
  • Bill Kemp 7.23
  • Roger Wise 7.15
  • Bill Osborne 7.06
  • Ernie Rawlins 7.03
  • Harry Saunders 6.62
  • Frank Boyle 5.53
  • Cyril Quick 5.52
  • Eric Irons 5.49
  • Bob McFarlane 5.35
  • Herby King 3.64

Sheffield (withdrew mid-season)

Southampton (withdrew mid-season)

Walthamstow

Yarmouth

  • Fred Brand 9.57
  • Bob Baker 9.28
  • Reg Morgan 6.53
  • Cyril Quick 5.63
  • Tip Mills 4.75
  • Vic Ridgeon 4.45
  • Sid Hipperson 4.23
  • Stan Page 3.80
  • Johnny White 3.70
  • George Flower 2.59
  • Alby Thomas 1.73

See also

References

  1. ^ Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn (2007). The History of Oxford Speedway. Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7524-4161-0.
  2. ^ "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  3. ^ "Cradley Heath win Shield". Sports Argus. 12 May 1951. Retrieved 23 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  4. ^ "Chance To Be Second". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 7 May 1951. Retrieved 23 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Speedway death". Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail. 10 November 1951. Retrieved 11 August 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Norwich The Firs Stadium". National Speedway Museum. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Well Rewarded". Edinburgh Evening News. 5 July 1951. Retrieved 25 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Tracks Tax". Portsmouth Evening News. 8 June 1951. Retrieved 25 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Southampton out of speedway league". Bristol Evening Post. 14 June 1951. Retrieved 25 February 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "1951 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  11. ^ "1951 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
  12. ^ "Walthamstow Are Swamped". Weekly Dispatch (London). 29 July 1951. Retrieved 30 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ a b "Norwich 1951 results" (PDF). Speedway researcher. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  14. ^ "Sport Summary". Daily News (London). 31 July 1951. Retrieved 30 October 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "1951 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  16. ^ "1951 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  17. ^ "1951 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
  18. ^ "Hunters' Cup Win in Last heat". Leicester Daily Mercury. 20 October 1951. Retrieved 5 October 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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