1952 Speedway National League

Summary

Norwich Stars joined the league. Wembley Lions won their fourth consecutive title and their seventh overall. Birmingham recorded their highest league finish to date by taking the runner-up spot.

While riding for Wimbledon, on 22 July 1952 the American Ernie Roccio was killed after crashing into the fence at high speed at West Ham Stadium, it has been reported that he died instantly but the newspaper report states he died in hospital.

Final table

Fixtures & results

A fixtures

B fixtures

Top Ten Riders (League only)

National Trophy Stage Three

The 1952 National Trophy was the 15th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third-tier clubs, stage two was for the second-tier 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. Harringay won the third and final stage and were therefore declared the 1952 National Trophy champions.

• For Stage One - see Stage One
• For Stage Two - see Stage Two

First round

Second round

Semifinals

Final

First leg Arthur Payne 17 Graham Warren 11 Eric Boothroyd 9 Ron Mountford 7 Ivor Davies 7 Cyril Page 5 Ron Mason 1 Cecil Hookham 0 Ken Walsh 11 Jack Biggs 10 Ron How 8 Arthur Atkinson 7 Maury Dunn 5 Danny Dunton 4 Split Waterman 3 Jeff Lloyd 3

Second leg Jack Biggs 17 Ron How 12 Jeff Lloyd 11 Maury Dunn 10 Arthur Atkinson 10 Ken Walsh 6 Danny Dunton 5 Split Waterman 3 Arthur Payne 15 Eric Boothroyd 6 Nobby Stock 6 Ivor Davies 2 Howdy Byford 2 Cyril Page 1 Ron Mason 1 Cecil Hookham 0

Harringay were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 123–92.

London Cup

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Ronnie Moore 12 Geoff Mardon 12 Cyril Brine 8 Reg Trott 6 Dennis Gray 6 Cyril Maidment 2 Barry Briggs 2 Mike Beddoe 0 Jack Biggs 11 Split Waterman 11 Maury Dunn 8 Jeff Lloyd 8 Ron How 7 Danny Dunton 6 Nobby Stock 4 Arthur Atkinson 2

Second leg Split Waterman 13 Jeff Lloyd 11 Maury Dunn 8 Ron How 8 Jack Biggs 7 Danny Dunton 4 Arthur Atkinson 3 Nobby Stock 2 Ronnie Moore 16 Cyril Brine 13 Geoff Mardon 12 Reg Trott 4 Barry Briggs 3 Dennis Gray 2 Cyril Maidment 2 Don Perry 1

Harringay won on aggregate 113–100

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• RSA Henry Long 8.63
• 8.37
• 7.40
• 6.89
• 7.16
• 6.63
• 6.15
• 6.69
• 5.28
• 5.25
• 2.60
• 2.00

Birmingham

• 10.00
• 8.00
• 7.78
• 7.77
• 7.33
• 7.28
• 6.08
• 5.93
• (James Goldingay) 4.86
• 4.00
• 3.50

Bradford

• 8.82
• 8.36
• 7.75
• 6.29
• 6.27
• 5.50
• 4.65
• 4.27
• 3.84
• 3.50
• 2.82
• 2.53

Bristol

• 8.29
• 6.85
• 6.36
• 6.11
• 5.87
• 5.50
• 5.23
• 5.00
• 5.04
• 4.55

Harringay

• 9.96
• 8.47
• 8.37
• 7.25
• 6.78
• 6.28
• 5.85
• 5.66
• 5.52
• 2.80

New Cross

• 8.79
• 8.60
• 7.66
• 7.61
• 7.26
• 5.66
• 5.18
• 4.53
• 4.49
• 4.15

Norwich

• 10.29
• 8.20
• 7.41
• 7.05
• 4.70
• 5.09
• (James Goldingay) 4.82
• 4.24
• 4.00
• 3.22
• 3.11
• 2.71

Wembley

• 9.76
• 9.31
• 8.23
• 7.74
• 7.41
• 7.32
• 6.79
• 4.92
• 1.60

West Ham

• 10.88
• 8.56
• 7.75
• 6.37
• 5.49
• 5.00
• 4.26
• 2.86
• 2.46
• 1.40

Wimbledon

• 11.27
• 9.60
• 9.00
• 8.68
• 6.84
• 5.74
• 5.66
• 5.25
• 4.20
• 3.58
• 3.12
• 1.71
• 1.23
• 0.83

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. "Year by Year".
3. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
4. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".
5. (23 July 1952). "Speed Track Star Dies". Western Daily Press.
6. "1952 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
7. "1952 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
8. "1952 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
9. "1952 National Trophy".
10. "1952 fixtures and results".
11. (9 August 1952). "Norwich rider out for season". Daily Herald.