1953 Speedway National League

Summary

Wembley Lions won their fifth consecutive title and their eighth overall.

Wimbledon Dons won the National Trophy for the fourth time and Harringay Racers completed a cup double winning the Coronation Cup and London Cup.

New Cross Rangers folded part way through the 1953 season because MD Fred Mockford stated attendances were down to 5,000 and racing was being staged at a loss.

Novice rider Harry Eyre died in Poplar Hospital on 7 July 1953. He suffered fatal injuries earlier that evening at West Ham Stadium, in a second half novices match against Bradford.

National League final table

New Cross Rangers withdrew mid-season - record expunged.

Fixtures & results

Coronation Cup

The Coronation Cup was run in a league format. Harringay Racers came out on top.

New Cross Rangers completed 14 of their 16 fixtures before withdrawing and their record was expunged.

Top ten riders (league only)

National Trophy

The 1953 National Trophy was the 16th edition of the Knockout Cup.

First round

Second round

Third round

Fourth round

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Final

First leg Ronnie Moore 17 Cyril Brine 14 Norman Parker 11 Geoff Mardon 10 Peter Moore 9 Barry Briggs 3 Don Perry 1 Reg Trott 0 Eric Williams 11 Tommy Price 9 Bill Kitchen 5 Eric French 4 Trevor Redmond 4 Jimmy Gooch 3 Brian Crutcher 2 Freddie Williams 2

Second leg Freddie Williams 17 Tommy Price 15 Eric Williams 8 Brian Crutcher 7 Trevor Redmond 7 Bill Kitchen 5 Eric French 4 Jimmy Gooch 3 Ronnie Moore 11 Norman Parker 8 Peter Moore 7 Barry Briggs 6 Geoff Mardon 5 Don Perry 3 Cyril Brine 1 Reg Trott 1

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 110–106.

London Cup

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Jack Biggs 1 Maury Dunn 12 Jeff Lloyd 12 Split Waterman 10 Ron How 8 Frank Lawrence 5 Ken Walsh 1 Allan Quinn 0 Jack Young 18, Bert Roger 10 Malcolm Craven 6 Wally Green 4 Howdy Byford 4 Keith Gurtner 4 Kid Curtis 2 Pat Clarke 0

Second leg Jack Young 17 Bert Roger 11 Keith Gurtner 8 Malcolm Craven 7 Basse Hveem 6 Howdy Byford 4 Pat Clarke 4 Wally Green 4 Maury Dunn 11 Jack Biggs 12 Jeff Lloyd 9 Ron How 8 Split Waterman 7 Frank Lawrence 2 Arthur Atkinson 0 Alan Quinn 0

Harringay won on aggregate 110–106

Midland Cup

Birmingham won the Midland Cup, which consisted of six teams. There were two teams from division 1 and four teams from division 2.

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Alan Hunt 15 Graham Warren 9 Harry Bastable 9 Arthur Payne 7 Ron Mountford 6 Ron Barrett 6 Eric Boothroyd 5 Bob Roger 4 Charlie New 13 Johnnie Reason 9 Derrick Tailby 5 Vic Emms 3 Reg Duval 2 Les Hewitt 1 Jack Wright 1 Stan Williams 1

Second leg Charlie New 14 Derrick Tailby 7 Stan Williams 4 Vic Emms 4 Reg Duval 4 Johnnie Reason 3 Les Hewitt 2 Jack Wright 0 Alan Hunt 14 Ron Mountford 12 Graham Warren 9 Harry Bastable 7 Eric Boothroyd 7 Arthur Payne 6 Ron Barrett 3 Bob Roger 0

Birmingham won on aggregate 119–73

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• 7.88
• 7.74
• 8.27
• 7.00
• 6.69
• 4.62
• 4.22
• 3.87
• 3.86
• 3.74
• 2.00
• 2.00

Birmingham

• 10.47
• 7.67
• 7.64
• 7.19
• 7.19
• 6.36
• 5.97
• 4.57
• 4.48
• 4.21
• 3.00
• 1.25
• (James Goldingay) 1.18

Bradford

• 9.94
• 8.00
• 7.14
• 6.26
• 6.20
• 5.50
• 5.69
• 5.04
• 5.00
• 3.69
• 4.27

Bristol

• 10.25
• 8.13
• 7.88
• 7.55
• 6.67
• 6.10
• 5.80
• 4.37
• 4.24

Harringay

• 9.84
• 9.00
• 8.14
• 7.73
• 7.60
• 5.87
• 5.33
• 5.00
• 4.68
• 4.00

New Cross (withdrew)

Norwich

• 9.19
• 7.48
• 6.76
• 6.40
• 5.60
• 5.49
• 5.12
• 3.40
• 2.29
• 2.00

Wembley

• 10.13
• 9.66
• 9.13
• 7.87
• 6.26
• 4.78
• 6.23
• 6.05
• 4.57

West Ham

• 10.61
• 8.00
• 7.43
• 7.72
• 4.68
• 4.49
• 5.50
• 3.92
• 2.86
• 2.29

Wimbledon

• 10.63
• 8.66
• 8.00
• 6.97
• 6.31
• 7.50
• 5.57
• 5.05
• 4.49
• 4.42
• 2.72
• 1.60

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. (15 June 1953). "New Cross Speedway has closed".
6. "Cycle Speedway Teams Down the Ages".
7. (8 July 1953). "Speed-rider killed". Daily Herald.
8. "1953 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
9. "1953 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
10. "1953 National Trophy". Speedway archive.
11. "1953 National Trophy".
12. (5 August 1953). "Harringay beaten, but they win cup". Daily Herald.
13. (28 September 1953). "Bees well beaten at Birmingham". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
14. (4 October 1953). "Birmingham's easy win in Midland Trophy". Birmingham Weekly Mercury.