1963 Provincial Speedway League

Season summary

Thirteen teams competed again as in 1962, despite the loss of four teams. At the start of the year Neath had folded, and their place was taken by the new track at St Austell. After finishing at the bottom of the table the previous year, Bradford and Leicester were no longer running due to financial difficulties and Plymouth had also withdrawn. Long Eaton returned to competitive racing after 12 years under Reg Fearman, and Rayleigh returned under new ownership after a missing the 1962 season. New Cross Rangers would have made it 14 teams after returning but closed down in August, never to re-open.

Speedway returned to Hackney Wick Stadium after an absence of 25 years under the promotion of Mike Parker and Reg Fearman.

Wolverhampton won the league but there was controversy at the end of the year when Wolverhampton refused to move up to the National League, which was dwindling in numbers. This would lead to the Provincial League running outside of the jurisdiction of the Speedway Control Board for the 1964 season.

Cradley Heath won the Knockout Cup and the Midland League Championship, while Poole won the Southern League Championship and Sheffield the Northern League Championship.

League

Final table

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

• New Cross Rangers resigned in mid-season – record expunged.

Fixtures and results

+Newcastle awarded win

Top five riders (league only)

Provincial League Knockout Cup

The 1963 Provincial League Knockout Cup was the fourth edition of the Knockout Cup for the Provincial League teams. Cradley Heathens were the winners.

First round

Second round

Semi-finals

Final

First leg Peter Kelly 13 Mike Watkin 12 Jack Winstanley 6 Ray Day 6 Russ Dent 6 Dennis Jenkins 6 Milton Cazely 1 Ivor Brown 14 Harry Bastable 12 John Edwards 9 Derek Timms 5 Alan Totney 4 Ivor Davies 1 John Hart 0 Second leg Ivor Brown 15 John Hart 15 John Edwards 13 Derek Timms 8 Harry Bastable 6 Alan Totney 6 Joe Westwood 1 Peter Kelly 10 Bob Duckworth 8 Mike Watkin 6 Jack Winstanley 3 Ray Day 3 Maury Robinson 2 Dennis Jenkins 0

Supplementary leagues

Northern League

Southern League

Midland League

Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the Riders' Championship. The final was held at Hyde Road on 28 September.

Riders & final averages

Cradley Heath

• 10.30
• 7.84
• 6.04
• 5.98
• 5.55
• 5.26
• 4.71
• 3.70
• 2.00

Edinburgh

• 11.09
• 9.21
• 9.19
• 8.09
• 7.64
• 5.13
• 4.36
• 3.58
• 3.36
• 2.85

Exeter

• 9.58
• 8.40
• 8.29
• 7.79
• 6.94
• 5.88
• 5.29
• 4.73
• 4.00
• 3.29

Hackney

• 10.04
• 6.67
• 6.53
• 6.47
• (George Snailum) 5.70
• 5.33
• 4.52
• 4.27
• 3.77
• 3.76

Long Eaton

• 9.11
• 7.80
• 7.16
• 5.58
• 5.87
• 5.03
• 4.99
• 4.65
• 4.23
• 3.75
• 3.64

Middlesbrough

• 9.63
• 8.50
• 7.92
• 6.08
• 6.08
• 4.00
• 3.46
• 3.19

Newcastle

• 10.42
• 9.29
• 6.44
• 6.00
• 5.84
• 3.50
• 3.45
• 2.74

New Cross (withdrew mid-season)

• 9.93
• 6.72
• 6.59
• 5.16
• 5.11
• 4.67
• 3.28
• 1.85
• 1.82

Poole

• 9.92
• 8.98
• 8.42
• 7.19
• 5.35
• 5.31
• 3.89
• 3.79

Rayleigh

• 8.47
• 7.76
• 6.15
• 5.97
• 5.75
• 5.74
• 4.62
• 3.20
• 2.73

St Austell

• 8.50
• 7.88
• 6.93
• 6.56
• CAN Chris Blewett 5.81
• 5.44
• 5.02
• 4.00

Sheffield

• 10.05
• 9.91
• 7.43
• 7.10
• 6.78
• 5.70
• 5.64
• 5.61
• (Jack Thorp) 5.57
• 2.67

Stoke

• 9.67
• 9.13
• 7.47
• 7.44
• (Kid Bodie) 5.57
• 4.81
• 4.47
• 4.14
• 2.92

Wolverhampton

• 8.50
• 7.88
• 7.59
• 6.93
• 6.56
• 5.49
• 5.44
• 5.02
• 5.81

References

References

1. (2008). "Championship History". Poole Speedway.
2. (29 January 1963). "Speedway again at Long Eaton".
3. (2 March 1963). "Speedway back after 12 years". Nottingham Evening Post.
4. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
5. "Year by Year".
6. (7 November 1962). "Speedway at hackney Wick again".
7. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
8. "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".
9. (1 May 1963). "Long Eaton Archers beaten". Nottingham Evening Post.
10. (31 May 1963). "Speedway:Last Race Thrill Win For Rangers at New Cross". Sydenham, Forest Hill & Penge Gazette.
11. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
12. "1963 Provincial League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
13. (1 October 1963). "Speedway". Daily Mirror.
14. (13 October 1963). "Cradley Heath coast home to Cup victory". Birmingham Weekly Mercury.
15. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
16. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
17. "1963 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
18. (30 September 1963). "Squibb & Cox not in hunt". Express and Echo.