1977 British League season

Summary

Newport had dropped down to the National League but their riders transferred to the Bristol Bulldogs so the league retained 19 teams. Cradley Heath reverted to their nickname of Heathens after four years of being called United. The league was sponsored by Gulf Oil for a third season.

White City Rebels won the title in only their second season of existence. The London team caused a surprise with their consistent form throughout the season with heavy scoring of Gordon Kennett leading the team. The success came from a group of five other riders hitting around a seven average to support Kennett. The five were Englishmen Mike Sampson, Steve Weatherley and Trevor Geer, Pole Marek Cieślak and Finn Kai Niemi. Wolverhampton Wolves signed 18 year-old Danish rider Hans Nielsen.

Kevin Holden of Poole Pirates had started the season in great form for his new club, following his move from Exeter Falcons. He was hitting over a 9-point average but sadly was killed during the home match against Reading on 27 April. After sliding into the fence he ruptured a blood vessel of the heart.

Final table

Fixtures and results

Top ten riders (league averages)

British League Knockout Cup

The 1977 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 39th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. King's Lynn Stars were the winners.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg John Davis 10 Dave Jessup 8 Hans Wassermann 7 Bengt Jansson 6 Doug Underwood 4 Bob Humphreys 3 Ian Gledhill 2 Michael Lee 15 Terry Betts 12 Carl Glover 5 Ian Turner 5 Richard Hellsen 1 Billy Spiers 0 David Gagen 0

Second leg Terry Betts 10 Michael Lee 7 Richard Hellsen 7 David Gagen 6 Ian Turner 6 Billy Spiers 3 Carl Glover 2 Dave Jessup 15 John Davis 8 Bengt Jansson 6 Doug Underwood 4 Bob Humphreys 3 Hans Wassermann 1 Ian Gledhill 0

King's Lynn Stars were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 79-77.

Riders' Championship

Ole Olsen won the British League Riders' Championship for the third time, it was held at Hyde Road on 15 October and sponsored by Leyland Cars.

• ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded

Pairs

The British League Pairs Championship was held at Foxhall Stadium on 29 September and was won by Ipswich Witches for the second consecutive year.

Spring Gold Cup

East Group

West Group

East Group

West Group

Final

Final leading averages

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams and was sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank.

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Mitch Shirra 11 Ole Olsen 10 Tommy Nilsson 8 Mick Bell 6 Alan Molyneux 5 Frank Smith 4 Alf Busk 3 Bruce Cribb 11 Bob Valentine 8 Steve Bastable 5 Larry Ross (guest) 4 Arthur Price 2 Dave Perks 1 Anders Michanek r/r

Second leg Bruce Cribb 12 Steve Bastable 6 Bob Valentine 5 Les Collins (guest) 5 Arthur Price 4 Dave Perks 4 Bernt Persson r/r Mitch Shirra 13 Ole Olsen 12 Alan Molyneux 9 Tommy Nilsson 6 Mick Bell 1 Alf Busk 1 Frank Smith 0

Coventry won on aggregate 89–67

Northern Trophy

London Cup

White City Rebels won the London Cup. Two of their fixtures doubled up as League and Knockout Cup matches.

Results

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

• 10.46
• 8.96
• 8.56
• 7.87
• 5.90
• 5.07
• 4.18
• 3.72
• 3.61
• 2.30

Birmingham

• 8.74
• 6.36
• 5.58
• 5.00
• 4.95
• 4.75
• 4.56
• 4.10
• 3.44

Bristol

• 9.77
• 9.23
• 7.12
• 6.39
• 6.06
• 4.61
• 4.56
• 3.71
• 3.19
• 3.17
• 2.00

Coventry

• 10.52
• 8.22
• 7.92
• 7.79
• 6.38
• 6.23
• 3.85
• 2.00

Cradley Heath

• 10.35
• 8.34
• 7.86
• 6.54
• 6.50
• 6.00
• 5.61

Exeter

• 10.50
• 9.13
• 8.59
• 8.25
• 6.48
• 6.33
• 6.21
• 4.00

Hackney

• 8.67 (5 matches only)
• 7.45
• 6.51
• 6.34
• 4.68
• 4.19
• 4.07
• 3.88

Halifax

• 8.11
• 7.37
• 7.14
• 6.13
• 6.10
• 4.83
• 4.81
• 3.80
• 2.81

Hull

• 8.63
• 8.01
• 6.61
• 6.00
• 5.44
• 5.23
• 4.69
• 3.05

Ipswich

• 10.18
• 9.50
• 7.97
• 5.40
• 5.24
• 5.13
• 5.07
• 4.62

King's Lynn

• 10.59
• 9.78
• 7.36
• 5.93
• 5.17
• 4.48
• 4.07
• 3.25
• 2.17

Leicester

• 8.92
• 8.42
• 6.68
• 5.17
• 4.74
• 4.04
• 4.00
• 3.89
• 3.33
• 3.24
• 2.96
• 2.96
• 2.29

Poole

• 10.27
• 7.47
• 7.02
• 6.30
• 5.54
• 4.98
• 4.56
• 4.52

Reading

• 10.32
• 9.80
• 6.80
• 6.05
• 5.88
• 5.58
• 4.85
• 4.37
• 3.26
• 2.53

Sheffield

• 9.15
• 8.84
• 6.56
• 5.43
• 5.05
• 4.31
• 3.95
• 3.25

Swindon

• 9.72
• 8.74
• 7.61
• 6.67
• 5.49
• 5.48
• 4.77
• 3.04

White City

• 10.41
• 7.35
• 7.32
• 7.15
• 6.85
• 6.84
• 5.07
• 4.70

Wimbledon

• 9.61
• 7.80
• 7.74
• 7.32
• 5.47
• 5.46
• 4.23
• 3.67
• 2.80
• 2.40

Wolverhampton

• 8.68
• 8.17
• 7.25
• 5.70
• 5.33
• 4.69
• 2.76

References

References

1. Rogers, Martin. (1978). "The Illustrated History of Speedway". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
2. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
3. "HISTORY ARCHIVE".
4. Oakes, Peter. (1981). "1981 Speedway Yearbook". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
5. "Speedway riders, history and results".
6. "IT HAPPENED ON THIS DAY.....1977".
7. "1977 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
8. "1977 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
9. "Season 1977".
10. (17 October 1977). "Immaculate Olsen roars to title". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
11. (30 September 1977). "Sport in Brief". Birmingham Daily Post.
12. "1977 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
13. "1977 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
14. (30 September 1977). "Super Shirra leads Bees in Cup romp". Coventry Evening Telegraph.
15. "1977 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
16. "1977 fixtures and results".