1980 British League season

Summary

The league comprised 17 teams - one fewer than the previous season. Exeter Falcons had dropped down to the National League. Hackney Hawks underwent a dramatic transformation from being the bottom side in 1979 to title contenders in 1980, but their challenge faded in the last few weeks and Reading Racers were crowned champions for the second time.

Reading's success came down to three strong heat leaders, Swedish champion Jan Andersson, their new American signing Bobby Schwartz and England international John Davis. All three produced season averages around the 10 mark, which enabled the team to constantly pick up victories. Cradley Heathens successfully retained their Knockout Cup crown overcoming a huge first leg deficit in the final.

Hans Nielsen topped the averages for the first time in his career. Neither Ivan Mauger or Ole Olsen finished in the top 10 in averages, as well as both failing to qualify directly for that years’ World Final (Olsen went as reserve). The young American riders continued to improve as more arrived in Britain, with Bruce Penhall qualifying for the World Final and Dennis Sigalos pipping Mauger to be Hull Vikings' top scorer.

Final table

Fixtures and results

Top ten riders (league averages)

British League Knockout Cup

The 1980 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 42nd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Cradley Heath were the winners.

First round

Second round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

Final

First leg Chris Morton 14 Rob Maxfield 14 Peter Collins 13 Pekka Hautamaki 10 Louis Carr 5 Steve Wilcock 5 Dave Allen 4 Derek Richardson 2 Phil Collins 13 Alan Grahame 13 Erik Gundersen 7 Ila Teromaa 6 John Hack 1 Steve Lawson 1 Craig Featherby 0 Bruce Penhall R/R

Second leg Bruce Penhall 15 Erik Gundersen 13 Phil Collins 12 Alan Grahame 11 Andy Reid 9 Ila Teromaa 8 Steve Lawson 5 Craig Featherby 5 Pekka Hautamaki 10 Louis Carr 10 Tony Boyle 6 John Williams 4 Chris Morton 2 (inj) Peter Collins 1 (inj) Dave Allen 0 Mark Lohmann R/R

Cradley Heath were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 116-100.

Riders' Championship

Les Collins won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 18 October and sponsored by Gauntlet (Leyland Used Cars).

• ef=engine failure, f=fell, x=excluded r-retired

Final leading averages

Gold Cup

East Group

West Group

East Group

West Group

Final

Midland Cup

Cradley Heath won the Midland Cup, sponsored by the Trustee Savings Bank. The competition consisted of six teams.

First round

Semi final round

Midland League

Final

First leg Ole Olsen 13 Tommy Knudsen 8 Mitch Shirra 7 Alf Busk 5 Rob Henry 3 Alan Molyneux 1 Kevin Hawkins 1 Bruce Penhall 12 Alan Grahame 7 Phil Collins 6 Ila Teromaa 6 Erik Gundersen 6 John Hack 2 Andy Reid 1

Second leg Phil Collins 12 Erik Gundersen 11 Bobby Schwartz (guest) 10 Alan Grahame 9 Steve Lawson 4 Ila Teromaa 2
John Hack 0 Mitch Shirra 9 Ole Olsen 8 Kevin Hawkins 5 Tommy Knudsen 4 Alf Busk 2 Rob Hollingworth 2 Alan Molyneux 0

Cradley Heath won on aggregate 88–68

Northern Trophy

London Cup

Wimbledon won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.

Results

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue

• 10.67
• 10.09
• 7.69
• 6.33
• 6.24
• 5.35
• 5.17
• 4.91
• 4.25
• 4.22

Birmingham

• 8.57
• 8.24
• 7.39
• 6.22
• 6.09
• 5.97
• 5.93
• 5.56
• 3.70
• 2.70

Coventry

• 9.52
• 8.54
• 8.10
• 6.83
• 6.27
• 5.83
• 5.61
• 4.00

Cradley Heath

• 10.39
• 8.32
• 8.17
• 8.13
• 8.09
• 5.32
• 5.16
• 4.84
• 4.23
• 4.05
• 1.78
• 0.73

Eastbourne

• 9.71
• 8.35
• 6.28
• 6.12
• 5.57
• 4.87
• 4.64
• 4.24
• 3.87
• 3.61
• 1.81

Hackney

• 10.27
• 8.12
• 7.76
• 5.49
• 5.29
• 5.19
• 4.94
• 4.24

Halifax

• 8.92
• 7.92
• 6.54
• 6.06
• 5.80
• 5.39
• 3.50
• 2.86

Hull

• 9.32
• 9.00
• 7.57
• 6.68
• 6.47
• 5.17
• 4.84
• 4.67
• 4.65
• 4.17

Ipswich

• 9.09
• 8.80
• 8.34
• 7.20
• 6.37
• 5.82
• 5.77
• 5.33
• 4.80
• 4.72

King's Lynn

• 10.39
• 10.14
• 8.95
• 6.52
• 5.22
• 4.26
• 3.82

Leicester

• 8.93
• 7.69
• 7.42
• 6.38
• 6.20
• 5.91
• 5.60
• 5.23

Poole

• 9.40
• 9.11
• 7.26
• 6.96
• 6.76
• 4.95
• 4.77
• 4.00
• 1.11

Reading

• 10.04
• 10.00
• 9.59
• 7.37
• 5.87
• 5.30
• 4.98
• 1.80

Sheffield

• 8.00
• 7.11
• 6.37
• 6.20
• 5.56 (6 matches only)
• 5.09
• 5.04
• 4.86
• 4.37
• 3.67
• 3.23

Swindon

• 9.92
• 9.59
• 7.41
• 7.24
• 6.53
• 5.54
• 5.42
• 5.31
• 5.00
• 2.72
• 2.00

Wimbledon

• 9.12
• 8.22
• 8.08
• 6.36
• 5.82
• 5.08
• 3.06
• 2.46
• 2.24

Wolverhampton

• 10.69
• 7.08
• 7.01
• 5.85
• 5.73
• 5.36
• 5.33
• 5.07
• 3.93
• 3.68
• 2.62

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. Oakes, Peter. (1981). "1981 Speedway Yearbook". Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd.
3. "1979 league tables". Speedway GB.
4. "1980 league tables". Speedway GB.
5. "HISTORY ARCHIVE".
6. (30 October 1980). "Cradley are KO kings in glory night".
7. "1980 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
8. "1980 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
9. (21 October 1979). "Speedway". The People.
10. "1980 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
11. "1980 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
12. (10 October 1980). "Schwartz is a cup hit for Cradley". Sandwell Evening Mail.
13. "1980 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
14. "1980 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
15. "1980 fixtures and results".