1986 British League season

Summary

Oxford Cheetahs won the league for the second consecutive year and the treble by sharing both the Speedway Star Knockout Cup and League Cup with Cradley Heath Heathens. Despite the easy manner of their 1985 league success Oxford made critical changes which ensured domination for a second consecutive season. They were forced to make changes due to the averages points limit that applied to all teams. Hans Nielsen and Simon Wigg were retained, as were Andy Grahame and Marvyn Cox but Jens Ramussen was replaced with Per Sorensen and Nigel De'ath was brought in as full time reserve. Both Sorensen and De'ath maintained good form throughout the season and combined with the heavy scores of the heat leaders the team were able to win the league again. Cradley returned to form and provided Oxford with their main challenge, the rivalry between the Nielsen of Oxford and Erik Gundersen of Cradley was memorable. Nielsen also replaced Gundersen as the world champion by the end of the season and the pair were World Pairs and World Cup winners.

After being unable to afford the rent for The Shay stadium, Halifax relocated to Odsal Stadium and rebranded as the Bradford Dukes. They were to be led by Yorkshireman and England's leading rider Kenny Carter, but tragedy unfolded on 21 May when Carter shot dead his wife and then took his own life. It would take several years for the club to find stability.

Final table

Fixtures and results

British League Knockout Cup

The 1986 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 48th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Oxford Cheetahs and Cradley Heath Heathens were declared joint winners because the second leg of the final was not held and the first leg had ended 39-39.

First round

Quarter-finals

Semi-finals

+2nd leg not held and Bradford conceded tie

Final

The title was shared after two failed attempts to hold the second leg due to rain.

First and only leg Jan O. Pedersen 8 Phil Collins 8 Erik Gundersen 7 Nigel Leaver 6 Steve Bastable 4 Paul Fry 3 Simon Cross 3 Hans Nielsen 14 Simon Wigg 9 Marvyn Cox 9 Nigel De'ath 4 Per Sorensen 1 Andy Grahame 1 Jon Surman 1

League Cup

The League Cup was contested as a league format. The cup was shared following two failed attempts to stage the second leg of the final at Oxford due to rain. Oxford had won the first leg at Cradley Heath 40–38.

Qualifying table

Results

Semi-finals

Final (First and only leg) Erik Gundersen 11 Phil Collins 7 Simon Cross 6 Jan O. Pedersen 5 Steve Bastable 5 Nigel Leaver 2 Paul Fry 2 Hans Nielsen 11 Marvyn Cox 10 Simon Wigg 9 Per Sorensen 4 Nigel De'ath 4 Andy Grahame 2 Jon Surman 0

Riders' Championship

Hans Nielsen won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 12 October.

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

Pairs

The British League Pairs Championship was held at Owlerton Stadium on 24 August and was won by Oxford for the second consecutive year.

Leading final averages

+rode 10 matches before his death

Midland Cup

Oxford won the Midland Cup for the second consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.

First round

Semi final round

Final

First leg Tommy Knudsen 11 John Jorgensen 10 Kelvin Tatum 8 Alun Rossiter 6 Rick Miller 5 David Bargh 3 David Clarke 1 Simon Wigg 13 Jeremy Doncaster (guest) 7 Per Sorensen 6 Marvyn Cox 5 Nigel De'ath 2 Andy Grahame 1 Jon Surman 0

Second leg Hans Nielsen 11 Simon Wigg 10 Marvyn Cox 10 Per Sorensen 6 Nigel De'ath 4 Andy Grahame 3 Jon Surman 2 Rick Miller 14 Alun Rossiter 9 Kelvin Tatum 6 David Bargh 1 Tommy Knudsen 1 (ill) David Clarke 1 John Jorgensen r/r

Oxford won on aggregate 80–76

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

• 9.34
• 7.37
• 6.93
• 6.48
• 6.10
• 5.43
• 4.28
• 2.67
• 2.65
• 1.60
• 1.06

Bradford

• 10.05
• 9.32
• 8.20
• 7.26
• 6.30
• 6.01
• 4.16
• 3.88

Coventry

• 9.68
• 8.74
• 8.69
• 6.41
• 5.68
• 5.60
• 3.50
• 1.71

Cradley Heath

• 11.03
• 8.58
• 7.80
• 7.17
• 6.08
• 3.74
• 3.23
• 2.06

Ipswich

• 10.38
• 8.00
• 7.79
• 5.69
• 4.90
• 4.71
• 4.57
• 4.17
• 3.79

King's Lynn

• 9.06
• 7.74
• 6.73
• 5.38
• 4.91
• 4.70
• 4.60
• 4.21
• 4.15
• 2.28
• 1.11

Oxford

• 11.57
• 10.20
• 8.11
• 6.14
• 6.05
• 5.34
• 4.33
• 2.43

Reading

• 9.34
• 8.72
• 7.90
• 7.36
• 5.89
• 5.47
• 5.33
• 1.35
• 1.27

Sheffield

• 9.65
• 8.76
• 7.89
• 7.53
• 7.24
• 5.83
• 5.46
• 4.62
• 3.27

Swindon

• 8.77
• 8.45
• 7.82
• 6.79
• 6.64
• 6.07
• 5.16
• 4.58
• 3.16

Wolverhampton

• 9.72
• 7.70
• 7.04
• 6.18
• 5.23
• 2.97
• 1.07

References

References

1. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
2. "1986 league tables". Speedway GB.
3. Bamford/Shailes, Robert/Glynn. (2007). "The Story of Oxford Speedway". Tempus Publishing Ltd.
4. "The tragic life and horrific death of troubled Yorkshire speedway legend 'King Kenny' Carter".
5. "1986 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
6. "1986 British League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
7. "Cradley Speedway 1986 season".
8. (3 November 1986). "Speedway". Birmingham Mail.
9. "1986 fixtures & results". Speedway Researcher.
10. (20 October 1986). "Speedway". Birmingham Mail.
11. (13 October 1986). "Speedway". Western Daily Press.
12. (26 August 1986). "Chris's final warning". Manchester Evening News.
13. (30 October 1986). "Bees:We had fight". Coventry Evening Telegraph.