1964 Speedway National League
The 1964 National League was the nineteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain, but the final season of the National League being the highest tier.[1]
League | National League |
---|---|
Season | 1964 |
Champions | Oxford Cheetahs |
No. of competitors | 7 |
National Trophy | Oxford Cheetahs |
Division/s below | 1964 Provincial League |
Summary
West Ham Hammers returned after a nine-year absence but the league stayed at seven competitors with the withdrawal of Southampton Saints. Oxford Cheetahs, who had finished bottom of the table in 1963, rose spectacularly up the league to win the title, a repeat of the feat they had accomplished at a lower level in 1950[2]
Final table
Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
Oxford Cheetahs | 12 | 9 | 0 | 3 | 18 |
Coventry Bees | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
Norwich Stars | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Belle Vue Aces | 12 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 11 |
Swindon Robins | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
Wimbledon Dons | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 9 |
West Ham Hammers | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 8 |
On account of the small number of teams in the league meeting each other only once home and away, the Britannia Shield was run in a league format. Oxford Cheetahs came out on top.
Britannia Shield table
Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
Oxford Cheetahs | 12 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 17 |
Coventry Bees | 12 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 16 |
Belle Vue Aces | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Swindon Robins | 12 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Norwich Stars | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Wimbledon Dons | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
West Ham Hammers | 12 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 7 |
Top Ten Riders (League only)
Rider | Nat | Team | C.M.A. | |
1 | Ove Fundin | Norwich Stars | 10.71 | |
2 | Göte Nordin | Wimbledon Dons | 10.62 | |
3 | Barry Briggs | Swindon Robins | 10.51 | |
4 | Nigel Boocock | Coventry Bees | 10.44 | |
5 | Ken McKinlay | Coventry Bees | 9.92 | |
6 | Ron How | Oxford Cheetahs | 9.84 | |
7 | Mike Broadbank | Swindon Robins | 9.80 | |
8 | Sören Sjösten | Belle Vue Aces | 9.62 | |
9 | Björn Knutsson | West Ham Hammers | 9.16 | |
10 | Dick Fisher | Belle Vue Aces | 8.77 |
National Trophy
The 1964 National Trophy was the 26th edition of the Knockout Cup. Oxford were the winners.[4]
First Round
Date | Team One | Score | Team Two |
---|---|---|---|
03/07 | Norwich | 47-36 | Oxford |
25/06 | Oxford | 48-36 | Norwich |
13/06 | Coventry | 43-41 | West Ham |
09/06 | West Ham | 45-39 | Coventry |
17/08 | Wimbledon | 46-38 | Swindon |
08/08 | Swindon | 51-33 | Wimbledon |
Semi Finals
Date | Team One | Score | Team Two |
---|---|---|---|
08/08 | Belle Vue | 32a-28a | Oxford |
12/09 | Belle Vue | 46-38 | Oxford |
06/08 | Oxford | 49-35 | Belle Vue |
05/09 | Swindon | 43-41 | West Ham |
? | West Ham | ? | Swindon |
a=abandoned after 10 heats
Final
Date | Team One | Score | Team Two |
---|---|---|---|
22/09 | West Ham | 52-32 | Oxford |
24/09 | Oxford | 53-31 | West Ham |
References
- "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
- "League Tables".
- "Rider Averages" (PDF).
- "1964 National Trophy". Speedway archive.