1960 Speedway National League


The 1960 National League was the 26th season and the fifteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

Summary

The number of competitors increased from nine to ten with New Cross Rangers returning after a seven-year absence, Johnnie Hoskins persuaded Split Waterman and Eric Williams to come out of retirement and also signed was double world champion Barry Briggs.
Ipswich Witches returned after one year away replacing Poole Pirates who moved down to the newly formed Provincial League.
Wimbledon Dons won their sixth title in just seven years. The Dons also won the Knockout Cup, while Belle Vue claimed the Britannia Shield and Coventry were Midland Cup winners.
Derek 'Tink' Maynard of the Belle Vue Aces was fatally injured in a crash at The Firs Stadium, on 23 July 1960. Maynard was competing in the second leg of the National Trophy against Norwich when Slant Payling lost control of his bike and it hit Maynard. Both riders were taken to Norwich Hospital but Maynard died the following morning.

National Trophy

The 1960 National Trophy was the 22nd edition of the Knockout Cup. Wimbledon were the winners.
First round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
17/05 Southampton55-53Oxford
12/05 Oxford54-54Southampton
06/05 Leicester52-56Ipswich
05/05 Ipswich64-44Leicester

Second round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
29/06 New Cross61-46Norwich
27/06 Wimbledon73-34Coventry
25/06 Belle Vue71-37Ipswich
25/06 Coventry54-54Wimbledon
25/06 Norwich67-41New Cross
25/06 Swindon 66-42Southampton
23/06 Ipswich52-56Belle Vue
21/06 Southampton55-52Swindon

'''Semifinals'''

Final

First leg
Second leg
Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 115–101.

Britannia Shield

North
TeamPLWDLPts
Belle Vue880016
Leicester84048
Coventry73046
Oxford82064
Ipswich71062

South
TeamPLWDLPts
Wimbledon870114
Swindon84048
Norwich84048
Southampton84048
New Cross81072

North
South
+ match declared void
Final
Team oneTeam twoScores
Belle VueWimbledon56–34, 46–44

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup, which consisted of four teams.
First round
Team oneTeam twoScore
CoventrySwindon58–31, 32–58
OxfordLeicester45–45, 36–54

Final

First leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate '''92–87'''

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue
  • 10.75
  • 9.88
  • 8.00
  • 6.93
  • 6.67
  • 6.35
  • 4.92
  • 4.38
  • 4.36
  • 4.00
  • 3.90
  • 3.53
Coventry
  • 9.01
  • 8.31
  • 7.37
  • 6.60
  • 5.79
  • 5.63
  • 5.50
  • 5.13
  • 4.18
  • 3.60
Ipswich
  • 9.89
  • 6.86
  • 6.67
  • 6.00
  • 5.80
  • 5.60
  • 4.71
  • 4.50
  • 4.12
Leicester
  • 9.98
  • 8.25
  • 6.15
  • 5.97
  • 5.44
  • 5.07
  • 4.78
  • 4.31
  • 2.86
New Cross
  • 9.93
  • 9.33
  • 7.32
  • 6.08
  • 4.96
  • 3.74
  • 3.57
  • 3.43
  • 3.00
  • 2.93
Norwich
  • 11.41
  • 7.28
  • 6.58
  • 5.45
  • 5.33
  • 5.22
  • 5.07
  • 4.98
  • 4.64
  • 2.86
  • 0.00
Oxford
  • 10.06
  • 8.41
  • 7.95
  • 7.32
  • 5.53
  • 5.05
  • 4.92
  • 4.87
  • 4.67
  • 4.59
  • 2.44
Southampton
  • 10.08
  • 9.40
  • 8.71
  • 8.00
  • 6.61
  • 6.00
  • 5.75
  • 5.75
  • 3.91
  • 3.53
  • 0.62
  • injured after 2 matches
Swindon
  • 8.33
  • 8.00
  • 6.92
  • 6.85
  • 6.74
  • 4.68
  • 4.19
  • 3.60
  • 2.45
Wimbledon
  • 10.72
  • 9.36
  • 8.17
  • 6.84
  • 6.59
  • 6.35
  • 5.84
  • 2.89
  • 3.93