1971 British League season


The 1971 British League season was the 37th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the seventh season known as the British League.

Summary

Reading Racers moved up from Division 2 after taking the Newcastle Diamonds division 1 licence. Belle Vue Aces retained their title to become the first team to win the title for the second time. The team included three time world champion Ivan Mauger, Swedish international Sören Sjösten, Tommy Roper, Eric Broadbelt, Chris Pusey and a 17 year old Peter Collins in his debut season.

Final table

M = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Total Points

British League Knockout Cup

The 1971 Speedway Star British League Knockout Cup was the 33rd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams. Hackney were the winners.
First round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
08/05 Halifax49–29West Ham
08/05 Swindon43–35Wimbledon
06/05 Oxford46–32Poole

Second round
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
25/06 Wolverhampton43–35Belle Vue
21/06 Reading38–40Cradley Heath
17/06 Oxford39–38Exeter
12/06 King's Lynn46–32Newport
11/06 Glasgow43–34Leicester
10/06 Sheffield48–30Wembley
05/06 Halifax42–36Coventry
05/06 Swindon 36–42Hackney

Quarter-finals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
14/08 Halifax 43–35Sheffield
06/08 Wolverhampton45–32Oxford
31/07 King's Lynn39–39Hackney
31/07 Cradley Heath40–38Glasgow
03/09 Hackney49–29King's Lynn

Semi-finals
DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
17/09Hackney50–27Halifax
06/09 Cradley Heath50–28Wolverhampton

Final

First leg
Second leg
Hackney Hawks were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 88-68.

Riders' Championship

Ivan Mauger won the British League Riders' Championship, held at Hyde Road on 16 October.
Pos.RiderHeat ScoresTotal
1

London Cup

Hackney won the London Cup for only the second time, after previously winning it back in 1936.
PosTeamPWDLFAPts
1Hackney Hawks44001771358
2West Ham Hammers41031561562
3Wimbledon Dons41031351772

Midland Cup

Coventry won the Midland Cup for the third consecutive year. The competition consisted of six teams.
First round
Team oneTeam twoScore
WolverhamptonSwindon41–36, 41–35
OxfordCradley38–40, 33–45

Semi final round
Team oneTeam twoScore
LeicesterWolverhampton41–37, 42–36
CradleyCoventry33–45, 27–51

Final
First leg
Second leg
Coventry won on aggregate '''82–74'''

Riders and final averages

Belle Vue
  • 11.33
  • 9.11
  • 7.14
  • 7.01
  • 6.97
  • 6.36
  • 6.30
  • 5.27
  • 4.74
  • 4.50
Coventry
  • 9.95
  • 7.81
  • 7.66
  • 6.16
  • 5.91
  • 5.59
  • 5.07
Cradley Heath
  • 9.68
  • 7.73
  • 7.25
  • 6.00
  • 5.57
  • 4.66
  • 4.25
  • 3.60
  • 2.10
  • 1.54
Exeter
  • 8.92
  • 8.87
  • 6.42
  • 5.94
  • 5.28
  • 5.10
  • 4.42
  • 4.10
Glasgow
  • 9.18
  • 8.29
  • 7.27
  • 6.99
  • 4.80
  • 4.69
  • 3.46
Hackney
  • 10.26
  • 8.97
  • 7.28
  • 5.44
  • 4.88
  • 4.81
  • 4.65
  • 4.49
  • 4.36
  • 4.00
Halifax
  • 10.19
  • 8.80
  • 6.11
  • 6.09
  • 5.01
  • 4.56
  • 4.46
  • 4.24
  • 3.75
King's Lynn
  • 9.62
  • 9.22
  • 8.11
  • 5.49
  • 5.15
  • 4.93
  • 4.38
  • 3.91
  • 3.79
Leicester
  • 10.94
  • 8.99
  • 8.78
  • 5.47
  • 5.08
  • 4.88
  • 4.44
  • 3.33
Newport
  • 8.76
  • 8.03
  • 7.87
  • 7.24
  • 4.84
  • 4.53
  • 4.42
  • 4.38
  • 2.11
Oxford
  • 7.60
  • 6.98
  • 6.86
  • 6.77
  • 6.70
  • 6.55
  • 4.58
  • 3.89
  • 2.57
Poole
  • 9.10
  • 7.76
  • 7.76
  • 6.03
  • 6.01
  • 4.93
  • 3.14
Reading
  • 10.05
  • 7.74
  • 7.23
  • 6.74
  • 6.13
  • 5.25
  • 4.75
  • 3.30
Sheffield
  • 10.74
  • 7.58
  • 7.04
  • 6.60
  • 6.03
  • 5.92
  • 5.11
  • 4.60
Swindon
  • 10.67
  • 9.76
  • 6.63
  • 4.98
  • 4.78
  • 3.80
  • 3.79
  • 3.43
Wembley
  • 9.04
  • 8.28
  • 7.80
  • 7.43
  • 7.23
  • 5.72
  • 4.21
  • 1.33
West Ham
  • 8.73
  • 8.14
  • 6.51
  • 4.93
  • 4.44
  • 3.82
  • 3.66
  • 3.13
  • 2.98
Wimbledon
  • 9.89
  • 9.18
  • 6.25
  • 5.31
  • 5.13
  • 4.69
  • 4.19
Wolverhampton
  • 10.99
  • 7.61
  • 6.87
  • 6.56
  • 5.06
  • .4.97
  • 4.80
  • 4.75
  • 3.43
  • 2.67