1958 Speedway National League

The 1958 National League was the 24th season and the thirteenth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.[1]

1958 Speedway National League
LeagueNational League
No. of competitors10
ChampionsWimbledon Dons
National TrophyBelle Vue Aces
Highest averageOve Fundin

Summary

Bradford Tudors who had dropped out at the start of the previous season only to return in mid-season, had dropped out again along with the bottom side Rayleigh Rockets. Poole Pirates returned after a one-year absence. Wimbledon Dons won their fourth title in five years.[2][3][4]

Final table

PosTeamPLWDLPts
1Wimbledon Dons18122426
2Norwich Stars18120624
3Southampton Saints18110722
4Leicester Hunters18110722
5Belle Vue Aces18100820
6Swindon Robins18100820
7Coventry Bees1891819
8Oxford Cheetahs18521112
9Poole Pirates18601212
10Ipswich Witches1811163

Top Ten Riders (League only)

RiderNatTeamC.M.A.
1Ove Fundin Norwich11.60
2Peter Craven Belle Vue11.00
3Ken McKinlay Leicester10.82
4Barry Briggs Wimbledon10.43
5Brian Crutcher Southampton10.03
6Jack Young Coventry10.02
7Peter Moore Ipswich9.73
8Jack Biggs Poole9.69
9Ron How Wimbledon9.47
10Ronnie Moore Wimbledon9.09

National Trophy

The 1958 National Trophy was the 20th edition of the Knockout Cup. Belle Vue were the winners.[5]

First round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
30/05Leicester65-54Southampton
29/05Oxford58-61Poole
27/05Southampton84-36Leicester
26/05Poole60-60Oxford

Second round

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
03/07Ipswich42-77Swindon
30/06Poole49-71Belle Vue
30/06Wimbledon67-53Norwich
28/06Belle Vue80-40Poole
28/06Coventry57-63Southampton
28/06Norwich72-48Wimbledon
28/06Swindon78-42Ipswich
24/06Southampton78-42Coventry

Semifinals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
16/08Norwich69-51Swindon
12/08Southampton60-59Belle Vue
09/08Belle Vue77-43Southampton
09/08Swindon60-60Norwich

Final

First leg

Belle Vue Aces
Peter Craven 16
Ron Johnston 11
Dick Fisher 9
Eddie Rigg 8
Bob Duckworth 7
Bob McHugh 7
Slant Payling 6
Tink Maynard 4
Graham Beattie 4
Jack Kitchen 2
74 – 45Norwich Stars
Ove Fundin 16
Phil Clarke 8
Billy Bales 8
Aub Lawson 5
John Chamberlain 3
Clive Featherby 2
Dennis Newton 2
Jimmy Heard 1
Tommy Sweetman 0
Harry Edwards 0
[6]

Second leg

Norwich Stars
Ove Fundin 16
Billy Bales 10
Aub Lawson 5
Phil Clarke 4
Harry Edwards 4
John Chamberlain 8
Clive Featherby 4
Jimmy Heard 3
Tommy Sweetman 3
Dennis Newton 1
58 – 62Belle Vue Aces
Ron Johnston 10
Bob Duckworth 7
Peter Craven 15
Slant Payling 10
Dick Fisher 10
Tink Maynard 4
Eddie Rigg 2
Jack Kitchen 0
Graham Beattie 3
Bob McHugh 1
[6]

Belle Vue were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 136–103.

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

Coventry

Ipswich

Leicester

Norwich

Oxford

Poole

Southampton

Swindon

Wimbledon

See also

References