Heat by Heat Results - April 1966

The 1966 Halifax Dukes finally got underway on Easter Monday, with the visit to The Shay of local rivals Belle Vue.  For a challenge match, the fixture was keenly contested on a freezing cold night, with the Aces feeling somewhat aggrieved by some hard riding by the Dukes and a less-than understanding referee.  Each team had a bout of early-season mechanical issues, with Jameson and Roper hampered for the Dukes, whilst McGregor and Maidment particularly also had problems for the Aces.  Boocock and Younghusband eased to 12 point maximums, whilst debutant Kentwell impressed with his hard riding, despite hitting the deck in both his races.

The Dukes travelled to Wolverhampton, and it was a case of what might have been, as they slipped to a narrow 3 point defeat.  The outcome may well have been very different but for Boothroyd's fall whilst leading heat 6, and Younghusband's engine failure whilst well placed in heat 2.  Wolves' only two 5-1 wins of the night came in successive races in heats 8 and 9, and they proved crucial, with the efforts of Boocock and Younghusband in the final 4 races being in vain.  Boocock continued his unbeaten start to the season with an untroubled maximum but too many last places in the first half of the meeting cost the Dukes dear.

The weather threatened to de-rail the Dukes again, as heavy rain left the Shay track in a difficult condition.  Racing was at a premium, with riders being filled in with shale for much of the meeting.  Halifax were hampered by mechanical problems for Gavros, Roper and Kentwell which served to keep the 1965 Champions in contention, and ultimately serve up a last heat decider.  Arne Pander, guesting for the injured Sverre Harrfeldt, won his only race of the night in the decider, but Boothroyd and Boocock held their nerve to keep out young reserve Malcolm Simmons to seal the win.  Dave Younghusband was impressive with his 11 points, whilst Ken McKinlay was in impressive form for the Hammers, only dropping 1 point, and also winning the second half races.

Despite the efforts of the heat-leader trio, Halifax went down to a disappointing defeat at Brough Park.  They were hampered by the non-arrival of Dennis Gavros, who blew his engine earlier in the afternoon whilst trying to resolved the problems that affected him on the Saturday night.  Local second-halfer Derek Greaves filled in, but was out of contention.  Dave Younghusband was in a different class, but whilst he and Eric Boocock won 8 of the 13 heats, Roper, Jameson and Kentwell could only muster 2 points between them from 10 outings, whilst the all-round strength of the Diamonds kept them in control throughout.

The Dukes slipped to a last-heat defeat at Glasgow White City in a match they will feel they could and should have won.  Bert Kingston returned to the side upon his return from Australia, with Greg Kentwell dropping out, but he was unable to make much impact, with the heat-leader trio again carrying much of the load. Halifax lead early on, but things started to go wrong as early as heat 2, when first bend bunching lead to all 4 riders crashing.  Younghusband suffered a badly gashed leg, whilst both Dukes were shaken.  Kingston was then left with nowhere to go in heat 8 when well-placed, and that 5-1 to the Tigers set them on the way to a victory.  Halifax needed a 5-1 in the final race to draw, but Boocock could not find a way past Monk.  The evening was compounded by a heavy crash for Tommy Roper in the second half...

A poor week for the Dukes ended badly with a shock last-heat defeat at home to the Diamonds.  Halifax struggled throughout, but looked to have clawed their way back into the tie with successive heat wins in heats 11 and 12.  But Boocock was left at the start in the decider, and although Boothroyd passed both Brett and Mauger, the heat was drawn.  Several Dukes were in the wars, with Roper suffering a second heavy crash in 24 hours in heat 3, whilst Younghusband suffered an ankle injury when he came to grief in heat 10.  To his credit, he managed to win his remaining outing in heat 12 but the Dukes were unable to save themselves from slipping to defeat.