Heat by Heat Results - August 1968

Halifax's round of the Northern Riders Championship for 1968 turned into a 3-way tussle between Eric Boocock and the Newcastle pairing of Mauger and Olsen.  Mauger drew first blood with a defeat of his team-mate in heat 8, but Olsen bounced straight back to defeat Boocock a race later, after the Dukes number 1 had won his first 2 heats.  Boocock knew he had to defeat Mauger in heat 19 to force a 3-man run-off for first place, and duly did just that, but Mauger had the last word, pushing the home favourite into second place in the decider.  Dave Younghusband was scheduled to make his return, but was a late withdrawal.

The Dukes overcame rivals Belle Vue in a surprisingly one-sided challenge match, topping the 50 point mark once again.  Eric Boocock was unbeaten, and there was a paid maximum return for Younghusband after several weeks out through illness. With Boothroyd, Kentwell and Gavros all in the points, the result was never in doubt, the ex-Duke Tommy Roper being the main threat for the Aces.  

 A full-strength Dukes slipped to a disappointing defeat at King's Lynn in a match they could and should have won. Greg Kentwell and Dave Younghusband combined for a 5-1 in heat 7, and Halifax were 6 in front and confident.  But inspired by Howard Cole, the Stars rallied to win 5 of the remaining 6 heats, including a last race 5-1 over Kentwell (who fell and remounted) and Boothroyd to make the victory safe.  Boocock, Younghusband and Gavros all faded as the night went on, with Younghusband still struggling for fitness after his recent absence.  

The Dukes' curious form of 1968 continued with a struggle to overcome bottom of the table Poole Pirates.  Sharpe was again troubled by hay-fever, and Gavros was totally out of touch, only weeks after his maximum against King's Lynn.  The Pirates had Odd Fossengen to thank for keeping then in the tie, with victories over Boothroyd and Boocock spoiling their maximums.  Poole were largely content to pack the minor places, managing to share 6 races, and a 5-1 from Cribb and Fossengen in heat 8 had the Dukes looking over their shoulder.  Ultimately, a 5-1 from Boothroyd and Kentwell in heat 12 saw the Dukes home.

The Dukes travelled to Wolverhampton minus Eric Boocock, on his way to Poland for the European Final, and were predictably torn apart.  Only Dave Younghusband stood between a complete whitewash as Sharpe, Boothroyd, Kentwell and Jameson failed to beat a home rider all night.  Younghusband's efforts aside, only a second place from Maury Robinson and Dennis Gavros stopped the Wolves from an even bigger score, as Halifax succumbed to their second-heaviest defeat of the season.  Surprisingly, no home rider managed to score a maximum, largely due to the efforts of Younghusband.

Halifax were made to fight for the win against a stubborn Exeter side, seeking to take advantage of Eric Boocock's absence.  Younghusband was unbeaten, and was finely supported by Kentwell, who was only denied his own maximum by Neil Street in heat 12.  It was an off-night for Eric Boothroyd who struggled for his 5 points, whilst Robinson was inconsistent - a fine win in heat 5 offset by 3 last places. The final scoreline was made more comfortable with Younghusband taking 5-1s in heats 11 and 13 with Sharpe and Boothroyd respectively.

Halifax reached the end of August with a lacklustre display at Coventry.  The Dukes had no answer to the Bees Kasper, who eased to a maximum, with the returning Boocock failing to win a race, and only Dave Younghusband keeping otherwise keeping the scoreline respectable.  Younghusband inflicted a rare defeat on Nigel Boocock in heat one, and combined with the Dukes' own Boocock for their only heat advantages in heats 5 and 9, but with Gavros and Sharpe out of touch, the outcome was always going to be a comfortable home win, leaving the Dukes in a mid-table 8th place.