Heat by Heat Results - July 1968

Dave Younghusband continued his fine form of the summer with victory in a quality field in the Dairy Festival Trophy.  With Eric Boocock again in action for Great Britain against the Russians at Belle Vue, Younghusband took advantage, and 4 straight wins left him needing 2 points or to beat Mauger in heat 19 to take the trophy - which he duly did.  Eric Boothroyd was the best of the rest of the Dukes, with Kentwell, Gavros, and a returning Alan Jay having a night of mixed fortunes.

The Dukes went down to a 7 point defeat at West Ham despite a 14 point haul from Eric Boocock.  Halifax started strongly, taking advantage of a nasty crash for Norman Hunter which ruled the Hammers number 1 out of the rest of the match.  But Harrfeldt set the tone in heat 2, equalling the track record as Younghusband was left trailing.  It was a frustrating night for Younghusband who failed to win a heat, after his recent fine form.  Gavros was also in the wars after a separate heat 1 fall, and withdrew from the meeting after his third outing.

Halifax swept aside a one-man Wimbledon to register 50 points in consecutive home matches.  Boocock was a class-apart with a 12 point maximum, but all the Dukes, bar Bob Jameson had big scores, with Robinson at reserve also unbeaten from his two races.  Only the efforts of Olle Nygren prevented a complete humiliation for the Dons, with Trevor Hedge troubled all night with mechanical issues.  Eric Boocock then relieved Hedge of his Silver Sash match-race title in the second half.

With Eric Boocock once again being required to ride for Great Britain against Poland at Poole, the Dukes were further hampered when Dave Younghusband was struck down by a virus.  Jim Airey was called up as a guest, and saved Halifax from a complete demolition at Belle Vue, with the Wolverhampton guest and Boothroyd scoring all but 6 of the Dukes points.  Sjosten was unbeaten for the Aces as a succession of heat wins eased them clear early on.  Airey managed Halifax's only heat wins of the night but was powerless to stop Sjosten in their clashes.

Halifax survived a tough encounter against a dogged King's Lynn, courtesy of an inspired Dennis Gavros full maximum.  Gavros formed an unbeatable partnership with Eric Boothroyd, the skipper content to team-ride his partner to three 5-1s, and then repeat the feat with the excellent guest Ken McKinlay in the final race.  With Boocock away on international duty, and Younghusband still unwell, the Dukes struggled to put the Stars away, the partnership of Robinson and Jameson coming in for particular attention from the visitors, as King's Lynn kept it close until late on.  The Dukes were now up to 4th in the League table.

Oxford exacted revenge on Halifax on a brutal night for the Dukes.  With Younghusband still absent, Halifax chose to give Les Sharpe his return, and his 5 points was a bright spot on an otherwise difficult night.  Both Boocock and Boothroyd struggled, managing only one heat win each, and Kentwell was ruled out after a heat 3 tumble.  With Gavros, Robinson and Jameson all out of the points, the result was inevitable, with a 5-1 for Boothroyd and Boocock in heat 5 being the only real positive.  Boocock did at least manage to cling onto his Silver Sash title after defeating Rick Timmo in their second half race.

Halifax were grateful to a superb 15 point maximum from Eric Boocock to ultimately preserve their home unbeaten record against Newcastle Diamonds.  Aside from a Gavros victory in heat 8, the other Dukes were unable to win races, as Mauger, Olsen and Watkin kept the Diamonds in contention, and a Mauger/Jay 5-1 in heat 12 set up a nervy finish.  Boocock took the win in the decider, ahead of Olsen, with the Diamonds ruing a tapes exclusion for the Dane in heat 5 when he was teaming up with Mauger.  Boocock lost his Silver Sash title to Mauger in the second half.