Heat by Heat Results - June 1968

After over a month with no home team fixture, Halifax finally took to the track again with an epic 6 point victory over eventual champions Coventry.  With Nigel Boocock and guest Charlie Monk (in for the injured Rick France) virtually unbeatable, the Dukes had to work for their points, and took full advantage of the heats where the Bees top two were not involved. It was Bob Jameson and Greg Kentwell who scored the 5-1 in heat 8 to open up the match, and the 4-2 for Monk and Cottrell in heat 11 proved too little for the Bees, as Halifax filled the minor places in the last 2 races to seal the win.

The Dukes grabbed a rare away win at Newcastle, albeit in a challenge match.  With Boocock, Mauger and Olsen all competing in the Internationale at Wimbledon (Boocock came 14th), the Diamonds booked Bert Harkins to guest, with each side promoting their own rider to fill the other vacancy.  Greg Kentwell took a nasty tumble in his first outing and withdrew from the rest of the meeting, but solid scoring from Younghusband, Boothroyd, Jameson and Jay saw the Dukes home, the latter teaming up with Maury Robinson for a final heat 4-2 to snatch the win in a match they never actually led!

With the home fixtures piling up after the May wash-out, Halifax staged a rare double-header.  First up was Glasgow, who were well beaten despite mechanical problems for Boocock and Robinson.  Greg Kentwell, showing no signs of his fall at Newcastle, was unbeaten from the reserve berth, and with Boothroyd and Younghusband scoring paid maximums, the result was never in doubt, despite some dogged resistance from Tigers guest Mudge.  Four consecutive 5-1s in the final four races made the scoreline appear a little more one-sided than the racing would suggest.

Somewhat frustratingly, the Dukes ran out of steam after a long night of racing, and threw away an 8 point lead to succumb to a draw against local rivals Sheffield.  There seemed to be no danger as Halifax surged 19-11 in front, but then things fell apart.  Younghusband, Kentwell and Jameson could not repeat their scoring from the Glasgow match, and with Sharpe, in for Robinson, failing to score, Sheffield edged their way back into the tie, with a Monk/Larsson 5-1 levelling the scores in heat 12.  The Dukes would still have expected to win heat 13, with Boocock and Boothroyd coming to the tapes, but Bob Paulson, impressive throughout, stole the victory and a share of the points.

Halifax picked up an increasingly rare away victory in a one-sided contest against a weak Glasgow Tigers outfit.  Both Younghusband and Boocock were unbeaten in their first 3 outings, and were only beaten with the win assured.  Boothroyd won the original running of heat 12 but the race was declared void by the referee, and Boothroyd was unable to return to the track due to a broken frame.  Both Jameson and Sharpe incurred the wrath of the referee with exclusions for tapes offences, but Alan Jay was also in form, with two impressive wins, as Halifax eased to the points.

The Shay staged a round of the inaugural World League, with Great Britain comfortable winners over a disappointing Sweden.  With Michanek and Fundin failing to win a race, the British spearhead of  Boocock, Mauger and Briggs dominated throughout, the Dukes star Boocock unbeaten by a Swede.  Dave Younghusband also showed his class around the Shay with 2 victories from his only outings at reserve.

Halifax travelled to South Wales minus Eric Boocock, away on international duty, and chose to promote Maury Robinson into the team to cover.  Les Sharpe was a late non-starter due to sever hay fever, and local junior Ian Bottomley was asked to fill in.  On track, it was a predictable struggle, although a fully-firing Younghusband would have made the scores closer.  Boothroyd led the Dukes well, with valuable support from Alan Jay, but the ties was effectively over after 10 heats.

The Dukes took quick revenge on the Wasps with a straight-forward victory the following night.  Dennis Gavros replaced Alan Jay, and was good value for his 5 points until mechanical issues set in.  Dave Younghusband was well worth his paid maximum, with Jameson, Kentwell and Boothroyd all having good nights.  With Boocock still with Great Britain (at Coatbridge), Halifax stuck with Maury Robinson who took a valuable win in heat 4, but Ian Bottomley failed to score again on his second outing in two nights. The win for the Dukes took them up to 7th in the league table.

Halifax saw out the month of June with a crushing victory over a poor Oxford side, hitting the 50 point mark for the 3rd time.  With Boothroyd affected by engine problems, it was Dennis Gavros who stole the show in only his second match back with a paid maximum.  With Younghusband (full) and Boocock (paid) also unbeaten, the Dukes provided the winners to all 13 heats with the match over as early as heat 8. For the Cheetahs, Genz and Reeves provided second places at a distance, as Halifax won with ease.  The bad news of the night was a fall in the second half for Les Sharpe, who suffered broken bones in a wrist injury, and would be sidelined for a further period of time.