Heat by Heat Results - April 1969

Halifax slipped to a 12 point challenge match defeat at Sheffield with the main damage being done in the final 6 races.  The Dukes led early on after successive heat wins for Boocock, Jay and Younghusband but then things started to go wrong.  Sharpe blew the motor in his only bike in heat 3, and had to withdraw from the rest of the meeting, and Kentwell incurred the wrath of the referee at the start of heat 4.  Younghusband faded after a bright start, not fully fit after a bout of tonsilitis, whilst Pander, having to take extra rides due to Sharpe's absence, failed to register a point.  Boocock was good value for his 11 points, whilst Jay was impressive at his former track.

The Dukes travelled to Belle Vue for a Good Friday afternoon meeting, and were again left to rely on Eric Boocock and Alan Jay, going down by 9 points.  With Sharpe unavailable following his misfortunes the previous night, Bob Jameson was drafted in, but faired little better, failing to complete 4 laps.  The mechanical issues also ended Greg Kentwell's afternoon, following a dropped valve in heat 6.  Additionally, and somewhat worryingly, Arne Pander failed to score again, pulling up in both his outings before failing to appear for heat 8. Alan Jay had the ride of the night, beating new Aces number 1 and World Champion Ivan Mauger for his only defeat of the night. 

Halifax quickly gained revenge over Sheffield with an opening night victory, sealing an aggregate win over the Tigers with a last heat 5-1.  Eric Boocock was in irresistable form, knocking 0.4 seconds from his own track record in heat 1, and then matching the time 5 races later.  Dave Younghusband looked more like himself, dropping a single point to Haley, and equalling the old track record himself in heat 3.  There were solid contributions from Kentwell, Jay and Gavros, and Pander was finally in the points with a couple of third places.

The Dukes' busy Easter schedule concluded with another home win and aggregate success, this time over Belle Vue.  It was an all-round team effort from Halifax, who took advantage of the heats not involving the unbeatable Mauger or Sjosten.  Mauger equalled Boocock's 2-day old track record in heat 1, and was never headed all night.  But the Aces relied too heavily on their top two, and Halifax scored valuable 5-1s in heats 2, 4 and 8, with reserves Jay and Pander being involved.  Pander was finally looking like being more on the pace and teamed up well with Jay and Gavros in his winning heats.

After two promising challenge match victories, the Dukes got their home league campaign off to a flying start with a convincing 12 point defeat of Wolverhampton.  Eric Boocock took a predictable maximum, with excellent support from Younghusband, Gavros and Jay.  Les Sharpe and Greg Kentwell were still struggling after their recent mechanical issues, but there was more promise from Pander at reserve, with another 5-1 in the reserve race with Jay and a defeat of Handley in heat 8. Wolves were largely dependant on Norman Hunter, with the top scorer unsuccessfully challenging Boocock in the second half for the Silver Sash title.

Halifax went down to a 4 point defeat at Oxford on a night of controvery and acrimony at Cowley.  The Dukes rode under protest after the referee refused to rule the Cheetahs Rick Timmo should not have been allowed to line up at reserve.  Timmo's contribution of 12 points was crucial in the end result, with Boocock, Younghusband and a resurgent Pander ultimately falling short on the night.  It was a tough night for Les Sharpe and Greg Kentwell though.  Following the defeat, Boocock lost his Silver Sash title to Colin Gooddy, but worse was to follow, as Pander crashed heavily in his second half race, and was taken to hospital...

Clearly agrieved by the events at Cowley 48 hours earlier, the Dukes took out their revenge on Oxford with a humiliation of the visitors, for whom no rider could score more than 4 points!  Boocock and Younghusband took full maximums, with Gavros enjoying his best night of the season so far, also unbeaten.  Greg Kentwell's only blemish of the night was a tapes exclusion, whilst reserves Jameson and Sharpe were far too good for their counterparts. To cap a satisfying night, Eric Boocock quickly re-claimed his Silver Sash title, comfortably beating Colin Gooddy.

Halifax picked up a win on the rode at the second attempt.  After their struggles at Swindon on opening night, this time the Dukes made no mistake at Wolverhampton, leading from the very first race, and never letting the hosts back into the tie.  Boocock, Jay and Younghusband all took 2 wins each, and with Gavros also in the points, Wolves lack of back-up to the impressive Hunter was made to pay.  With Wolves hanging on, the 5-1 from Gavros and Boocock in heat 11took the Dukes out of reach.  Boocock relinquished the Silver Sash to Norman Hunter after the interval.

Two years earlier, Jim Airey was the surprise winner of the Dews Trophy, but Airey had since made himself a Shay track specialist, and took the 1969 title with a blistering 15 point maximum.  All eyes looked to heat 19 and his clash with Eric Boocock and Charlie Monk as the race which would decide the destiny of the trophy, although Boocock's chances had not been helped by a shock defeat by Les Sharpe 3 races earlier.  A Boocock win would have forced a run-off for the title, but Airey was not to be denied.  Boocock defeated Charlie Monk in the run-off for second place, after Monk came third in the decisive heat 19, having previously been unbeaten!

An impressive April for the Dukes was concluded with another away point, with a draw at West Ham.  The Hammers will point to the absence of Harrfeldt, whose rider replacement rides netted just 6 points, as a major factor in their failure to win the tie, but solid scoring from Boocock (a maximum) and both Younghusband and Jay contributed to the Dukes' success. Boocock and Jay rescued the tie from 8 points down, with a 5-1 in heat 11 and a 4-2 in the final race earning the Dukes the draw.  Equally as vital was the 5-1 from reserves Jameson and Sharpe in heat 2, which put Halifax into an early lead.