Heat by Heat Results - July 1969

The Dukes entered the second half of the season with a heavy defeat away at Wimbledon.  Already lacking Younghusband, Halifax now found themselves without Sharpe again, and with Jay absent with his leg injury from the Dairy Festival, the Dukes were forced to call up Ian Bottomley, and Reading reserve rider Bob Tabet at short notice.  Predictably, the Dukes slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season, with only fleeting resistance from Boocock, Kentwell and guest Colin Pratt.

Halifax returned to winning ways in the Knock-out Cup third round with an impressive win over Coventry.  The Dukes welcomed back Dave Younghusband and Alan Jay, and were rewarded for an all-round team performance, as opposed to a 2-rider Bees side.  Boocock rattled off yet another maximum, defeating brother Nigel 3 times in the process.  Kentwell was only denied his own maximum when breaking the tapes in the final race, although Jay was hampered by the stitches in his leg injury.  Eric defeated brother Nigel for a 4th time in a thrilling Silver Sash race after the match.

With Alan Jay back on the injured list, Halifax overcame a disappointing Sheffield side courtesy of maximums from Boocock and Younghusband.  The result was never in any doubt once Boocock combined with the returning Sharpe for a 5-1 in heat 6. Kentwell then produced two heat advantages with Gavros and Younghusband to take the tie away from the Tigers.  Remarkably, Boocock relinquished the Silver Sash to Jim Airey, with the Sheffield number 1 equalling the Shay track record after the interval.

The Dukes were again under-strength on the road, with Sharpe absent again, and the result was a predictable defeat to the Poole Pirates. Boocock carried the side, with support from a gutsy Kentwell, but the rest of the Dukes offered little.  Boocock rattled off 4 victories, but was also well beaten by Mudge in heat 1 and Smith in the final heat, with the outcome academic.  Dave Younghusband struggled for 3 points, and withdrew from his final outing.

A sensational 5-1 from Greg Kentwell and Dave Younghusband in heat 12 set up an unlikely last-heat decider at Brandon, but ultimately Nigel Boocock saw the Bees home in a thriller.  Kentwell kept the Dukes in contention with 3 superb wins, but had no answer to the elder Boocock, who stormed to a 15 point maximum to spare the blushes of his team-mates.  Kentwell was well supported by Boocock and Younghusband, but the Dukes were left to rue an exclusion for Gavros in heat 11, when first-bend bunching would have been a fairer outcome.

Halifax saw out the month of July with victory in a challenge match against Leicester.  The Dukes were getting back to full strength, and the meeting was a useful evening for Jay and Sharpe in particular to get some laps after recent absences.  Boocock and Younghusband were impressive as usual, whilst the top 3 Lions kept the meeting close throughout.  The Shay track was overly dusty, following earlier forecasts of rain, the track was un-watered, and the conditions kept the scores close.