Heat by Heat Results - June 1971

For the third season running, the Dukes were handed a Cup tie against Coventry, and Halifax made no mistake at the Shay to progress to the quarter finals.  The Bees were largely dependent on Nigel Boocock and Tony Lomas, but with all the Dukes (apart from Mackay) in the points, Halifax were able to hang on for the win.  Alan Jay, now at reserve after his recent poor run, was on new machinery, and seemed more on the pace, whilst Terry Lee had two solid heat wins.  A 5-1 from O'Neal and Younghusband in heat 12 finally saw the Dukes over the line.

The return of Chris Bailey saw the Dukes back to full-strength for the first time in 2 months, and Halifax took full advantage, disposing of a disappointing Wimbledon side, for whom only ex-World Champion Moore offered any resistance.  The result was never in doubt from the moment Terry Lee and Bailey hit the front in heat 2, and apart from a 5-1 reverse in heat 5, the heat wins kept coming.  Moore inflicted Boocock and Younghusband's only defeats of the night, but the Dukes were otherwise totally dominant on a heavy track, following a downpour at 6.30pm!

To fill an open date in the calendar, Halifax staged their first ever four-team tournament, mirroring the format of the World Team Cup.  Unfortunately, most of the Dukes had a night to forget, often missing the start, and with many of the visitors getting used to track conditions better than the home stars.  With Halifax out of contention, the match went down to the final race, with the other three sides all tied on 25 points.  John Boulger saw off Hunter and Haley in the decider to take the victory on a night of good racing - just not much of it involving the Dukes...

Halifax made light work of the Dons at the Shay 2 weeks earlier, but in South London, the outcome was very different.  Moore and Hedge were both unbeaten for the hosts, whilst several Dukes incurred the wrath of the referee and were excluded for tapes offences.  Eric Boocock continued his blip, down on power, and it was left to reserve Alan Jay to lead the fight - he scored 7 of the Dukes' 9 points from the first 4 races!  Halifax's night was summed up in heat 9 - Bailey was tactical subbed by O'Neal, but Boocock broke the tapes and was replaced by Bailey!

Denmark's Ole Olsen sent out a message regarding his World Championship intentions with a crushing victory in the 1971 Dews Trophy.  Olsen was simply in another class, winning each of his races at ease.  Even Eric Boocock was powerless to prevent Olsen taking the trophy - the deciding heat 20 going the same way for Olsen as previously.  Boocock, relieved of the recent mechanical gremlins, had to work for his points, often coming from the back.  Wimbledon star Ronnie Moore continued his recent form by picking up third place.

The Dukes were completely outclassed at Wembley, with only Boocock and Younghusband having much to say about proceedings.  In their absence, the bottom of the Halifax side was brutally exposed, with Bailey and Lee pointless, and Kentwell and O'Neal only beating an opponent when Nordin stopped whilst leading heat 7.  The Lions cruised to seven 5-1s (it would have been eight if Nordin had not stopped), whilst the Dukes could only manage a pair of 4-2s mid-meeting, both involving Boocock.