Heat by Heat Results - June 1976

Graham Plant was a popular home winner of the 1976 Dews Trophy, after he defeated Doug Wyer in a run-off after the Sheffield star fell.  Leicester's Ray Wilson picked up third place, a further point adrift.  Wilson had defeated Wyer in heat 19 to give Plant the chance to win.  Chris Pusey put his British Final disappointment to one side to score 10 points, but was left to rue missing the start in heat 7, which cost him a chance of a run-off too.  Reading's Dave Jessup was a late withdrawal after crashing at Hackney the previous night, so Steve Finch got some valuable experience against a class field.

Halifax travelled to Hull in the first round of the Knock-out Cup, and were defeated by 11 points, with the Vikings Joe Owen scoring a maximum, backed up by Barry Briggs with 11 points.  The Dukes took control early on, with Lohmann and Cartwright looking impressive in the reserve race, but they faded badly in the last 5 races, as Hull got themselves a lead to defend.  Graham Plant was involved in a rare dead-heat with Frank Auffret in heat 3, whilst Henny Kroeze was left battered and bruised after a spectacular fall in the final race.

Halifax only managed a 4 point win when Leicester visited the Shay in the Cup in March, so this was an improved performance, especially as the Dukes were without Kroeze after his crash at Hull.  Chris Pusey chalked up another maximum, with Graham Plant dropping a solitary point to Tony Lomas.  And there was a best-yet performance from Mike Lohmann, who would have scored even more but for a stoppage in heat 7.  Ray Wilson was his usual threat for the Lions and kept his side in contention until late.

The Dukes were held to a draw at the Shay after a controversial exclusion for unfair riding for Chris Pusey - after 12 had been completed!  Pusey thought he had secured second place after battling past Peter Prinsloo, but the Dukes were furious when the referee put of the exclusion light as the riders returned to the pits.  It left Plant and Kroeze to try and find a way to win the match in the final race, but Ivan Mauger made the start, and the Halifax pair had to be content to keep Holden at the back.  The Dukes management subsequently appealed the result to the Control Board.

The Dukes went down to another heavy defeat on the road, as they were outclassed by the Racers, for whom Jessup, Humphreys and Bell were all unbeaten.  Halifax had a rider excluded for unfair riding for the second consecutive meeting, when tactical substitute Plant was ruled out in heat 8, but this made little difference to the outcome.  Plant scored the Dukes' solitary heat win in heat 4, on his way to top scoring with 5 points. 

With the Intercontinental Final at Wembley the night before, Halifax made sure of their passage to the second round of the cup on a rare Sunday fixture, after clawing back the 11 point deficit to see off the Vikings.  Henny Kroeze led the way with 11 points, denied a maximum in the last heat by Hull guest, world finalist Wyer, in for Briggs.  Graham Plant was also unbeaten but had mechanical issues before his final ride, whilst Mike Lohmann continued to show improvement.  The tie was still in the balance going into heat 12, but Pusey and Monk's 5-1 finally saw the Dukes over the line.