Heat by Heat Results - October 1978

The Dukes hit the final month of a long, hard season still with the chance of some silverware as they took on Hull for the Yorkshire Cup.  But a meagre 4 point advantage from the first leg left them a lot to do to retain the trophy.  With Klaus Lohmann away in Denmark for the Danish Long-Track final, and Broadbelt out injured again, Halifax called up Trevor Geer and Dave Allen, but it was Mick McKeon who was the star of the meeting with his best performance since June.  Ian Cartwright was unbeaten apart from a first outing tapes exclusion, whilst Mike Lohmann and Kenny Carter also got stuck in - but the grip on the Yorkshire Cup was definitely weakened...

With only a 4 point lead to defend, the Dukes never really held much hope of hanging onto the Yorkshire Cup, and with that lead gone after only 3 heats, Halifax slipped to overall defeat.  Cartwright and Carter grabbed 2 wins each, but with Klaus Lohmann and Pusey not making any impression, the outcome was inevitable.  Stoke's Ian Robertson and Middlesbrough's Steve Wilcock helped out in the absence of Graham, McKeon and Broadbelt, and the Dukes management were impressed with the efforts of Wilcock, with half an eye on the following season.

Halifax completed their league campaign with the re-arranged meeting against Exeter.  Mike Lohmann and Ian Cartwright had carried the Dukes for most of the season, so it was fitting that the new Dukes top two were the top scorers, as they eventually overcame the Falcons after a shaky start.  Kenny Carter continued to impress with another 6 points and looked set to have a big part to play in the future.  Former Duke Andy Cusworth's brother Martyn of Middlesbrough filled in at the bottom of the team, but failed to make an impression.

A Dukes side including guest Jimmy McMillan came a distant third in a four-team tournament at Sheffield, with the hosts seeing off Hull after a close battle.  With the Lohmann brothers riding for Denmark in a re-arranged Test Match against National League GB at Middlesbrough, it was down to McMillan and Ian Cartwright to keep the Dukes in the hunt, but with Pusey having another off-night, and Carter having rare struggles, Halifax were battling for 3rd place with Leicester, but Titman and Godal could only get 3 points from their final outing to finish a point behind the Dukes.

The 1978 Autumn Classic was won by Sheffield's Reg Wilson after an evening of exciting racing.  Ian Cartwright finished on 13 points, but Wilson and Jimmy McMillan both knew a win in heat 20 would give them the trophy, and it was Wilson who took the honours.  World number 5 Rembas won his last 2 races to finish on 11 points, with Alan Molyneux, Dave Morton and the Dukes' Chris Pusey all ending up on 10 points.  Klaus Lohmann and Alan Stansfield were late replacements for Chris Morton and Tom Godal.

Halifax defeated Sheffield, Hull and Belle Vue to win the season-ending Northern Fours with strong performances from Cartwright, Lohmann and Carter.  With Peter Collins absent for the Aces, having already accepted a booking to ride in the Pride of the East at King's Lynn, Klaus Lohmann guested for Belle Vue as all 5 remaining/fit Dukes got track time.  Halifax won despite the efforts of Sheffield's top two Wyer and Wilson, the latter carrying on from his performance in the Autumn Classic the previous week.  Ivan Mauger was also at King's Lynn, so Hull were weakened, and promoter Eric Boothroyd was unhappy that the two former World Champions were not on show as the season came to an end.