Heat by Heat Results - May 1979

If the Dukes had designs on challenging Coventry for the league title, they were dismissed at the start of May, as the league champions stole the league points in a match in which they never trailed. Mike Lohmann was again absent in Denmark, and with the frailties at the foot of the team, Halifax were always struggling to keep up - with the Bees' Shirra and Molyneux leading the visitors to the win. Even a relatively poor night for Ole Olsen couldn't help - his only win came when he combined with Knudsen in heat 5 to take the Bees 8 points ahead. Klaus Lohmann was in the wars - injured when brought down by Guglielmi in heat 7. Although he rode again in heat 8, he was replaced in his final ride.

Halifax continued their league campaign with a comfortable, although never convincing win, over Birmingham. Although Mike Lohmann was back, it was the turn of Tormod Langli to return home for a World Championship qualifying round - and Bruce Cribb guested. The meeting was noteworthy for the first ever full maximum for teenager Kenny Carter - partnering Lohmann at number 2, Carter made 4 perfect starts, with Billy Sanders and Ray Wilson unable to get near him. With Cartwright adding a solid 11 points after a surprise loss to Herne first time out, the result was never in doubt.

Halifax travelled to Hull for the first leg of the Inter-League 4TT hoping to gain a foothold in the match and gain a place in finals day at Sheffield - but the Vikings had other ideas - as they completely overwhelmed the opposition. The Vikings only dropped a single point - when Mike Lohmann headed Bobby Beaton - and although Halifax were the best of the rest, the feeling already was that the Vikings would be heading to the final. A Duke was often second home, and that eased them into second place, 12 clear of a disappointing Sheffield, and an out-classed Newcastle. The only hope for the rest was that Mauger and company were less happy away from the Boulevard...

The second leg at The Shay saw Halifax claw back 10 points from Hull - but ended up losing on the night to a resurgent Sheffield. With Mike Lohmann riding for Denmark in the test match v England in Vojens, Halifax shuffled the pack, with Carter coming in to score 10 points, to back up maximum man Cartwright. Sheffield took advantage of the lack of Lohmann, and Mauger for the Vikings, to grab the win on the night, and give themselves just a glimmer of hope of making the finals on their own track. Their top 3 of Wyer, Wilson and Pendlebury only dropped 5 points all night. Once again, Newcastle were out of their depth, scoring points in only 4 races.

The Dukes gave themselves a fighting chance of making finals day, as they reduced Hull's lead to just 3 points, with only the Newcastle leg to come. Hosts Sheffield also gave themselves a chance, edging the Dukes on the night, to close within 11 of the Vikings. Hero for the Dukes was a returning Mike Lohmann, who was unbeaten after being headed by Reg Wilson first time out. Were it not for an engine failure for Mick McKeon, Halifax would probably have stolen the win on the night and would have gone to Brough Park for the final leg in the lead...

Skipper Ian Cartwright failed to arrive at Swindon, and the Dukes went down by 2 points in a thriller at Swindon. There seemed little for the Robins to worry about as they opened up a 10 point lead early on, but Lohmann snr, Carter and Langli kept plugging away, and consecutive 5-1s for the Dukes in heats 11 and 12 geve them the chance of an unlikely result. And when Phil Crump fell for a second time in the match, hopes were raised. But veteran Martin Ashby at reserve saw the hosts home as he headed Lohmann and McKeon to complete his maximum. The Dukes managed to cover 3 of Cartwright's 4 outings with tactical substitutions, but were left to consider what might have been...

Halifax ended May with a 4 point win over local rivals Sheffield in a challenge match at The Shay. The match was close throughout, with the Dukes finally pulling away courtesy of a heat 11 5-1 from Cartwright and Klaus Lohmann, who scored his best figures for Halifax so far. Ian Cartwright was excluded for unfair riding in heat 13 after colliding with former Duke Eric Broadbelt, who was unable to take his place in the re-run. Otherwise, the meeting was a personal duel between Mike Lohmann and Reg Wilson, with each defeating the other on the way to 11 points. Lohmann had the final word, winning the second half final, whilst Wilson failed to finish.