Heat by Heat Results - September 1980

September got underway with a trip to Newcastle, in a 4-team tournament - including the hosts, Hull and Berwick. The top four Dukes, on paper, looked to be a match for the top four Vikings, but as it transpired, Hull, courtesy of Mauger and Sigalos, eased to victory, whilst Halifax stuttered into a battle for second with Berwick and Newcastle, which they ultimately lost to the Bandits. The Dukes could only win 2 races all night, Carter the only rider to beat Sigalos, with Janke also claiming a win - but too many 3rd places resulted in just that - third.

World Final Night! With the qualifiers (including Nielsen for Wolves) battling it out in Gothenburg, the Dukes travelled to Monmore Green for their league match. Guest Bastable won heat 1 for the hosts, but two successive 5-1s for the Dukes put them 8 in front, and a surprise away victory suddenly looked a possibility... until the lights went out. A local power failure resulted in the power to the stadium being lost - and with no expectation of a restoration, the meeting was abandoned, to be restaged...

The Dukes bounced back from their abandonment at Wolverhampton the previous night with a demolition of Eastbourne - the biggest win of the season. Halifax were unstoppable, running only 2 last places all night, and running out convincing winners. Cartwright was unbeaten by an Eagle, with Carter and McKeon only headed by impressive guest Jimmy McMillan in heat 1. But when his engine gave out in heat 13, it gave the Dukes their 8th successive heat advantage, as they topped the 50-point mark for the second time in 1980.

The Dukes travelled to National League Scunthorpe for an inter-league 4TT on the Sunday after their Eastbourne success. The home side, featuring guests and loan-ees eased to victory, whilst a Carter-less Dukes side were a comfortable second. Australians Janke and McKeon were the best riders on show, rattling off 5 wins between them for 20 from a possible 24. Cartwright contributed a useful 6 points, but Westwell was unable to beat an opponent, his only point coming in a 3-man race.

The Dukes returned to league action with a comfortable, although never convincing, win over the Witches. On a misty evening, and on a damp track, Halifax pulled away mid-meeting, and the 10 point victory would have been more but for Carter's stoppage in heat 13, denying his maximum. Cartwright only dropped 1 point, to the classy Billy Sanders in heat 7, but other than John Louis, the visitors had little additional threat. Carter, McKeon and Janke were all in the points, as the Dukes eased away with four 4-2s in the last 6 heats.

Whilst England were winning the World Team Cup in Poland, a strong Dukes four went to Stoke for another inter-league 4TT involving the hosts, Cradley and Ellesmere Port. The British League sides proved a different class to their NL counterparts, although the Dukes always trailed the Heathens, and eventually finished 8 points adrift. The Dukes riders scored in every heat, but crucially could only head a Cradley rider on 4 occasions. In an amazing sequence of events, Carter first equalled, and then broke the Loomer Road track record - only to see Phil Collins beat him - and the record again - in heat 10! Collins then beat Janke in heat 14 to complete his maximum.

Halifax travelled to Perry Barr on a Monday night, and so nearly pulled off a shock win. After Carter and McKeon took a 4-2 in the first heat, the Dukes clung onto their lead until heat 9. After 2 shared heats, the hosts vitally edged in front with a 5-1 from Bastable and reserve Emerson - leaving Carter and Janke to attempt to salvage a draw in the last heat. Whilst Carter disappeared to get his maximum, Andy Grahame and Kelly Moran filled the minor places to thwart Janke and the Dukes. Pyszny at reserve was a key part to Halifax's solidity, scoring 2 wins in a 9 point total, although Pendlebury had a night to forget.

A busy week for The Dukes finally got it's reward, with a dramatic away win at Owlerton. Despite trailing early on, Sheffield rallied to level the match with three heats remaining, and the tie looked to be slipping away from the Dukes. But first Carter and McKeon, the Pendlebury and Cartwright hit 5-1 wins to take the points. They could even afford a mechanical failure for Carter in the final race, although Janke raced home to seal a 9 point win. Pyszny was unable to get to grips with the Sheffield track, but former Tiger Pendlebury was a revelation at reserve with 11 points and a bonus from his 5 outings.

Halifax rounded off September with a surprisingly easy win against Hull, despite a rare off-night for Carter. His machine packed up in heat 1, and tape breakage in heat 10 saw him excluded. But with Cartwright, McKeon and Pendlebury all weighing in with a solid 9 points each and a superb 12 point maximum from Janke, the result was never in doubt. For the visitors, Dennis Sigalos failed to make the start in heat 1, but came good later in the meeting, including Hull's only race wins in heats 8 and 13. But he received little support from the rest of his team, as the Dukes took 7 heat advantages.