Heat by Heat Results - August 1983

Halifax took advantage of falls for Dave Morton and Reg Wilson, plus mechanical issues for Morton to snatch a draw at Sheffield - their only away league point all season. The Dukes fell behind early on, but a Finch/Baker 5-1 in heat 7 drew them level. Although the Tigers immediately restored a 4 point lead, successive heat wins drew Halifax level again after heat 10 - and that's how it stayed. In the decider, Carter got to the front, but Bargh and Morton blocked Finch into last place to secure the draw.

The Dukes notched up an 11th consecutive home win with an easy victory over 6-man Wimbledon. Dave Jessup, in dispute with the Dons, failed to arrive, although his disagreements with The Shay track in recent seasons were probably a factor too. Carter eased to another maximum, and received solid support from the rest of the team, only Steve Finch struggling to get among the points. Mike Ferreira won his first 2 races for the Dons, but then faded. A tactical substitution win for Simmons in heat 8 closed the gap to 4 points, and although Finns Koponen and Niemi got a 5-1 in heat 11, it was too late to change the outcome.

The Dukes' woes on their travels continued with a heavy defeat at Reading. Newly-qualified World Finalist Mitch Shirra celebrated with a 12 point maximum as the Racers provided the heat winner in the first 12 races, before Carter managed the Dukes sole win. The top 5 Racers were largely unbeatable, leaving the Dukes to fish around for minor places, mostly at the expense of Reading's reserves. Even Carter had little to offer, suffering engine failure in heat 5, and then being headed by Brannefors when brought into heat 8.

Halifax welcomed Kenny Carter home after England's futile attempts to win the World Team Cup the night before, and the Dukes powered to their biggest win of the season - albeit against a very poor Eastbourne. The Dukes racked up 50 points for the first - and only - time in 1983, as they swept the Eagles away with six 5-1s and seven shared heats, those courtesy of the efforts of Woods and Grahame. Every one of the Dukes either won a heat or had a paid win, with Carter just failing to complete his maximum when edged out by Andy Grahame in heat 10.

The Dukes almost staged a remarkable comeback in dreadful conditions at Leicester. Trailing 31-17 after 8 heats, and having not won a race, Halifax suddenly came to life. Dixon and Baker combined for a 5-1 in a re-run heat 9 after Courtney had spun at the first attempt, bringing his team-mate down. Dixon then repeated the feat with Wyer to reduce the gap to 6 points. But a fall for Wyer, and then a win for Les Collins in heat 12 saw the Lions home. Carter and Dixon took a final heat 5-1 to bring the score closer. But Finch, Boocock and Pendlebury failed to beat a Leicester rider on track, and that cost the Dukes.

Sheffield and Halifax experimented with an unusual 20 heat, 10 rider team format in a Challenge match at Owlerton. The Dukes included Louis Carr for the absent Carter, but were largely dependent on Steve Baker and Craig Pendlebury for their points. With Carr and Dixon being disappointing, and Boocock and Nightingale failing to beat an opponent, Halifax were always going to struggle to contain a powerful Tigers side, with Bargh, Morton and White all scoring heavily.

The Dukes improved on their previous visit to Hyde Road, but still slipped to a 12 point defeat. Carter inevitably bore the heavy workload, but dropped points in his final 2 rides. No other Duke managed a heat win, although Wyer was passed by Ross on the run to the line in heat 12, with Peter Carr doing the same to Steve Baker. The Dukes included junior Mark Gallagher instead of the dropped Boocock, but he failed to make an impression. The remaining Dukes picked up the occasional second place and far too many thirds and lasts.

Kenny Carter warmed up for the World Final on Saturday with a paid maximum for the Dukes at home to Belle Vue on August Bank Holiday Monday. But the Dukes slipped to defeat, squandering a 6 point lead to the Aces and then losing in a last heat decider. The star for the Aces was Chris Morton, who followed up his defeat to Carter in heat 1 with 4 straight wins - including the vital wins in heats 11 and 13 which won the tie for the visitors. Doug Wyer was well down on power and Baker was also struggling for speed after a first race win. Finch was taken to hospital after a frightening crash with Peter Carr in heat 10, but was released later, having suffered only bruising.