Heat by Heat Results - June 1983

The Dukes moved into June with a non-league fixture against Sheffield. Carter was absent in Germany with the England World Team Cup squad, so the remaining 7 Dukes took part. A comfortable 16 point win followed, with solid scoring from the whole team. Halifax were 14 points ahead after only 4 races, and although the Tigers, mostly through Shawn Moran, managed to get into the match, the result was never in doubt. Eric Boocock was finally in the points, managing a heat win in his 5 and 2 bonus points. Steve Baker injured an ankle in an awkward heat 7 fall.

With Steve Baker out injured, guest Jan O Pedersen of Cradley Heath deputised for the Dukes at Ipswich. But despite his and Kenny Carter's best efforts, the Dukes were left with the usual outcome - a heavy defeat. Billy Sanders eased to a 15 point maximum for the Witches despite being ill, and Eriksen and Doncaster backed him up well. Carter was a pale shadow of his normal self, managing only 1 win. Martin Dixon was angered after clashing with Jeremy Doncaster in heat 3, and was lucky to avoid exclusion in the first running of heat 7 after appearing to bring down Eriksen.

Halifax won their seventh consecutive home match with a comfortable victory over Leicester. Both Carter and Wyer scored full maximums, and all the Dukes were in the points. Halifax opened up a 14 point gap after 7 races, and although the Lions prevented the gap growing, through the efforts of Mark Courtney and Steve Regeling, the result was never really in any doubt. Eric Boocock won the reserve race for the 2nd home match in a row. There was an altercation between Steve Baker, riding with a heavily-strapped ankle, and Colin Cook after the two clashed in heat 4, the Leicester reserve complaining of being run wide on the last bend.

The Dukes threw away an early advantage to give Eastbourne their first win in 12 matches. A 5-1 in heat 8 for Lanham and Eriksson over the previously impressive Finch and Famari turned the match in the favour of the Eagles, and the Dukes could never get any closer. They slipped 8 behind after another 5-1 from Lanham and Woods, although Carter and tactical substitute Baker replied with a 5-1 in heat 11 - but Woods and Eriksson won the match in the following race. Malcolm Simmons guested for absent former Duke Piotr Pyszny, and Halifax would have been frustrated that Simmons' 9 points were probably more than the Pole would have scored...

The Dukes squandered a 16 point lead from the first leg to lose the Cock of the North trophy to Sheffield by 2 points on aggregate. A last heat 5-1 from Bargh and Wilson over Doug Wyer and Steve Finch gave the Tigers the aggregate win, which had looked unlikely after 8 races. But Halifax faded badly, giving the Tigers, led by maximum man Moran, their chance. Moran was well supported by Bargh and reserve Eric Monaghan, who recorded 3 wins. The Dukes were without Carter, away on World Pairs duty for England, and with Pendlebury unavailable, gave Glen Parrott an outing at reserve.

Steve Baker stole the show from returning World Pairs Champion Carter, inflicting the only defeats of the fast Michael Lee on his way to a paid maximum. Lee beat Carter in a quick heat 1, as Poole took an early lead, but the Dukes moved ahead with a 5-1 from Baker and Finch in heat 3, and never looked in trouble. The Dukes top 5 all scored solidly, with only the reserves Famari and Boocock struggling, although Boocock did win heat 2 again. The Poole threat came almost completely from Lee, with John Davis fading badly after winning heat 4.

Another lacklustre away performance from the Dukes saw them beaten by 12 points at Wimbledon. The scores were kept close early on largely due to the Dons own misfortune - Tatum fell, whilst Niemi was excluded for breaking the tapes, and Simmons had a rare last place. Halifax were only 2 points behind after 7 races, with Carter, Wyer and Pendlebury all winning races, but the Dukes then faded, with Carter wins in heats 10 and 13 all they had to show in the latter stages. Wimbledon's top 5 strength saw them home, each rider winning or being paid for at least 2 race wins.

Halifax were drawn against local rivals Belle Vue in the Knockout Cup, and saw out June with an uninspiring 4 point win from the home leg, leaving them little hope of progressing. With Famari away, and Pendlebury unavailable with Scunthorpe, the Dukes gave a debut to young New-Zealander Peter Nightingale. Despite a superb full house from Carter, and good scores from Wyer and Finch, the bottom end of the Dukes side let them down, with only 2 points from Dixon, and 4 from Boocock. Only a last heat 5-1 salvaged a win on the night. For the Aces, Collins was on top form, and was well supported by Larry Ross and young reserve Andy Smith.