Heat by Heat Results - October 1983

3-time World Champion Ole Olsen had announced his retirement from the sport for the end of the 1983 season - and he paid his final visit to The Shay in spectacular style, with a 15 point maximum and a last heat 5-1 to grab the win for the Bees. Dukes lost at home again after seemingly being in control early on - but the inability to push on from the 6 point lead they gained enabled the Bees to use Olsen and Bastable to gain a 5-1 in heat 8. When reserves Miller and Hawkins did the same in heat 9, the Dukes were in trouble. Halifax had too many low scorers, with Dixon, Pendlebury and Olsson only contributing 4 points between them.

Not for the first time during 1983, the weather intervened in the Dukes attempt to face Cradley Heath. The Heathens had just been confirmed as League Champions, and with the Dukes' recent form not inspiring confidence, hopes were not high. Carter suffered engine failure whilst leading heat 1, and the Dukes found themselves 10 points down after only 3 heats, in deteriorating conditions. The referee twice called for a delay to see if conditions would improve, and when racing resumed the Dukes reduced the deficit to 2 points. When the racing was halted for a third time, it was obvious the visitors had no wish to continue, and the referee abandoned the match.

Halifax agreed to take part in an end-of-season 4 team tournament at Newcastle, involving the Diamonds, Leicester and King's Lynn. Newcastle impressively beat all 3 of their British League rivals, fuelling talk of a move up from the National League in 1984. For the Dukes, only Carter, head and shoulders above everyone else on show, made any sort of impression, scoring 12 of their 16 points. The only good thing to come out of the fixture was the fact that the Dukes managed to finish in third, a point above the even more disappointing Lions.

In what was billed as an "Inter-Town Challenge" the Dukes defeated a select side, Joe Owen's Diamonds 40-38. Carter took his inevitable maximum, and there were encouraging returns from Wyer and Finch. The visitors were generally faster from the start, using the bigger carburettors allowed in the second division, and gave the Dukes a scare, forcing a last heat decider. Carter and Dixon set this up with a 5-1 in heat 12, and then Wyer held his nerve to win heat 13. For the visitors, Rod Hunter showed a considerable liking for The Shay track, and Bobby Beaton was also in excellent form.

With the season-end looming, the Dukes were forced to stage their re-arranged final league match against Cradley Heath on a rare Tuesday night. The Heathens won the match to become the most successful side in BL history, having lost only twice all season. With Pendlebury having already returned to New Zealand, Mark Gallagher got a place in the team, but was ruled out after a tumble in heat one. Although Halifax led early on, the Heathens edged in front through a 4-2 from Simon Wigg and guest David Bargh in heat 5, and stayed in front throughout. Gundersen was unbeatable, inflicting Carter's only defeats, and Alan Grahame was his usual impressive self at The Shay. The defeat would have been heavier but for a Wigg engine failure whilst well in front in the final race.

Halifax rounded off the 1983 season with the traditional Northern Fours - but with Belle Vue unavailable, 2 "Halifax" sides took part, with Newcastle and Sheffield. For Halifax, Steve Finch scored an impressive maximum, and Carter was only denied by mechanical problems whilst leading heat 7. Carter's misfortune allowed Doug Wyer to win the heat, as he too powered to a maximum, going round David Bargh in heat 15 to complete his full-house. A satisfying end to what had proved to be a difficult and disappointing season, but the fixture gave the management a chance to further consider their options as they went into 1984.