Heat by Heat Results - June 1984
Halifax opened June 1984 with a 3 team tournament against Sheffield and Wolverhampton, and the 6 Dukes on show were too good for the opposition. Neil Evitts and Doug Wyer both scored 10 points, including 2 wins each and received good back-up from Baker and Monaghan. Finch was off the pace, but did manage a win in heat 11 over the disappointing Eriksen. For the Wolves, Andy Grahame and Peter Ravn tried hard, whilst the Collins brothers kept Sheffield challenging. The Tigers were lacking the absent Shawn Moran, away in Denmark on World Pairs semi final duty for the USA. Kurt Hansen finally made his long-awaited debut for the Dukes, scoring 2 points from 2 starts.
In April, the Dukes managed 24 points at Belle Vue with a then fit Carter in the team. So the outcome with Carter on the side-lines was never going to be any different, although remarkably Halifax managed the same score. Again, the decision to use r/r looked somewhat strange, as Carter's rides scored only 2 points. It was the Dukes' reserves, Wyer and Monaghan who showed the most fight, each winning a race as they racked up 14 of the Dukes 24 points. Of the rest only Evitts offered brief resistance by beating Ross in heat 6. For the Aces, Peter Collins and Chris Morton were both unbeaten. The pair had won the world pairs semi final for England the previous week, and would go on to repeat the feat in the final in Italy the following weekend.
For the 3rd season in a row, Halifax staged a Test Match between England and Denmark. The Danes, 1983 World Team Champions, had never won a test series in England, although that was now in the balance - but England edged home on a hot Sunday afternoon, on a dry and dusty track, to win the series 2-1. For the Lions, Chris Morton, John Louis, Phil Collins and Alan Grahame were all on top form, although special mention must go to home hero Neil Evitts who pleased home fans with a batting paid 12 points, providing good support for Morton. Kenny Carter lent moral support from the pits amidst speculation that a racing return for the Dukes was nearer than originally thought...
Whilst the top riders were away in Italy for the World Pairs final, Halifax staged an individual meeting - the Halifaxapolis - and sensationally, Kenny Carter returned to The Shay to score a 15 point maximum and then win the final! Carter made excellent starts all night as he looked to warm up for the impending British Final, although he was clearly in pain. Wyer, Evitts and Monaghan all battle hard for points, although Evitts missed out on a final place after a 3rd in heat 8 behind Sean Willmott and Steve Baker whilst experimenting with a new tyre.
The Dukes suffered their usual defeat at Reading, going down by 20 points, and failing to trouble the Racers until heat 12, when Evitts was joined by Hansen for their only heat advantage. The Dukes' guest Paul Woods failed to win a race, although he ended up as top scorer with a string of second places. Only Evitts and Baker offered any support, with the rest off the pace. Once again, starting procedures were in focus, with Shirra being controversially excluded at the start of heat 12, denying him his maximum, and he staged a one-man protest on the track, delaying the match for several minutes.
On Wednesday 20th June, the British Final was staged at Brandon, Coventry in appallingly wet conditions. In one of the most controversial meetings ever, Dukes' skipper Kenny Carter saw off the opposition, against the odds, to become the 1984 British Champion. Team-mate Neil Evitts scored 7 points from his first 3 rides, but failed to add to his score and was eliminated - 1 more point would have seen him join Carter in the Overseas Final. More details on this can be found in the World Championship page for 1984.
The Dukes travelled to Devon for a challenge match against Exeter, and ran out comfortable winners over the struggling Falcons. Guest Phil Crump eased to a 12 point maximum, whilst Evitts and Wyer only dropped 1 point each, and Steve Finch looked like he was back to form. The meeting was marred however by a crash in the second half when Doug Wyer was brought down by Frank Andersen on the final bend. Wyer suffered 3 broken ribs and shoulder ligament damage - the injuries would keep him out of the saddle until August - and ended his Dukes' record for the most consecutive appearances (91).
Doug Wyer's accident the previous night meant a recall for Craig Pendlebury - and the veteran proved match-winner with a superb 10 and a bonus from 5 starts from reserve. Exeter, allowed a guest facility for the none-away-riding Mauger, were kept in the meeting largely due to the efforts of guest Alan Grahame, although Campbell and Willmott both had heat wins. The rest of the Dukes did enough for the win, although a lack of heat winners kept the score closer than it probably should have been.
Steve Baker was promoted to the number 1 race jacket - and responded in style with a 12 point maximum. With Neil Evitts and guest Neil Collins also in fine form, Wimbledon were never in the meeting, although Simmons did his best to stop the defeat being even heavier with 3 wins in the last 6 races. The Dukes were solid throughout, although Finch faded after a win first time out. Evitts was lucky to avoid injury after clipping the fence trying to go round Simmons in the final heat, but managed to stay on his bike to claim second place. With Hansen away on domestic duty in Denmark, the Dukes gave a debut to top junior Gordon Whitaker, and he delighted the fans by beating Galvin in heat 6.
Notes: Yellow box/number indicates home match/programme number. Score highlighted in Gold indicates full maximum. Score highlighted in Silver indicates a paid maximum.