robbo28

Quite right hullangel, it was a brilliant day. Vikings won 44 1/2 to 33 1/2 (caused by a Mitch Graham/Paul Gachet dead heat fir first place). It was a bank holiday, May 31 1976. I've still got the programme. Vikings also won again in 78, this time on a Tuesday in July. White City had a full strength team, Vikings had Chris Morton guesting for Ivan Mauger, Kelly Moran, Bobby Beaton, Frank aufrett, Tom Owen and Robbie Blackadder. R/r for Joe Owen. Vikings won 42-36, and White City protested the equipment used by Tom Owen and Robbie Blackadder. The July fixture was also the first half of a double header, the second match being White City v Swindon. This was notable for all four riders in heat one being excluded for exceeding the two minute warning, with the same fate applying to all four reserves scheduled to take their place. The second heat saw the Swindon reserves (David Ashby and Robert Henry) excluded again, so the score after heat two was5-0 to WC. The entire match was also run with green light starts after the start gate failed! Bizarre! Our journey thereand back that day was punctuated by the minicoach we had hired breaking down several times. White City actually turned up in 77 and beat the Vikings 54 - 24. I went to all three meetings, plus the Intercontinetal final and the World Team Cup final - it always helped being the away trip organiser for the supporters club. Brilliant place and great memories.

Eight days before this league finale, Kelly Moran was injured in a meaningless second half race at Wolves, just after the Vikings had beaten the home team (52-26 if I recall correctly). Ian Thomas had reportedly lined up another Hull 'asset', one Barry Briggs, to replace Moran, but Coventry got excited and objected (can't remember now what the reason was, but the SCB upheld the objection). Given the previous debacles that season, especially at Wimbledon, Hull didn't desrve to win the title, but just three more match points at Coventry would have earned a draw and the title. Only the Peterborough/Reading final has ever got that close. But on a personal note, it sure kept me busy organising the fleet of coaches for the trip to Coventry. Almost happy days