History of Brandon 1963-64

[Bee]

1963. Craven killed, Ray Wilson arrives! AT COVENTRY

 

 

Although Coventry looked to strengthen their squad the S.C.B. blocked attempts to sign someone on a Foreign Permit, instead Jack Biggs joined from Oxford.- But, he struggled.

 

Bees finished 4th behind Belle Vue Norwich and Wimbledon. Lost points at home (30-48)v Belle Vue, with Home draws against both Norwich and Wimbledon) would have been enough to have seen the Bees finish Runners-up.

 

Surprisingly the Bees only success away was at Norwich (Twice!!) and the Stars had finished second in the table...Just about everybody was winning at least one match away at Cowley (Oxford) who finished bottom, so two defeats for the Bees there was disappointing and costly.

 

England’s No1 PETER CRAVEN was killed at Edinburgh in a handicap track crash involving George Hunter. Hunter had fallen and Craven crashed into the fence hitting a lamp standard in an attempt to avoid the stricken Hunter. The Handicap System was blamed.

 

Les Owen returned from the fractured skull but, he was not the force he’d become prior to the injury. Jim Lightfoot again Captained the team and did improve his performances.

 

Ron was off for a few weeks at the beginning of the season, having suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of pressure from work. He then crashed in July and fractured his leg. The S.C.B. refused us a Foreign Permit (Russian Boris Samorodov had been lined up to replace him.) The C.O. switched his attention to the Provincial League offers made for Norman Hunter, Colin Pratt and George Hunter were all declined.

 

We applied for Stan Stevens from defunct New Cross, then Southampton turned up at Brandon with a certain Mr Stevens in the side... A protest resulted in Stan’s points being deducted as the move had not been cleared with the control board.

 

Programmed in the second half in August 1963 was a certain Ron Wilson Jnr.!! Ray Wilson will go down as a NAME that escaped us....

 

Nigel Boocock and Jim Lightfoot qualified for the World Final, Nigel finished with 7th with 8 points having won his opening heat.

Jim struggled in his first appearance finishing 14th with just 4 points.

 

Fundin won the Final with Knutsson 2nd and Briggs 3rd. The 1962 Champion Craven, was only 6th in his last World Final before his tragic accident.

 

Boris Samorodov the Russian the Bees had wanted finished 4th and Ron Mountford the man he would have replaced was at reserve in place of a future Bee, Toni Kasper.

 

The Bees beat Southampton before going out to the old enemy Belle Vue, in the National Trophy. We beat Oxford in the Midland Cup.

 

Coventry Scorer’s 1963.

 

Nigel Boocock 244 (9.96)

Ken Mckinlay 212 (9.12)

Jim Lightfoot 159 (7.76)

Bryan Elliott 105 (5.80)

Ron Mountford 77 (5.72)

Les Owen 65 (3.92)

Jack Biggs 29 (4.24)

Peter Brough 12 (2.08)

Rick France 6

GUESTS 2

Howie Booton 1

Colin Cotrell 0

 

 

National League Table

1963

 

1. Belle Vue 24 17 0 7 989 875 34

2. Norwich 24 13 2 9 911 879 28

3. Wimbledon 24 12 1 11 934 920 25

4 Coventry 24 11 2 11 912 957 24

5. Swindon 24 10 2 12 907 875 22

6. Southampton 24 11 0 13 933 936 22

7. Oxford 24 6 1 17 861 1005 13

 

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1964. The end of an era beckons as National league folds

 

The last season of National/ Provincial League Racing with the brand New BRITISH LEAGUE upon the horizon for 1965.

 

Down to just seven teams, Coventry finished Runners-up. One solitary point behind the Champions, Oxford. Again a point easily found when the Bees were held to a draw at home by Wimbledon, although points difference would have seen the Cheetahs still crowned Champions.

 

No changes on the team front, but a great deal of un rest between the two Leagues in a power struggle that almost killed the Sport.

 

The season started in disarray, with the Bees winning the Easter Cup presented by Jack Mine at Wimbledon. This was probably the FIRST time Coventry ever won at Plough Lane against the Powerful ‘till then Dons.

 

Booey scored 11 from No1 but, Ron Mountford scored a 12 point maximum on a track he had never considered a favourite. The Bees won 44-40. Bryan “Chirpy” Elliott was absent as he was seeking to ride in the Provincial League at Long Eaton.

 

Only the threat of being “blacked” in future made him change his mind.

 

In the second leg at Brandon, The Bees beat Wimbledon by six to take the Easter Cup.

 

The Easter Cup and the re-introduction of the Britannia Shield started the season off, with the troubled National League not starting it’s matches until JULY!!

 

The troubles flared again in May, when the Dons arrived at Brandon for a Shield Match.

 

Bob Andrews had ridden the night before in a “blacked” Provincial League Match at Wolverhampton. Both Promoters agreed to let him ride at Brandon and settle this issue later with the Control Board.

 

But No.!!

 

The riders themselves said if he rode-they didn’t !! and the meeting was delayed further.

 

Andrews was eventually left out. By this time Bryan Elliott had changed his mind and stayed with the Bees rather than risk similar occurrences to that of Andrews.

 

But, Ron Wilson Jnr (Ray) decided otherwise and he signed for Long Eaton in the Provincial League which is why Willie became a big rival of Coventry’s instead of a Bee himself....

 

Big problems at Norwich, when in a crucial Shield Match The Bees trailed by 2 points going into heat 13. Booey and Biggs stormed away on a rain soaked track, Billy Bales retired and Fundin was just cruising around at the back...On the third lap the Red Lights came on..!! The race was stopped and a re-run ordered ?? The Bees of course objected but the Ref was not moved and The Bees then refused to go out in the re-run. The Stars then coasted round for two un-challenged 5-0’s to win the match. Bees lodged a Protest.

 

The crucial dropped point at home too Wimbledon was mainly down to Ron Mountford being out with a shoulder injury, and we went into the match without the option of a guest.

 

Nigel Boocock faced Ove Fundin in the Match Race Championship. He lost at Norwich, but won at Brandon.

 

Having led the Britannia Shield Table from the Start of the season, Oxford pipped us at the death by one point....The Norwich result was that crucial. Having finished Runners-up to Oxford in the Shield, we also finished Runners-up in the Easter Cup and The National League, all to OXFORD. In the National Trophy we were beaten by West Ham in the first Round.

 

Fundin won the Match Race decider at Oxford in July.

 

Brandon staged a Test Match against the Russians Great Britain winning a thriller 56-52. Ten days later Swedish tourist Vargarna, visited Brandon with the Bees winning in the last heat 40-38

 

In the World Championships Les Owen won a qualifier at Rye House, whilst Jack Biggs also qualified. In the second round of qualifiers, Booey scored 13 at West Ham (3rd) behind Briggs and Brett. Rick France scored 7 Ken McKinlay got 8 and Jim Lightfoot got 12.

 

At Brandon Les only scored 4 and Jack was unable to ride, But “Chirpy” Elliott scored 14 and tied with Mike Broadbank

At Norwich, Nigel got 13, Jim 12 Ron 9 and Les 1 Les having fallen on three occasions.

 

Booey (39) third highest, Ken (32) Jim (31) Ron (30) and “Chirpy” (30) all qualified only Les and Jack missed out

 

Fred Hodder joined the second half brigade.

 

In the U.K. Final at Wembley, Barry Briggs took the title with Ken McKinlay finishing Runner up. Nigel qualified in 7th with 8 points with Jim on 6 as reserve. Ron managed 5 and Bryan 4

 

The Midland Riders at Oxford was won by Briggo with Arne Pander 2nd and Ron How beat Nigel in a run off for third.

 

With the close of 1964 came the end of an era, and the winter was a time of uncertainty with eventually a new era dawning at Brandon in March when Coventry opened the new BRITISH LEAGUE against Cradley where Nigel scored a paid maximum and RICK FRANCE scored the first BRITISH LEAGUE MAXIMUM. Nigel Boocock won the first ever British League race as well.

 

Coventry Scorer’s 1964.

 

1. Nigel Boocock 129.5 (10.12)

2. Ken McKinlay 109 (9.80)

3. Jim Lightfoot 79 (7.12)

4. Ron Mountford 54 (8.12)

5. Rick France 38 (4.92)

6. Jack Biggs 37 (5.04)

7. Les Owen 35 (4.84)

8. Bryan Elliott 31 (5.36)

9. Colin Cottrell 16 (4.64)

 

* This team was my own personal all time GREAT TEAM OF ANY ONE SEASON *

National League Table 1964.

 

1. Oxford 12 9 0 3 545 461 18

2. Coventry 12 8 1 3 528.5 479.5 17

3. Norwich 12 6 0 6 490.5 517.5 12

4. Belle Vue 12 5 1 6 496 511 11

5. Swindon 12 4 1 7 509 496 9

6. Wimbledon 12 4 1 7 475 532 9

7. West Ham 12 4 0 8 479 526 8

 

That controversial defeat at Norwich cost bees the title.

 

That's all I have I'm afraid the rest was lost... But I remember 65/69 being good seasons and among my favourite all time bees teams.

 

Injuries struck in the early 70's and we plummeted down the table until Olsen arrived in 76.