The 1949 National League Division One was the 15th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the fourth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Summary Birmingham Brummies joined the league and the Anniversary (League) Cup was discontinued or the teams would have met each other six times in the league. Wembley Lions won the National League for the fourth time.
Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts1 Wembley Lions 42 28 1 13 572 Belle Vue Aces 42 24 0 18 483 New Cross Rangers 42 24 0 18 484 West Ham Hammers 42 23 0 19 465 Odsal Boomerangs 42 22 1 19 456 Harringay Racers 42 18 0 24 367 Birmingham Brummies 42 16 1 25 328 Wimbledon Dons 42 11 1 30 23
Fixtures & results A fixtures
B fixtures
C fixtures
Top Ten Riders (League only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Vic Duggan Harringay 10.65 2 Graham Warren Birmingham 10.21 3 Jack Parker Belle Vue 10.12 4 Wilbur Lamoreaux Birmingham 9.86 5 Dent Oliver Belle Vue 9.60 6 Aub Lawson West Ham 9.57 7 Norman Parker Wimbledon 9.35 8 Bill Gilbert Wembley 9.24 9 Tommy Price Wembley 9.10 10 Ron Clarke Odsal 8.79
National Trophy Stage Three The 1949 National Trophy was the 12th edition of the Knockout Cup. The Trophy consisted of three stages; stage one was for the third division clubs, stage two was for the second division clubs and stage three was for the top-tier clubs. The winner of stage one would qualify for stage two and the winner of stage two would qualify for the third and final stage. Belle Vue Aces won the third and final stage and were therefore declared the 1949 National Trophy champions.
For Stage One - see Stage One For Stage Two - see Stage Two
First round Date Team one Score Team two29/07 Harringay 60-47 Bradford Odsal23/07 Bradford Odsal 80-28 Harringay
Second round Date Team one Score Team two20/08 Bradford Odsal 70-38 Birmingham19/08 Bristol 47-60 New Cross18/08 Wembley 56-52 West Ham17/08 New Cross 55-53 Bristol16/08 West Ham 64-44 Wembley13/08 Birmingham 51-57 Bradford Odsal15/08 Wimbledon 58-50 Belle Vue
Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two17/09 Belle Vue 66-42 Bradford Odsal10/09 Bradford Odsal 54-54 Belle Vue07/09 New Cross 55-53 West Ham06/09 West Ham 64-44 New Cross
Final
First leg
Second leg
Belle Vue were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 140–76.
London Cup First round Team one Score Team twoNew Cross 57–50, 56–51 WimbledonWalthamstow55–52, 48–60 Harringay Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWest Ham 65–43, 70–38 New CrossWembley65–43, 57–51 Harringay
Final First leg
Second leg
Wembley won on aggregate 124–92
Riders & final averages Belle Vue
10.12 9.60 7.95 6.17 5.96 5.75 5.72 5.68 5.41 5.36 4.10 Henry Long 3.43
Birmingham
10.21 9.86 7.02 6.14 5.94 4.40 4.18 3.09 3.02 2.91 2.24
Harringay
10.65 6.83 6.63 5.77 5.03 4.97 4.68 4.06 3.79 3.11
New Cross
8.60 8.02 7.86 7.58 7.19 6.47 6.12 5.77 5.17 3.58
Odsal
8.79 8.73 8.31 7.93 7.74 6.68 3.61 3.58 1.16
Wembley
9.24 9.10 8.20 7.40 5.80 7.60 6.59 5.05 5.69 2.82 2.67 2.60 2.57
West Ham
9.57 8.00 7.98 6.71 Eric Chitty 6.09 5.30 4.53 3.84 3.93 1.71
Wimbledon
9.35 7.71 7.10 7.04 Jimmie Gibb 6.98 4.00 3.17 2.87 2.75 2.67 2.18 2.00
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References