The 1950 National League Division One was the 16th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the fifth post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.

Summary Bristol Bulldogs joined the league. Wembley Lions won the National League for the fifth time.

The Odsal Boomerangs became the Odsal Tudors during the season, the name change came at the end of July, possibly as a consequence of the events of 1 July. On 1 July 1950, 47-year-old Joe Abbott was killed instantly following a crash at Odsal Stadium in a league match against West Ham Hammers. After falling and hitting the safety fence he was hit by a rider behind. Jock Shead, a second rider was killed on the same night in a division 2 fixture.

Final table Pos Team P W D L Pts1 Wembley Lions 32 24 0 8 482 Belle Vue Aces 32 19 0 13 383 Wimbledon Dons 32 17 1 14 354 New Cross Rangers 32 16 1 15 335 West Ham Hammers 32 16 0 16 326 Bradford Tudors 32 16 0 16 327 Bristol Bulldogs 32 15 0 17 308 Birmingham Brummies 32 12 0 20 249 Harringay Racers 32 8 0 24 16

Fixtures and results A fixtures

B fixtures

Top ten riders (league only) Rider Nat Team C.M.A. 1 Graham Warren Birmingham 10.55 2 Norman Parker Wimbledon 10.17 3 Tommy Price Wembley 9.79 4 Jack Parker Belle Vue 9.42 5 Vic Duggan Harringay 9.30 6 Alec Statham Wimbledon 9.21 7 Cyril Roger New Cross 9.21 8 Louis Lawson Belle Vue 9.19 9 Bert Roger New Cross 9.04 10 Eric French New Cross 8.81

National Trophy Stage Three The 1950 National Trophy was the 13th 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. Wimbledon Dons won the third and final stage and were therefore declared the 1950 National Trophy champions.

For Stage One - see Stage One For Stage Two - see Stage Two

First round Date Team one Score Team two29/07 Belle Vue 80-28 New Cross26/07 New Cross 48-60 Belle Vue01/08 Halifax 50-58 Harringay28/07 Harringay 68-39 Halifax

Second round Date Team one Score Team two12/08 Belle Vue 55-52 Wimbledon14/08 Wimbledon 67-41 Belle Vue10/08 Wembley 53-51 Birmingham05/08 Birmingham 79-29 Wembley12/08 Bradford 80-28 Bristol11/08 Bristol 66-42 Bradford 11/08 Harringay 62-46 West Ham08/08 West Ham 62-46 Harringay01/09 replay Harringay 49-59 West Ham29/08 replay West Ham 59-49 Harringay

Semifinals Date Team one Score Team two12/09 West Ham 56-51 Bradford09/09 Bradford70-38 West Ham28/08 Wimbledon 61-47 Birmingham26/08 Birmingham 42-66 Wimbledon

Final

First leg

Second leg

Wimbledon were National Trophy Champions, winning on aggregate 119–97, the trophy was presented by Vera Lynn.

Spring Cup

Group A Team PL W D L PtsNew Cross 6 6 0 012 Belle Vue 6 4 0 2 8 Wimbledon 6 1 0 5 2 Bristol 6 1 0 5 2

Group B Team PL W D L PtsWest Ham 6 4 0 2 8 Bradford 6 4 0 2 8 Harringay 6 3 0 3 6 Birmingham 6 1 0 5 2

Group A

Group B

Final Team one Team two ScoresWest Ham New Cross45–73, 50–70

London Cup First round Team one Score Team twoNew Cross45–62, 33–74 WimbledonWest Ham66–42, 46–62 Walthamstow

Semi final round Team one Score Team twoWembley58–50, 51–56 HarringayWimbledon 56–50, 54–54 West Ham

Final

First leg

Second leg

Wembley won on aggregate 108–107

Riders & final averages Belle Vue

9.42 9.19 8.42 8.00 7.02 6.58 Henry Long 5.88 5.44 5.34 4.90 Gerry Hickson 1.33

Birmingham

10.55 8.19 7.07 6.46 4.73 4.44 3.92 3.61 3.33 2.61

Bradford

8.78 8.35 7.89 5.95 5.53 7.54 5.66 4.61 4.85 4.08 1.67

Bristol

7.15 6.78 6.36 5.94 5.93 5.73 5.51 4.91 4.64 4.57 3.20

Harringay

9.28 8.22 7.71 6.33 6.08 5.43 5.25 4.82 4.00 4.12 3.78 3.40 3.13 3.10

New Cross

9.21 9.04 8.81 7.17 7.00 5.88 5.60 5.13 3.82 3.40 0.80

Wembley

9.79 8.75 8.44 7.88 7.37 7.33 7.22 6.16 4.17 3.70 3.11 2.67 1.45

West Ham

8.79 8.03 7.66 Eric Chitty 7.52 5.70 5.53 5.14 5.00 4.75 3.43 2.52

Wimbledon

10.17 9.21 8.66 7.23 6.88 5.98 5.94 4.89 4.30 4.16 3.08

See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)

References