The 1947 National League Division Three was the inaugural season of British speedway's National League Division Three Speedway in 1947 was restricted in terms of fixtures and attendances following the fallout from World War II.
With several new teams joining British Speedway in 1947, a third league tier was created for the first time. The new teams included the Cradley Heath Cubs, racing at Dudley Wood Stadium, Hanley Potters following an eight-year absence from British speedway and Exeter Falcons after a lease was signed by Motor Sports (Exeter) Ltd (led by Frank Buckland) with the landlords County Athletic Ground Company.
Eastbourne Eagles won the title in their first season of league speedway.
Peter Robinson of Southampton topped the averages.
Final table PosTeamPWDLFAPtsDiff1 Eastbourne Eagles 28 18 0 1012601057 36+2032 Cradley Heath Cubs 28 18 0 101215 1116 36 +993 Southampton Saints 28 17 1 101113 1197 35 -844 Exeter Falcons 28 15 0 131193.5 1131.5 30 +625 Tamworth Hounds 28 12 0 161159 1179 24 -206 Hanley Potters 28 12 0 161113 1197 24 -847 Wombwell Colliers 28 12 0 161100 1225 24 -1258 Plymouth Devils 28 7 1 209951330 15-335
A fixtures
B fixtures
Leading averages Rider Team C.M.A. 1 Peter Robinson Southampton 10.57 2 Cyril Roger Exeter 10.34 3 Wally Green Eastbourne 10.20 4 Basil Harris Eastbourne 9.54 5 Bob Oakley Southampton 9.37
Midlands v. South Cup Midlands Group
South Group
Final (5 Nov)
Tamworth beat Eastbourne 55–41
Riders and final averages Cradley Heath
Geoff Bennett 9.36 Les Beaumont 8.40 Eric Irons 7.44 Jimmy Wright 7.04 Bob Fletcher 6.90 Alan Hunt 6.10 Ray Beaumont 5.88 Phil Malpass 5.03 Frank Evans 4.34
Eastbourne
Wally Green 10.20 Basil Harris 9.46 Jock Grierson 8.46 Jimmy Coy 7.25 Ken Tidbury 6.29 Harry Saunders 5.71 Ron Clarke 4.49 Alan Briggs 3.71 Bob Sivyer 3.20 Eric Dunn 3.20 Dennis Gray 3.00
Exeter
Cyril Roger 10.31 Don Hardy 7.86 Stan Hodson 6.92 Les Trim 6.62 Allan Chambers 6.36 Arthur Pilgrim 6.20 Johnny Myson 6.18 Sid Hazzard 6.08 Bronco Slade 5.90 Tom Crutcher 5.66 Bill Williams 3.80
Hanley
Dave Anderson 8.52 Vic Pitcher 8.44 Dick Howard 7.43 Ray Harris 6.79 Reg Gregory 6.15 Les Jenkins 6.04 Cyril Page 5.89 Gil Blake 5.30 George Fisher 5.23 Bert Danner 3.89
Plymouth
Ivan Kessell 7.81 Stan Lanfear 7.55 Alex Gray 6.84 Charlie Challis 6.56 Billy Newell 6.47 Les Covell 5.71 Len Read 5.10 Doug Bell 4.26 Jim Cashmore 4.20 Bill Deegan 4.16 Vic Gent 3.74 Jack Milross 3.71 Harold Sharpe 3.41 Bill Sale 3.14
Southampton
Peter Robinson 10.57 Bob Oakley 9.37 Jimmy Squibb 8.09 George Bason 6.99 Alf Kaines 6.47 Pete Lansdale 6.22 Bert Croucher 5.81 Vic Collins 5.67 Tony Buxey 3.73 Matthew Hall 2.93 Ron Lemon 2.80 Bill Griffiths 2.40
Tamworth
Steve Langton 8.00 Arthur Payne 7.79 Bill Harris 7.74 Vic Pitcher 7.33 Bill Dalton 6.67 Ted Gibson 6.50 Jack Baxter 6.64 Cyril Page 6.27 Charlie Oates 5.35 Jack Ladd 5.18 Fred Yates 4.89 Jack Kidd 4.00 Reg Challenger 2.29
Wombwell
Harwood Pike 8.78 Stan Hodson 8.15 Len Tupling 7.88 Bernard Tennant 7.11 Bert Lacey 6.50 Stan Beardsall 6.24 Alf Elliott 6.12 Red Hamley 6.03 Bert Thomas 5.72 Harry Modral 5.45 Sam Marsland 5.38 Ken Allick 5.33 Jeff Bishop 4.79 Gerry Williams 4.65 Reg Challenger 4.00
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway)
References