| League | National League |
|---|---|
| No. of competitors | 18 |
| Champions | Poole Pirates |
| Knockout Cup | Berwick Bandits |
| Individual | Mark Loram |
| Pairs | Stoke Potters |
| Fours | Peterborough Panthers |
| London Cup | Hackney Hawks |
| Highest average | Steve Schofield |
| Division/s above | 1989 British League |
TheNational League was the second tier of Britishspeedway racing in 1989.[1]
Promoter Terry Cheney moved theMilton Keynes Knights out of theGroveway and into theElfield Park.[2][3][4]
The champions that year werePoole Pirates.[5][6]
Paul Muchene lost his life in the fixture between Arena Essex and Hackney at theHackney Wick Stadium on 30 June 1989.[7]
| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poole Pirates | 34 | 26 | 1 | 7 | 53 |
| 2 | Wimbledon Dons | 34 | 23 | 2 | 9 | 48 |
| 3 | Berwick Bandits | 34 | 23 | 0 | 11 | 46 |
| 4 | Ipswich Witches | 34 | 23 | 0 | 11 | 46 |
| 5 | Exeter Falcons | 34 | 19 | 1 | 14 | 39 |
| 6 | Hackney Kestrels | 34 | 19 | 1 | 14 | 39 |
| 7 | Eastbourne Eagles | 34 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 38 |
| 8 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 34 | 19 | 0 | 15 | 38 |
| 9 | Glasgow Tigers | 34 | 17 | 0 | 17 | 34 |
| 10 | Stoke Potters | 34 | 16 | 1 | 17 | 33 |
| 11 | Peterborough Panthers | 34 | 16 | 0 | 18 | 32 |
| 12 | Arena Essex Hammers | 34 | 14 | 2 | 18 | 30 |
| 13 | Middlesbrough Tigers | 34 | 14 | 0 | 20 | 28 |
| 14 | Rye House Rockets | 34 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 26 |
| 15 | Newcastle Diamonds | 34 | 11 | 2 | 21 | 24 |
| 16 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers | 34 | 10 | 1 | 23 | 21 |
| 17 | Long Eaton Invaders | 34 | 10 | 1 | 23 | 21 |
| 18 | Milton Keynes Knights | 34 | 7 | 2 | 25 | 16 |
| Home \ Away | AE | BER | EAS | ED | EX | GLA | HAC | IPS | LE | MID | MIL | MK | NEW | PET | PP | RH | STO | WIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Essex | 46–49 | 50–45 | 51–45 | 50–44 | 52–44 | 48–48 | 54–40 | 43–51 | 47–48 | 55–40 | 67–28 | 49–46 | 54–41 | 56–39 | 51–45 | 45–50 | 48–48 | |
| Berwick | 70–26 | 62–32 | 61–34 | 78–18 | 68–28 | 60–36 | 61–35 | 71–25 | 72–24 | 65–31 | 65–31 | 59–35 | 57–39 | 59–37 | 72–23 | 66–30 | 51–44 | |
| Eastbourne | 62–34 | 49–47 | 66–30 | 67–29 | 55–39 | 52–44 | 55–41 | 61–35 | 62–34 | 47–49 | 65–30 | 67–28 | 43–53 | 52–44 | 59–37 | 59–37 | 48–47 | |
| Edinburgh | 43–51 | 50–45 | 53–43 | 62–34 | 56–39 | 51–45 | 47–49 | 61–34 | 64–32 | 69–27 | 59–36 | 59–37 | 51–45 | 42–54 | 55–41 | 68–28 | 42–53 | |
| Exeter | 76–20 | 59–37 | 72–24 | 71–25 | 61–34 | 57–39 | 60–36 | 63–33 | 76–20 | 71–25 | 62–33 | 61–35 | 53–42 | 57–38 | 59–37 | 49–47 | 64–32 | |
| Glasgow | 64–32 | 50–46 | 56–40 | 52–43 | 64–32 | 53–43 | 43–51 | 61–35 | 53–43 | 68–28 | 61–35 | 59–36 | 58–38 | 50–45 | 50–46 | 59–37 | 50–46 | |
| Hackney | 60–36 | 50–46 | 67–29 | 53–43 | 55–40 | 62–33 | 51–44 | 53–43 | 59–37 | 55–41 | 63–33 | 64–32 | 54–41 | 50–46 | 61–35 | 58–38 | 52–44 | |
| Ipswich | 65–31 | 69–27 | 66–30 | 49–29 | 53–43 | 52–44 | 64–32 | 59–37 | 58–37 | 53–43 | 58–38 | 56–40 | 51–45 | 47–48 | 55–41 | 49–47 | 52–44 | |
| Long Eaton | 63–33 | 50–46 | 59–37 | 42–54 | 44–42 | 50–46 | 46–50 | 50–45 | 44–52 | 48–48 | 57–39 | 43–53 | 51–45 | 42–53 | 59–37 | 38–58 | 37–59 | |
| Middlesbrough | 46–47 | 44–52 | 45–50 | 45–50 | 52–44 | 54–42 | 49–47 | 55–40 | 57–39 | 52–44 | 61–34 | 57–39 | 49–47 | 40–56 | 51–44 | 53–43 | 46–50 | |
| Mildenhall | 49–47 | 37–59 | 43–53 | 42–53 | 47–49 | 48–46 | 49–47 | 42–54 | 65–30 | 63–33 | 66–28 | 41–55 | 41–54 | 30–66 | 50–46 | 50–46 | 50–36 | |
| Milton Keynes | 57–39 | 49–47 | 45–51 | 46–50 | 48–48 | 55–41 | 56–40 | 37–59 | 51–44 | 53–42 | 53–43 | 48–48 | 35–61 | 38–58 | 43–52 | 41–55 | 44–52 | |
| Newcastle | 45–51 | 36–60 | 49–47 | 44–52 | 49–46 | 42–54 | 51–45 | 53–43 | 50–45 | 44–51 | 49–47 | 50–46 | 50–44 | 44–52 | 50–46 | 48–48 | 39–57 | |
| Peterborough | 55–40 | 65–30 | 45–50 | 60–36 | 59–37 | 61–33 | 55–41 | 36–57 | 60–36 | 59–36 | 62–34 | 61–35 | 56–40 | 42–54 | 52–44 | 58–38 | 46–47 | |
| Poole | 71–24 | 44–52 | 59–37 | 61–35 | 55–41 | 68–28 | 51–44 | 50–46 | 66–30 | 66–30 | 59–37 | 68–28 | 59–36 | 51–45 | 55–41 | 58–38 | 59–37 | |
| Rye House | 53–42 | 38–57 | 51–45 | 49–46 | 53–42 | 52–44 | 45–50 | 43.5–50.5 | 60–35 | 61–34 | 55–41 | 61–34 | 49–46 | 52–44 | 44–51 | 47–48 | 51–44 | |
| Stoke | 68–28 | 54–42 | 56–40 | 47–49 | 60–36 | 60–36 | 52–44 | 47–49 | 46–49 | 64–32 | 56–40 | 63–33 | 53–43 | 67–29 | 42–54 | 56–40 | 41–55 | |
| Wimbledon | 68–28 | 53–43 | 51–45 | 67–29 | 57–39 | 54–42 | 57–39 | 53–43 | 62–34 | 71–24 | 57–39 | 62–34 | 70–26 | 57–39 | 48–48 | 51–45 | 54–42 |
The 1989 National League Knockout Cup was the 22nd edition of theKnockout Cup for tier two teams.Berwick Bandits were the winners of the competition.[9]
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/04 | Exeter | 62-34 | Rye House |
| 09/04 | Rye House | 57-39 | Exeter |
| 09/04 | Newcastle | 43-52 | Berwick |
| 08/04 | Berwick | 65-30 | Newcastle |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26/05 | Hackney | 42-54 | Poole |
| 17/05 | Wimbledon | 59-37 | Milton Keynes |
| 16/05 | Milton Keynes | 43-53 | Wimbledon |
| 16/05 | Poole | 66-33 | Hackney |
| 15/05 | Exeter | 52-44 | Stoke |
| 14/05 | Eastbourne | 64-32 | Glasgow |
| 14/05 | Mildenhall | 45-51 | Peterborough |
| 13/05 | Berwick | 69-27 | Long Eaton |
| 13/05 | Stoke | 51-45 | Exeter |
| 12/05 | Glasgow | 48-48 | Eastbourne |
| 12/05 | Peterborough | 63-33 | Mildenhall |
| 10/05 | Long Eaton | 43-53 | Berwick |
| 06/05 | Arena Essex | 57-39 | Edinburgh |
| 05/05 | Edinburgh | 60-36 | Arena Essex |
| 04/05 | Middlesbrough | 47-49 | Ipswich |
| 24/03 | Ipswich | 60-36 | Middlesbrough |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05/07 | Wimbledon | 52-44 | Ipswich |
| 04/07 | Poole | 60-36 | Eastbourne |
| 03/07 | Exeter | 58-38 | Berwick |
| 02/07 | Eastbourne | 43-53 | Poole |
| 02/07 | Edinburgh | 63-33 | Peterborough |
| 01/07 | Berwick | 58-38 | Exeter |
| 30/06 | Peterborough | 64-32 | Edinburgh |
| 22/06 | Ipswich | 48-48 | Wimbledon |
| 24/07 replay | Exeter | 52-43 | Berwick |
| 22/07 replay | Berwick | 58-38 | Exeter |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/08 | Poole | 62-33 | Wimbledon |
| 13/08 | Peterborough | 59-37 | Berwick |
| 09/08 | Wimbledon | 48-48 | Poole |
| 05/08 | Berwick | 61-35 | Peterborough |
Final
First leg
| Poole Pirates Leigh Adams 14 Alun Rossiter 11 Ali Stevens 8 Tony Langdon 6 Craig Boyce 5 Gary Allan 4 Mike Lewthwaite 2 | 50 – 46 | Berwick Bandits Mark Courtney 14 David Blackburn 14 Andy Campbell 5 David Walsh 4 Rob Grant 4 Scott Robson 3 Sean Courtney 2 |
|---|---|---|
| [10] |
Second leg
| Berwick Bandits David Blackburn 14 Mark Courtney 13 David Walsh 9 Rob Grant 9 Andy Campbell 8 Scott Robson 6 Sean Courtney 4 | 63 – 33 | Poole Pirates Leigh Adams 12 Alun Rossiter 9 Craig Boyce 6 Gary Allan 3 Tony Langdon 3 Ali Stevens 0 Mike Lewthwaite 0 |
|---|---|---|
| [10][11] |
Berwick were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate109–83.
Mark Loram won theRiders' Championship. The final sponsored byJawa Moto &Barum was held on 9 September 1989 atBrandon Stadium.[12]
| Pos. | Rider | Pts | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23333 | 14 | |
| 2 | 31233 | 12 | |
| 3 | 13331 | 11 | |
| 4 | 0 2333 | 10 | |
| 5 | 23032 | 10 | |
| 6 | 32122 | 10 | |
| 7 | 30312 | 9 | |
| 8 | 01223 | 8 | |
| 9 | 22220 | 8 | |
| 10 | 32110 | 7 | |
| 11 | 03002 | 5 | |
| 12 | 20111 | 5 | |
| 13 | 11210 | 5 | |
| 14 | 11101 | 4 | |
| 15 | 10001 | 2 | |
| 16 | 0- - - - | 0 |
TheNational League Pairs was held atHackney Wick Stadium on 19 August. The event was won by Stoke Potters for the second consecutive season.[13]
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Semi finals
Final
Peterborough Panthers won the fours championship final for the second successive year, held at theEast of England Arena on 23 July.[14]
Semi finals
Final
| Pos | Team | Pts | Riders |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peterborough | 15 | Barney 5, Jolly 5, Poole 3, Hodgson 2 |
| 2 | Stoke | 14 | Monaghan 5, Crabtree 4, Carr L 3, Cobby 2 |
| 3 | Exeter | 12 | Andersen 6, Cook 4, Regeling 1, Green 1 |
| 4 | Eastbourne | 7 | Buck 3, Norris 2, Kennett 1, Barker 1 |
| Rider | Team | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Schofield | Hackney | 10.50 |
| Andy Galvin | Hackney | 9.95 |
| Todd Wiltshire | Wimbledon | 9.94 |
| David Blackburn | Berwick | 9.78 |
| Nigel Crabtree | Stoke | 9.77 |
| Steve Regeling | Exeter | 9.74 |
| Kenny McKinna | Glasgow | 9.71 |
| Mark Loram | Ipswich | 9.65 |
| Chris Louis | Ipswich | 9.65 |
| Gordon Kennett | Eastbourne | 9.60 |
| Mark Courtney | Berwick | 9.52 |
Hackney won the London Cup but the competition consisted of just Wimbledon and Hackney.[15]
Results
| Team | Score | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon | 49–47 | Hackney |
| Hackney | 54–42 | Wimbledon |
Arena Essex
Berwick
Eastbourne
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Hackney
Ipswich
Long Eaton
Middlesbrough
Mildenhall
Milton Keynes
Newcastle
Peterborough
Poole
Rye House
Stoke
Wimbledon