Sheffield 'Tigers' v. Bristol 'Bulldogs' Gulf Oil British League 15th June, 1978
Rider01020304050607080910111213Tot+Bp
1. Doug Wyer 3 x2 3 3 9
2. Billy Burton 0 2 1' 1 4+1
3. Reg Wilson © f x 2 3 5
4. Craig Pendlebury x 2' 3 2' 7+2
5. Bernie Persson 3 3 2' 0 8+1
6. Phil White 1 2 1 4
7. Nicky Allott 3 0 2 0 5
John Dews 3 4 3 2 5 2 1 3 5 4 2 5 3
Sheffield 'Tigers' 3 7 10 12 17 19 20 23 28 32 34 39 42
Bristol 'Bulldogs' 3 5 7 11 12 16 21 24 25 27 31 32 35
Pat Tapson 3 2 2 4 1 4 5 3 1 2 4 1 3
1. Phil Crump © 1' 1 1 1' 4+2
2. Henny Kroeze 2 0 3 3 2 10
3. Steve Gresham 3 3 1 1 8
4. Soren Sjosten 2 2' 0 - 4+1
5. Tormod Langli fx 3 2 ef 5
6. Nigel Boocock 2 1 0 0 3
7. Bob Coles 0 1 - 1
Track record = 65.2
Doug Wyer, 14 July 1977
010203040506070809 10111213
68.468.869.2awd69.0 68.669.869.670.271.4 71.673.670.8

The Tigers dafted in youngster Phil White to replace the out of form Bo Wirebrand. The Bulldogs tracked an experienced and cosmopolitan team including Nigel Boocock who rode for years with Coventry, and the diminutive Swede Soren Sjosten who had been a regular thorn in our side on his visits with the Belle Vue Aces. Norwegian Tormod Langli was in his third season and had moved to Bristol from Newport along with the promotion the previous winter. Flamboyant American Steve Gresham was another ex-Wasp who made the same move, and Dutchman Henny Kroeze had been lured back into the saddle following his transfer from Hull. Twenty six year-old Aussie sensation Phil Crump returned to Owlerton where he was a former track-record holder having fully recovered from the broken leg he suffered here in last September's Best-Pairs semi-final.

The Tigers certainly made hard work for themselves with Craig Pendlebury picking up an exclusion for bringing down Soren Sjosten in heat 3. Reg Wilson's bike reared as he picked up unexpected drive on the last lap of heat 4, and Doug Wyer failed to beat the 2 minute time allowance in heat 6. Reg had his points stripped from him in heat 7 as he finished the race minus his silencer, and Doug missed the gate completely in heat 12, but still won after both the Bulldogs suffered engine failures with early leader Steve Gresham having to push home for the odd point. Luck wasn't all against us though as both Phil Crump and Henny Kroeze were left standing at the start in heat 5 when referee John Whitaker released the tapes while they were both rolling backwards!

Phil Collins of Ellesmere Port was invited to ride in the second-half junior event which he won from Billy Burton and another Dutchman Henk Steman, and Henny Kroeze won the senior final after Doug Wyer suffered engine failure.

Return to Sheffield Speedway Archives
Return to Sheffield Speedway homepage