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79First Major Trophy - The KO Cup
![]() Season Review Dan McCormick had been busy during the winter months, Bruce's pal Bobby Schwartz was signed following his victory in the USA World Championship Round and another young lad from Denmark Erik Gundersen was snatched from under the noses of other teams to add to the growing number of riders on the Heathens books. Dan had a row with the BSPA over the 50 point limit. So his squad of 9 riders went down to 7 with Dave Perks going on loan to Nottingham and Pekka Hautamaki moving to Belle Vue. Carefully shuffling the rest of the riders early on in the season to fit in with the 50 point limit. Phil Collins, Erik Gundersen and Bobby Schwartz all missed meetings and were replaced with youngsters John Hack and Denzil Kent. |
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L to R. Alan Grahame, Bobby Schwartz, Bruce
Penhall, Kristian Praestbro Team Manager - Bob Wasley, |
Erik was an early
season casualty with a broken leg at Wolverhampton in June followed by
Kristian Praestbro in July then Steve Bastable was put through the fence at
Leicester and broke his ankle.
The patched up side lost three vital matches in July which put an end to the
Heathens hopes of winning the league in 1979. However Cradley finished
third in the League their best position ever just two points behind Hull who
themselves were just two points behind winners Coventry. Bruce was
appointed skipper when Stevie B was out injured, the blonde Californian
continued his climb to fame being voted rider of the year by SWAPA, becoming
the second winner of the Master of Speedway and the first American to win
the Golden Helmet Match Race Title. He won the World Championship
Qualifying Round at Dudley Wood with a 15 point maximum and Badge of Courage
Best Pairs with Bobby Schwartz who himself won the prestigious Golden
Hammer. Dan McCormick was voted Administrator of the year for the third year running by SWAPA and Bruce was voted 'Overseas Rider of the Year'. He captained the Heathens to victory both home and away against Hull to take the Speedway KO Cup, becoming the first team to win at Hull in an official fixture since the Viking signed Ivan Mauger. The Heathens lost only one match in the KO Cup by just one point at Wimbledon. Penhall also led the team to victory in the Inter-League Cup both home and away against Kings Lynn, Phil Collins was the star at Saddlebow Road with a 12 point maximum beating Michael Lee and Dave Jessup.The Dudley Wolves Trophy also ended up back in the Heathens Trophy cabinet. One thing marred the 1979 season however, Dan McCormick and Steve Bastable had a bitter row over the composition of the side which resulted in his transfer to Birmingham. The management paid £7000 to Leicester for Ila Teromaa but because he was cup tied Cradley had to use Dave Perks in the KO Cup matches. |
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Riders Performance Chart
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statistics taken from the Cradley Speedway database for BL matches only.
Final League Table
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KO.Cup
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