Joe Owen NL was he the best…?

[StevePark 2,780]

43 minutes ago, prodons said:

I think Joe Owen had 4 NL seasons for Newcastle and his worst average was something like 10.65 in 1975 when he was a teenager! Think in the following year he was almost Jack Young/Vic Duggan like in the amount of points he dropped.

After Newcastle’s abortive return to the BL in 1984 (where Joe was top man with a respectable 8 point average) he joined Ellesmere Port back in the NL for 1985 and led the way to their Championship success. 
 

 

Joe Owen Averages: 1973 Barrow 6.21, 1974 Barrow 7.36, 1975 Newcastle 10.65, 1976 Newcastle 11.54, 1982 Newcastle 11.01, 1983 Newcastle 11.10, 1985 Ellesmere Port 10.47.

[steve19620 26]

As a "statto" it's got to be Joe Owen as the best NL rider. Records prove from the breakthough 1975 season Joe was dominant rider in the seasons he rode in the NL. No sooner Joe took the step into the BL in 1977, Tom Owen then took over the role as the best rider in NL until his broken leg ended his dominance - this does raise the question how long would have Tom dominated barring his injury ? Joe's 1976 season performances remains certainly the best from an individual rider at NL level. The facts speaks for itself - just 1 point dropped at home in league, 14 points dropped in 31 league matches, winner in 8 (out of 8) NL individual (including the NLRC) and 1 pairs meeting winner. Holder of the Silver Helmet all season - run on a monthly challenger basis at the time. These facts are taken from a statistical point of point of view as I wasn't a regular fan until 1978. However, upon Joe's "forced" return to the NL in 1982, his dominance continued although his average dropped by half a point from 1976 to just over 11 (!). It should be remembered the strength of NL was a lot higher from 1976. As an Ellesmere Port fan I saw Joe a number of times as a Diamond in 1982, I remember the excitement at Thornton Road when Joe raced as EVERY Gunner wanted to beat him. When Joe "burger" joined Ellesmere Port in 1985 after a season with Newcastle in BL, it was a big money signing that helped the Gunners win the NL. By the end of the season Joe's average had "dropped" to 10.5, but again the standard of the NL was higher than the previous season in the NL in 1983. BL standard riders such as Mike Ferriera, Stan Bear, Kevin Smith, Kevin Hawkins, Gordon Kennett, Roger Johns and Neil Middleditch were now riding in the NL. As a regular visitor to the away tracks, Joe was still the rider to beat and every opposing rider wanted to beat him, as a result this put "bums" on the seats when Ellesmere Port came visiting (Alas not at Thornton Road). Tragically his career ended at Birmingham at the end of the 1985 season, but I am certain he would be remained in the NL for the remainder of his career.

it should be remembered that riders such as John Louis (1971), Phil Crump (1972), Mike Ferriera (1981), Andrew Silver (1987) and Jason Crump (1993) all attained over (or near) an 11 point average in their final Division 2/NL seasons, all of the above took the "leap" into British League (with varying degrees of success) after reaching the above average so the opportunity to dominate at Division 2/NL level was "lost".

A final thought, what would Joe have achieved if he hadn't had the serious injury when he was with Hull in 1978 ?

 

Edited June 18, 2021 by steve19620

[Split 177]

We shouldn't forget the dominance that riders like Ivor Brown and Ivan Mauger enjoyed in the old Provincial League. Almost unbeatable at their home tracks of Cradley Heath and Newcastle and we all know what Mauger went on to achieve.

 

 

Edited June 17, 2021 by Split