British League Division Two Riders Championship

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British League Division Two Riders Championship
SportMotorcycle speedway
Founded1968
CountryUnited Kingdom
Notes
replaced by
Premier League Riders Championship
from 1997

competition above
British League Riders' Championship

The British League Division Two Riders Championship was a motorcycle speedway contest between the top riders from each club (with the highest average points) competing in the second tier of British speedway.[1]

History[edit]

The championship was inaugurated in 1968 when it was known as the British League Division Two Riders Championship.[2] The competition was known as the British League Division Two Riders' Championship between 1968 and 1974 and again between 1991 and 1994. From 1975 until 1990 it was known as the National League Riders' Championship.[3]

The competition was held at Hackney between 1968 and 1971, then it was moved to Wimbledon and held there between 1972 and 1984. The last year of the tournament was 1994, after which speedway was restructured with the top two leagues combining to form the Premier League. After two seasons the Premier League became the second tier/division of British speedway in 1997, this resulted in the Premier League Riders Championship effectively being a continuation of the British League Division Two Riders Championship from 1997.

Winners[edit]

Year Winner Team 2nd Team 3rd Team
British League Division Two Riders' Championship
1968[4] Graham Plant Middlesbrough Teessiders Ken Eyre Belle Vue Colts Graeme Smith Rayleigh Rockets
1969[5] Geoff Ambrose Crayford Highwaymen Mick Bell Reading Racers Ross Gilbertson Romford Bombers
1970[6] Dave Jessup Eastbourne Eagles Barry Crowson Canterbury Crusaders Gary Peterson Bradford Northern
1971[7] John Louis Ipswich Witches Malcolm Shakespeare Long Eaton Archers Hugh Saunders Rayleigh Rockets
1972[8] Phil Crump Crewe Kings Arthur Price Boston Barracudas Bob Coles Barrow Happy Faces
1973[9] Arthur Price Boston Barracudas Bobby McNeil Eastbourne Eagles Lou Sansom Workington Comets
1974[10] Carl Glover Boston Barracudas Ted Hubbard Canterbury Crusaders Phil Herne Birmingham Brummies
National League Riders' Championship
1975[11] Laurie Etheridge Crayford Kestrels Brian Collins Coatbridge Tigers Arthur Browning Birmingham Brummies
1976[12] Joe Owen Newcastle Diamonds John Jackson Ellesmere Port Gunners Ted Hubbard Rye House Rockets
1977[13] Colin Richardson Eastbourne Eagles Martin Yeates Oxford Cheetahs Tom Owen Newcastle Diamonds
1978[14] Steve Koppe Canterbury Crusaders John Jackson Ellesmere Port Gunners Ted Hubbard Rye House Rockets
1979[15] Ian Gledhill Stoke Potters Steve Wilcock Middlesbrough Tigers Andy Grahame Milton Keynes Knights
1980[16] Wayne Brown Berwick Bandits Martin Yeates Weymouth Wildcats Steve Finch Ellesmere Port Gunners
1981[17] Mike Ferreira Canterbury Crusaders Simon Wigg Weymouth Wildcats Bruce Cribb Wolverhampton Wolves
1982[18] Joe Owen Newcastle Diamonds Steve Lomas Boston Barracudas Bob Garrad Rye House Rockets
1983[19] Steve McDermott Berwick Bandits Richard Knight Mildenhall Fen Tigers Martin Yeates Weymouth Wildcats
1984[20] Ian Barney Peterborough Panthers Dave Perks Long Eaton Invaders Martin Yeates Weymouth Wildcats
1985[21] Neil Middleditch Arena Essex Hammers Kevin Hawkins Peterborough Panthers Trevor Banks Hackney Hawks
1986[22] Paul Thorp Stoke Potters Steve Schofield Poole Pirates Les Collins Edinburgh Monarchs
1987[23] Andrew Silver Arena Essex Hammers Nigel Crabtree Stoke Potters David Blackburn Newcastle Diamonds
1988[24] Troy Butler Milton Keynes Knights Mark Loram Hackney Hawks Kenny McKinna Glasgow Tigers
1989[25] Mark Loram Ipswich Witches Kenny McKinna Glasgow Tigers David Blackburn Berwick Bandits
1990[26] Andy Grahame Wimbledon Dons Chris Louis Ipswich Witches Craig Boyce Poole Pirates
British League Division Two Riders' Championship
1991[27] Jan Stæchmann Long Eaton Invaders David Bargh Newcastle Diamonds Troy Butler Milton Keynes Knights
1992[28] Róbert Nagy Glasgow Tigers Mick Poole Peterborough Panthers Richard Green Exeter Falcons
1993[29] Gary Allan Swindon Robins Mick Poole Peterborough Panthers Tony Langdon Oxford Cheetahs
1994[30] Paul Bentley Middlesbrough Bears Tony Olsson Swindon Robins Tony Langdon Swindon Robins

Sponsors[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 100. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
  2. ^ Oakes, Peter (1981). 1981 Speedway Yearbook. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 61. ISBN 0-86215-017-5.
  3. ^ "National League Riders Championship 1968-1994". Edinburgh Speedway Archive. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Two in hospital after Big Speedway Pile-Up". Daily Mirror. 28 September 1968. Retrieved 13 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. ^ "Speedway". Daily Mirror. 27 September 1969. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ^ "Jessup roars in". Daily Mirror. 26 September 1970. Retrieved 14 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals". Hull Daily Mail. 4 October 1971. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. ^ "Phil Crump wins title after run-off". Hull Daily Mail. 16 October 1972. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Price takes Crump's crown". Lynn Advertiser. 9 October 1973. Retrieved 16 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Crash ends Graham's title hopes". Hull Daily Mail. 30 September 1974. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "Lee's title bid fails". Cambridge Daily News. 29 September 1975. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Joe Owen gains speedway double". Lincolnshire Echo. 4 October 1976. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. ^ "Stuart's five". Staffordshire Sentinel. 26 September 1977. Retrieved 17 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Bales edged out". Cambridge Daily News. 25 September 1978. Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  15. ^ "Outlaw's Crash". Derby Daily Telegraph. 1 October 1979. Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. ^ "Brown the King". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 28 September 1980. Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  17. ^ "Tigers crash out". Cambridge Daily News. 28 September 1981. Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  18. ^ "Owen is the king". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 19 September 1982. Retrieved 20 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  19. ^ "Bandit Steals Title". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 25 September 1983. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. ^ "Barney wins title". Sunday Sun (Newcastle). 14 October 1984. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. ^ "Great, Neil". Sunday Mirror. 11 August 1985. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. ^ "What a double". Cambridge Daily News. 1 September 1986. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. ^ "Nigel makes up for NLRC second". Staffordshire Sentinel. 14 September 1987. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  24. ^ "Troy Butler". Speedway Museum. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Speedway". Daily Record. 11 September 1989. Retrieved 21 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  26. ^ "Grahame's title". Staffordshire Sentinel. 17 September 1990. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  27. ^ "Jan is tasting victory". Nottingham Evening Post. 16 September 1991. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  28. ^ "No joy for Jan". Nottingham Evening Post. 21 September 1992. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. ^ "Speedway". Sunday Mirror. 26 September 1993. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  30. ^ "Rickardsson does Sweden proud". Birmingham Daily Post. 19 September 1994. Retrieved 22 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.