1997 Elite League speedway season

Last updated

1997 Elite League speedway season
League Sky Sports Elite League
Champions Bradford Dukes
Knockout Cup Eastbourne Eagles
Craven Shield Coventry Bees
Individual Greg Hancock
Fours Peterborough Panthers
Highest average Tony Rickardsson
Division/s below 1997 Premier League
1997 Conference League

The 1997 Elite League speedway season was the 63rd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was the first season of a new league known as the Elite League [1] and was governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA). [2] [3]

Contents

Season summary

In 1997, the single speedway league in Great Britain separated after two seasons, forming a new top division. The inaugural league consisted of ten teams. The league operated on a standard format without play-offs. [4] The Craven Shield was introduced as an end of season cup competition for the top eight teams in the league standings. [5] [6]

Bradford Dukes finally won the league, their first success since 1966 when they raced as Halifax Dukes. Bradford retained top English riders Gary Havelock and Joe Screen but crucially brought in Mark Loram from Exeter Falcons. Loram had a superb season that included becoming the new British Champion. [7]

Final table

PosMWDLFAPtsBonTot
1 Bradford Dukes 362311217331506471562
2 Eastbourne Eagles 362001616651570401151
3 Swindon Robins 36201151662157841950
4 Ipswich Witches 361621716711616341347
5 King's Lynn Knights 36183151592164539847
6 Belle Vue Aces 36180181646158736945
7 Wolverhampton Wolves 36180181572165836642
8 Coventry Bees 36151201582165331738
9 Poole Pirates 36132211551168428634
10 Peterborough Panthers 36140221556167928533

'A' Fixtures

Home \ Away BV BD COV EAS IPS KL PET PP SWI WOL
Belle Vue Aces 48–4242–4754–3651–3863–2751–3961–2953–3752–38
Bradford Dukes 51–3950–4055–3558–3252–3842–4844–4546–4455–35
Coventry Bees 48–4244–4648–4250–4042–4839–5150–4041–4951–39
Eastbourne Eagles 48–4258–3256–3463–2753–3756–3359–3148–4242–46
Ipswich Witches 44–4551–3956–3460–3050–4049–4151–3955–3757–33
King's Lynn Knights 47–4341–4948–4256–3450–4050–4050–4051–3950–40
Peterborough Panthers 53–3740–5050–4046–4441–4944–4643–4741–4942–47
Poole Pirates 39–5137–5348–4244–4650–4052–3844–4645–4547–43
Swindon Robins 51–3947–4350–4054–3652–3846–4447–4355–3556–34
Wolverhampton Wolves 51–3949–4146–4359–3153–3753–3651–3956–3348–42
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

'B' Fixtures

Home \ Away BV BD COV EAS IPS KL PET PP SWI WOL
Belle Vue Aces 44–4652–3857–3355–3356–3447–4350–4054–3648–42
Bradford Dukes 53–3745–4559–3160–3057–3354–3636–5452–3858–32
Coventry Bees 53–3652–2853–3752–3840–4947–4358–3254–3660–30
Eastbourne Eagles 51–3956–3454–3649–4161–2966–2455–3555–3552–37
Ipswich Witches 58–3239–5157–3259–3145–4544–4552–3847–4357–32
King's Lynn Knights 49–4148–4246–4448–4245–4553–3752–3842–4858–32
Peterborough Panthers 57–3341–4950–4053–3641–4950–4048–4149–4151–39
Poole Pirates 53–3635–5565–2544–4648–4245–4558–3248–4261–28
Swindon Robins 54–3649–4143–4747–4359–3153–3749–4157–3354–36
Wolverhampton Wolves 49–4135–5559–3140–5052–3847–4255–3552–3854–36
Source: [8]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Elite League Knockout Cup

The 1997 Elite League Knockout Cup, sponsored by the Speedway Star, was the 59th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams but the first under its new name. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners of the competition. [9]

First round

Group A

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
15/03Coventry51-40Swindon
16/03Swindon41-49Coventry
21/03Belle Vue48-42Coventry
22/03Coventry45-45Wolverhampton
22/03Bradford56-34Swindon
23/03Swindon47-42Bradford
24/03Wolverhampton52-38Swindon
28/03Belle Vue56-33Wolverhampton
29/03Swindon56-34Belle Vue
29/03Bradford58-32Wolverhampton
31/03Coventry49-41Bradford
31/03Wolverhampton52-38Belle Vue
04/04Belle Vue46-44Bradford
05/04Bradford52-38Coventry
05/04Swindon65-25Wolverhampton
11/04Belle Vue52-40Swindon
12/04Coventry51-41Belle Vue
14/04Wolverhampton50-40Coventry
19/04Bradford57-33Belle Vue
28/04Wolverhampton44-46Bradford
PosTeamPWDL
1Bradford8503
2Coventry8413
3Belle Vue8404
4Wolverhampton8314
5Swindon8305

Group B

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
20/03Ipswich47-43Peterborough
21/03Peterborough41-49Kings Lynn
23/03Eastbourne53-37Ipswich
28/03Ipswich50-40Kings Lynn
28/03Peterborough62-27Eastbourne
30/03Eastbourne54-36Poole
02/04Poole53-37Kings Lynn
03/04Ipswich44-46Eastbourne
06/04Eastbourne55-35Kings Lynn
09/04Kings Lynn46-44Eastbourne
09/04Poole52-38Peterborough
10/04Ipswich41-49Poole
11/04Peterborough38-52Poole
12/04Kings Lynn37-52Poole
16/04Kings Lynn47-43Peterborough
16/04Poole57-33Ipswich
18/04Peterborough48-42Ipswich
19/04Eastbourne52-37Peterborough
23/04Poole73-17Eastbourne
30/04Kings Lynn41-49Ipswich
PosTeamPWDL
1Poole8701
2Eastbourne8503
3King's Lynn8305
4Peterborough8305
5Ipswich8206

Semi-finals

DateTeam oneScoreTeam two
02/07Poole53-37Coventry
15/06Coventry48-42Poole
15/07Bradford56-34Eastbourne
13/04Eastbourne58-32Bradford

Final

First leg

Poole Pirates
Craig Boyce 18
Lars Gunnestad 10
43 - 49 Eastbourne Eagles
Stefan Andersson 10
Gary Havelock (guest) 10
David Norris 8
Stefan Danno 7
Alan Mogridge 5
[10]

Second leg

Eastbourne Eagles
Martin Dugard 14
Ronnie Correy (guest) 14
Stefan Andersson 13
Stefan Danno 12
David Norris 8
Alan Mogridge 6
67 - 23 Poole Pirates
Craig Boyce 7
Mark Lemon 5
Armando Castagna 4
Ben Howe 3
Lars Gunnestad 2
Savalas Clouting 2
[11]

Eastbourne Eagles were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 116-66.

Riders' Championship

Greg Hancock won the Elite League Riders' Championship, held at Odsal Stadium on 11 October. [12]

Pos.RiderTotalTotalSFFinal
1 Flag of the United States.svg Greg Hancock 2 1 3 3 312x3
2 Flag of Sweden.svg Tony Rickardsson 2 3 2 3 313x2
3 Flag of England.svg Chris Louis 3 3 1 2 21121
4 Flag of England.svg Simon Wigg 1 0 3 2 3930
5 Flag of England.svg Mark Loram 1 2 3 1 291
6 Flag of the United States.svg Billy Hamill 3 TX 0 3 390
7 Flag of the United States.svg Sam Ermolenko 3 1 2 0 28
8 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Boyce 1 1 3 2 18
9 Flag of England.svg Joe Screen 2 3 1 1 18
10 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Crump 0 2 2 3 07
11 Flag of England.svg Martin Dugard 2 3 0 0 16
12 Flag of Denmark.svg Brian Andersen 0 2 1 2 16
13 Flag of Sweden.svg Peter Karlsson 0 1 2 1 26
14 Flag of Sweden.svg Mikael Karlsson 3 0 1 TX 04
15 Flag of England.svg Garry Stead (res)2 02
16 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leigh Adams 1 0 0 0 01
17 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Johnston 0 0 0 1 01

Fours

Peterborough Panthers won the Elite League Four Team Tournament, which was held on 3 August 1997, at the East of England Arena. [13] [14]

Final
PosTeamPtsRiders
1Peterborough27Crump 9, Sullivan 6
2Bradford21Screen 10
3Swindon15Adams 10
4Belle Vue15Hamill 6

Final leading averages

RiderTeamAverage
Flag of Sweden.svg Tony Rickardsson Ipswich10.09
Flag of the United States.svg Billy Hamill Belle Vue10.07
Flag of the United States.svg Greg Hancock Coventry9.85
Flag of England.svg Joe Screen Bradford9.77
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Leigh Adams Swindon9.76
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Jason Crump Peterborough9.71
Flag of England.svg Mark Loram Bradford9.59
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Boyce Poole9.43
Flag of England.svg Chris Louis Ipswich9.42
Flag of Denmark.svg Brian Andersen Coventry9.02

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

Bradford

Coventry

Eastbourne

Ipswich

King's Lynn

Peterborough

Poole

Swindon

Wolverhampton

See also

References

  1. "Speedway bosses aim for Elite Era" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 7 November 1996. Retrieved 21 February 2025 via British Newspaper Archive.
  2. "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive.
  3. "HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  4. "1997 league tables". Speedway GB.
  5. "Wheelie Good Trophy for Champs" . Reading Evening Post. 30 June 1997. Retrieved 10 December 2021 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "History Archive". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  7. "British Final Roll of Honour". BSPA. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  8. 1 2 "1997 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. "1997 Elite League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive.
  10. "Speedway" . Reading Evening Post. 5 September 1997. Retrieved 31 May 2024 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Speedway" . South Wales Echo. 8 September 1997. Retrieved 31 May 2024 via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. "Double triumph for Greg" . Coventry Evening Telegraph. 13 October 1997. Retrieved 7 June 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  13. "Speedway" . Birmingham Daily Post. 4 August 1997. Retrieved 6 July 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. "1997 fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 6 July 2023.