See also
United Kingdom Speedway Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tier One League Top division |
|  |
| Tier Two League Second division |
| |
| Tier Three League Third division | ||
| Champions | ||
| Sport | motorcycle speedway |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1976 |
| Ceased | 1987 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Notes | |
| replaced by the Elite League Pairs Championship | |
The British League Pairs Championship was a motorcycle speedway contest between the top two riders from each club competing in the British League in the United Kingdom, or the top division thereof when it had multiple divisions.
The meetings comprised a competition between teams of two riders, in some years with qualification for the final via two semi-finals. [1] The competition was first staged in 1976, when Ipswich Witches won, but was dropped from the speedway calendar after the 1978 final. [1] The competition was revived in 1984 and continued until 1988. [2] [3]
| Year | Winners | 2nd place | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 [4] | Ipswich Witches (John Louis & Billy Sanders) | Coventry Bees (Ole Olsen & Mitch Shirra) Belle Vue Aces (Peter Collins & Chris Morton) Cradley United (John Boulger & Bruce Cribb) | Ipswich |
| 1977 [5] | Ipswich Witches (John Louis & Billy Sanders) | King's Lynn Stars (Michael Lee & David Gagen) | Ipswich |
| 1978 [6] | Cradley Heath Heathens (Steve Bastable & Bruce Penhall) Coventry Bees (Ole Olsen & Mitch Shirra) | none (shared winners)* | Ipswich |
| 1979 to 1983 competition not held | |||
| 1984 [7] | Belle Vue Aces (Peter Collins & Chris Morton) | Reading Racers (Mitch Shirra & Tim Hunt) | Wolverhampton |
| 1985 [8] | Oxford Cheetahs (Hans Nielsen & Simon Wigg) | Reading Racers (Mitch Shirra & John Davis) | Wolverhampton |
| 1986 [9] | Oxford Cheetahs (Hans Nielsen & Simon Wigg) | Coventry Bees (Kelvin Tatum & John Jørgensen) | Sheffield |
| 1987 [10] | Oxford Cheetahs (Hans Nielsen & Andy Grahame) | Swindon Robins (Mitch Shirra & Jimmy Nilsen) | Reading |
United Kingdom Speedway Seasons | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tier One League Top division |
| |
| Tier Two League Second division |
| |
| Tier Three League Third division | ||
| Champions | ||
Hans Hollen Nielsen is a Danish former professional motorcycle speedway rider. He competed in the Speedway World Championships from 1977 to 1999. Nielsen is notable for winning four Speedway World Championship titles. During his career, he won a total of 22 World Championships, making him arguably the most successful speedway rider of all time. In 2012, Nielsen was named an FIM Legend for his motorcycling achievements. He later managed the Danish national team.
William Robert Sanders was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in West Germany in 1983.
John "Tiger" Louis is a former England international motorcycle speedway rider who rode for Ipswich, Newport, West Ham, Oxford, Wembley, Halifax and King's Lynn during his career. He is the father of Great Britain International Chris Louis.
The sport of speedway in the United Kingdom has changed little since the first meetings in the 1920s. It has three domestic leagues, its own Speedway Grand Prix, and an annual entry into the Speedway World Cup / Speedway of Nations.
Cradley Heathens was a motorcycle speedway team from Dudley, England. The team was founded in 1947 and competed at the top level of British speedway until its closure in 1995. It was revived as Dudley Heathens in 2010, competing in the National League, reverting to the Cradley Heathens name in 2013. It ceased operating after the 2019 season, although a team bearing the Heathens name has operated under the NORA umbrella on the Isle of Wight in 2021 and 2022 and in 2022 won The Michael Richardson Trophy.
Bo Petersen is a former motorcycle speedway rider from Denmark. He was the 1980 Danish champion.
David John Jessup is a former motorcycle speedway rider from England. He was a world championship runner-up, world pairs champion, world cup winner and British champion.
Andrew George Grahame is a former motorcycle speedway rider.
Alan William Grahame was a British motorcycle speedway rider.
Mitchell Owen Shirra is a former motorcycle speedway rider who rode with the Coventry Bees, Reading Racers, Swindon Robins and Ipswich Witches in the British League. During his career he was rode as and was better known as Mitch Shirra.
The 1947 National League Division One was the 13th season of speedway in the United Kingdom and the second post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
Norwich Stars were a motorcycle speedway team based in Norwich, England which operated from 1930 until their closure in 1964.
The 1947 National League Division Two was the second post-war season of the second tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain. In the previous season, the league was known as the Northern League but the addition of Bristol Bulldogs and a third tier saw the name revert to the one used 8 years previously.
The 1956 National League Division One was the 22nd season and eleventh post-war season of the highest tier of motorcycle speedway in Great Britain.
The 1984 British League season was the 50th season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 20th known as the British League.
The 1985 British League season was the 51st season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 21st known as the British League.
The 1986 British League season was the 52nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom and the 22nd known as the British League.
Joseph William Owen is a British former motorcycle speedway rider from England.
Melvyn Roy Taylor is a former speedway rider from England.
The Hunt Cup is a greyhound racing competition held at Oxford Stadium in England.