British League
Formerlyreplaced the National League and Provincial League
SportSpeedway
Founded1965
Ceased1994
replaced by Elite League
CompetitorsVaried
CountryUnited Kingdom

The British League was the main motorcycle speedway league in Britain from its formation in 1965 until 1995 when British speedway was restructured. It initially had a single division, with a second division starting in 1968 (which was renamed the New National League in 1975 and subsequently the National League).[1][2][3]

The British League was formed in 1965 following the merger of the National League and the Provincial League. Matches were held over a series of races, with two riders from each team taking part in each race. In 1995 it was replaced by the Premier League for two years before the sport was restructured into three tiers with the formation of the Elite League in 1997. The Championship was decided on a league table basis.[4][3]

Champions

Season Champions Second Third
1965 West Ham Hammers Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees
1966 Halifax Dukes Coventry Bees Swindon Robins
1967 Swindon Robins Coventry Bees West Ham Hammers
1968 Coventry Bees Hackney Hawks Exeter Falcons
1969 Poole Pirates Belle Vue Aces Wimbledon Dons
1970 Belle Vue Aces Wimbledon Dons Coventry Bees
1971 Belle Vue Aces Leicester Lions Coventry Bees
1972 Belle Vue Aces Reading Racers King's Lynn Stars
1973 Reading Racers Sheffield Tigers King's Lynn Stars
1974 Exeter Falcons Belle Vue Aces Ipswich Witches
1975 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Newport
1976 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Exeter Falcons
1977 White City Rebels Exeter Falcons Reading Racers
1978 Coventry Bees Belle Vue Aces Hull Vikings
1979 Coventry Bees Hull Vikings Cradley Heath Heathens
1980 Reading Racers Hackney Hawks Belle Vue Aces
1981 Cradley Heathens Ipswich Witches Swindon Robins
1982 Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heathens Ipswich Witches
1983 Cradley Heath Heathens Ipswich Witches Coventry Bees
1984 Ipswich Witches Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heath Heathens
1985 Oxford Cheetahs Sheffield Tigers Coventry Bees
1986 Oxford Cheetahs Cradley Heathens Wolverhampton Wolves
1987 Coventry Bees Cradley Heathens Swindon Robins
1988 Coventry Bees Belle Vue Aces Cradley Heath Heathens
1989 Oxford Cheetahs Wolverhampton Wolves Cradley Heath Heathens
1990 Reading Racers Wolverhampton Wolves Belle Vue Aces
1991 Wolverhampton Wolves Bradford Dukes Cradley Heath Heathens
1992 Reading Racers Bradford Dukes Poole Pirates
1993 Belle Vue Aces Wolverhampton Wolves Eastbourne Eagles
1994 Poole Pirates Eastbourne Eagles Wolverhampton Wolves

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bott, Richard (1980). The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4. Stanley Paul & Co Ltd. p. 99. ISBN 0-09-141751-1.
  2. ↑ "History Archive". British Speedway. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Speedway riders, history and results". wwosbackup. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Matthews/Morrison, Peter/Ian (1987). The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results. Guinness Superlatives. p. 291. ISBN 0-85112-492-5.
  • speedwaygb.co - Official BSPA (British Speedway Promoters Association) Homepage
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