The Premier League was the second tier of speedway in the United Kingdom (with the exception of the 1995 and 1996 seasons) and governed by The Speedway Control Bureau (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association ( BSPA ). The Premier League was founded in 1995 when the two divisions of the British League were amalgamated. In 1997, the Elite League was created as a new top tier with the Premier League becoming the second tier. The league operated until 2016 when British speedway was restructured with the formation of the SGB Premiership and SGB Championship .
23-652: The Premier League Riders Championship was a contest between the top riders with the highest average points total from each club competing in the Premier League in the United Kingdom. The championship was inaugurated in 1995, the same year that the Premier League was formed. For its first two years, the Premier League was the top league in Britain. However, from 1997 it was the competition for
46-763: A season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic , the Scorpions continued to race in the second tier Championship, entering their 15th season in the division in 2023. In 2023, spearheaded by Ryan Douglas , the Scorpions created a shock by winning the SGB Championship Knockout Cup , defeating favourites Poole Pirates 92-88 on aggregate in the final. 2007 team 2008 team 2008 team (juniors) 2009 team Also rode: 2009 team (juniors) 2010 team Number eight rider: 2015 team 2016 team Also rode: 2017 team Also rode: Replaced
69-602: A three times world champion. After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League (division 2) for 2008, but lost Tai Woffinden to Rye House. However they did achieve a mid-table finish in 2008 and 2009. The club also introduced a junior side called the Saints (after the original name of the club) who would continue riding in the Conference League and later
92-454: A track. The North Lincolnshire Council offered a 10-acre plot of land on Normanby Road and work began on creating a new venue. Promoters Rob Godfrey and Norman Beeney opened the track for practice in 2004 before the first meeting was held on 27 March 2005, ending a twenty-year absence. The Scorpions took their place in division 3 (the 2005 Speedway Conference League ). The following season the Scorpions signed Tai Woffinden and Josh Auty and
115-644: A year later in 2012 with Scunthorpe Scorpions victorious over the Somerset Rebels . The Premier League KOC was founded in 1968 under the name British League Division Two KOC , however since the Premier League was formed as the 2nd tier of British Speedway in 1997, it has come to be known as the Premier League KOC . The Competition usually runs throughout the premier league season and the final usually takes place in October. The Premier Trophy
138-710: Is usually run the night before the British GP . The current location for the contest is at the Oak Tree Arena , the home of the Somerset Rebels . List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Scunthorpe Scorpions The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a motorcycle speedway team in the British SGB Championship . They have raced at various times since 1971, at three different venues. Speedway in Scunthorpe began on 3 May 1971 at
161-626: The National League with the main aim to develop riders for the Premier League side. In 2012, the Scorpions won their highest honour to date, winning the 2012 Premier League after defeating the Somerset Rebels 92-91 on aggregate in the play off final. The team included Nick Morris , Josh Auty, Thomas Jørgensen , David Howe and Michael Palm Toft . In 2017, the Premier League became the SGB Championship . Following
184-726: The Quibell Park Stadium (an athletics stadium and velodrome). The inaugural season consisted primarily of a team known as the Scunthorpe Saints , who raced a series of challenge meetings at the stadium. The following year in 1972, the team joined the British league system, when they competed in the 1972 British League Division Two season but finished bottom of the table. Changes were made for 1973, with promoter Brian Osborn bringing in multiple new signings including Ken McKinlay . The Saints continued to race in
207-583: The 1985 season, Eric Boothroyd was brought in as the new team manager. Events began to deteriorate when the captain Rob Woffinden was injured and the team suffered heavy losses. Tony Nicholls then revealed financial losses and the team were disbanded in May 1985. A team known as the Scunthorpe Scorpions appeared in a couple of fixtures during 2003, which subsequently led to a search for
230-644: The 2009 season. * Although the Sheffield Tigers did not finish 2nd in the League, The Premier League play-offs in 2006 and 2007 decided the champions and runners up. In 2007, Sheffield Tigers finished 4th but got to the Final, eventually losing to the Rye House Rockets. The play-offs were founded in 2006 and are run as a Knock Out Competition. The play-offs are usually the last competition of
253-419: The League were crowned Premier League Champions, with the top 4 teams further competing in the Premier League play-offs. In 2012 a pre-league League Cup tournament was contested, initially on a round robin basis by Northern and Southern mini-leagues, with the top two teams from each going on to contest semi-finals. The top six teams in the Premier League proper will contest the league title via play-offs, while
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#1732794576877276-653: The Premier League Riders' Championship. The Premier League was founded in 1995 by the amalgamation of the two divisions of the British League , becoming the single professional tier of speedway in the UK. In 1997, the Elite League was formed as a new top tier, with the Premier League becoming the second tier. In 2015, Edinburgh Monarchs became the first team to win back-to-back titles since it became
299-553: The Scorpions won their first silverware, winning the playoffs after finishing second in the regular season table. The team also won the Knockout Cup to win the double, in addition to the Conference Trophy and pairs championship. The 2007 Speedway Conference League resulted in a second successive league and cup double, the Conference Trophy and fours event. The team was inspired by Tai Woffinden, who would later become
322-520: The format was changed. This time the league winners were crowned Champions of the Premier League. Therefore, the play-offs were now to decide which team from the Top 4 would go on to contest the Bottom Elite League team in the promotion/relegation Battle. No Premier League team has yet been successful in the promotion/relegation battle. In 2011 the play-off's weren't run, although they returned
345-512: The move, the Saints also changed their name from the Saints to the Stags. The team continued to compete in the second division and continued to produce moderate results, only managing a best finish of 5th place during the 1983 National League season . Riders came and went and in the Summer of 1984 the promotion was taken over by Tony Nicholls, who had plans to expand Ashby Ville. For the start of
368-601: The next six teams at the end of the league matches will contest another trophy via a similar system. The champions are now the winners of the play-offs. At the start of each season, teams are built up to maximum points limit. The combined Calculated Match Average (CMA) of the seven riders declared in the team must not be higher than an agreed figure set at the British Speedway Promoters' Association ( BSPA ) Annual General Meeting . The Current Combined CMA limit stands at 42.50 and has been this figure since
391-543: The run during the Premier League season and are contested in October. The first format was the top 8 teams from the Premier league going through to the play-offs. The Eventual winner of the play-offs were then declared Premier League Champions with the other finalists being declared Runner-Up. In 2007, the format was changed to the top 4 contesting the play-offs to decide the League Champions. Once again in 2008,
414-482: The second tier in the sport. The league took a standard League format from its creation in 1995 until 2005. In 2006 & 2007, the play-offs were devised which the top 4 (8 in 2006) finishing teams in the League contested in a knock-out competition, with the winner of the play-offs crowned the Premier League Champions. From 2008 onwards, the play-offs remained, however the prize was changed. Instead,
437-512: The second tier of British speedway, which from 1975 was known as the National League. However, the seasons were disappointing with the team struggling at the foot of the table. Major changes took place during 1979, the first being a change of venue to Ashby Ville Stadium . Promoter Brian Osborn was forced to find a new home following issues with the athletics club and North Lincolnshire council over track conditions. In conjunction with
460-638: The second tier, because the new Elite League had been formed. In 2017, the Premier League became the SGB Championship and was duly renamed the SGB Championship Riders' Individual Championship . Premier League (speedway) As of 2016, there were 13 teams competing in this tier of British Speedway, contesting 6 competitions for silverware. These competitions were the Premier League, Premier League Cup, Premier League Knockout Cup, Premier League Pairs, Premier League Fours and
483-474: The team that finished top in the league would be crowned champions, and then the top 4 finishing teams would qualify for the play-offs. The winner of the competition would then go on to race against the bottom Elite League team in the promotion/relegation Battle. Since its inception, no Premier League team has been successful in gaining Promotion this way. There is no longer promotion to the Elite league. The format
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#1732794576877506-537: Was first contested in 1999. The Competition is usually run before the Premier League starts in April and May. The finals are usually contested in June/July. The competition was dropped from the 2011 calendar due to the expansion of the Premier League fixtures. The Premier League Pairs was first contested in 1975. It was first run as the Premier League pairs when the 2nd tier was renamed the Premier League. The competition
529-498: Was revised for the 2011 Season. All teams met each other once home and once away, with the League then splitting into two groups using a pre-set formula based on their relative standings at the cut-off point of 10 home/ten away matches to determine the remaining 12 (6 home/6 away) fixtures for each side. The League fixtures were expanded due to the Premier Trophy being defunct for the 2011 Season. The Team that finished 1st in
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