Speedway Conference League
Encyclopedia
The Conference League was the third and lowest division of motorcycle speedway
racing in the United Kingdom
governed by the Speedway Control Board
(SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association
(BSPA). The other leagues being the Elite League
and Premier League
. The League consisted of eight teams for the 2008 season. In 2009 it was replaced with the Speedway National League
.
matches were extended to eighteen heats. The league was re-named the British Academy League in 1995, but many of the teams that took part experienced severe financial problems. In order to reduce costs, the league was re-launched as the Conference league in 1996 and was an entirely amateur competition. The revamped competition proved to be successful, with several new teams joining and some tracks attracting crowds on par with the Premier League
.
The league expanded to thirteen teams in 1997 and was renamed again to the British Amateur League. However, the 1997 season exposed a number of problems; some teams wished to include more established riders but others felt the focus should be on youth development. It was therefore decided by the BSPA that Elite League
and Premier League teams could operate second teams in a separate youth competition known as the British Development League. The remaining teams formed a third division that had less restrictions on the use of riders and reverted the competition name to the Conference League.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
racing in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
governed by the Speedway Control Board
The Speedway Control Board
The Speedway Control Bureau , formerly known as the Speedway Control Board, governs the sport of motorcycle speedway in the United Kingdom on behalf of the Auto Cycle Union . The directors are appointed by the ACU and British Speedway Promoters' Association...
(SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association
British Speedway Promoters' Association
The British Speedway Promoters Association organises the domestic motorcycle speedway competitions in the UK. They are also responsible for the promotion and running of the FIM meetings staged in Britain....
(BSPA). The other leagues being the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
and Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
. The League consisted of eight teams for the 2008 season. In 2009 it was replaced with the Speedway National League
Speedway National League
The National League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1932 until 1965 when it became known as the British League. Prior to 1932 there were only small regional leagues competing within the sport in the UK. The National League was re-incarnated in 1975 as the second division...
.
History
The British League Division Three had been created in 1994 as a replacement for the second-half junior leagues that were scrapped when British LeagueSpeedway British League
The British League was the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1995 when it became known as the Premier League. Prior to 1965 the division had been known as the National League....
matches were extended to eighteen heats. The league was re-named the British Academy League in 1995, but many of the teams that took part experienced severe financial problems. In order to reduce costs, the league was re-launched as the Conference league in 1996 and was an entirely amateur competition. The revamped competition proved to be successful, with several new teams joining and some tracks attracting crowds on par with the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
.
The league expanded to thirteen teams in 1997 and was renamed again to the British Amateur League. However, the 1997 season exposed a number of problems; some teams wished to include more established riders but others felt the focus should be on youth development. It was therefore decided by the BSPA that Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
and Premier League teams could operate second teams in a separate youth competition known as the British Development League. The remaining teams formed a third division that had less restrictions on the use of riders and reverted the competition name to the Conference League.
Champions
| Season | Champions |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Linlithgow Lightning |
| 1997 | Peterborough Pumas Peterborough Panthers The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006... |
| 1998 | St Austell Gulls St Austell Gulls The St Austell Gulls were a Speedway team which operated from 1949 until their closure in 1964 at the Cornish Stadium at Par, St Austell in Cornwall... |
| 1999 | Newport Mavericks Newport Wasps Newport Wasps are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Newport, South Wales. They were the 1999 Conference League champions.-History:The Wasp logo incorporates the traditional black and amber colours of the City of Newport... |
| 2000 | Sheffield Tigers Sheffield Tigers The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway... |
| 2001 | Sheffield Tigers Sheffield Tigers The Sheffield 'Window Centre' Tigers are a speedway team based in Sheffield, England. They currently race in the British Premier League and their home meetings take place at Owlerton Stadium which is the fastest track in British speedway... |
| 2002 | Peterborough Pumas Peterborough Panthers The Peterborough Panthers are a British speedway team based in Peterborough, England.They were the British Elite League Speedway Champions in 1999 and 2006... |
| 2003 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Mildenhall Fen Tigers The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, currently riding in the National League.The club moved up to the Premier League in 2006 after twelve seasons in the Conference League when new promoter Mick Horton took over. In 2007 Stadium owner Carl Harris formed 'Fen Tigers Limited' with... |
| 2004 | Mildenhall Fen Tigers Mildenhall Fen Tigers The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, currently riding in the National League.The club moved up to the Premier League in 2006 after twelve seasons in the Conference League when new promoter Mick Horton took over. In 2007 Stadium owner Carl Harris formed 'Fen Tigers Limited' with... |
| 2005 | Oxford Lions Oxford Lions The Oxford Lions were a Speedway team based in Oxford, England which last raced in the Conference League in 2007. They were the junior team of Elite League club Oxford Cheetahs.... |
| 2006 | Scunthorpe Scorpions Scunthorpe Scorpions The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a speedway team in the British Premier League. After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League for 2008... |
| 2007 | Scunthorpe Scorpions Scunthorpe Scorpions The Scunthorpe Scorpions are a speedway team in the British Premier League. After three successful years in the Conference League the side were accepted into the Premier League for 2008... |
| 2008 | Weymouth Wildcats Weymouth Wildcats The Weymouth Wildcats are a British motorcycle speedway team based in Weymouth, England who race in the National League. The Wildcats won the first Conference League Championship in their history in 2008 after winning the Conference League play-offs.-History:... |
External links
- british-speedway.co.uk - Official league tables