British 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.

British League Pairs Championship
Sportmotorcycle speedway
Founded1976
Ceased1987
CountryUnited Kingdom
Notes
replaced by the
Elite League Pairs Championship

History

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]

Winners
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
  • Meeting abandoned after 14 heats due to fog, result stands

See also

References
  1. Oakes, Peter (1991) The Complete History of the British League, Front Page Books, ISBN 0948882077, p. 9 (Championship Events section)
  2. "British Speedway Archive". Speedway GB. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  3. "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 October 2021.
  4. "Speedway". Daily Mirror. 20 October 1976. Retrieved 16 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  5. "Sport in Brief". Birmingham Daily Post. 30 September 1977. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. "1978 Complete season records" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  7. "Morton Collins, perfect partners". Birmingham Mail. 12 September 1984. Retrieved 18 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  8. "Racers are edged out by Oxford pair". Reading Evening Post. 1 July 1985. Retrieved 17 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. "Chris's final warning". Manchester Evening News. 26 August 1986. Retrieved 18 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. "Oxford Wins Hans Down". Reading Evening Post. 13 July 1987. Retrieved 18 May 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
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