1991 British League Division Two season#British League Division Two Knockout Cup
{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway tier 2 league season}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox speedway league season
| competition = British League Division Two
| competitors = 11
| domesticcup1 = Champions
| domesticcup1 winners = Arena Essex Hammers
| domesticcup2 = Knockout Cup
| domesticcup2 winners = Arena Essex Hammers
| domesticcup3 = Individual
| domesticcup3 winners = Jan Stæchmann
| domesticcup4 = Fours
| domesticcup4 winners = Arena Essex Hammers
| highest average = Bo Petersen
| league above = British League (Div 1)
| prevseason = 1990
| nextseason = 1992
}}
The 1991 British League Division Two season (sponsored by Sunbrite) was contested as the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom. The league had been renamed from the National League.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/p/compet.html|title=Historic league tables|publisher=Speedway Archive}} The season saw one of the rare occasions that speedway operated a promotion/relegation system.
Summary
Terry Russell and Ivan Henry purchased Arena Essex Hammers from Chick Woodroffe{{cite news |title=Speedway continues |work=Brentwood Gazette |date=8 February 1991 |access-date=16 May 2024|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003747/19910208/053/0053 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }} and they built a new team that were dominant, winning 21 of their 22 league matches, winning the Knockout Cup{{cite web|url=https://cybermotorcycle.com/archives/exeter-speedway/leagues-88.htm |title=1988 to 1993 |website=Cyber Morotcycles |access-date=16 May 2024}} and claiming the fours championship held at the East of England Arena on 21 July.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Western Daily Press |date=22 July 1991 |access-date=13 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004974/19910722/031/0031 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1991-present|title=
BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)|website=Official British Speedway website|access-date=11 September 2021}}
Hackney Kestrels reverted to a previous name Hackney Hawks but withdrew in July, ten league matches into the season.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=3 July 1991 |access-date=28 September 2024 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005014/19910703/049/0049 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
Final table
| class=wikitable width="400"
! Pos ! Team ! PL ! W ! D ! L ! BP ! Pts |
| 1
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 21 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 11 | align="center" | 53 |
| 2
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 36 |
| 3
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 35 |
| 4
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 12 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 10 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 31 |
| 5
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 12 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 10 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 31 |
| 6
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 11 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 11 | align="center" | 5 | align="center" | 27 |
| 7
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 26 |
| 8
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 9 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 20 |
| 9
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 8 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 4 | align="center" | 20 |
| 10
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 13 | align="center" | 2 | align="center" | 18 |
| 11
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 0 | align="center" | 15 | align="center" | 3 | align="center" | 17 |
| 12
| align="center" | 22 | align="center" | 7 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 14 | align="center" | 1 | align="center" | 16 |
British League Division Two Knockout Cup
The 1991 British League Division Two Knockout Cup sponsored by Phonesport, was the 24th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Arena Essex Hammers were the winners of the competition.{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1991.php|title=1991 National League Knockout Cup|publisher=Speedway Great Britain}}
First round
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=200| Team one !width=200| Team two !width=80| 1st leg !width=80| 2nd leg | |||
| Long Eaton | Edinburgh | 54–36 | 45–45 |
| Stoke | Rye House | 54–36 | 35–54 |
| Exeter | Newcastle | 49–40 | 35–54 |
| Middlesbrough | Arena Essex | 51–39 | 36–53 |
Quarter-finals
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=200| Team one !width=200| Team two !width=80| 1st leg !width=80| 2nd leg | |||
| Glasgow | Milton Keynes | 61–28 | 45–44 |
| Rye House | Long Eaton | 46–43 | 40–50 |
| Newcastle | Hackney | 52–38 | 44–46 |
| Peterborough | Arena Essex | 50–40 | 29–61 |
Semi-finals
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
!width=200| Team one !width=200| Team two !width=80| 1st leg !width=80| 2nd leg | |||
| Arena Essex | Long Eaton | 65–25 | 47–43 |
| Glasgow | Newcastle | 48–42 | 43–46 |
=Final=
First leg
{{footballbox
|date = 9 October 1991
|team1 = Glasgow Tigers
Jason Lyons 11
Shane Bowes 10
Mick Powell 7
Mark Courtney 6
Steve Lawson 5
Sean Courtney 5
Brian Nixon 2
|score = 46 – 44
|report = {{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1991fixtures.pdf|title=1991 KO cup final|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=30 September 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/glasgow1991.pdf|title=Glasgow Tigers fixtures|website=Speedway Researcher|access-date=30 September 2021}}
|team2 = Arena Essex Hammers
Bo Petersen 16
Brian Karger 8
Alan Mogridge 8
Troy Pratt 6
Paul Hurry 3
Colin White 2
Andy Galvin 1
|stadium = Shawfield Stadium
}}
Second leg
{{footballbox
|date = 12 October 1991
|team1 = Arena Essex Hammers
Bo Petersen 12
Brian Karger 10
Troy Pratt 9
Alan Mogridge 6
Andy Galvin 4
Paul Hurry 3
Colin White 2
|score = 46 – 44
|team2 = Glasgow Tigers
Jason Lyons 13
Steve Lawson 12
Shane Bowes 7
Mark Courtney 5
Mick Powell 3
Brian Nixon 3
Sean Courtney 1
|stadium = Arena Essex Raceway
}}
Final tied 90–90, replay required
=Final replay=
First leg
{{footballbox
|date = 19 October 1991
|team1 = Arena Essex Hammers
Brian Karger 14
Paul Hurry 10
Alan Mogridge 10
Andy Galvin 8
Bo Petersen 7
Troy Pratt 7
Colin White 4
|score = 60 – 30
|team2 = Glasgow Tigers
Steve Lawson 12
Shane Bowes 7
Jason Lyons 6
Mick Powell 2
Sean Courtney 2
Mark Courtney 1
Brian Nixon 0
|stadium = Arena Essex Raceway
}}
Second leg
{{footballbox
|date = 20 October 1991
|team1 = Glasgow Tigers
Steve Lawson 14
Sean Courtney 7
Mark Courtney 7
Shane Bowes 6
Brian Nixon 6
Jason Lyons 5
Mick Powell 5
|score = 50 – 40
|team2 = Arena Essex Hammers
Bo Petersen 15
Brian Karger 14
Andy Galvin 5
Paul Hurry 3
Troy Pratt 1
Alan Mogridge 1
Colin White 1
|stadium = Shawfield Stadium
}}
Arena Essex were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 100–80.
Riders' Championship
Jan Stæchmann won the Riders' Championship. The final sponsored by Jawa Moto & Barum was held on 14 September at Brandon Stadium.{{cite news |title=Jan is tasting victory |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=16 September 1991 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003894/19910916/018/0018 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
| class=wikitable
!width=25px|Pos. | width=180px|Rider | width=100px|Pts | width=50px|Total |
| align=center {{speedway color|g}}
|1 | align=left|{{flagicon|DEN}} Jan Stæchmann | 3 2 3 3 3 | 14+3 |
| align=center
|2 | align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} David Bargh | 3 3 3 2 3 | 14+2 |
| align=center
|3 | align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Troy Butler | 3 3 3 0 3 | 12 |
| align=center
|4 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Les Collins | 2 3 1 3 2 | 11 |
| align=center
|5 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Neil Evitts | 3 3 2 1 2 | 11 |
| align=center
|6 | align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Mark Thorpe | f 2 3 2 2 | 9 |
| align=center
|7 | align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Steve Regeling | 2 1 0 3 2 | 8 |
| align=center
|8 | align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Stephen Davies | 2 0 2 2 1 | 7 |
| align=center
|9 | align=left|{{flagicon|SCO}} Kenny McKinna | 0 2 0 3 1 | 6 |
| align=center
|10 | align=left|{{flagicon|DEN}} Bo Petersen | 1 2 2 ef fex | 5 |
| align=center
|11 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Carl Blackbird | 1 1 1 1 0 | 4 |
| align=center
|12 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Eric Monaghan | 0 0 1 2 1 | 4 |
| align=center
|13 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Steve Lawson | 1 0 0 1 1 | 3 |
| align=center
|14 | align=left|{{flagicon|AUS}} Shane Bowes | 2 0 1 tex r | 3 |
| align=center
|15 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Peter Carr | 1 1 2 1 0 | 5 |
| align=center
|16 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Melvyn Taylor | 0 1 0 0 3 | 4 |
| align=center
|17 | align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Clarence (res) | 0 | 0 |
- f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure t=touched tapes
Fours
Arena Essex Hammers won the fours championship final, held at the East of England Arena on 21 July.{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Western Daily Press |date=22 July 1991 |access-date=13 May 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0004974/19910722/031/0031 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}
Final
| class=wikitable style="font-size:93%;"
!width=25px|Pos | width=150px|Team | width=50px|Pts | width=400px|Riders |
| align=center
|1 | align=left| Arena Essex | 32 | Karger 9, Petersen 9 |
| align=center
|2 | align=left| Edinburgh | 15+ | Saunders 6 Collins L 5, Coles 2, Walker 2 |
| align=center
|3 | align=left| Long Eaton | 15 | Blackbird C 4, Steachmann 4, O'Hare |
| align=center
|4 | align=left| Milton Keynes | 10 | Butler 6 Keats 2 |
- Edinburgh awarded 2nd on race wins.
Leading averages
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%"
!width=200| Rider !width=200| Team !width=40| Average | ||
| align="left"| Bo Petersen | Arena Essex | 10.54 |
| align="left"| Brian Karger | Arena Essex | 10.23 |
| align="left"| Mark Thorpe | Newcastle | 9.93 |
| align="left"| Neil Evitts | Sheffield | 9.79 |
| align="left"| Mikael Blixt | Peterborough | 9.69 |
| align="left"| David Bargh | Newcastle | 9.55 |
| align="left"| Andy Grahame | Wimbledon | 9.44 |
| align="left"| Jan Stæchmann | Long Eaton | 9.39 |
| align="left"| Peter Carr | Sheffield | 9.36 |
| align="left"| Troy Butler | Milton Keynes | 9.26 |
Riders & final averages
Arena Essex Hammers
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Bo Petersen 10.54
- Brian Karger 10.23
- Alan Mogridge 8.85
- Troy Pratt 7.45
- Andy Galvin 7.43
- Jan Pedersen 6.87
- Paul Hurry 5.59
- Colin White 5.45
- Robert Ledwith 5.25
- Tommy Palmer 1.54
{{div col end}}
Edinburgh
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Les Collins 9.10
- Michael Coles 7.97
- Frede Schott 7.79
- Brett Saunders 7.49
- Nigel Alderton 5.55
- David Steen 4.98
- Johnny Jorgensen 4.74
- Justin Walker 4.62
{{div col end}}
Exeter
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve Regeling 8.74
- Peter Jeffery 8.08
- Richard Green 7.80
- David Smart 7.49
- Colin Cook 6.48
- Richard Knight 5.29
- Mark Simmonds 5.20
- Justin Elkins 3.45
- Frank Smart 3.20
{{div col end}}
Glasgow
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Steve Lawson 8.44
- Shane Bowes 8.38
- Jason Lyons 7.82
- Mark Courtney 7.21
- Sean Courtney 6.76
- Mick Powell 6.21
- Brian Nixon 4.55
{{div col end}}
Hackney (withdrew from league)
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Paul Whittaker 8.74
- Tony Olsson 7.79
- Dave Hamnett 6.57
- Vladimir Kalina 5.81
- Michael Warren 5.38
- Richard Hellsen 5.13
- Pavel Karnas 4.36
- Roland Pollard 2.25
- Tim Hunter 2.21
{{div col end}}
Long Eaton
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Jan Stæchmann 9.39
- Carl Blackbird 8.73
- Kai Niemi 6.67
- Gary O'Hare 5.66
- Mark Blackbird 5.64
- Peter McNamara 5.32
- Rob Tilbury 4.74
- Stuart Parnaby 2.69
{{div col end}}
Middlesbrough
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Kenny McKinna 8.00
- Steve Wilcock 6.88
- Lars Munkedal 6.18
- Mark Lemon 6.04
- Duncan Chapman 5.26
- Wayne Carter 5.25
- Shawn Venables 4.55
- Carsten Pelzmann 4.52
- Chris Readshaw 2.87
{{div col end}}
Milton Keynes
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Troy Butler 9.26
- Jan Pedersen 7.93
- Paul Woods 5.80
- Peter Glanz 5.56
- Jamie Habbin 5.37
- Nigel De'ath 5.23
- Justin Walker 4.77
- Derrol Keats 3.78
- Paul Blackbird 1.82
{{div col end}}
Newcastle
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Mark Thorpe 9.93
- David Bargh 9.55
- Scott Lamb 7.32
- Martin Dixon 6.23
- Dave Hamnett 5.96
- Peter Jeffery 5.03
- Richard Juul 4.03
- Jamie Habbin 3.91
- Max Schofield 2.76
{{div col end}}
Peterborough
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Mikael Blixt 9.69
- Stephen Davies 8.14
- Richard Hellsen 7.44
- Scott Norman 6.12
- Mark Lyndon 6.10
- Kevin Jolly 5.75
- Gary Tagg 5.14
- Robbie Fuller 4.06
- Roger Horspool 3.18
- Tim Hunter 3.14
{{div col end}}
Rye House
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Martin Goodwin 8.51
- Jens Rasmussen 7.82
- Trevor O'Brien 7.58
- Melvyn Taylor 7.43
- Roger Johns 5.44
- Rob Tilbury 4.41
- Wayne Baxter 3.73
- John Wainwright 3.40
{{div col end}}
Sheffield
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Neil Evitts 9.79
- Peter Carr 9.36
- Louis Carr 7.72
- Ian Barney 7.51
- Richard Musson 4.65
- Simon Wolstenholme 4.57
- Mark Hepworth 4.23
- Richard Davidson 4.08
- Ade Hoole 3.18
{{div col end}}
Stoke
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
- Nigel Crabtree 8.30
- Eric Monaghan 8.07
- Gary Chessell 6.96
- Darren Standing 5.94
- David Clarke 5.58
- Garry Stead 5.08
- Chris Cobby 4.87
{{div col end}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}
{{United Kingdom Speedway Seasons}}
{{Speedway British League Division Two seasons}}
Category:Speedway British League Division Two / National League