Adam Shields

{{Short description|Australian speedway rider}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}

{{Infobox Speedway rider

| name = Adam Shields

| image =

| nationality = Australian

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|8 February 1977}}

| birth_place = Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| career1 = Isle of Wight Islanders

| years1 = 2000–2003

| career2 = King's Lynn Stars

| years2 = 2000, 2002

| career3 = Coventry Bees

| years3 = 2001–2002

| career4 =Poole Pirates

| years4 = 2001–2002

| career5 =Eastbourne Eagles

| years5 = 2001–2006, 2013

| career6 = Lakeside Hammers

| years6 = 2007–2011

| career7 = Belle Vue Aces

| years7 = 2012

| indivyear1 = 2002

| indivhonour1 = Premier League Riders' champion

| teamyear1 = 2002

| teamhonour1 = Pairs Championship winner

}}

Adam Matthew Shields (born 8 February 1977 in Kurri Kurri, New South Wales, is an Australian former international motorcycle speedway rider, who has ridden for multiple teams in the British speedway.{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Rider_Index_2008.pdf |title=2008 Rider index |website=British Speedway |access-date=4 April 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=26 June 2023}}

Speedway career

He first rode in the United Kingdom for Premier League team the Isle of Wight Islanders in 2000,{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005126/20000727/373/0031 |title=A struggle, but it's all Wight on the night |website=Berwick Advertiser |date=27 July 2000 |via=British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription |access-date=23 August 2024}} before stepping up to the Elite League for Eastbourne Eagles and then the Lakeside Hammers in 2007. He missed the end of the 2008 season due a number of injuries sustained during a race.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/speedway/7577270.stm Hammers rocked by Shields injury]{{cite web |url=https://wwosbackup.proboards.com/thread/2473/adam-shields|title=Speedway riders, history and results|website=wwosbackup|access-date=1 October 2021}}

Adam has appeared in the Speedway World Cup for Australia and he won the Australian Under-21 Speedway Championship in 1997.

In 2002, he won the Premier League Riders Championship, during the 2002 Premier League speedway season.{{cite web |url=https://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables2002.php|title=2002 speedway season|website=British Speedway|access-date=1 October 2021}} He also won the Premier League Pairs Championship partnering Danny Bird for the Isle of Wight.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFdJsALsXkg |title=2002 Premier League Pairs at Workington |website=YouTube |access-date=27 May 2023}}

On 5 May 2012, Shields announced his retirement from the sport, citing personal reasons,{{cite web|url=http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/7732985/|publisher=Sky Sports|title=Shields quits|date=5 May 2012|accessdate=5 May 2012}} but returned in 2013 with Eastbourne for one final season.

References