British League Division Two Riders Championship

{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway individual riders' competition}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}

{{Infobox sports league

| title = British League Division Two Riders Championship

| current_season =

| current_season2 =

| last_season =

| upcoming_season =

| logo =

| pixels =

| caption =

| formerly =

| sport = Motorcycle speedway

| founded = 1968

| country = United Kingdom

| footnotes = replaced by
Premier League Riders Championship
from 1997

competition above
British League Riders' Championship

}}

The British League Division Two Riders Championship was a motorcycle speedway contest between the top riders from each club (with the highest average points) competing in the second tier of British speedway.{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|pages=100|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}

History

The championship was inaugurated in 1968 when it was known as the British League Division Two Riders Championship.{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=61|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}} The competition was known as the British League Division Two Riders' Championship between 1968 and 1974 and again between 1991 and 1994. From 1975 until 1990 it was known as the National League Riders' Championship.{{cite web|url=http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.com/2013/04/british-league-division-two-riders.html|title=National League Riders Championship 1968-1994|website=Edinburgh Speedway Archive|access-date=30 September 2021}}

The competition was held at Hackney between 1968 and 1971, then it was moved to Wimbledon and held there between 1972 and 1984. The last year of the tournament was 1994, after which speedway was restructured with the top two leagues combining to form the Premier League. After two seasons the Premier League became the second tier/division of British speedway in 1997, this resulted in the Premier League Riders Championship effectively being a continuation of the British League Division Two Riders Championship from 1997.

Winners

class="wikitable"

!width=40px {{Speedway color|P3}} |Year

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P1}}|Winner

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P1}}|Team

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P2}}|2nd

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P2}}|Team

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P3}}|3rd

!width=200px {{Speedway color|P3}}|Team

colspan="6"|British League Division Two Riders' Championship
align=center|1968{{cite news |title=Two in hospital after Big Speedway Pile-Up |work=Daily Mirror |date=28 September 1968 |access-date=13 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19680928/300/0026 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Graham Plant

| Middlesbrough Teessiders

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Ken Eyre

| Belle Vue Colts

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Graeme Smith

| Rayleigh Rockets

align=center|1969{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Mirror |date=27 September 1969 |access-date=14 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19690927/302/0027 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Geoff Ambrose

| Crayford Highwaymen

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Mick Bell

| Reading Racers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Ross Gilbertson

| Romford Bombers

align=center|1970{{cite news |title=Jessup roars in |work=Daily Mirror |date=26 September 1970 |access-date=14 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000560/19700926/305/0026 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Dave Jessup

| Eastbourne Eagles

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Barry Crowson

| Canterbury Crusaders

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Gary Peterson

| Bradford Northern

align=center|1971{{cite news |title=Reg Wilson finishes eighth in speedway riders' finals |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=4 October 1971 |access-date=16 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19711004/012/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|John Louis

| Ipswich Witches

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Malcolm Shakespeare

| Long Eaton Archers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Hugh Saunders

| Rayleigh Rockets

align=center|1972{{cite news |title=Phil Crump wins title after run-off |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=16 October 1972 |access-date=16 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19721016/012/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Phil Crump

| Crewe Kings

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Arthur Price

| Boston Barracudas

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Bob Coles

| Barrow Happy Faces

align=center|1973{{cite news |title=Price takes Crump's crown |work=Lynn Advertiser |date=9 October 1973 |access-date=16 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003432/19731009/589/0036 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Arthur Price

| Boston Barracudas

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Bobby McNeil

| Eastbourne Eagles

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Lou Sansom

| Workington Comets

align=center|1974{{cite news |title=Crash ends Graham's title hopes |work=Hull Daily Mail |date=30 September 1974 |access-date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000324/19740930/015/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Carl Glover

| Boston Barracudas

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Ted Hubbard

| Canterbury Crusaders

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Phil Herne

| Birmingham Brummies

colspan="6"|National League Riders' Championship
align=center|1975{{cite news |title=Lee's title bid fails |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=29 September 1975 |access-date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19750929/016/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Laurie Etheridge

| Crayford Kestrels

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Brian Collins

| Coatbridge Tigers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Arthur Browning

| Birmingham Brummies

align=center|1976{{cite news |title=Joe Owen gains speedway double |work=Lincolnshire Echo |date=4 October 1976 |access-date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000332/19761004/010/0010 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Joe Owen

| Newcastle Diamonds

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|John Jackson

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Ted Hubbard

| Rye House Rockets

align=center|1977{{cite news |title=Stuart's five |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=26 September 1977 |access-date=17 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19770926/015/0015 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Colin Richardson

| Eastbourne Eagles

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Martin Yeates

| Oxford Cheetahs

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Tom Owen

| Newcastle Diamonds

align=center|1978{{cite news |title=Bales edged out |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=25 September 1978 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19780925/016/0016 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Steve Koppe

| Canterbury Crusaders

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|John Jackson

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Ted Hubbard

| Rye House Rockets

align=center|1979{{cite news |title=Outlaw's Crash |work=Derby Daily Telegraph |date=1 October 1979 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000521/19791001/021/0021 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Ian Gledhill

| Stoke Potters

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Steve Wilcock

| Middlesbrough Tigers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Andy Grahame

| Milton Keynes Knights

align=center|1980{{cite news |title=Brown the King |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=28 September 1980 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19800928/020/0020 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Wayne Brown

| Berwick Bandits

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Martin Yeates

| Weymouth Wildcats

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Steve Finch

| Ellesmere Port Gunners

align=center|1981{{cite news |title=Tigers crash out |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=28 September 1981 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19810928/012/0012 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Mike Ferreira

| Canterbury Crusaders

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Simon Wigg

| Weymouth Wildcats

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Bruce Cribb

| Wolverhampton Wolves

align=center|1982{{cite news |title=Owen is the king |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=19 September 1982 |access-date=20 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19820919/040/0040 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Joe Owen

| Newcastle Diamonds

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Steve Lomas

| Boston Barracudas

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Bob Garrad

| Rye House Rockets

align=center|1983{{cite news |title=Bandit Steals Title |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=25 September 1983 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19830925/037/0037 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Steve McDermott

| Berwick Bandits

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Richard Knight

| Mildenhall Fen Tigers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Martin Yeates

| Weymouth Wildcats

align=center|1984{{cite news |title=Barney wins title |work=Sunday Sun (Newcastle) |date=14 October 1984 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001723/19841014/038/0038 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Ian Barney

| Peterborough Panthers

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Dave Perks

| Long Eaton Invaders

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Martin Yeates

| Weymouth Wildcats

align=center|1985{{cite news |title=Great, Neil |work=Sunday Mirror |date=11 August 1985 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19850811/239/0041 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Neil Middleditch

| Arena Essex Hammers

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Kevin Hawkins

| Peterborough Panthers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Trevor Banks

| Hackney Hawks

align=center|1986{{cite news |title=What a double |work=Cambridge Daily News |date=1 September 1986 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19860901/018/0018 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Paul Thorp

| Stoke Potters

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Steve Schofield

| Poole Pirates

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Les Collins

| Edinburgh Monarchs

align=center|1987{{cite news |title=Nigel makes up for NLRC second |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=14 September 1987 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19870914/267/0014 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Andrew Silver

| Arena Essex Hammers

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Nigel Crabtree

| Stoke Potters

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|David Blackburn

| Newcastle Diamonds

align=center|1988{{cite web |url=http://www.speedwaymuseumonline.co.uk/troybutler.html|title=Troy Butler|website=Speedway Museum|access-date=11 September 2021}}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Troy Butler

| Milton Keynes Knights

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Mark Loram

| Hackney Hawks

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Kenny McKinna

| Glasgow Tigers

align=center|1989{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Daily Record |date=11 September 1989 |access-date=21 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003741/19890911/035/0035 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Mark Loram

| Ipswich Witches

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Kenny McKinna

| Glasgow Tigers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|David Blackburn

| Berwick Bandits

align=center|1990{{cite news |title=Grahame's title |work=Staffordshire Sentinel |date=17 September 1990 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000525/19900917/222/0023 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Andy Grahame

| Wimbledon Dons

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Chris Louis

| Ipswich Witches

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Craig Boyce

| Poole Pirates

colspan="6"|British League Division Two Riders' Championship
align=center|1991{{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 }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Jan Stæchmann

| Long Eaton Invaders

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|David Bargh

| Newcastle Diamonds

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Troy Butler

| Milton Keynes Knights

align=center|1992{{cite news |title=No joy for Jan |work=Nottingham Evening Post |date=21 September 1992 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003894/19920921/020/0020 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Róbert Nagy

| Glasgow Tigers

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Mick Poole

| Peterborough Panthers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Richard Green

| Exeter Falcons

align=center|1993{{cite news |title=Speedway |work=Sunday Mirror |date=26 September 1993 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002137/19930926/512/0068 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Gary Allan

| Swindon Robins

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Mick Poole

| Peterborough Panthers

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Tony Langdon

| Oxford Cheetahs

align=center|1994{{cite news |title=Rickardsson does Sweden proud |work=Birmingham Daily Post |date=19 September 1994 |access-date=22 June 2023 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002135/19940919/024/0024 | via = British Newspaper Archive|url-access=subscription }}

| {{Speedway color|p1}}|Paul Bentley

| Middlesbrough Bears

| {{Speedway color|p2}}|Tony Olsson

| Swindon Robins

| {{Speedway color|p3}}|Tony Langdon

| Swindon Robins

Sponsors

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Speedway in the United Kingdom}}

Category:Speedway competitions in the United Kingdom