New Zealand Solo Championship
{{Short description|New Zealand motorcycle speedway championship}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox Sports league
| title = New Zealand Championship
| image = File:Jason Bunyan 2003 grasstrack speedway.jpg
| pixels =
| caption = Jason Bunyan, ten time winner
| sport = motorcycle speedway
| founded = 1929
| most_champs = Jason Bunyan (10)
}}
The New Zealand Solo Championship is the annual individual motorcycle speedway championship of New Zealand. The championship has been running since 1929, although the event has not been held during various years.{{cite web |url=https://mnz.co.nz/aboutmnz/awards-honours/roll-of-honour/|title=Roll Of Honour|website=Motorcycling New Zealand|access-date=30 June 2021}}{{cite web |url=http://www.historyspeedway.nstrefa.pl/indmnz.php |title=History Zestawienie Wynikow 1929-2023 |website=Speedway History |access-date=15 February 2023}}{{cite book| last =Loader| first =Tony| title =Loader's International Speedway Annual 1991| publisher = Tony Loader| year= 1991| pages = 299–301| issn = 1036-4404}}
History
Throughout the history of the championship, New Zealand has produced some of the best riders of all-time. Ronnie Moore, the first world champion from the country in 1958, became the champion of the New Zealand on four occasions. Two legendary riders Ivan Mauger and Barry Briggs, who won ten world individual titles between them, only won four national championships because they spent significant parts of their careers based in England and did not always compete.{{cite web|url=http://www.speedway.org/history/|title=History, Speedway and Longtrack|website=Speedway.org|access-date=13 February 2024}}{{cite book|last=Bott|first=Richard|title=The Peter Collins Speedway Book No.4|year=1980|pages=97–98|publisher=Stanley Paul & Co Ltd|isbn=0-09-141751-1}}{{cite book|last=Matthews/Morrison|first=Peter/Ian|title=The Guinness Encyclopaedia of Sports Records and Results|year=1987|pages=289–290|publisher=Guinness Superlatives|isbn=0-85112-492-5}}
From 1979, the final of the New Zealand Solo Championship regularly doubled up as the New Zealand qualification round for the Speedway World Championship, although during various years this has not always been the case due to factors like licensing.
Since the early 1990s, the standard of speedway in New Zealand has decreased significantly and no rider has managed to win a competition of note.
Key
- Unless stated, all riders are from New Zealand
- (wc) indicates that it was a world championship qualifier
Past winners
| class="wikitable" |
| align=center
|width=40px {{Speedway color|4}} |Year |width=250px {{Speedway color|4}} |Venue |width=200px {{Speedway color|P1}}|Winner |width=200px {{Speedway color|P2}}|Runner-up |width=200px {{Speedway color|P3}}|3rd place |
| align=center| 1929
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Dave Managh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| |{{Speedway color|p3}}| |
| align=center| 1930
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Alf Mattson |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Harry Mangham |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Eddie Naylor |
| align=center| 1931
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Alf Mattson |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Wally Kilmister |{{Speedway color|p3}}| |
| align=center|
| colspan=4 | 1932 not held |
| align=center| 1933
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Charlie Blacklock |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Norm Grey |{{Speedway color|p3}}| |
| align=center|
| colspan=4 | 1934 to 1935 not held |
| align=center| 1936
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Wally Kilmister |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Wally Rhodes |{{Speedway color|p3}}| |
| align=center|
| colspan=4 | 1937-1940 not held |
| align=center| 1941
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Charlie Buchanan |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ron Seed |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Henry Falls |
| align=center|
| colspan=4 | 1942-1944 not held due to World War II |
| align=center| 1945
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jack Hunt |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ron Seed |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Norman Morgan |
| align=center| 1946
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Len Perry |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Norman Morgan |{{Speedway color|p3}}| George Mudgway |
| align=center| 1947
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Gil Craven ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Harold Fairhurst |{{Speedway color|p3}}| George Mudgway |
| align=center| 1948
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jack Hunt |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Len Perry |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Alf Clarkin |
| align=center| 1949
| Palmerston North Showgrounds |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Harold Fairhurst |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Gil Craven ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bruce Abernethy |
| align=center| 1950
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bruce Abernethy |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Alf Clarkin |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Trevor Redmond |
| align=center| 1951
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bruce Abernethy |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Jack Parker ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Peter Dykes |
| align=center| 1952
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ron Johnston |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mick Holland |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Maury Dunn / Norman Parker ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 1953
| colspan=4 | Not held |
| align=center| 1954
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Harold Fairhurst |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Merv Neil |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Gerald Jackson ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 1955
| colspan=4 | Not held |
| align=center| 1956
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Eric Williams ({{flagicon|WAL}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ron Mountford ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 1957
| colspan=4 | Not held |
| align=center| 1958
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Maury Dunn |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Jules Benson |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Goog Allen |
| align=center| 1959
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Barry Briggs |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ivan Mauger |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Len Jelaca |
| align=center| 1960
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ray New |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Maury Dunn |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bryce Subritzky |
| align=center| 1961
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ray New |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Maury Dunn |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bob Anderson |
| align=center| 1962
| Palmerston North Showgrounds |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Merv Neil |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ken McKinlay ({{flagicon|SCO}}) |
| align=center| 1963
| Palmerston North Showgrounds |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Barry Briggs |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Geoff Mardon |
| align=center| 1964
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Geoff Mardon |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Peter Moore ({{flagicon|AUS}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bob Andrews |
| align=center| 1965
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Murray Burt |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Allan Brown |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Jack Hart |
| align=center| 1966
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bob Andrews |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Murray Burt |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bryce Subritzky |
| align=center| 1967
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Howard Cole ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Doug Templeton ({{flagicon|SCO}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ronnie Moore |
| align=center| 1968
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Frank Shuter |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bob Andrews |
| align=center| 1969
| Palmerston North Showgrounds |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Bob Andrews |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Goog Allen / Bill Andrew / Howard Cole |
| align=center| 1970
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Chris Bailey ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Bill Andrew |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Bryce Subritzky |
| align=center| 1971
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Frank Shuter |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Allan Brown |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Roger Wright |
| align=center| 1972
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bruce Cribb |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Roger Wright |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Graeme Stapleton |
| align=center| 1973
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Gary Peterson |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Bob Andrews |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Graeme Stapleton |
| align=center| 1974
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ivan Mauger |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ronnie Moore |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Barry Briggs |
| align=center| 1975
| Palmerston North Showgrounds |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Dave Morton ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| John Davis ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Craig Pendlebury ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 1976
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Colin Farquharson |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Paul Church |
| align=center| 1977
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Graeme Stapleton |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Robin Adlington |
| align=center| 1978
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Barry Briggs |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mike Fullerton |
| align=center| 1979
| Ruapuna Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ivan Mauger |
| align=center| 1980
| Western Springs Stadium (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross{{cite book|last=Oakes|first=Peter|title=1981 Speedway Yearbook|year=1981|page=91|publisher=Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd|isbn=0-86215-017-5}} |{{Speedway color|p2}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Tony Briggs |
| align=center| 1981
| Meeanee Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ivan Mauger |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Larry Ross |
| align=center| 1982
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p2}}| John Goodall |{{Speedway color|p3}}| David Bargh |
| align=center| 1983
| Ruapuna Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p3}}| David Bargh |
| align=center| 1984
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p3}}| David Bargh |
| align=center| 1985
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Alan Mason |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Roger Wright |
| align=center| 1986
| Awapuni Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mitch Shirra |
| align=center| 1987
| Western Springs Stadium (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mitch Shirra |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Larry Ross |
| align=center| 1988
| Ruapuna Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Gary Allan |
| align=center| 1989
| Western Springs Stadium (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Gary Allan |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mark Thorpe |
| align=center| 1990
| Ruapuna Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mark Thorpe |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Craig Wilkie |
| align=center| 1991
| Awapuni Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Chris Martin |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mark Thorpe |
| align=center| 1992
| Meeanee Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Gary Allan |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mark Thorpe |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Paul Atkins |
| align=center| 1993
| Ruapuna Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mark Thorpe |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mark Lyndon |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Andy Walker |
| align=center| 1994
| Stratford Speedway (wc) |{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mark Thorpe |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Tony Nagel |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mark Jamieson |
| align=center| 1995
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Andy Walker |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Nathan Murray |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Robert Davidson |
| align=center| 1996
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mark Thorpe |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Graham Hartshorne |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Mark Jamieson |
| align=center| 1997
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Chris Penny |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Robert Price |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Graham Hartshorne |
| align=center| 1998
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Paul Atkins |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mark Jamieson |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Michael Long |
| align=center| 1999
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Mark Jamieson |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Andy Walker |{{Speedway color|p3}}| David Bargh |
| align=center| 2000
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| David Bargh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Kris Jemmet |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Sean Cox |
| align=center| 2001
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Graham Hartshorne |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Daniel McKinlay |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Scott Boyce |
| align=center| 2002
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Andrew Appleton ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Nathan Murray |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Graham Hartshorne |
| align=center| 2003
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Sam Taylor |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Blair McKinlay |{{Speedway color|p3}}| John Tuffley |
| align=center| 2004
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Simone Terenzani ({{flagicon|ITA}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Craig Ramsay |
| align=center| 2005
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Glen Phillips ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Attila Stefani ({{flagicon|HUN}}) |
| align=center| 2006
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Mattia Carpanese ({{flagicon|ITA}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Daniele Tessari ({{flagicon|ITA}}) |
| align=center| 2007
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Andrew Bargh |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Dale Finch |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 2008
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Larry Ross |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Andrew Bargh |
| align=center| 2009
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Jade Mudgway |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Larry Ross |
| align=center| 2010
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Grant Tregoning |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Larry Ross |
| align=center| 2011
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Grant Tregoning |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ritchie Hawkins ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |
| align=center| 2012
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Grant Tregoning |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Dale Finch |
| align=center| 2013
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Dale Finch |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Sean Mason |
| align=center| 2014
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Grant Tregoning |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Sean Mason |
| align=center| 2015
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| James Sarjeant"[http://nicesport.pl/zuzel/183570/brytyjczyk-mistrzem-nowej-zelandii Brytyjczyk mistrzem Nowej Zelandii]", nicesport.pl, 3 January 2015. Retrieved 3 January 2015 ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Hayden Sims |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Dale Finch |
| align=center| 2016
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Jason Bunyan ({{flagicon|ENG}}) |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Bradley Wilson-Dean |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Sean Mason |
| align=center| 2017
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bradley Wilson-Dean |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Grant Tregoning |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Dale Finch |
| align=center| 2018
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bradley Wilson-Dean |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Andrew Aldridge |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ryan Terry-Daley |
| align=center| 2019
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bradley Wilson-DeanHurndell, Shane (2019) "[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-today/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503460&objectid=12186745 Speedway: Wilson-Dean captures third consecutive national title]", New Zealand Herald, 7 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019 |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Dylan Hancock |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ryan Terry-Daley |
| align=center| 2020
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bradley Wilson-Dean{{cite web|url=http://www.peterborough-speedway.com/news.php?extend.3740|title=Four In A Row For BWD |date=12 January 2020|publisher=Peterborough Panthers}} |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Andrew Aldridge |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ryan Terry-Daley |
| align=center| 2021
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Ben Whalley |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Andrew Aldridge |{{Speedway color|p3}}| George Congreve |
| align=center|
| colspan=4 | 2022 not held |
| align=center| 2023
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| George Congreve{{cite web|url=https://drivenbydirt.com/congreve-goes-undefeated-to-seal-nz-solos/ |title=CONGREVE GOES UNDEFEATED TO SEAL NZ SOLOS |website=Driven by Dirt |access-date=26 January 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsport/130695459/invercargill-teen-surprises-himself-on-national-speedway-stage |title=Invercargill teen surprises himself on national speedway stage |website=Stuff.co.nz |access-date=26 January 2023}} |{{Speedway color|p2}}| Ben Whalley |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Finn Reed |
| align=center| 2024
|{{Speedway color|p1}}| Bradley Wilson-Dean{{cite web |url=https://www.speedway.co.nz/COMPETITORS-1/CHAMPIONSHIPS/CHAMPIONSHIPS-1 |title=Solo Championships | website=Speedway New Zealand |access-date=13 February 2024}} |{{Speedway color|p2}}| George Congreve |{{Speedway color|p3}}| Ben Whalley |
See also
{{International speedway}}