1996 Premier League speedway season

1996 Premier League speedway season
LeaguePremier League
ChampionsWolverhampton Wolves
Knockout CupWolverhampton Wolves
IndividualSam Ermolenko
FoursOxford Cheetahs
Highest averageBilly Hamill
Division/s below1996 Conference League

The 1996 Premier League season was the 62nd season of the top tier of speedway in the United Kingdom. It was also the second and last edition of two seasons, in which British speedway was competed as a single division. In addition there was a Conference League.[1][2]

As from 1997 the Elite League would be the top division and the Premier League would be the second division.

Team changes

Cradley Heathens and Stoke Potters merged for the 1996 season and Arena Essex Hammers dropped out of the league with the promotion moving to Hackney Wick Stadium and racing as the London Lions. The Glasgow Tigers and Edinburgh Monarchs effectively merged because the Edinburgh promotion raced at Shawfield Stadium under the name the Scottish Monarchs. Oxford reverted to their traditional name of Cheetahs, after ditching the unpopular Silver Machine and King's Lynn Stars did not participate during 1996.

Summary

Many Glasgow Tigers fans refused to support what they saw as their team of old rivals, and although Monarchs fans initially travelled to Glasgow, crowd numbers soon fell. Cradley & Stoke, despite having the American stars Billy Hamill and Greg Hancock finishing first and second in the averages, could only manage fifth place in the league. Cradley Heath were disbanded after the season following the closure of Dudley Wood Stadium, their home venue.[3] Oxford reverted to their popular name of Cheetahs and

The one league set up only lasted for 1995 and 1996, due to the huge disparity between the teams. Wolverhampton Wolves won the title for the second time in six years, with American Ronnie Correy being the sole survivor of the 1991 winning team. In a strange coincidence a new set of two brothers helped Wolves win the title, back in 1991 it was the Ermolenko brothers but now it was the Swedish Karlsson brothers. Peter Karlsson and Mikael Karlsson both scored heavily and ended the season with averages around the 10 mark.[4][5]

Final table

Pos Team PL W D L BP Pts
1 Wolverhampton Wolves 36 29 0 7 18 76
2 Peterborough Panthers 36 23 0 13 15 61
3 Eastbourne Eagles 36 23 1 12 12 59
4 Swindon Robins 36 22 2 12 12 58
5 Cradley & Stoke Heathens 36 21 1 14 13 56
6 Belle Vue Aces 36 21 1 14 12 55
7 Hull Vikings 36 20 3 13 11 54
8 Ipswich Witches 36 20 0 16 12 52
9 London Lions 36 20 0 16 11 51
10 Coventry Bees 36 16 2 18 10 44
11 Bradford Dukes 36 16 0 20 9 41
12 Scottish Monarchs 36 16 0 20 5 37
13 Oxford Cheetahs 36 12 4 20 8 36
14 Poole Pirates 36 13 2 21 5 33
15 Exeter Falcons 36 13 2 21 4 32
16 Middlesbrough Bears 36 11 1 14 6 29
17 Long Eaton Invaders 36 12 0 24 4 28
18 Sheffield Tigers 36 13 0 23 2 28
19 Reading Racers 36 11 1 24 2 25

PL = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; BP = Bonus Points Pts = Total Points

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away BV BD COV CH EAS EX HV IPS LL LE MID OX PET PP RR SHE SM SWI WOL
Belle Vue Aces 51–45 53–43 57–39 58–38 62–34 56–40 51–45 58–38 55–41 63–33 54–42 59–37 54–42 67–29 41–28 60–36 47–49 43–53
Bradford Dukes 51–45 43–53 51–45 46–50 51–45 53–42 55–41 46–50 43–29 62–34 45–51 42–54 55–41 57–39 56–40 61–35 57–39 52–44
Coventry Bees 59–37 42–54 50–46 51–45 58–38 64–32 54–42 45–51 57–39 52–44 55–41 46–50 41–55 60–36 73–20 62–34 44–52 54–41
Cradley & Stoke Heathens 46–50 53–43 56–40 44–52 54–42 46–50 43–53 60–36 56–40 55–41 53–42 58–38 60–36 52–43 56–40 55–41 53–43 43–52
Eastbourne Eagles 56–40 62–33 55–41 46–50 62–34 57–38 53–43 56–38 58–38 58–38 58–38 51–45 55–41 52–44 58–38 52–43 52–44 45–50
Exeter Falcons 56–39 53–43 51–45 49–47 48–48 43–53 57–39 46–50 46–50 52–44 48–48 52–44 57–39 44–52 60–36 54–42 51–45 52–44
Hull Vikings 52–43 49–47 58–37 48–48 59–37 60–36 58–38 52–41 53–43 54–42 55–41 55–41 61–35 63–33 63–33 54–42 54–41 47–49
Ipswich Witches 55–41 52–43 50–46 58–38 55–41 64–32 66–30 52–44 58–38 61–35 52–44 50–46 50–46 57–39 65–31 66–30 59–37 50–46
London Lions 47–49 52–44 51–45 49–47 43–51 57–39 46–50 56–40 52–43 60–36 40–32 50–46 50–46 53–43 62–28 45–51 64–32 50–46
Long Eaton Invaders 49–47 50–46 55–41 45–50 46–50 53–43 40–56 50–46 49–47 52–44 49–47 42–48 46–50 59–37 56–39 53–43 45–51 45–51
Middlesbrough Bears 59–37 54–42 48–48 37–59 39–56 44–52 56–39 49–47 55–40 64–32 46–49 48–47 57–38 56–40 63–33 61–35 47–49 43–53
Oxford Cheetahs 45–51 47–48 45–51 43–53 41–54 56–40 48–48 50–46 43–53 55–41 63–33 51–45 57–39 45–49 52–42 55–41 48–48 43–53
Peterborough Panthers 59–37 61–35 56–40 51–45 57–39 60–36 55–41 54–42 50–46 59–37 59–37 55–41 55–41 70–26 62–34 56–40 50–46 56–40
Poole Pirates 51–45 55–41 48–48 40–56 53–43 52–44 57–39 53–43 45–51 53–43 51–45 48–48 46–50 53–42 54–42 51–45 34–44 45–51
Reading Racers 48–48 44–52 50–46 42–54 46–49 56–40 54–42 47–49 50.5–45.5 52–44 53–43 43–53 46–50 55–40 53–43 44–52 53–43 45–51
Sheffield Tigers 42–54 53–25 54–42 42–54 51–45 56–40 52–44 52–44 47–49 50–46 55–41 41–55 50–46 53–43 54–42 50–46 52–44 46–50
Scottish Monarchs 46–50 53–43 42–54 39–57 49–46 70–26 51–45 49–46 57–39 52–44 57–39 53–43 54–42 59–37 61–35 63–33 53–43 38–58
Swindon Robins 60–36 49–46 52–43 51–45 59–37 53–43 48–48 56–39 53–43 55–41 68–28 53–43 56–40 52–44 56–40 61–35 56–40 52–44
Wolverhampton Wolves 58–37 60–36 55–40 53–43 53–41 65–31 53–42 60–36 61–35 53–42 72–24 65–31 56–40 64–31 56–40 57–38 65–31 59–37
Source: [6]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Premier League Knockout Cup

The 1996 Speedway Star Knockout Cup was the 58th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier one teams and the second with the name Premier League Knockout Cup. Wolverhampton Wolves were the winners of the competition. The following season the tier one teams would compete in the Elite League Knockout Cup and the Premier League Knockout Cup would be for tier two teams.[7]

The cup was won by Wolverhampton despite the fact that they had to ride their home fixture at Long Eaton Stadium due to Monmore Green undergoing work to the greyhound track.[8]

First round

Date Team one Score Team two
20/04 Bradford 65-31 Sheffield
18/04 Sheffield 42-54 Bradford
24/04 Hull 56-40 Middlesbrough
23/05 Middlesbrough 50-45 Hull
04/05 Swindon 51-45 Oxford
26/04 Oxford 50-46 Swindon

Second round

Date Team one Score Team two
20/05 Wolverhampton 56-39 Ipswich
23/05 Ipswich 53-43 Wolverhampton
24/05 Belle Vue 53-43 Cradley Heath
13/07 Cradley Heath 52-44 Belle Vue
25/05 Bradford 57-39 Edinburgh
22/05 Edinburgh 44-52 Bradford
29/05 Long Eaton 56-40 Hull
31/05 Hull 47-49 Long Eaton
26/04 Peterborough 59-37 Coventry
25/05 Coventry 40-56 Peterborough
23/05 Hackney 54-42 Reading
13/05 Reading 40-56 Hackney
20/05 Exeter 45-51 Poole
26/06 Poole 44-52 Exeter
27/05 Swindon 59-37 Eastbourne
25/05 Eastbourne 56-39 Swindon

Quarter-finals

Date Team one Score Team two
19/08 Wolverhampton 48-48 Belle Vue
23/08 Belle Vue 48-48 Wolverhampton
24/08 Bradford 62-34 Long Eaton
28/08 Long Eaton 50-45 Bradford
23/08 Peterborough 52-44 Hackney
15/08 Hackney 51-45 Peterborough
09/09 Exeter 52-44 Swindon
17/08 Swindon 48-48 Exeter
09/09 Wolverhampton 51-45 Belle Vue
13/09 Belle Vue 49-46 Wolverhampton

Semi-finals

Date Team one Score Team two
23/09 Wolverhampton 59-37 Bradford
28/09 Bradford 54-42 Wolverhampton
13/09 Peterborough 61-35 Exeter
23/09 Exeter 48-48 Peterborough

Final

First leg

Wolverhampton Wolves
Peter Karlsson 14
Mikael Karlsson 12
Ronnie Correy 12
George Štancl 7
Stewart McDonald 7
Jamies Grieves 6
Craig Taylor 0		58 - 38Peterborough Panthers
Jason Crump 13
Ryan Sullivan 10
Marián Jirout 7
Rene Madsen 4
Scott Swain 2
Zdeněk Tesař 2
Anders Nielsen 0
[9]

Second leg

Peterborough Panthers
Brian Andersen (guest) 12
Jason Crump 11
Ryan Sullivan 11
Marián Jirout 6
Rene Madsen 6
Scott Swain 5
Anders Nielsen 3		54 - 42Wolverhampton Wolves
Mikael Karlsson 16
Peter Karlsson 8
Ronnie Correy 8
George Štancl 4
Stewart McDonald 4
Jamies Grieves 2
Craig Taylor 0
[10]

Wolverhampton Wolves were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 100-92.

Riders' Championship

Sam Ermolenko won the Premier League Riders Championship, held at Odsal Stadium on 19 October. It was the third time that Ermolenko had won the Riders' Championship trophy but the most fortunate. He had qualified for the semi finals with just 7 points and then won the final when Chris Louis was leading on the final lap before suffering an engine failure.[11]

Pos. Rider Total SF Final
1 United States Sam Ermolenko 7 2 3
2 Australia Jason Crump 12 3 2
3 Australia Leigh Adams 10 2 1
4 England Chris Louis 11 3 ef
5 Italy Armando Castagna 8 1
6 Sweden Jimmy Nilsen 8 1
7 Denmark Brian Andersen 7 0
8 Sweden Peter Karlsson 7 0
9 England Joe Screen 7
10 Australia Craig Boyce 6
11 England Mark Loram 6
12 United States Mike Faria 6
13 England Sean Wilson 4
14 England Martin Dugard 4
15 Australia Steve Johnston 4
16 United States Billy Hamill 3
17 United States Chris Manchester 3
18 Czech Republic Tomáš Topinka 3
19 Denmark Jan Staechmann 3
20 Australia Shane Parker 1
  • ef=engine failure

Fours

Oxford Cheetahs won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 4 August 1996, at the East of England Arena.[12]

Final
Pos Team Pts Riders
1 Oxford 23 Cox 7, Brhel 7, Topinka 7, Hare 3
2 Peterborough 17 Crump 8, Jirout 6, Swain 2, Nielsen 1
3 Hull 16 Ott 6, Grahame 4, Thorp 3, Morton 3
4 Ipswich 16 Louis 6, Doncaster 6, Howe 3, Clouting 1

Leading final averages

Rider Team Average
United States Billy Hamill Cradley & Stoke 10.67
United States Greg Hancock Cradley & Stoke 10.55
England Chris Louis Ipswich 10.29
Australia Jason Crump Peterborough 10.20
Sweden Peter Karlsson Wolverhampton 10.14
Australia Leigh Adams London 10.09
England Martin Dugard Eastbourne 10.08
United States Sam Ermolenko Sheffield 9.73
Sweden Mikael Karlsson Wolverhampton 9.71
United States Ronnie Correy Wolverhampton 9.62
England Joe Screen Bradford 9.57
England Gary Havelock Bradford 9.55
Denmark Brian Andersen Coventry 9.46
Australia Craig Boyce Poole 9.38
England Mark Loram Exeter 9.28
England Chris Manchester Belle Vue 9.27
Sweden Jimmy Nilsen Swindon 9.22
Norway Lars Gunnestad Poole 9.13
England Kelvin Tatum London 9.07
Australia Ryan Sullivan Peterborough 9.01

Riders & final averages

Belle Vue

Bradford

Coventry

Cradley & Stoke

Eastbourne

Exeter

Hull

Ipswich

London

Long Eaton

Middlesbrough

Oxford

Peterborough

Poole

Reading

Scottish Monarchs

Sheffield

Swindon

Wolverhampton

See also

References

  1. ^ "Historic league tables". Speedway Archive. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. ^ "HISTORY ARCHIVE". British Speedway. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Heathens at Stoke:End of Another Era". Cradley Speedway. Archived from the original on 22 June 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  4. ^ "1996 league tables". Speedway GB. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  5. ^ "SPEEDWAY GB – British Speedway Official Website". Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  6. ^ "1996 fixtures & results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  7. ^ "1996 Premier League Knockout Cup". Speedway archive. Archived from the original on 21 June 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  8. ^ "It's the big one". Nottingham Evening Post. 9 October 1996. Retrieved 30 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  9. ^ "Speedway". Reading Evening Post. 10 October 1996. Retrieved 27 June 2021 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  10. ^ "Wolves make it a double". Sports Argus. 19 October 1996. Retrieved 30 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "American ace survives late drama". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. 21 October 1996. Retrieved 7 June 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. ^ "Cheetahs race to four team title". Hull Daily Mail. 5 August 1996. Retrieved 5 July 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.