1996 Speedway Conference League

British motorcycle speedway season February 2024 February 2024 Conference League 1996 13 Champions Linlithgow Lightning Knockout Cup Linlithgow Lightning Individual Mike Hampson 1996 Premier League 1995 1997 The 1996 Speedway Conference League was the inaugural season of the Conference League, which was the second tier of British motorcycle speedway.More variety for the Tigers Cambridge Daily News 15 March 1996 14 July 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19960315/045/0045 British Newspaper Archive subscription It was listed as the second tier of British speedway because during 1995 and 1996 the two divisions of the British League had merged into one division only.http://edinburghspeedway.blogspot.co.uk/p/compet.html Major League Competitions Speedway Archive The following season it would be a third tier/division competition. Summary The Conference League was the first to be promoted under the name and was an entirely amateur competition contested by thirteen teams (many were junior sides belonging to their parent clubs). The league expanded from the eight that had begun the previous season's 1995 Academy League - Berwick, Buxton, Devon, Linlithgow, Mildenhall, and Sittingbourne all returned from 1995, and were joined by Arena Essex, Eastbourne, Owlerton, Peterborough, Reading, Ryde, and Swindon. Stoke and Cleveland did not return from 1995.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1996.php 1996 Tables Speedway GB.com As not all fixtures were able to be run, the champions were decided by a percentage of total points available. Linlithgow Lightning topped the table to become champions.http://www.defunctspeedway.co.uk/Linlithgow.htm Linlithgow Speedway Defunct Speedwayhttps://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/history/leaguetables1991-present BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT) Official British Speedway website 11 September 2021 Final table Pos Team PL W D L Pts %1 Linlithgow Lightning 23 18 0 5 36 782 Devon Demons 11 7 1 3 15 683 Berwick Bandits 12 8 0 4 16 664 Ryde Wight Wizards 19 12 1 6 25 655 Swindon Sprockets 12 7 0 5 14 586 Arena Essex Hammers 27 14 1 12 29 537 Mildenhall Fen Tigers 19 10 0 9 20 528 Buxton Hitmen 21 10 2 9 22 529 Peterborough Thundercats 13 5 1 7 11 4210 Owlerton Prowlers 12 5 0 7 10 4111 Reading Ravens 13 5 0 8 10 3812 Eastbourne Starlets 16 1 2 13 4 1213 Sittingbourne Crusaders 18 1 2 15 4 11 PL = Matches; W = Wins; D = Draws; L = Losses; Pts = Match Points; % = Win Rate Fixtures and results A fixtures main FBR grey AE BER BUX DEV EAS LL MIL OW PET REA RWW SIT SWI Arena Essex Hammers 37–41 41–37 48–30 39–39 33–43 45–33 n/a 42–36 43–35 51–27 39–38 48–29 Berwick Bandits 52–26 42–36 n/a 56–22 50–27 51–27 49–29 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Buxton Hitmen 53–25 44–34 39–39 44–32 40–38 47–31 45–31 46–31 n/a 58–20 53–25 n/a Devon Demons 49–29 n/a 41–35 n/a 39–38 n/a n/a n/a n/a 44–34 n/a 43–34 Eastbourne Starlets 37–40 n/a n/a n/a 29–48 31–45 n/a n/a 24–29 31–45 47–31 n/a Linlithgow Lightning 58–19 46–32 42–35 n/a 47–31 42–34 58–19 44–34 n/a 53–24 54–22 n/a Mildenhall Fen Tigers 59–19 41–37 46–32 38–40 n/a 34–44 52–26 n/a 45–32 44–34 52–25 n/a Owlerton Prowlers 42–35 40–38 41–37 n/a n/a 38–40 44–34 43–34 n/a n/a n/a n/a Peterborough Thundercats 41–31 n/a 39–38 n/a n/a 35–43 n/a n/a 48–29 39–39 n/a n/a Reading Ravens 44–34 n/a n/a n/a 47–31 37–40 n/a n/a n/a 38–40 59–19 43–34 Ryde Wight Wizards 47–30 n/a 44–34 41–36 45–33 40–38 44–34 n/a 49–29 54–24 42–36 40–38 Sittingbourne Crusaders 36–41 n/a 39–39 38–40 39–39 28–50 32–46 n/a 32–44 n/a 52–26 36–42 Swindon Sprockets 48–30 n/a n/a 43–35 46.5–31.5 42–36 n/a n/a 40–38 49–29 n/a n/a complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1997fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1997 fixtures & results 13 November 2024 B fixtures main FBR grey AE BER BUX DEV EAS LL MIL OW PET REA RWW SIT SWI Arena Essex Hammers n/a n/a n/a 49–27 n/a n/a n/a n/a 47–31 n/a 53–25 53–24 Berwick Bandits n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Buxton Hitmen n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 41–36 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Devon Demons n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Eastbourne Starlets n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Linlithgow Lightning n/a n/a n/a n/a 50–28 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 54–24 n/a Mildenhall Fen Tigers n/a 37–41 44–34 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Owlerton Prowlers n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Peterborough Thundercats n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Reading Ravens n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Ryde Wight Wizards n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Sittingbourne Crusaders n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Swindon Sprockets n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a complete https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/1997fixtures.pdf Speedway Researcher 1997 fixtures & results 13 November 2024 Conference League Knockout Cup The 1996 Conference League Knockout Cup was the 29th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams.http://www.speedwaygb.co/history/leaguetables1996.php 1996 Conference League Knockout Cup Final Speedway GB It was only the tier two competition because the Division 1 & 2 had merged during 1995 & 1996, this meant that the newly formed Conference League was tier two of British speedway at the time. Linlithgow Lightning were the winners of the Cup. First round Dates Team one Team two Scores30/06, 02/08 Mildenhall Arena Essex56-22, 40-3814/07, 01/09 LinlithgowBuxton46-31, 39-39 Final First leg 6 October 1996 LinlithgowPeter Scully 15Barry Campbell 11Brian Turner 8Grant McDonald 8Blair Scott 4Neil Hewitt 3Brian Mercer 0 49 – 29 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19961007/040/0040 Tigers have steep climb after cup battering Cambridge Daily News 7 October 1996 British Newspaper Archive subscription 6 October 2024 MildenhallGeoff Powell 9Peter Boast 8Dean Garrod 6Jonathan Swales 5Tony Kingsbury 1Charlie Whitwham 1Colin Thorpe 0 Heathersfield Stadium Second leg 12 October 1996 MildenhallJonathan Swales 13Dean Garrod 8Geoff Powell 8Peter Boast 6Tony Kingsbury 2Jason Gage 1Darren Smith 1 39 – 39 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005278/19961013/345/0029 Speedway Scotland on Sunday 13 October 1996 British Newspaper Archive subscription 6 October 2024 LinlithgowBarry Campbell 10Peter Scully 10 Mildenhall Stadium Linlithgow were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 88–68. Riders' Championship Mike Hampson won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 7 September at Long Eaton Stadium.Half a team Cambridge Daily News 9 September 1996 28 June 2023 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003740/19960909/030/0030 British Newspaper Archive subscription https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0005178/19960911/357/0038 Speedway Buxton Advertiser 11 September 1996 4 November 2024 Pos. Rider Team Total1 Mike Hampson Buxton 122 Justin Elkins Isle of Wight 123 Graeme Gordon Exeter 12 4 David Mason Sittingbourne 12 5 Paul Lee Peterborough 10 6 Lee Dicken Sheffield 9 7 Martin Willis Isle of Wight 8 8 Barry Campbell Linlithgow 8 9Krister Marsh Swindon 7 10 Dean Garrod Mildenhall 6 11 Carl Checketts Reading 6 12 Russell Etherington Arena Essex 4 13 Roland Pollard Arena Essex 4 14 Blair Scott Linlithgow 3 15 Bobby Eldridge Eastbourne 2 16 Anthony Barlow Berwick 2 17 Paul Clews (res) Peterborough 0 Teams and riders Arena Essex Hammers CMATotal points scored, plus bonus points, divided by total number of races, multiplied by 4 Russell Etherington 8.11 Paul Lydes-Udings 7.91 Nathan Morton 6.82 Roland Pollard 6.68 Simon Wolstenholme 6.59 Darren Bolger 6.35 Andy Carfield 5.28 Gavin Pell 5.25 Phil Ranson 4.97 Ben Osborn 4.00 Jamie Barton 0.89 Berwick Bandits CMA David Blackburn 10.19 Glyn Taylor 9.19 Anthony Barlow 8.88 Richard Emson 8.00 William Beveridge 7.76 Peter Johnson 5.96 David McAllan 2.70 Michael Lowrie 8.67 Darren Pearson 2.67 Peter Grimwood 0.00 Buxton Hitmen CMA Mike Hampson 10.00 Jon Armstrong 8.77 Barry Ayres 8.00 Stephen Read 7.16 Dean Felton 7.13 Tony Howe 6.26 David Meldrum 6.10 Mark Harrison 4.38 Paul Macklin 2.18 Tony Atkin 12.00 Andre Compton 12.00 Graeme Gordon 10.67 Craig Taylor 9.75 Michael Lowrie 8.00 Drew Wheeldon 7.00 Elvis Jones 6.00 Jamie Young 6.00 Mark Burrows 4.00 Paul Fudge 4.00 Darren Matthews 2.67 Richard Moss 1.85 Jamie Isherwood 1.71 Geoff Batt 1.33 Neil Painter 1.00 David Nix 0.00 Paul Taylor 0.00 Devon Demons CMA Graeme Gordon 9.90 Paul Fudge 9.05 Roger Lobb 8.08 Greg Daniels 7.72 Kevin Phillips 4.84 Gary Lobb 4.00 Richard Ford 2.55 Mike Bowden 5.00 Andy Wilkinson 3.00 Wayne Holloway 0.00 Dave Ward 0.00 Nick Couch 0.00 Eastbourne Starlets CMA Paul Lydes-Udings 8.59 Brent Collyer 8.13 Bobby Eldridge 7.16 Steven Colvin 3.38 Richard Watts 2.91 Clive Seaby 2.87 Simon Moon 1.50 Dean Standing 12.00 Jason Bunyan 8.00 Tara O'Callaghan 7.82 Paul Taylor 7.56 Dean Chapman 7.44 David Meldrum 6.67 Justin Elkins 6.00 Scott Donovan 5.18 Mark Thompson 3.60 Nigel Roberts 3.50 Ian Clarke 2.80 Darren Grayling 0.00 Paul Bradford 0.00 Linlithgow Lightning CMA Peter Scully 9.81 Barry Campbell 9.43 Blair Scott 8.70 Brian Turner 8.43 Grant McDonald 7.74 Stuart Coleman 6.29 Brian Mercer 6.14 Neil Hewitt 5.76 Ian Milne 0.70 David Stokes 1.43 Mark Thompson 1.33 Andrew Swales 0.00 Mildenhall Fen Tigers CMA Geoff Powell 9.29 Jason Gage 9.00 Peter Boast 7.78 Dean Garrod 7.13 Jonathan Swales 6.71 Tony Kingsbury 5.48 Charlie Whitwam 1.64 Steve Knott 8.22 Mark Thompson 4.00 Dave Smith 4.00 Simon Brown 3.27 Richard Watts 1.33 Malcolm Hogg 0.00 Chris Simpson 0.00 Peter Grimwood 0.00 Colin Thorpe 0.00 Owlerton Prowlers CMA Derrol Keats 9.16 Lee Dicken 7.92 James Birkinshaw 7.37 Mark Blackwell 4.12 Glen Furniss 4.00 Andy Wilkinson 12.00 Charlie Whitwam 8.00 Philip Knowles 6.00 Neil Painter 5.25 Andy Buck 4.89 Paul Wyer 4.57 Phil Pickering 3.50 Aaron Baker 2.29 Simon Cartwright 1.82 Peterborough Thundercats CMA Paul Lee 9.00 Paul Clews 8.56 Jon Underwood 6.53 Gavin Hedge 5.60 Lee Dixon 5.48 Freddie Stephenson 4.42 Jason Newitt 2.10 Tommy Palmer 12.00 David Housley 0.00 Phil Pickering 0.00 Reading Ravens CMA Roger Lobb 9.93 Darren Andrews 8.89 Carl Checketts 7.85 Rob Cooling 4.53 Steve Targett 3.79 Mick Hester 3.25 Bill Haynes 0.60 Lee Richardson 11.64 Jason Gage 11.33 Lance Sealey 7.08 Karl Bainbridge 4.80 Patrice Deloubes 3.33 Steve Woolley 3.00 Mike Bowden 2.67 Damian Aplin 0.67 Steve Aston 0.00 Ryde Wizards CMA Václav Verner 11.38 Justin Elkins 11.17 Martin Willis 10.35 Mark Chessell 7.87 Colin Crook 5.25 Mike Bowden 4.88 Chris Simpson 2.86 Paul Oughton 2.85 Geoff Batt 2.71 Barry Bishop 1.26 Buck Blair 10.00 Simon Wolstenholme 6.50 Paul Taylor 6.00 Dean Garton 4.67 Ian Milne 4.00 Malcolm Hogg 3.00 Mark Czyz 2.80 Andrew Swales 2.00 Sittingbourne Crusaders CMA David Mason 11.38 Dean Chapman 5.68 Mark Czyz 5.37 John Curtis 4.17 Karl Armstrong 3.44 Andy Kerrison 3.33 Martyn Smith 2.67 Simon Wolstenholme 8.80 Gary Laker 8.00 Keith Yorke 7.20 Bobby Eldridge 6.25 Ben Osborn 4.67 Malcolm Smith 3.56 Ramon Majsa 3.27 Chris Simpson 2.67 Dean Norton 2.67 Mike Bowden 2.50 David Stokes 2.40 Karl Bainbridge 2.00 Mark Thompson 2.00 Andy Cooper 0.00 Swindon Sprockets CMA Scott Pegler 10.32 Krister Marsh 9.26 Keith Lansley 6.75 Gary Phelps 6.57 Scott Donovan 4.44 Martin Williams 4.11 Simon Paget 3.19 John Jeffries 9.78 Malcolm Holloway 9.33 Alan Spencer 6.00 Wayne Holloway 1.33 Richard Holloway 0.00 See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions Knockout Cup (speedway) References Category:1996 in British motorsport