| League | Premier League |
|---|---|
| Champions | Eastbourne Eagles |
| Knockout Cup | Bradford Dukes |
| Individual | Gary Havelock |
| Fours | Cradley Heathens |
| Highest average | Billy Hamill |
| Division/s below | 1995 Academy League |
The1995Premier League season was the 61st season of the top tier ofspeedway in theUnited Kingdom. It was also the first for the new league, and the first of two seasons in which British speedway was competed as a single division.[1]
The gulf in quality of teams was highlighted because of the merging of the two leagues, withEastbourne Eagles winning the title 56 points clear of bottom clubExeter Falcons.[2] Eastbourne had been an easy runner-up the previous year to runaway winnersPoole Pirates and retained four of their ridersMartin Dugard,Dean Barker,Stefan Dannö andStefan Andersson, which provided enough firepower to seal the Championship. Poole finished mid-table but were missingCraig Boyce who had switched toSwindon Robins.[3]
Bradford Dukes won their fourthKnockout Cup in the last five years. Former World ChampionGary Havelock guided Bradford to the Cup success and also picked up thePremier League Riders Championship.[4]
| Pos | Team | PL | W | D | L | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eastbourne Eagles | 40 | 28 | 3 | 9 | 18 | 77 |
| 2 | Bradford Dukes | 40 | 25 | 2 | 13 | 17 | 69 |
| 3 | Cradley Heath Heathens | 40 | 25 | 1 | 14 | 17 | 68 |
| 4 | Peterborough Panthers | 40 | 25 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 62 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton Wolves | 40 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 60 |
| 6 | Ipswich Witches | 40 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 13 | 59 |
| 7 | Glasgow Tigers | 40 | 21 | 1 | 18 | 14 | 57 |
| 8 | Belle Vue Aces | 40 | 20 | 1 | 19 | 14 | 55 |
| 9 | Edinburgh Monarchs | 40 | 20 | 4 | 16 | 10 | 54 |
| 10 | Arena Essex Hammers | 40 | 21 | 0 | 19 | 10 | 52 |
| 11 | Swindon Robins | 40 | 20 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 52 |
| 12 | Poole Pirates | 40 | 18 | 2 | 20 | 9 | 47 |
| 13 | Reading Racers | 40 | 17 | 4 | 19 | 9 | 47 |
| 14 | Sheffield Tigers | 40 | 19 | 0 | 21 | 9 | 47 |
| 15 | Coventry Bees | 40 | 17 | 1 | 22 | 8 | 43 |
| 16 | Hull Vikings | 40 | 17 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 40 |
| 17 | Oxford Cheetahs | 40 | 16 | 1 | 23 | 6 | 39 |
| 18 | Long Eaton Invaders | 40 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 7 | 39 |
| 19 | King's Lynn Stars | 40 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 6 | 38 |
| 20 | Middlesbrough Bears | 40 | 10 | 2 | 28 | 2 | 24 |
| 21 | Exeter Falcons | 40 | 8 | 3 | 29 | 2 | 21 |
M = Matches;W = Wins;D = Draws;L = Losses;Pts = Total Points
| Home \ Away | AE | BV | BD | COV | CH | EAS | ED | EX | GLA | HV | IPS | KL | LON | MID | OX | PET | PP | RR | SHE | SWI | WOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arena Essex Hammers | 60–36 | 53–42 | 49–47 | 49–47 | 45–51 | 61–35 | 66–30 | 55–41 | 63–33 | 49–47 | 53–43 | 55–41 | 55–41 | 54–42 | 57–39 | 51–45 | 61–35 | 56–40 | 54–42 | 45–51 | |
| Belle Vue Aces | 57–39 | 57–38 | 56–40 | 46–50 | 48–48 | 62–34 | 59–37 | 55–41 | 64–32 | 58–38 | 57–39 | 54–42 | 57–39 | 53–43 | 59–37 | 58–37 | 55–41 | 55–40 | 59–36 | 54–42 | |
| Bradford Dukes | 58–38 | 64–32 | 49–47 | 47–49 | 53–43 | 61–35 | 58–38 | 54–42 | 58–38 | 56–40 | 66–30 | 59–36 | 69–26 | 59–37 | 54–41 | 58–38 | 59–37 | 63–33 | 55–41 | 57–39 | |
| Coventry Bees | 54–42 | 50–46 | 45–51 | 52–44 | 50–46 | 48–48 | 59–37 | 50–45 | 49–47 | 49–47 | 53–43 | 51–44 | 59–37 | 47–49 | 52–44 | 46–50 | 62–33 | 54–41 | 43–53 | 55–41 | |
| Cradley Heath Heathens | 50–46 | 55–41 | 53–43 | 51–45 | 56–39 | 53–43 | 60–36 | 59–37 | 61–34 | 47–49 | 58–37 | 55–41 | 63–33 | 62–34 | 56–40 | 55–41 | 55–41 | 62–34 | 47–49 | 55–41 | |
| Eastbourne Eagles | 59–36 | 49–46 | 55–41 | 53–43 | 50–43 | 54–42 | 59–37 | 64–32 | 60–36 | 50–46 | 51–45 | 54–40 | 55–40 | 53–43 | 59–36 | 52–44 | 58–38 | 63–33 | 60–36 | 51–45 | |
| Edinburgh Monarchs | 50–46 | 53–43 | 48–48 | 49–46 | 50–46 | 46–49 | 63–33 | 62–34 | 56–40 | 51–45 | 50–46 | 48–48 | 52–44 | 49–47 | 51–45 | 56–40 | 51–45 | 67–29 | 54–42 | 50–46 | |
| Exeter Falcons | 53–43 | 57–39 | 41–55 | 45–51 | 39–56 | 51–45 | 37–59 | 55–41 | 52–44 | 43–53 | 48–48 | 48–48 | 56–40 | 52–44 | 40–55 | 45–51 | 48–48 | 46–50 | 46–50 | 50–46 | |
| Glasgow Tigers | 57–39 | 51–45 | 53.5–42.5 | 51–45 | 50–46 | 54–41 | 49–47 | 68–28 | 49–47 | 60–36 | 63–33 | 62–34 | 60–36 | 56–40 | 55–41 | 64–32 | 59–37 | 55–40 | 56–40 | 52–44 | |
| Hull Vikings | 46–50 | 46–50 | 54–42 | 51–45 | 48–48 | 49–47 | 49–47 | 51–45 | 48–48 | 51–45 | 53–43 | 55–41 | 51–43 | 50–46 | 54–42 | 53–43 | 56–40 | 57–39 | 55–41 | 51–45 | |
| Ipswich Witches | 54–42 | 44–52 | 54–42 | 49–47 | 48–47 | 60–36 | 52–44 | 60–36 | 49–47 | 68–28 | 53–43 | 57–39 | 57–38 | 63–33 | 51–45 | 50–45 | 62–33 | 59–37 | 46–50 | 52–44 | |
| King's Lynn Stars | 46–50 | 51–45 | 52–44 | 46–50 | 47–49 | 48–48 | 61–35 | 54–42 | 62–33 | 54–42 | 49–47 | 54–42 | 57–39 | 49–45 | 45–51 | 46–49 | 46–50 | 58–38 | 48–48 | 57–38 | |
| Long Eaton Invaders | 50–46 | 58–38 | 46–49 | 55–40 | 47–49 | 55–41 | 53–43 | 56–40 | 55–41 | 37–59 | 52–44 | 42–54 | 63–33 | 48–48 | 44–52 | 52–44 | 56–40 | 59–37 | 40–56 | 45–51 | |
| Middlesbrough Bears | 46–0 | 52–44 | 42–54 | 53–43 | 49–47 | 45–51 | 42–44 | 55–41 | 45–50 | 58–38 | 42–54 | 54–42 | 48–48 | 57–39 | 52–43 | 47–48 | 53–43 | 55–41 | 48–48 | 44–52 | |
| Oxford Cheetahs | 53–43 | 50–46 | 54–42 | 51–45 | 50–45 | 42–53 | 47–49 | 61–35 | 52–43 | 54–42 | 45–51 | 53–43 | 56–40 | 57–39 | 45–51 | 45–50 | 54–42 | 62–34 | 56–40 | 51–45 | |
| Peterborough Panthers | 51–45 | 52–43 | 57–39 | 50–46 | 52–44 | 53–43 | 65.5–30.5 | 63–33 | 50–46 | 58–37 | 52–43 | 55–41 | 62–34 | 58–38 | 59–37 | 56–39 | 52–44 | 54–42 | 54–42 | 53–43 | |
| Poole Pirates | 57–39 | 58–38 | 42–54 | 49–47 | 44–51 | 48–48 | 55–41 | 51–45 | 56–40 | 61–35 | 55–41 | 56–39 | 47–49 | 64–32 | 57–39 | 43–53 | 47–49 | 59–36 | 47–49 | 51–45 | |
| Reading Racers | 53–43 | 51–45 | 48–48 | 52–44 | 50–45 | 46–50 | 49–47 | 53–42 | 55–41 | 59–37 | 39–57 | 48–48 | 52–44 | 55–41 | 54–42 | 66–30 | 48–48 | 61–35 | 56–40 | 47–49 | |
| Sheffield Tigers | 67–29 | 59–37 | 49–47 | 56–40 | 49–47 | 44–52 | 63–33 | 53–43 | 55–41 | 49–47 | 59–37 | 61–35 | 64–32 | 73–23 | 62–34 | 50–46 | 49–47 | 51–44 | 47–49 | 55–41 | |
| Swindon Robins | 56–40 | 49–46 | 45–51 | 53–43 | 53–43 | 47–48 | 48–48 | 53–43 | 50–46 | 53–43 | 51–45 | 46–50 | 43–51 | 63–33 | 53–43 | 53–43 | 51–45 | 45–51 | 58–38 | 44–51 | |
| Wolverhampton Wolves | 58–38 | 39–33 | 53–43 | 49–47 | 47–49 | 43–53 | 52–44 | 64–32 | 52–44 | 61–35 | 49–47 | 61–35 | 55–41 | 50–46 | 61–35 | 53–42 | 59–37 | 53–43 | 70–26 | 53–42 |
The 1995 Speedway Star Knockout Cup was the 57th edition of theKnockout Cup for tier one teams but the first to be known as the Premier League Knockout Cup.Bradford Dukes were the winners of the competition.[6]
First round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21/04 | Peterborough | 64-42 | Ipswich |
| 20/04 | Ipswich | 65-44 | Peterborough |
| 22/04 | Eastbourne | 52-54 | Arena Essex |
| 21/04 | Arena Essex | 56-53 | Eastbourne |
| 23/04 | Glasgow | 63-43 | Middlesbrough |
| 27/04 | Middlesbrough | 43-64 | Glasgow |
| 18/05 | Sheffield | 63-43 | Long Eaton |
| 19/04 | Long Eaton | 54-52 | Sheffield |
| 21/04 | Oxford | 72-36 | Poole |
| 19/04 | Poole | 54-51 | Oxford |
Second round
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/07 | Ipswich | 52-56 | Reading |
| 17/07 | Reading | 46-59 | Ipswich |
| 15/07 | Bradford | 70-38 | Wolverhampton |
| 05/07 | Kings Lynn | 55-53 | Coventry |
| 17/06 | Coventry | 65-43 | Kings Lynn |
| 14/06 | Cradley Heath | 59-53 | Glasgow |
| 09/06 | Edinburgh | 46-61 | Hull |
| 05/06 | Exeter | 47-57 | Swindon |
| 05/06 | Wolverhampton | 58-46 | Bradford |
| 04/06 | Glasgow | 54-53 | Cradley Heath |
| 03/06 | Swindon | 55-50 | Exeter |
| 31/05 | Hull | 59-49 | Edinburgh |
| 02/06 | Belle Vue | 68-36 | Sheffield |
| 01/06 | Sheffield | 61-46 | Belle Vue |
| 02/06 | Arena Essex | 58-48 | Oxford |
| 29/05 | Oxford | 58.5-47.5 | Arena Essex |
Quarter-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/08 | Ipswich | 57-50 | Coventry |
| 05/08 | Bradford | 72-35 | Hull |
| 26/07 | Coventry | 58-49 | Ipswich |
| 26/07 | Hull | 54-41 | Bradford |
| 22/07 | Cradley Heath | 61-47 | Oxford |
| 22/07 | Swindon | 57-50 | Belle Vue |
| 21/07 | Belle Vue | 68-38 | Swindon |
| 21/07 | Oxford | 54-52 | Cradley Heath |
Semi-finals
| Date | Team one | Score | Team two |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13/09 | Coventry | 52-55 | Bradford |
| 02/09 | Bradford | 58-50 | Coventry |
| 19/08 | Cradley Heath | 49-57 | Belle Vue |
| 18/08 | Belle Vue | 59-48 | Cradley Heath |
First leg
| Bradford Dukes Sean Wilson 17 Gary Havelock 14+1 Paul Pickering 11+2 Darren Pearson 10+3 Joe Screen 6 Tony Atkin 3+1 Garry Stead R/R | 68 - 39 | Belle Vue Aces Jason Lyons 9 Chris Manchester 8 Niklas Klingberg 6 Kevin Little 5+1 Frede Schött 3 Max Schofield 3+3 John Jørgensen 1 |
|---|---|---|
Second leg
| Belle Vue Aces Niklas Klingberg 14 Jason Lyons 13 Chris Manchester 12 Frede Schött Kevin Little 5 | 58 - 43 | Bradford Dukes Martin Dugard16 Gary Havelock 10 Sean Wilson Paul Pickering Darren Pearson |
|---|---|---|
| [7] |
Bradford Dukes were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate111-97.
Gary Havelock won thePremier League Riders Championship. It was held atAbbey Stadium, Swindon on 14 October.[8]
| Pos. | Rider | Heat Scores | Total | SF | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 2 3 2 | 10 | x | 3 | |
| 2 | 0 3 3 3 | 9 | 3 | 2 | |
| 3 | 3 3 3 2 | 11 | x | 1 | |
| 4 | 3 3 3 2 | 11 | x | 0 | |
| 5 | 2 2 2 3 | 9 | 2 | x | |
| 6 | 1 3 2 3 | 9 | 1 | x | |
| 7 | 3 2 2 0 | 7 | |||
| 8 | 3 1 1 2 | 7 | |||
| 9 | 1 1 2 3 | 7 | |||
| 10 | 2 1 1 3 | 7 | |||
| 11 | 2 2 2 1 | 7 | |||
| 12 | 2 0 3 1 | 6 | |||
| 13 | 1 3 1 1 | 6 | |||
| 14 | 2 2 1 1 | 6 | |||
| 15 | 3 2 0 0 | 5 | |||
| 16 | 2 3 0 0 | 5 | |||
| 17 | 1 0 3 1 | 5 | |||
| 18 | 0 1 1 3 | 5 | |||
| 19 | 1 0 2 2 | 5 | |||
| 20 | 0 0 1 2 | 3 | |||
| 21 | 0 1 0 1 | 2 | |||
| 22 | 1 0 0 0 | 1 | |||
| 23 | 0 1 0 0 | 1 | |||
| 24 | 0 0 0 0 | 0 |
Cradley Heathens won thePremier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 6 August 1995, at theEast of England Arena.[9]
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Team | Pts | Riders |
| 1 | Cradley | 21 | Cross 8, Hamill 8, Hancock 3, Smith 2 |
| 2 | Peterborough | 20 | Poole 7, Sullivan 7, Tesar 6, Pedersen 0, Clausen 0 |
| 3 | Bradford | 19 | Screen 6, Havelock 5, Wilson 5, Pickering 3 |
| 4 | Arena Essex | 11 | Hurry 5, Adams 4, Larsen 2, Mogridge 0 |
| Rider | Team | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Cradley Heath | 10.91 | |
| Bradford | 10.82 | |
| Ipswich | 10.52 | |
| Wolverhampton | 10.50 | |
| Poole | 10.44 | |
| Cradley Heath | 10.42 | |
| Wolverhampton | 10.37 | |
| Bradford | 10.25 | |
| Eastbourne | 10.22 | |
| Swindon | 9.99 | |
| Arena Essex | 9.96 | |
| Poole | 9.94 | |
| Exeter | 9.78 | |
| Coventry | 9.53 | |
| Eastbourne | 9.35 | |
| Belle Vue | 9.06 | |
| Kings Lynn | 8.98 | |
| Hull | 8.97 | |
| Reading | 8.90 | |
| Peterborough | 8.85 |
Arena Essex
Belle Vue
Bradford
Coventry
Cradley Heath
Eastbourne
Edinburgh
Exeter
Glasgow
Hull
Ipswich
King's Lynn
Long Eaton
Middlesbrough
Oxford
Peterborough
Poole
Reading
Sheffield
Swindon
Wolverhampton