Premier Trophy (speedway)
The Premier Trophy was a contest between teams competing in the Premier League in the UK. The first competition was held in 1999.[1] The competition is usually run before the Premier League starts in April and May. The finals are usually contested in June/July. The competition was dropped from the 2011 calendar due to the expansion of the Premier League fixtures.
Rules
Teams are split into four regional groups with the top teams competing in the semi-finals. The semi-finals are raced over two legs, home and away. The winners of the semi-finals then compete in the final, again raced over two legs, home and away.
Format
The competition is a mixture of league format and a knock-out competition. The competition starts with the teams split into several groups, usually by location. The current format is a North, Midland and South Group, with 5 teams in the north and midland group and 4 in the south group. The top team from each group and then the 2nd best placed team (on average points per game) qualify for the semi-finals. The winners on aggregate in the semi-final contest the final, with the final being contested with a home and away tie. The winner on aggregate is then declared Premier Trophy Champions.
Winners
| Year | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Newport Wasps | Edinburgh Monarchs |
| 2000 | Hull Vikings | Exeter Falcons |
| 2001 | Sheffield Tigers | Swindon Robins |
| 2002 | Trelawny Tigers | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2003 | competition not held | |
| 2004 | Exeter Falcons | Reading Racers |
| 2005 | Rye House Rockets | Workington Comets |
| 2006 | Kings Lynn Stars | Sheffield Tigers |
| 2007 | Kings Lynn Stars | Birmingham Brummies |
| 2008 | Edinburgh Monarchs | Birmingham Brummies |
| 2009 | Kings Lynn Stars | Edinburgh Monarchs |
| 2010 | Newcastle Diamonds | Birmingham Brummies |
| 2011 | competition not held | |
References
- ↑ Bamford, R.(2007). Speedway Yearbook 2007. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1
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