2002 Premier League speedway season

The 2002 Premier League speedway season was the second division of speedway in the United Kingdom and governed by the Speedway Control Board (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).^[1]

2002 Premier League speedway season

League	Premier League
Champions	Sheffield Tigers
Knockout Cup	Sheffield Tigers
Young Shield	Sheffield Tigers
Individual	Adam Shields
Pairs	Isle of Wight Islanders
Fours	Berwick Bandits
Highest average	Sean Wilson
Division/s above	2002 Elite League
Division/s below	2002 Conference League
← 2001 2003 →

Season summary

The League consisted of 17 teams for the 2002 season with the addition of two teams, the Rye House Rockets and the Somerset Rebels from the Conference League.

The League was run on a standard format with no play-offs and was won by Sheffield Tigers.^[2][3]

On 14 April, Lawrence Hare was paralysed after crashing while riding for Exeter Falcons.^[4][5]

Fixtures & results

Home \ Away	AE	BER	ED	EX	GLA	HV	IOW	ND	NW	RR	RYE	SHE	SOM	STO	SWI	TT	WOR
Arena Essex Hammers		52–38	54–36	46–44	48–36	46–44	47–45	43–47	56–34	54–36	46–44	44–4	53–37	44–46	45–45	51–38	53–37
Berwick Bandits	45–45		50–40	54–36	63–27	56–34	48–42	54–36	55–35	51–39	55–35	43–47	54–36	50–40	57–33	67–23	54–36
Edinburgh Monarchs	51–39	61–29		53–37	45–42	44–46	52–38	42–47	52–38	46–44	45–45	51–39	51–39	55–35	48–42	52–38	48–42
Exeter Falcons	57–33	46–44	57–33		62–28	42–47	48–42	64–25	56–34	47–42	62–28	46–44	58–31	43–47	54–36	59–33	60–30
Glasgow Tigers	52–38	52–39	46–44	50–40		44–46	43–47	49–42	44–46	46–44	52–38	38–51	49–41	39–49	45–44	43–47	43–47
Hull Vikings	47–43	42–48	44–46	51–39	46–44		47–41	40–50	50–39	49–41	49–41	46–44	49–41	54–36	50–40	60–30	58–32
Isle of Wight Islanders	60–29	57–34	59–31	55–35	55–35	44–43		47–43	58–32	57–33	55–34	46–44	49–40	49–41	53–37	50–40	56–34
Newcastle Diamonds	46–44	44–44	53–37	54–36	55–35	62–28	46–41		48–41	53–37	45–33	51–39	61–29	60–30	55–35	46–44	50–40
Newport Wasps	54–36	43–46	45–45	52–38	48–42	45–35	39–51	43–47		49–41	54–36	45–45	53–37	49–41	49–41	56–34	48–41
Reading Racers	54–36	48–42	45–44	53–37	54–36	47–43	43–46	51–39	45–44		52–38	47–43	57–33	47–43	47–43	51–37	50–40
Rye House Rockets	51–39	41–49	51–39	56–34	49–41	44–46	48–42	49–41	46–44	47–43		47–43	52–38	44–46	41–51	53–37	49–41
Sheffield Tigers	48–42	54–36	57–33	66–24	59–31	52–39	54–36	58–32	57–33	67–23	58–32		65–25	55–35	48–43	66–24	58–32
Somerset Rebels	49–41	45–45	45–45	47–43	51–39	42–48	39–51	48–42	55–35	44–46	46–44	44–46		51–39	43–49	48–42	50–40
Stoke Potters	52–38	47–43	56–34	54–36	45–44	58–32	45–45	48–42	53–38	53–36	56–34	50–40	48–42		43–47	44–46	50–39
Swindon Robins	49–41	47–43	54–36	51–39	52–38	47–43	53–36	44–46	43–47	50–40	55–35	54–36	47–43	49–41		59–31	49–40
Trelawny Tigers	44–46	49–41	49–41	47–43	49–41	44–45	47–43	42–49	51–39	44–46	49–41	49–41	48–42	47–43	45–45		51–42
Workington Comets	45–45	48–43	45–45	49–41	49–41	47–43	44–46	49–44	47–43	45–47	45–45	47–43	47–43	51–39	50–40	47–43

Source: ^[6]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Final table

Pos		M	W	D	L	F	A	Pts	Bon	Tot
1	Sheffield Tigers	32	20	1	11	1612	1267	41	15	56
2	Newcastle Diamonds	32	21	1	10	1501	1364	43	13	56
3	Isle of Wight Islanders	32	21	1	10	1541	1329	43	15	55
4	Berwick Bandits	32	17	3	12	1520	1360	37	12	49
5	Hull Vikings	32	19	0	13	1444	1419	38	11	49
6	Swindon Robins	32	17	2	13	1473	1408	36	10	46
7	Stoke Potters	32	17	1	14	1453	1423	35	8	43
8	Reading Racers	32	17	0	15	1427	1448	34	7	41
9	Edinburgh Monarchs	32	14	4	14	1425	1450	35	8	40
10	Exeter Falcons	32	14	0	18	1463	1415	28	10	38
11	Arena Essex Hammers	32	13	3	15	1417	1456	29	6	35
12	Newport Wasps	32	13	2	17	1394	1472	28	6	34
13	Rye House Rockets	32	13	2	17	1373	1496	28	5	33
14	Trelawny Tigers	32	13	1	18	1343	1539	27	4	31
15	Workington Comets	32	12	3	17	1368	1518	27	3	30
16	Somerset Rebels	32	9	2	21	1344	1536	20	4	24
17	Glasgow Tigers	32	9	0	23	1335	1533	18	2	20

Premier League Knockout Cup

The 2002 Premier League Knockout Cup was the 35th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier two teams. Sheffield Tigers were the winners of the competition.^[7]

First round

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
20/04	Rye House	53-37	Somerset
10/05	Somerset	45-45	Rye House

Second round

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
27/05	Reading	47-43	Arena Essex
31/05	Arena Essex	48-42	Reading
30/05	Sheffield	55-36	Isle of Wight
28/05	Isle of Wight	46-44	Sheffield
02/06	Glasgow	48-42	Workington
01/06	Workington	41-49	Glasgow
27/05	Newcastle	53-37	Trelawny
28/05	Trelawny	46-43	Newcastle
01/06	Stoke	49-41	Exeter
27/05	Exeter	46-44	Stoke
24/04	Hull	54-36	Berwick
20/04	Berwick	52-38	Hull
01/06	Rye House	46-44	Swindon
30/05	Swindon	45-45	Rye House
02/06	Newport	49-41	Edinburgh
31/05	Edinburgh	49-41	Newport
20/07 replay	Newport	54-36	Edinburgh
05/07 replay	Edinburgh	49-41	Newport

Quarter-finals

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
29/08	Sheffield	61-39	Glasgow
12/08	Glasgow	44-46	Sheffield
29/07	Newcastle	57-33	Stoke
31/08	Stoke	49-41	Newcastle
31/07	Hull	45-45	Rye House
28/07	Rye House	44-46	Hull
28/07	Newport	48-41	Arena Essex
02/08	Arena Essex	45-45	Newport

Semi-finals

Date	Team one	Score	Team two
03/10	Sheffield	63-27	Newcastle
30/09	Newcastle	53-37	Sheffield
18/09	Hull	51-39	Newport
29/09	Newport	50-40	Hull

Final

First leg

16 October 2002

Hull Vikings Lee Smethills 12 Robbie Kessler 10 Garry Stead 9 Paul Thorp 7 Jamie Smith 6 Emil Kramer 3 Craig Branney 2	49 – 41	Sheffield Tigers Lee Complin 11 Simon Stead 9 Sean Wilson 7 Scott Smith 6 Ricky Ashworth 4 Andrew Moore 3 Jamie Birkinshaw 1
	[8][9]

Craven Park, Hull

Second leg

24 October 2002

Sheffield Tigers Sean Wilson 13 Simon Stead 12 Lee Complin 7 Ricky Ashworth 7 Scott Smith 6 Andrew Moore 6 Jamie Birkinshaw 5	56 – 34	Hull Vikings Robbie Kessler 12 Lee Smethills 10 Garry Stead 6 Paul Thorp 5 Craig Branney 1 Jamie Smith 0 Emil Kramer 0
	[8][9]

Owlerton Stadium

Sheffield were declared Knockout Cup Champions, winning on aggregate 97–83.

Riders' Championship

Adam Shields won the Riders' Championship. The final was held on 8 September at Belle Vue Stadium.^[10]

Pos.	Rider	Pts	Total	SF	Final
1	Adam Shields	3 3 ex 2 3	11	-	3
2	Craig Watson	3 2 3 3 1	12	-	2
3	Phil Morris	3 2 2 2 2	11	2	1
4	Brent Werner	0 1 3 3 2	9	3	0
5	Andre Compton	2 3 3 0 3	11	1
6	Peter Ingvar Karlsson	2 ex 2 1 3	8	0
7	Garry Stead	1 2 2 1 2	8
8	Marián Jirout	2 3 0 1 1	7
9	Jan Staechmann	3 1 1 1 1	7
10	George Štancl	2 1 ex 2 2	7
11	Paul Bentley	0 0 0 3 3	6
12	Charlie Gjedde	0 2 3 ex 0	5
13	Michael Coles	0 0 1 3 1	5
14	Frede Schött	1 3 1 0 0	5
15	Leigh Lanham	1 0 2 2 ex	5
16	Simon Stead	1 1 1 0 0	3
17	Steve Masters (res)	0	0

• f=fell, r-retired, ex=excluded, ef=engine failure t=touched tapes

Pairs

The Premier League Pairs Championship was held at Derwent Park on 19 July. The event was won by the Isle of Wight Islanders.^[11][12]

Group A Pos Team Pts Riders 1 Newport 23 Smart 13, Watson 10 2 Edinburgh 19 Carr P 11, Schott 8 3 Workington 17 Stonehewer 13, Karlsson 4 4 Reading 16 Mullett 9, Morris 7 5 Sheffield 15 Wilson 10, Stead 5

Group B Pos Team Pts Riders 1 Isle of Wight 24 Shields 13, Bird 11 2 Hull 20 Stead 12, Kessler 8 3 Berwick 17 Bentley 14, Kristensen 3 4 Somerset 15 Jirout 8, Cunningham 7 5 Glasgow 14 Stancl 9, Grieves 5

Semi-finals

• Isle of Wight bt Edinburgh
• Newport bt Hull

Final

• Isle of Wight bt Newport

Fours

Berwick Bandits won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 21 July 2002, at the Brandon Stadium.^[13][14]

Group A Pos Team Pts Riders 1 Hull 15 Stead G 5, Kessler 5, Thorp 3, Smith J 2 2 Newport 14 Smart 4, Smith S 4, Watson 3, Dicken 3 3 Glasgow 10 Stancl 4, Grieves 3, Powell 2, Olsson 1 4 Sheffield 9 Wilson 5, Complin 2, Stead S 1, Smith S 1

Group B Pos Team Pts Riders 1 Berwick 15 Kristensen 4, Rymel 4, Bentley 4, Makovsky 3 2 Arena Essex 12 White 4, Tacey 3, Lanham 3, Tatum 2 3 Reading 11 Henriksson 6, Morris 2, Mullett 2, Schramm 1 4 Isle of Wight 10 Bager 4, Bird 3, Shields 2, Read 1, Simmons 0

Final
Pos	Team	Pts	Riders
1	Berwick	22	Bentley 8, Rymel 6, Makovsky 5. Kristensen 3
2	Arena Essex	21	White 8, Tatum 6, Tacey 4, Lanham 3
3	Newport	16	Smart 5, Smith S 4, Dicken 4, Watson 3
4	Hull	13	Kessler 6, Thorp 3, Smith J 2, Smethills 2, Stead G 0

Final leading averages

Rider	Team	Average
Sean Wilson	Sheffield	10.17
Carl Stonehewer	Workington	10.08
Adam Shields	Isle of Wight	9.85
Ray Morton	Isle of Wight	9.53
Paul Fry	Swindon	9.46
Marián Jirout	Somerset	9.31
Paul Bentley	Berwick	9.24
Leigh Lanham	Arena Essex	9.19
Peter Carr	Edinburgh	9.17
Chris Harris	Trewlany	9.13

Riders & final averages

Arena Essex

• Leigh Lanham 9.19
• Kelvin Tatum 8.48
• Shaun Tacey 7.30
• Colin White 7.24
• Lee Herne 4.78
• Andy Galvin 3.79
• Carl Baldwin 3.37
• Scott Courtney 2.67

Berwick

• Paul Bentley 9.24
• Claus Kristensen 7.79
• Michal Makovský 7.50
• Adrian Rymel 6.99
• Simon Cartwright 6.65
• Kevin Doolan 6.29
• Steffen Mell 5.06

Edinburgh

• Peter Carr 9.17
• Frede Schott 8.20
• Daniel Andersson 7.36
• Magnus Karlsson 7.00
• Theo Pijper 5.85
• Aidan Collins 5.72
• Rory Schlein 5.52
• Christian Henry 4.92
• David Meldrum 4.27
• Ben Shields 3.41

Exeter

• Seemond Stephens 8.46
• Michael Coles 8.34
• Mark Simmonds 7.78
• Roger Lobb 7.52
• Lawrence Hare 6.92
• Krister Marsh 6.58
• Bobby Eldridge 5.52
• Jason Prynne 3.81
• Matt Cambridge 3.34
• Corey Blackman 2.53

Glasgow

• George Štancl 9.04
• James Grieves 8.08
• Mick Powell 7.75
• Kenny Olsson 5.13
• Martin Dixon 4.70
• David McAllan 4.40
• Grant MacDonald 3.17

Hull

• Garry Stead 8.68
• Robbie Kessler 8.33
• Paul Thorp 8.08
• Ross Brady 7.75
• Jamie Smith 6.17
• Emil Kramer 5.97
• Lee Smethills 5.55
• Craig Branney 1.91

Isle of Wight

• Adam Shields 9.85
• Ray Morton 9.53
• Danny Bird 8.28
• Henning Bager 6.25
• Sebastien Trésarrieu 6.20
• Matt Read 5.76
• Gary Phelps 5.21
• Nick Simmons 3.92
• Daniel Giffard 2.10

Newcastle

• Kenneth Bjerre 8.61
• Andre Compton 8.33
• Davey Watt 8.00
• Kevin Little 6.98
• Richard Juul 5.89
• Derek Sneddon 5.69
• Wayne Carter 4.95
• Rob Grant Jr 3.74
• Richard Hall 1.37

Newport

• Craig Watson 8.94
• Frank Smart 8.91
• Scott Smith 6.85
• Emil Lindqvist 6.75
• Lee Dicken 6.04
• Carl Wilkinson 4.31
• Ashley Jones 3.13
• Barrie Evans 2.74

Reading

• Andrew Appleton 8.95
• Phil Morris 8.68
• Dave Mullett 8.56
• Anders Henriksson 7.54
• Jason Bunyan 6.82
• Paul Clews 5.96
• Chris Schramm 4.32
• Glen Phillips 4.29
• Gavin Hedge 2.97

Rye House

• Brent Werner 8.47
• Nigel Sadler 8.11
• Scott Robson 7.51
• Mark Courtney 6.60
• David Mason 5.39
• Scott Swain 5.19
• Troy Pratt 4.41
• Adam Pryer 3.09
• Chris Courage 2.80
• Daniel Giffard 1.40

Sheffield

• Sean Wilson 10.17
• Simon Stead 8.53
• Lee Complin 7.67
• Scott Smith 7.20
• Andrew Moore 6.97
• James Birkinshaw 6.12
• Ricky Ashworth 4.94

Somerset

• Marián Jirout 9.31
• Glenn Cunningham 7.74
• Neil Collins 6.89
• Graeme Gordon 5.58
• Steve Bishop 5.17
• Adam Allott 4.37
• David Meldrum 4.35
• Malcolm Holloway 3.77
• Gary Phelps 3.23
• Stuart Williams 2.63
• Shane McCabe 2.61

Stoke

• Alan Mogridge 8.50
• Jan Staechmann 8.48
• Paul Pickering 7.90
• Tony Atkin 6.14
• Jon Armstrong 5.79
• Mark Burrows 5.13
• Will Beveridge 4.06
• Rob Grant Jr. 4.00
• Lee Hodgson 2.46

Swindon

• Paul Fry 9.46
• Charlie Gjedde 8.92
• Oliver Allen 8.30
• Chris Neath 6.47
• Paul Lee 5.04
• Adam Allott 5.02
• Jason King 3.65
• Ritchie Hawkins 3.34

Trelawny

• Chris Harris 9.13
• Alun Rossiter 7.27
• Emiliano Sanchez 7.13
• Steve Masters 6.98
• Richard Wolff 6.95
• Seemond Stephens 6.19
• Pavel Ondrašík 5.88
• Simon Phillips 4.39
• Jason Prynne 2.51

Workington

• Carl Stonehewer 10.08
• Peter Ingvar Karlsson 8.10
• Les Collins 8.08
• Rusty Harrison 7.65
• Kauko Nieminen 6.20
• Chris Collins 2.89
• James Mann 2.87
• Scott James 2.67
• Lee Hodgson 2.24
• Tom Brown 2.10
• Shane Colvin 1.82

See also

• List of United Kingdom Speedway League Champions
• Knockout Cup (speedway)