Craven and Young Shields explained

Craven and Young Shields
Sport:Speedway
Founded:1997
Country:Great Britain
Folded:Craven Shield (2008)
Young Shield (2010)

The Craven Shield and Young Shield were short-lived speedway end of season cup competitions in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB), in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).[1] [2]

Craven Shield

Named in memory of Peter Craven (twice FIM World Champion), who was killed after a racing accident in 1963, it was held from 1997 until 2008. It was the end of season competition for top eight clubs in the league standings of the newly formed Elite League (the highest tier of speedway).[1]

It was later a three-team tournament, with each team staging a leg on their own track and aggregate scores deciding the final placings. The format was changed in 2008 with three mini leagues of three teams with the best team overall of the three leagues progressing directly to the final. The semi final is contested by the other two league winners over two meetings home and away, with the winner progressing to the final.[3] [4]

Winners

YearWinners
1997Coventry Bees
1998Ipswich Witches
1999Peterborough Panthers
2000Coventry Bees
2001Poole Pirates
2002Poole Pirates
2003competition not held
2004competition not held
2005Oxford Silver Machine
2006Poole Pirates
2007Coventry Bees
2008Coventry Bees

Young Shield

Named in memory of Jack Young, an Australian who won two successive World Championships in 1951 and 1952, it was held from 1997 until 2010. It was the end of season competition for top eight clubs in the league standings of the re-formed Premier League (the second division/tier of speedway).[1]

Winners

YearWinners
1997Exeter Falcons
1998Isle of Wight Islanders
1999Sheffield Tigers
2000Swindon Robins
2001Isle of Wight Islanders
2002Sheffield Tigers
2003competition not held
2004Hull Vikings
2005King's Lynn Stars
2006competition not held
2007Redcar Bears
2008Workington Comets
2009Workington Comets
2010Workington Comets

Notes and References

  1. News: Wheelie Good Trophy for Champs . Reading Evening Post . 30 June 1997 . 10 December 2021 . British Newspaper Archive. subscription .
  2. Web site: History Archive. Official British Speedway website. 10 December 2021.
  3. Web site: SCB Speedway Regulations . Speedway Control Board . 2008 . pdf . 2008-04-02 .
  4. Web site: Craven Shield needs a revamp. Speedway Plus. 10 December 2021.