Berwick Bandits

Berwick Bandits
Club information
Track address Shielfield Park
Tweedmouth
Berwick-On-Tweed
Country England
Founded 1968 (1968)
Team manager Scott Courtney
Team captain Kevin Doolan
League Premier League
Website www.berwickbandits.co
Club facts
Colours Black and Gold
Track size 368 metres (402 yd)
Track record time 62.8 seconds
Track record date 15th August 2015
Track record holder Craig Cook
Current team
Rider CMA
Denmark Thomas Jorgensen 7.80
Sweden Seb Alden 7.37
Australia Kevin Doolan 6.95
Netherlands Theo Pijper 6.53
Sweden Anders Mellgren 5.57
Australia Matthew Wethers 4.96
England Liam Carr 3.00
Total 42.18
Major team honours
Div 2 KO Cup winners1980, 1989
Conference League1994, 1995
Premier Four-Team Championship2002, 2012
Conference League KO Cup Winners1995

The Berwick Bandits are a speedway team based at Shielfield Park, Berwick upon Tweed, the club competes in the British Premier League.[1]

Brief history

Berwick have been operational in consecutive seasons from 1968 through to the present day. For such a small club, Berwick have had relative success. They were Division 2 Knock-out cup winners in 1980 and 1989, and the division one equivalent, The Gold Cup, in their only top flight season in 1991 whilst owned by Entrepreneur Terry Lindon. To add to this there were two national league riders championships for Wayne Brown (1980) and Steve McDerrmott (1983).

Between 1982 and 1996, Berwick Bandits were based at the Berrington Lough track near Ancroft, Northumberland.

Berwick won the Premier League Four-Team Championship in 2002. In 2005, Berwick enjoyed one of their most successful seasons ever; they were 2nd in the Premier League, semi-finalists of the Knock-out cup, semi-finalists of the Young Shield and had a series of impressive away wins. The highlight being the 53-38 away win over the Exeter Falcons.[2] In 2008 the Bandits made the final of the Young Shield, losing out to Workington Comets in what turned out to be promoter Peter Waite's last meeting in charge. For season 2009 the new promotion is spearheaded by longtime supporter and North Berwick butcher John Anderson, with popular Cornhill shopkeeper Linda Waite (no relation to Peter) joining John and his sons. On 26 July 2010 the Berwick promotion announced that there had been a change in ownership. Lynda Waite had stepped down from her role to concentrate on the family business at Cornhill village shop, she states she enjoyed every minute of her time at Berwick Speedway and will never forget it and will be proud to sponsor the 2010 Bordernapolis event so that her link with Berwick speedway would continue. After Lynda's departure, John Anderson then announced the new investor was George Hepburn, owner of Berwick building contractor George Hepburn and Son Ltd., a long term supporter of the Bandits and sponsor of rider Lee Complin. Following the announcement of George Hepburn's investment, it was then announced that Dave Peet (team manager, late 2008 - Mid 2010) had departed from the club and had been replaced by the track curator and staff manager Ian Rae. Rae’s association with speedway in Berwick-upon-Tweed extend back to his role as Stadium Manager at their Berrington Lough Stadium, followed by several years – up until 2001 – as team manager.

Berwick won the Premier League Four-Team Championship for a second time in 2012.

2016 Team


2015 Team

2014 Team

2011 Team

Also Rode

2010 Team

Also Rode

2009 Team

Also rode

2008 Team

Also Rode:

2007 Team

Also rode

2006 Team

References

  1. ↑ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ↑ Oakes, P.(2006). Speedway Star Almanac. ISBN 0-9552376-1-0

External links

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