Workington Comets
| Workington Comets | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Club information | |||||||||||
| Track address | Derwent Park Stadium Workington Cumbria | ||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||
| Founded | 1970 | ||||||||||
| Closed | 2019[1][2] | ||||||||||
| Team manager | Tony Jackson | ||||||||||
| Team captain | Ty Proctor | ||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||
| Colours | Blue and White | ||||||||||
| Track size | 364 metres (398 yd) | ||||||||||
| Track record time | 60.9 seconds | ||||||||||
| Track record date | 12 August 2017 | ||||||||||
| Track record holder | Craig Cook | ||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||
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Workington Comets were a speedway club that operated from 1970 to 2018. They were based at Derwent Park Stadium in Workington, Cumbria, which they shared with Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.[3]
History[]
1970–1987[]
The team's inaugural league season was the 1970 British League Division Two season in which they finished in 11th place.[4] The team spent 12 years in Division 2, finishing 2nd in 1973 and 3rd in 1976.[5]
The 1987 season saw Glasgow Tigers based at Derwent Park. However the team changed its name to Workington Tigers soon afterwards but held their last fixture against Stoke on 31 July. The team's results were expunged.[6] It was the last season of speedway at Workington for 12 years.
1999–2018[]
Speedway returned in 1999 as Workington joined the Premier League (division 2). They would spend 20 consecutive years in the division but before their 2018 play off victory their best finish was 2nd in 2004.
At the end of the 2007 season, the club was sold by promoter Tony Mole to businessman Keith Denham.[7][8] Several riders left for the Birmingham Brummies but Carl Stonehewer and Kauko Nieminen stayed. The club went on to win the Young Shield, Premier League Pairs and Premier League Four-Team Championship during the 2008 season.[9][10] The Premier League Fours was an event that they had won on three previous occasions, in 2001, 2004 and 2006.[11]
In October 2018, the Comets won the SGB Championship for the first time in their history.[12] In the same month, the Comets made it a treble win with Knockout Cup and Championship Shield victories.[13]
In January 2019, the Comets announced their withdrawal from the SGB Championship and from racing in the 2019 season.[1][2]
Notable riders[]
The club's most notable rider was Carl Stonehewer, who still holds the record for the most Comets appearances and remains the only Premier League rider to qualify for the Speedway Grand Prix series.
Season summary[]
Honours[]
SGB Championship
Winners: 2018
SGB Championship Knockout Cup
Winners: 2018
SGB Championship Shield
Winners: 2018
Young Shield
Winners: 2008, 2009, 2010
Premier League Four-Team Championship
Winners: 2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
Premier League Riders Championship
- 2000 Carl Stonehewer
- 2001 Carl Stonehewer
- 2007 James Wright
Premier League Pairs Championship
- 1999 Carl Stonehewer with Brent Werner
- 2000 Carl Stonehewer with
- 2001 Carl Stonehewer with
- 2003 Carl Stonehewer with Simon Stead
- 2008 Kauko Nieminen with Daniel Nermark
- 2012 René Bach with Adam Roynon
References[]
- ^ a b "COMETS WITHDRAWN FROM CHAMPIONSHIP!". workingtoncomets.co. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ a b "WORKINGTON WITHDRAW - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
- ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
- ^ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
- ^ "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Workington Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "My Plans for the Comets". News and Star. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ "I'll rev up the Comets". News and Star. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ "Wrighty may ride off to the Elite". News and Star. 2 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
- ^ "Workington Comets beat Berwick to win speedway's Young Shield". News and Star. 30 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
- ^ Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
- ^ "Comets are Champions". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Comets are Champions". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
| 2016 Teams |  | |
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| Former Teams |
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| Seasons | ||
| Domestic Cups | ||
- Speedway Premier League teams
- SGB Championship teams
- Sport in Cumbria
- Workington