Ipswich Witches
| Ipswich Witches | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Track address | Foxhall Stadium Ipswich | ||||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1950 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Promoter | Chris Louis | ||||||||||||||||||
| Team manager | Ritchie Hawkins | ||||||||||||||||||
| Team captain | Danny King | ||||||||||||||||||
| League | SGB Premiership | ||||||||||||||||||
| Website | ipswichwitches | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Colours | Blue, White and Black | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 285 metres (312 yd) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 55.0 seconds | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 10 August 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Emil Sayfutdinov | ||||||||||||||||||
| Current team | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||||
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TheIpswich Witchesare a Britishmotorcycle speedwayclub based atFoxhall StadiumnearIpswich,Suffolk.They compete in the BritishSGB Premiership.Meetings are staged on most Thursdays from March until October, normally commencing at 7.30pm (first race 7.45pm).
The Witches are currently promoted by former Ipswich ridersChris LouisandRitchie Hawkins.Chris Louis is the son of former rider and promoterJohn Louis[1]
History
[edit]1950s
[edit]Foxhall Stadiumwas purpose-built for speedway in 1950 and following the cancellation of a meeting on 24 March 1951, the venue first hosted speedway on 14 May 1951, when Ipswich competed against Yarmouth in a challenge match.[2][3]The inaugural league season was the1952 Speedway Southern League,where the team finished 8th. The team adopted the nickname the 'Witches' because of the town's history, for their inaugural season.[4]
The early stars of Ipswich speedway wereJunior BainbridgeandBert Edwards.[5]Attendances approached 20,000 but the team remained in the second division until the merger of the National league in1957.Despite signing riders such asPeter Moorethe team struggled and dropped down to the1959 Southern Area League.
1960s
[edit]The Witches moved back up to the highest division for 1960 and 1961 and led byPeter Moore,finished fourth and sixth respectively. However, after ten seasons of league speedway the team withdrew from the1962 Speedway National Leaguemid-season due to financial issues.[6][7]The 1962 season was the worst in the history of the club, they lost their new signingOlle Nygrento ill-health before the season even started and thenJack Unsteadwas killed in the first recorded fatal crash at Foxhall Stadium on 13 April 1962.[8]
After very little action, except for some junior matches the club returned under the promotion of Joe Thorley andJohn Berryin 1969.[9]Berry built a new smaller track inside the stock car circuit.
1970s
[edit]-
John Louis -
Billy Sanders
After signingJohn HarrhyandJohn Louis,the team won their first honours in 1970, winning theKnockout Cup.They repeated the success in 1971, before John Berry applied for membership of theBritish Leaguein 1972. The Witches established their place in the league over the next three seasons and then won consecutive British League Championships in 1975 and 1976 and two Knock-Out Cup wins in 1976 and 1978.[10][11]The 1975 title saw Ipswich defeatBelle Vue Acesby a solitary point. John Louis andBilly Sandersscored heavily throughout the season for Ipswich. The following year in 1976, during Ipswich's second consecutive title, the team was once again headed by John Louis and Billy Sanders but this timeTony Daveyalso scored well with an average of 8.37, resulting in a comfortable league title success for the Suffolk team. The team then went on to claim the double on 28 October by winning the Knockout Cup.
1980s
[edit]
The team enjoyed a successful period during the early 1980s, winning the Knockout Cup again in 1981 and then securing the league and cup double again during the1984 British League season,despite losing their leading riderDennis Sigalosand DanePreben Eriksenafter the 1983 season. Australian Sanders remained one of the team's main scorers and he was supported by strong season scoring from American showmanJohn Cook,FinnKai Niemiand the English international pair ofJeremy DoncasterandRichard Knight.[12][13]
Just three matches into the 1985 season Sanders killed himself on 23 April. The news shocked the club and the wider speedway world.[14]Following the death Billy Sanders in 1985 and Berry's subsequent decision to quit, the club struggled and almost closed before being saved by a consortium which included former rider John Louis but they dropped to the National League in 1989.
1990s
[edit]During the National League seasons of 1989 and 1990,Chris Louis(the son of John Louis) emerged as the club's new star. When the Witches returned to the top tier for the1991 British League season,Louis andTony Rickardssonheaded the team before Rickardsson left after the 1993 season and then returned in 1997 for the renamed Elite League.
For the1998 Elite League speedway season,Ipswich signedTomasz Golloband along with Rickardsson, Louis andScott Nichollsthe team dominated British speedway, winning the Elite League, the Knock-Out Cup and the end of seasonCraven Shieldtournament.[15]In addition, Rickardsson won his second World title, Louis was British champion and Nicholls wasBritish Under-21 champion.[16]
2000s
[edit]
The team spent the entire decade in the Elite League finishing third in 2000 and 2004 (the latter resulting in elimination in the play off semi finals). In 2008, they finished fourth and once again were eliminated in the play off semi finals.
The early part of the decade saw Scott Nicholls as their leading rider alongside Louis, with other notable seasons fromMark Loram,Jarosław HampelandHans Andersen.Chris Louis remained an ever present for 19 seasons from 1989 to 2008, with the exception of missing the 2003 season with a back injury.[17]
2010s
[edit]In November 2010, the Witches moved down to thePremier League(second tier).[18]In 2011, the Witches finished in third place in the final Premier League table and won thePremier League Four-Team Championshipstaged at Leicester. During2012 Premier League speedway season,Director of Speedway Chris Louis steered the through to team to theKnockout Cupfinal, finishing runner-up.
For 2013, a new number one rider,Ben Barker,with the team managing a second place finish.[19]behindSomerset Rebels.The following season in 2014,Richie Worralljoined as the new number one.[20]The Witches finished third in the Premier League and reached the Knockout Cup final.
The Witches finished seventh in the Premier League in 2015 but won thepairswithDanny KingandRohan Tungate.[21]In 2017, the team reached the play off final losing toPeterborough Panthers.[22]Shortly before 2019, Ipswich decided to move back to the top division of British speedway, reaching the play off final of theSGB Premiership 2019season.[23][24]
2020s
[edit]The 2020 season was cancelled in July 2020 as a result of the restrictions placed on sporting events by theCOVID-19 pandemicrules, set by the UK Government[25]and in 2021, the Witches finished fifth in theSGB Premiership[26]
The Witches signedJason Doylein 2022 and he spearheaded the team when they won the 2022Pairs championship[27]and finished second in theSGB Premiership 2022,losing in the play-off semi final. The resurgence continued in 2023, when Ipswich won the Knockout Cup (top division) for the sixth time. Led by Doyle, Danny King and Russian signingEmil Sayfutdinovthey also reached the play offs.
Season summary
[edit]Previous teams
[edit]Extended content
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2022 teams[28]
Also rode: Juniors: Premiership Junior League (PJL) - South
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Notable riders
[edit]
Hans Andersen
Junior Bainbridge
John Cook- Ray Cresp
Tony Davey- Jeremy Doncaster
- Jason Doyle
- Bert Edwards
- Preben Eriksen
Tomasz Gollob- Jarek Hampel
- Danny King
- Mark Loram
- Chris Louis
- John Louis
- Peter Moore
- Scott Nicholls
Olle Nygren- Tony Rickardsson
- Billy Sanders
Emil Sayfutdinov- Bob Sharp
- Rory Schlein
- Dennis Sigalos
References
[edit]- ^John Louis | A Celebration of 43.45 years in SpeedwayArchived5 May 2009 at theWayback Machine
- ^"1951 fixtures"(PDF).Speedway Researcher.Retrieved10 December2021.
- ^"Ipswich Speedway Foxhall Heath".Bury Free Press.11 May 1951.Retrieved10 December2021– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^Rogers, Martin (1978).The Illustrated History of Speedway.Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129.ISBN0-904584-45-3.
- ^"Speedway Gossip".Bury Free Press.14 May 1954.Retrieved15 September2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Close-Down at Ipswich".Daily Mirror.27 July 1962.Retrieved1 January2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - POST-WAR ERA (1946-1964)".Official British Speedway website.Retrieved27 August2021.
- ^"Rider killed in Speedway crash".Birmingham Daily Post.14 April 1962.Retrieved1 January2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Ranger's Fingers Crossed as Speedway Returns".Stapleford & Sandiacre News.11 April 1969.Retrieved15 September2023– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"Year by Year".Speedway Researcher.Retrieved27 August2021.
- ^"British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)".Official British Speedway website.Archived fromthe originalon 25 August 2021.Retrieved27 August2021.
- ^"1984 league tables".Speedway GB.
- ^"Racers sent reeling".Reading Evening Post.24 October 1984.Retrieved17 April2024– viaBritish Newspaper Archive.
- ^"NOT FORGOTTEN – BILLY SANDERS".AMCN.Retrieved30 July2021.
- ^"Honours".Ipswich Witches Speedway.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^Ipswich Speedway | About Us[permanent dead link]
- ^"Louis mulls over speedway future".Ipswich Star.Retrieved15 September2023.
- ^"British Speedway AGM - Key Points".BSPA.21 November 2010.Retrieved22 November2010.
- ^"BARKER JOINS WITCHES - British Speedway Official Website".www.britishspeedway.co.uk.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^"WITCHES GO FOR GINO - British Speedway Official Website".www.britishspeedway.co.uk.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".www.britishspeedway.co.uk.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".www.britishspeedway.co.uk.Retrieved30 December2019.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved26 December2019.
- ^"WITCHES MOVING UP - British Speedway Official Website".speedwaygb.co.uk.Retrieved26 December2019.
- ^"BRITISH SPEEDWAY AGM STATEMENT".Official British Speedway website.Retrieved22 July2020.
- ^"British Speedway Official Website".www.britishspeedway.co.uk.Retrieved26 September2021.
- ^"Witches win Premiership Pairs".British Speedway.Retrieved5 November2022.
- ^"Team".
Bibliography
[edit]- Dave Feakes & Colin Barber (2002).Ipswich Speedway the first 50 years.
External links
[edit]| 2024 Teams |  | |
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| Former Teams | ||
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