The Premier League Knockout Cup was a motorcycle speedway Knockout Cup competition in the United Kingdom between 1995 and 2016, governed by the Speedway Control Bureau (SCB).
History The teams from the Premier League, the top tier of league racing between 1995 and 1996 competed in the competition before they switched to the Elite League Knockout Cup. The second-tier teams then exclusively competed in the competition from 1997 until 2016. Similar competitions were staged between teams in the two divisions of the British League. The last winners of the Knockout Cup were the Glasgow Tigers who gained a 104–76 aggregate victory over the Newcastle Diamonds over two legs.GLASGOW CLINCH CUP – British Speedway Official Website The competition was organised by the British Speedway Promoters' Association (BSPA).
Competition format The competition was run on a knockout principle; teams drawn together race home and away matches against each other, with the aggregate score deciding the result. In the event of the aggregate score being level, the teams again race home and away against each other until the tie is decided by an aggregate win. With the current 14 teams, 12 teams will be drawn into the first round, with two other teams receiving a bye into the next round. Each round is contested with a home and away leg, with the winner on aggregate qualifying for the next round.
Winners Year Winners Runners-up Premier League Knockout Cup 1997 Edinburgh Monarchs Oxford Cheetahs 1998 Reading Racers Peterborough Panthers 1999 Edinburgh Monarchs Arena Essex Hammers 2000 Swindon Robins Hull Vikings 2001 Hull Vikings Exeter Falcons 2002 Sheffield Tigers Hull Vikings 2003 Isle of Wight Islanders Sheffield Tigers 2004 Hull Vikings Isle of Wight Islanders 2005 King's Lynn Stars Rye House Rockets 2006 King's Lynn Stars Somerset Rebels 2007 King's Lynn Stars Somerset Rebels 2008 Somerset Rebels Workington Comets 2009 King's Lynn Stars Edinburgh Monarchs 2010 Newcastle Diamonds Edinburgh Monarchs 2011 Newport Wasps Glasgow Tigers 2012 Newcastle Diamonds Ipswich Witches 2013 Somerset Rebels Rye House Rockets 2014 Edinburgh Monarchs Ipswich Witches 2015 Somerset Rebels Edinburgh Monarchs 2016 Glasgow Tigers Newcastle Diamonds
Note The 1995 and 1996 competition was for tier one teams following the merger of the division one and two leagues.
See also Knockout Cup (speedway) for full list of winners and competitions
References
External links British Speedway Promoters' Association website