Workington Comets
Club information
Track addressNorthside Speedway
Workington
Cumbria
CountryEngland
Founded1970, 2022
Closed2018
PromoterAndrew Bain
Team managerJames Denham
Team captainLuke Crang
LeagueSGB Championship
WebsiteOfficial Website
Club facts
ColoursBlue and White
Track sizeTBC
Track record time57.1
Track record dateTBC
Track record holderConnor Bailey
Current team
Rider CMA
England Craig Cook
Australia Troy Batchelor
Australia Tate Zischke
Finland Antti Vuolas
England Sam McGurk
Germany Celina Liebmann
Major team honours
tier 2 League champions2018
tier 2 Knockout Cup winners2018
tier 2 Pairs champions1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012
tier 2 Fours champions2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009
Young Shield2008, 2009, 2010
Challenge Shield Winners2018

The Workington Comets are a British motorcycle speedway club, based in Workington, Cumbria, racing out of the Northside Speedway Track. The team previously operated from 1970 to 2018 and were based at Derwent Park Stadium which they shared with Workington Town Rugby League Football Club.[1] They were closed at the end of the 2018 SGB Championship season, but re-opened in 2022 and competed in the 2023 National Development League speedway season.[2][3] In 2024 they will return to the SGB Championship.

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.[14][15]

2022-present

The return of speedway to Workington was announced, with the previous Northside training track in the town being redeveloped for league racing. The side, under the control of local businessman Andrew Bain, were set to enter the 2022 National League but a series of vandalism incidents at the circuit pushed this back a year.[16] Having received permission to use the 'Comets' nickname, the club returned to action for the 2023 National Development League speedway season.[3] Following their successful return in 2023, they announced that for the 2024 season they would move up a division and compete in the Championship.[17]

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

Premier League Pairs Championship

References

  1. ↑ Bamford, R & Jarvis J.(2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  2. ↑ "Workington Comets will ride again next year". Cumbria Crack. Retrieved 20 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Comets taking shape". British Speedway. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  4. ↑ Rogers, Martin (1978). The Illustrated History of Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. p. 129. ISBN 0-904584-45-3.
  5. ↑ "British League Tables - British League Era (1965-1990)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  6. ↑ "Workington Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  7. ↑ "My Plans for the Comets". News and Star. 1 November 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  8. ↑ "I'll rev up the Comets". News and Star. 31 October 2007. Archived from the original on 13 August 2007. Retrieved 2 November 2007.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Bamford, Robert (1 March 2007). Tempus Speedway Yearbook 2007. NPI Media Group. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1.
  12. ↑ "Comets are Champions". Official British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  13. ↑ "Comets are Champions". Official British Speedway website. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "COMETS WITHDRAWN FROM CHAMPIONSHIP!". workingtoncomets.co. 14 January 2019. Archived from the original on 1 April 2019. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  15. ↑ "WORKINGTON WITHDRAW - British Speedway Official Website". speedwaygb.co.uk. 3 March 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2019.
  16. ↑ "Speedway set for surprise return to Workington in plans led by Comets legend".
  17. ↑ "Comets moving up". British Speedway. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
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