2011 Sheffield Tigers season

The 2011 Premier League Season is the 15th consecutive season that the Sheffield Tigers has competed at the 2nd tier of British Speedway. Following from a successful 2010 Campaign, the Tigers hope to end their 8-year wait for the Premier League Title.

2011 Sheffield Tigers season
League2011 Premier League speedway
Premier League KOC2nd Round
Biggest win
  • Home:
     Tigers 59-31 Monarchs
  • Away:
     Tigers 53-40 Rebels
Biggest defeat
  • Home:
     Tigers 43-47 Rebels
  • Away:
     Tigers 35-55 Monarchs
Highest
averaged rider
United Kingdom Josh Auty
2011 Sheffield Tigers season
Current team
Rider CMA
United Kingdom Josh Auty 8.09
United Kingdom Ricky Ashworth 8.00
Australia Shane Parker 7.96
Argentina Emiliano Sanchez 6.47
Australia Hugh Skidmore 5.89
United Kingdom Simon Lambert 4.00
United Kingdom Ashley Birks 3.20
Total 43.61

Close season

edit

After ending the 2010 campaign with the first team trophy (Premier League Pairs) since 2002, the Tigers will be hoping go one step further in 2011. For the 5th season running, The Tigers will be sponsored by local business Sheffield Window Centre for the following season. Following the AGM meeting over the weekend of the 20/21 November, the Tigers declared their intention to race over the 2011 however there will be a new look to Premier League Speedway. Local rivals Stoke Potters withdrew from the Premier League to race in the National League, while the Birmingham Brummies elected to move up to the Elite League. This allowed 2 new teams to enter, with the Leicester Lions successfully being granted entry after failing in 2010, and the Ipswich Witches deciding to swap league memberships with the Brummies to fill the allocated spots.[1] However, with the Elite League seemingly in turmoil with the withdrawals of the Coventry Bees and the Peterborough Panthers, the Elite League required 1 further team to be able to track a full season. The Kings Lynn Stars elected to join the speedway elite and therefore withdrew from the Premier League. This further allowed another entry to the Premier League, with the place being allocated to the Plymouth Devils.[2] This was later confirmed that no other teams will be granted entry to the Premier League, therefore completing the line-up for 2011.[3]

Team Building for 2011

edit

Following the 2009 AGM, it was decided that a 42.50 points limit would be set for 3 years, with the 2011 season being the last. This was later confirmed at the current AGM. However, before the AGM took place the Tigers had already announced 2 riders who would be riding in the yellow and blue of the Tigers for 2011. On 22 October, Josh Auty was the first confirmed starter for his 3rd consecutive season for Sheffield.[4] Then on 3 November, Hugh Skidmore was the second confirmed starter for his 2nd full season with the Owlerton outfit.[5] Following Kings Lynn's election to the Elite League, Simon Lambert (Kings Lynn's Asset) became available and was snapped up by the tigers on 1 December as their 3rd signing for the 2011 season.[6] The same day, it was announced that club asset Emiliano Sanchez was recalled to the 2011 team.[7] Sanchez was loaned out to Redcar last year. Sanchez has not ridden for Sheffield since 2006. After weeks of talks with ex-captain Ricky Ashworth, it was announced on 6 December 2010 that Ricky would once again ride for Sheffield for his 10th successive year.[8] Due to his ten years with the Tigers, Ricky will now be due a Testimonial Meeting in 2011. The sixth signing was officially announced on 15 December to be current Sheffield Tigers Asset Shane Parker.[9] Although Shane has never ridden for the Tigers before, he became a Sheffield Asset when the Hull Vikings closed and Sheffield purchased all the current Hull Assets. After announcing Shane as the new number 1 for 2011, Shane announced that this would be his last season riding British Speedway before returning home to Australia. The Tigers septet was completed on 22 December with the signing of local rider Ashley Birks from Scunthorpe.[10] It isn't however confirmed whether it was a full transfer or a loan.

2011 Team Averages

edit
Rider Current CMA Opening CMA May
CMA
June
CMA
July
CMA
August
CMA
September
CMA
October
CMA
Closing
CMA
  Josh Auty 8.09 7.52 7.98 8.09
  Ricky Ashworth 8.00 7.77 8.05 8.00
  Shane Parker 7.96 7.95 7.82 7.96
  Emiliano Sanchez 6.47 6.64 6.46 6.47
  Hugh Skidmore 5.89 5.69 5.80 5.89
  Simon Lambert 4.00 3.47 3.87 4.00
  Ashley Birks 3.20 3.00 3.00 3.20

2011 Fixtures

edit

Official Fixture List is yet to be produced. Therefore, no fixture list is yet available.
The opening fixture for the season was an inter-league challenge against local rivals Belle Vue Aces.[11] The meeting is the second meeting of the teams in as many years, as the Aces were the opening challenge meeting of the 2010 season.
It was also confirmed at the BSPA AGM that the Tigers would face the Edinburgh Monarchs in the 1st round of the 2011 Premier League KOC. No dates have yet been confirmed.

Premier League First Phase

edit

Home Meetings

edit
Sheffield Tigers51–41Berwick Bandits
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
1   Shane Parker 2', 3, 0, 3, 1' 9+2
2   Hugh Skidmore 3, 1, 3, 2, 2 11
3   Ricky Ashworth R, 3, 1, 2 6
4   Emiliano Sanchez 1, 1, 3, 3 8
5   Josh Auty 3, 3, 3, R 9
6   Ashley Birks 2', 0, 0, 1 3+1
7   Simon Lambert 3, 1, 1, 0 5
 
1   Charlie Gjedde 1, 2, 2, 2 7
2   Hynek Stichauer R, 0, 2, 1' 3+1
3   Kozza Smith 3, 4^, 1, 3, 0 11
4   Josef Franc 2', 1', 3, 2, 3 11+2
5   Lee Complin 2, 2, 2, 1' 7+1
6   Tamas Sike 1, 0, 0, 1 2
7   Jade Mudgway 0, 0, 0, 0 0
 
Sheffield Tigers56–35Newport Wasps
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
1   Shane Parker 2', 2, 3, 2', 3 12+2
2   Hugh Skidmore 3, 1', 3, 2' 9+2
3   Ricky Ashworth 1', 3, 3, 3, 1 11+1
4   Emiliano Sanchez 2, 2', 2', 1' 7+3
5   Josh Auty R, 3, R, 3 6
6   Ashley Birks 3, F, Fx – Withdrawn 3
7   Simon Lambert 1, 3, 2', 0, 2 8+1
 
1   Leigh Lanham R, 1, 3, 1, 0 5
2   Robin Aspegren 1, R, F, 2' 3+1
3   Joe Haines R, 1', 0, 2 3+1
4   Kyle Legault 3, 4^, 1, 3, 2 13
5   Kim Nilsson 1', 3, F^, 0 4+1
6   Mark Jones 2, 0, 1, 1' 4+1
7   Todd Kurtz 0, 2, 1, 0 3
 
Sheffield Tigers43–47Somerset Rebels
0 League Points Report 3 League Points
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
1   Shane Parker 1, 3, 1', 3, 3 11+1
2   Hugh Skidmore 0, 1, 3, 2 6
3   Ricky Ashworth 3, 3, 3, R 9
4   Emiliano Sanchez 0, 0, 2', 2 4+1
5   Josh Auty 3, 1, 3, F, 0 6
6   Simon Lambert 3, 0, 0, 1, 0 4
7   Ashley Birks 1, 0, 1 2
 
1   Travis McGowan 2', 2, 2, 1', 1' 8+3
2   Kyle Hughes Rider Replacement (5+2)
3   Christian Hefenbrock 2, 3, R, 3, 3, 2 13
4   Sam Masters 1', 2', 0, 1 4+2
5   Cory Gathercole 2, 0, 1, 2 5
6   Dakota North Fx, 1', 2, 2, 1', 2', 3 11+3
7   James Holders 3, 2, 1', 0 6+1
 
Sheffield Tigers56–36Ipswich Witches
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
1   Shane Parker 1', 3, 2, 1 7+1
2   Emiliano Sanchez 2, 1, 2', 0 5+1
3   Josh Auty 2', 0, 3, 3 8+1
4   Hugh Skidmore 3, 1, 2', 2', 0 8+2
5   Ricky Ashworth 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 15
6   Simon Lambert 2', 1, 1, 3 7+1
7   Ashley Birks 3, 0, 3, 0 6
 
1   Kevin Doolan 3, 3, 4^, 2, 2 14
2   Taylor Poole 0, 2', Fx, 0 2+1
3   Lasse Bjerre 1, 0, 3, 2, 1' 7+1
4   Morten Risager 0, 2, 1, 1 4
5   Chris Schramm 2, 2, 1^, 0 5
6   Jerran Hart 0, 0, 0 0
7   Kyle Howarth (G) 1, 1, 1, 1', 0 4+1
 
Sheffield Tigers52–44Glasgow Tigers
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
1   Shane Parker 2', 3, 3, 3, 3 14+1
2   Emiliano Sanchez 3, 1, 2, F 6
3   Josh Auty 0, 2', 2, 3 7+1
4   Hugh Skidmore 3, 3, 1', 0 7+1
5   Ricky Ashworth 3, 3, 2, 2', 0 15
6   Simon Lambert 1, 2', 1', 1 5+2
7   Ashley Birks 0, 1, 1', 1 3+1
 
1   Joe Screen EF, 1, 3, 1, 1' 6+1
2   Theo Pijper 1, 0, 6^, 0 7
3   Christian Henry 1', 1, 1', 3 6+2
4   James Grieves 2, 0, 2, 6^ 10
5   Josh Grajczonek 2, 2, 3, 0, 2 9
6   Nick Morris 3, R, Fx, R 3
7   Michal Rajkowski 2', 0, 0, 2' 4+2
 
Sheffield TigersvRedcar Bears
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvPlymouth Devils
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvNewcastle Diamonds
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvLeicester Lions
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvScunthorpe Scorpions
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvEdinburgh Monarchs
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvWorkington Comets
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield
Sheffield TigersvRye House Rockets
Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield

Away Meetings

edit
Rye House Rockets46–44Sheffield Tigers
2 League Points Report 1 League Point
Workington Comets55–37Sheffield Tigers
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
Ipswich Witches53–38Sheffield Tigers
3 League Points Report 0 League Points
Plymouth Devils44–45Sheffield Tigers
0 League Points Report 3 League Points
Newcastle Diamonds49–44Sheffield Tigers
2 League Points Report 1 League Point
Newport Wasps48–44Sheffield Tigers
2 League Points Report 1 League Point
Somerset Rebels40–53Sheffield Tigers
0 League Points Report 4 League Points

Premier League Second Phase

edit

The format and cut-off point for the split is made as each team reaches 10 home and 10 away matches. Group 1 will be teams placed 1st, 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, 12th and 14th – Group 2 is 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 11th and 13th. Those additional 12 matches are then added onto the points gained from the 26 meetings in Round 1.

Premier League KOC

edit

The Tigers were drawn against the Monarchs for the 1st round of the competition.

Round 1

edit
1   Ricky Ashworth 3, 2', 2', 3, 3 13+2
2   Hugh Skidmore 1, 3, 2, 3 9
3   Josh Auty 3, 1, 3, 2' 9+1
4   Emiliano Sanchez 1, 0, 0, 3 4
5   Shane Parker 3, 2', 3, 2', 2' 12+3
6   Simon Lambert 2, 3, 1, 3, 2' 11+1
7   Ashley Birks 1', 0, 0 1+1
 
1   Kevin Wolbert EF, 3, 0, 1 4
2   Matthew Wethers 2, 2', 3, 2, 1 3+1
3   Andrew Tully 2, 1, 1, 1 5
4   Kalle Katajisto 0, 0, 0 0
5   Craig Cook 1', 1, 1', 0 3+2
6   Lee Dicken EF, 0, 1 1
7   Kyle Howarth 3, 2, 1, 2, 0, 0, 0 8
 
1   Kevin Wolbert 3, 3, 3, 3, 3 15
2   Matthew Wethers 2', 2', 3, 1 8+2
3   Andrew Tully 3, 1, 2', 3 9+1
4   Kalle Katajisto 0, 3, 3, 1 7
5   Craig Cook 3, 2, 3, 2', 1 11+1
6   Lee Dicken 1', 0, F 1+1
7   Kyle Howarth 2, 2', Fx, F, 0 4+1
 
1   Ricky Ashworth R, 2, 2, F 4
2   Hugh Skidmore 1, Fx, 1', 1', 0 3+2
3   Josh Auty 1', 1, 0, 2 4+1
4   Emiliano Sanchez Fx, Fx – Withdrawn 0
5   Shane Parker 2, 3, 2, 3, 2 12
6   Simon Lambert 3, 1, 2, 1, 1', 1, 2' 11+2
7   Ashley Birks Fx, 1, F 1
 

Sheffield Tigers qualified for Round 2 by defeating the Edinburgh Monarchs 94–86 on aggregate.

Round 2

edit

Challenge Meetings

edit

The first challenge of the season was an Inter-League meetings against local rivals Belle Vue Aces.

League table

edit
Pos Club M Home Away F A +/- Pts
3W 2W D L 4W 3W D 1L L
1 Workington Comets 11 6 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 551 464 +87 29
2 Somerset Rebels 12 4 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 2 591 518 +73 29
3 Ipswich Witches 15 7 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 4 726 645 +81 29
4 Glasgow Tigers 9 5 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 451 373 +78 25
5 Sheffield Tigers 12 4 0 0 1 1 1 0 3 2 563 538 +25 22
6 Rye House Rockets 15 4 1 0 2 1 0 0 2 5 664 698 -34 20
7 Edinburgh Monarchs 9 4 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 445 381 +64 19
8 Scunthorpe Scorpions 15 3 2 0 1 1 0 0 1 7 637 743 -106 18
9 Berwick Bandits 13 3 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 5 590 604 -14 16
10 Redcar Bears 10 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 3 447 463 -16 14
11 Newcastle Diamonds 10 2 1 0 2 0 1 0 1 3 447 468 -21 12
12 Leicester Lions 11 2 0 1 3 0 1 0 1 3 483 524 -41 11
13 Newport Wasps 12 0 1 0 5 1 0 0 0 5 500 600 -100 6
14 Plymouth Devils 6 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 3 236 312 -76 3

Home: 3W = Home win by 7 points or more; 2W = Home win by between 1 and 6 points
Away: 4W = Away win by 7 points or more; 3W = Away win by between 1 and 6 points; 1L = Away loss by 6 points or less
M = Meetings; D = Draws; L = Losses; F = Race points for; A = Race points against; +/- = Race points difference; Pts = Total Points

Last updated: 31 May 2011

Source: BSPA

References

edit
  1. ^ "British Speedway AGM – Key Points". BSPA. 21 November 2010. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Plymouth Make Premier Move". BSPA. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  3. ^ "British Speedway Statement". BSPA. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Auty Back in 2011". Sheffield Tigers. 22 October 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  5. ^ "Skidmore Signs on for 2011". Sheffield Tigers. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  6. ^ "'Rambo' to ride again for Tigers". Sheffield Star. 1 December 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  7. ^ "Sanchez Back". Speedway Star. 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  8. ^ "Ashworth Confirmed". Sheffield Tigers. 6 December 2010. Retrieved 6 December 2010.
  9. ^ "Tigers Sign New Number One". Sheffield Tigers. 15 December 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  10. ^ "Birks Completes Tigers Septet". Sheffield Tigers. 22 December 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2010.[permanent dead link]
  11. ^ "War of the Roses". Sheffield Tigers. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2010.