BRITISH TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW - posted 6 February 2010

The draw for the first round of the British Team Championships was held today (Saturday) at Cycle Speedway Commission meeting in Birmingham reports Andy Whitehouse.

Twelve teams have entered the 2010 competition which is seen by many as the top team competition on the Cycle Speedway calender.The first round will be held on 6th June which will see a couple of interesting clashes. Birmingham Monarches travel the short distance to take on local rivals Wednesfield Aces who were 2009 runners up. Leicester head north to Sandwell while Norwich take on 2009 semi finalists Poole. Stoke play host to Sheffield at the new Etruria track. 2009 Champions Horspath Hammers secured one of four byes into round two.

The full fixtures are as follows
Leicester v Sandwell, Stoke v Sheffield, Norwich v Poole, Wednesfield v Birmingham

Teams securing byes to round two - East Newport, Horspath, Hethersett, Ipswich

BRITISH TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATES 60 YEARS - 1950 - 2010 - posted 16 January 2010

The Cycle Speedway Commission is being urged to celebrate the championship they once wanted to scrap.

This year marks the British team championship's 60th anniversary - and it is hoped the governing body will mark the occasion with a bumper celebration when the 2010 final takes place at East Park, Wolverhampton on Sunday 12 September.  Among the special guests could be Jim Gale, captain of the glorious Gem Pirates, winners of the very first championship at the Empress Hall, London on 26 October 1950.

Apart from one season, the British team championship has been held every year since.  In 1953 the championship was abanadoned after the County rounds after principal sponsors, News Chronicle and Mars Confectionery withdrew their sponsorship.

In 2005, as part of its Project 2010 reforms, the governing body wanted to scrap the BTC and replace it with a new British Club Championship but bowed to public pressure and decided to continue the championship after all.