2019 National Development League speedway season

The National League speedway 2019 now known as the National Development League for the 2019 season was the third tier/division of British speedway. There were several team changes for the 2019 league season with reigning league champions and KO cup winners Eastbourne Eagles, along with the Birmingham Brummies, moving into the SGB Championship. Coventry Bees, who rode their home meetings at Leicester the previous season, did not enter the league, but Leicester Lions entered a team (Leicester Lion Cubs).[9] Cradley Heathens fully entered the league after the previous season National Trophy only commitment, while the Buxton Hitmen decided not compete and only run open meetings (friendlies).[10] It was announced on Tuesday 10 September before the end of the 2019 National Development League season that Stoke Potters' home venue at Loomer Road Stadium had been sold and that the team would not be operating in 2020.[11]

2019 National Development League speedway season

League	National Development League
Season	2019
Champions	Leicester Lion Cubs [1]
Knockout Cup	Leicester Lion Cubs [2]
National Trophy	Kent Kings [3]
Individual	Anders Rowe (Kent Kings) [4]
Pairs	Drew Kemp & Anders Rowe (Kent Kings) [5]
Fours	Stoke Potters [6]
Highest average	Max Clegg (Cradley Heathens) 10.14
Biggest home win	Belle Vue Colts 65 Cradley Heathens 25 [7]
Biggest away win	Plymouth Gladiators 38 Leicester Lion Cubs 52 [8]
Division/s above	SGB Premiership 2019 SGB Championship 2019

Regulation changes

At the Speedway AGM in November 2018, the team averages were reduced to 36.00 points per team.

2019 teams

Belle Vue

Cradley

Isle of Wight

Kent

Leicester

Mildenhall

Plymouth

Stoke

Locations of the 2019 National League teams

Belle Vue Colts

• Connor Bailey
• Kyle Bickley
• Leon Flint
• Jordan Palin
• Danny Phillips
• Ben Rathbone
• Ben Woodhull

7 June Connor Bailey replaced the injured Paul Bowen in the Belle Vue Colts team[12]

Cradley Heathens

• Max Clegg
• Sheldon Davies
• Danny Halsey
• Luke Harris
• Harry McGurk
• Jack Smith
• Tom Spencer

21 May Jack Smith replaced the injured Tom Brennan in the Cradley Heathens team[13]
6 June Sheldon Davies replaced Lewis Whitmore in the Cradley Heathens team[14]

Isle of Wight Warriors

• Scott Campos
• Connor King
• Ben Morley
• Danno Verge
• Chris Widman
• Chad Wirtzfeld
• Georgie Wood

1 July Scott Campos replaced Ryan Terry-Daley in the Isle of Wight Warriors team[15]

Kent Kings

• Dan Gilkes
• Jordan Jenkins
• Drew Kemp
• Rob Ledwith
• Jake Mulford
• Anders Rowe
• Alex Spooner

2 June Jacob Clouting replaced the injured Dan Gilkes in the Kent Kings team[16]
15 August Jake Mulford replaced the injured Nathan Ablitt in the Kent Kings team[17]
6 September Alex Spooner replaced Jacob Clouting in the Kent Kings team[18]

Leicester Lion Cubs

• Josh Embeton
• Danyon Hume
• Ellis Perks
• Luke Ruddick
• Ryan Terry-Daley
• Dan Thompson
• Joe Thompson

11 April Ryan MacDonald replaced Kelsey Dugard in the Leicester Lion Cubs team[19]
9 July Ryan Terry-Daley replaced the injured Jamie Halder in the Leicester Lion Cubs team[20]
29 August Josh Embeton replaced Ryan MacDonald in the Leicester Lion Cubs team[21]

Mildenhall Fen Tigers

• Henry Atkins
• Sam Bebee
• Charlie Brooks
• Arran Butcher
• Jason Edwards
• Elliot Kelly
• Ryan Kinsley

16 June Henry Atkins and Arran Butcher replaced the injured Macauley Leek and David Wallinger in the Mildenhall Fen Tigers team[22]
13 August Ryan Kinsley replaced the injured Danny Ayers in the Mildenhall Fen Tigers team[23]

Plymouth Gladiators

• Kris Andrews
• Richard Andrews
• Jamie Bursill
• Adam Sheppard
• Nathan Stoneman
• Ben Wilson
• Tom Young

26 June David Wallinger replaced Scott Campos in the Plymouth Gladiators team[24]
10 July Luke Chessell replaced the injured Nathan Stoneman in the Plymouth Gladiators team[25]
28 August Tom Young and Kris Andrews replaced the injured Adam Extance and David Wallinger in the Plymouth Gladiators team[26]
6 September Nathan Stoneman replaced Luke Chessell in the Plymouth Gladiators team[27]

Stoke Potters

• Joe Alcock
• Connor Coles
• Kieran Douglas
• Joe Lawlor
• Tom Perry
• Luke Priest
• Shelby Rutherford

9 January Shelby Rutherford replaced Paul Burnett in the Stoke Potters team[28]
9 May Joe Lawlor replaced Luke Chessell in the Stoke Potters team[29]
23 July Corban Pavitt quit the Stoke Potters team due to personal reasons[30]
31 August Kieran Douglas replaced Corban Pavitt in the Stoke Potters team[31]

Results

Fixtures

Home \ Away	BVC	CH	IOW	KK	LLC	MIL	PLY	STK
Belle Vue Colts		65–25	56–34	44–45	50–40	64–25	50–40	63–27
Cradley Heathens	42–48		47–43	46–44	39–51	46–44	47–43	48–42
Isle of Wight Warriors	51–39	53–37		51–39	51–38	39–51	42–48	48–42
Kent Kings	47–43	41–37	45–45		40–50	59–31	50–37	53–37
Leicester Lion Cubs	51–38	57–33	57–33	51–39		54–36	59–30	50–40
Mildenhall Fen Tigers	44–46	38–51	50–40	51–38	48–42		53–37	53–37
Plymouth Gladiators	38–52	40–49	46–44	44–46	38–52	44–46		48–41
Stoke Potters	42–48	51–36	45–45	42–44	40–50	51–38	54–36

Source: [32]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Teams face each other two times: once home and once away.

Table

Final table up to and including Wednesday 18 September

Pos.	Club	M	Home			Away					F	A	Pts	+/−
			W	D	L	4W	3W	D	1L	L
1	Leicester Lion Cubs	14	7	0	0	4	0	0	1	2	702	555	38	+147
2	Belle Vue Colts	14	6	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	706	551	32	+155
3	Kent Kings	14	5	1	1	0	3	0	1	3	630	609	26	+21
4	Cradley Heathens	14	5	0	2	1	1	0	0	4	583	650	24	-77
5	Mildenhall Fen Tigers	14	5	0	2	1	1	0	0	5	608	648	23	-40
6	Isle of Wight Warriors	14	5	0	2	0	0	2	2	3	619	640	21	-21
7	Stoke Potters	14	3	1	3	0	0	0	2	5	591	660	12	-69
8	Plymouth Gladiators	14	2	0	5	0	1	0	1	5	569	685	10	-116

Play-Offs

	Semi Finals							Grand Final
	Leicester Lion Cubs		53	64	117
	Cradley Heathens		37	26	63
								Leicester Lion Cubs		59	47	106
								Kent Kings		31	43	74
	Belle Vue Colts		47	36	83
	Kent Kings		43	53	96

Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red

Semi-Finals

---

2 October	[33]	Cradley Heathens	37–53	Leicester Lion Cubs	Perry Barr Stadium Referee(s): Seth Perkin

5 October	[34]	Leicester Lion Cubs	64–26	Cradley Heathens	Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Dave Watters

4 October	[35]	Belle Vue Colts	47–43	Kent Kings	National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd

7 October	[36]	Kent Kings	53–36	Belle Vue Colts	Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Paul Carrington

Grand Final

---

16 October	[37]	Leicester Lion Cubs	59–31	Kent Kings	Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Mick Bates

28 October	[38]	Kent Kings	43–47	Leicester Lion Cubs	Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Chris Gay

National Development League Knockout Cup

The 2019 National Development League Knockout Cup was the 22nd edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams.

KO Cup Draw

	Quarter Finals							Semi Finals							Final
		Stoke Potters	50	42	92
		Plymouth Gladiators	39	48	87
									Stoke Potters	36	31	67
									Leicester Lion Cubs	54	59	113
		Mildenhall Fen Tigers	34	52	86
		Leicester Lion Cubs	55	38	93
																Leicester Lion Cubs	45	43	88
															Belle Vue Colts	27	47	74
		Cradley Heathens	49	46	95
		Isle of Wight Warriors	41	44	85
									Cradley Heathens	39	35	84
									Belle Vue Colts	45	55	100
		Kent Kings	39	43	82
		Belle Vue Colts	51	45	96

Home team scores are in bold
Overall aggregate scores are in red

Quarter Finals

---

6 July	[39]	Stoke Potters	50–39	Plymouth Gladiators	Loomer Road Stadium Referee(s): Michael Breckon

12 July	[40]	Plymouth Gladiators	48–42	Stoke Potters	Plymouth Coliseum Referee(s): Chris Durno

12 May	[41]	Leicester Lion Cubs	55–34	Mildenhall Fen Tigers	Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Phil Griffin

26 May	[42]	Mildenhall Fen Tigers	52–38	Leicester Lion Cubs	West Row Arena Referee(s): Stuart Wilson

9 May	[43]	Isle of Wight Warriors	41–49	Cradley Heathens	Smallbrook Stadium Referee(s): Dave Robinson

20 May	[44]	Cradley Heathens	46–44	Isle of Wight Warriors	Monmore Green Referee(s): Chris Durno

20 June	[45]	Belle Vue Colts	51–39	Kent Kings	National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Graham Flint

24 June	[46]	Kent Kings	43–45	Belle Vue Colts	Central Park Stadium Referee(s): Christina Turnball

Semi Finals

---

3 August	[47]	Stoke Potters	36–54	Leicester Lion Cubs	Loomer Road Stadium Referee(s): Chris Durno

5 October	[34]	Leicester Lion Cubs	59–31	Stoke Potters	Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Dave Watters

16 September	[48]	Cradley Heathens	39–45	Belle Vue Colts	Monmore Green Referee(s): Phil Griffin

18 September	[49]	Belle Vue Colts	55–35	Cradley Heathens	National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Craig Ackroyd

Grand Final

---

23 October	[50]	Leicester Lion Cubs	45–27	Belle Vue Colts	Beaumont Park Sports Complex Referee(s): Graeme Hunter

29 October	[51]	Belle Vue Colts	47–43	Leicester Lion Cubs	National Speedway Stadium Referee(s): Jim McGregor

National Trophy

Fixtures

Home \ Away	IOW	KK	MIL	PLY
Isle of Wight Warriors		48–42	49–40	42–48
Kent Kings	54–35		48–41	56–34
Mildenhall Fen Tigers	51–39	41–43		61–29
Plymouth Gladiators	45–45	46–44	41–49

Source: [32]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Teams face each other two times: once home and once away.

Table

Final table up to and including Monday 3 June

Pos.	Club	M	Home			Away					F	A	Pts	+/−
			W	D	L	4W	3W	D	1L	L
1	Kent Kings	6	3	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	287	245	14	+42
2	Mildenhall Fen Tigers	6	2	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	283	249	10	+34
3	Isle of Wight Warriors	6	2	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	258	280	8	-22
4	Plymouth Gladiators	6	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	2	243	297	7	-54

National Development League Riders Championship

Raced at the Eddie Wright Raceway, Scunthorpe on 20 October

Riders Scores

ist Anders Rowe (Kent Kings) 9
2nd Drew Kemp (Kent Kings) 8
3rd Max Clegg (Cradley Heathens) 8

Ellis Perks (Leicester Lion Cubs) 7
Leon Flint (Belle Vue Colts) 7
Ryan Kinsley (Mildenhall Fen Tigers) 6
Kyle Bickley (Belle Vue Colts) 6
Ben Morley (Isle of Wight Warriors) 6
Jordan Palin (Belle Vue Colts) 3
Jason Edwards (Mildenhall Fen Tigers) 3
Jack Smith (Cradley Heathens) 3
Tom Spencer (Cradley Heathens) (res) 3
Joe Thompson (Leicester Lion Cubs) 2
Connor Coles (Belle Vue Colts) 1
Canny Vego (Isle of Wight Warriors) 1
Joe Lawlor (Stoke Potters) 0
Tom Young (Plymouth Gladiators) 0
Sam Woods (Unattached) (res) 0

Meeting was decided on count back for riders first three rides, after rain prevented the meetings full conclusion

Referee's Official National League Riders Individual Championship Score Sheet [52]

Riders in the original line up that did not partake in the restaging of this event
Danyon Hume (Leicester Lion Cubs)
Tom Perry (Stoke Potters)
Nathan Stoneman (Plymouth Gladiators)
Daniel Halsey (Cradley Heathens)
Ben Wilson (Plymouth Gladiators)

National Development League Pairs

Sunday 25 August staged at Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield

Final

Kent Kings 19
Leicester Lion Cubs 17
Plymouth Gladiators 10
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 8

Group A

Leicester Lion Cubs 18
Kent Kings 18
Isle of Wight Warriors 10
Stoke Potters 8

Group B

Plymouth Gladiators 18
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 17
Belle Vue Colts 13
Cradley Heathens 6

Referee's Official National League Pairs Semi Finals Score Sheet [53]
Referee's Official National League Pairs Final Score Sheet [54]

National Development League Fours

Saturday 13 July staged at Loomer Road, Stoke

Final

Stoke Potters 15
Isle of Wight Warriors 14
Mildenhall Fen Tigers 13
Kent Kings 6

Group A

Stoke Potters 18
Isle of Wight Warriors 14
Cradley Heathens 8
Leicester Lion Cubs 8

Group B

Mildenhall Fen Tigers 16
Kent Kings
Plymouth Gladiators 8
Belle Vue Colts 8

Referee's Official Group A Score Sheet [55]
Referee's Official Group B Score Sheet [56]
Referee's Official Final Score Sheet [57]

Leading Averages

Final National Development League Averages Up To And Including Thursday 1 November

Rider	Team	Average
Max Clegg	Cradley	10.14
Georgie Wood	Isle of Wight	9.60
Ellis Perks	Leicester	9.28
Ben Morley	Isle of Wight	9.18
Danyon Hume	Leicester	9.09
Ben Wilson	Plymouth	8.93
Jordan Palin	Belle Vue	8.82
Leon Flint	Belle Vue	8.80
Kyle Bickley	Belle Vue	8.70
Tom Perry	Stoke	8.50
Anders Rowe	Kent	8.37
Nathan Stoneman	Plymouth	8.22
Drew Kemp	Kent	8.14
Daniel Gilkes	Kent	8.00
Ryan Kinsley	Mildenhall	8.00

Official Speedway GB Green Sheets Averages[58]

See also

• List of United Kingdom speedway league champions

References

1. "Lion Cubs Are Champions". Speedway GB. 29 October 2019.
2. "Double Double For Leicester". Speedway GB. 30 October 2019.
3. "Kings' Trophy Triumph". Speedway GB. 4 June 2019.
4. "Anders Takes NLRC Title". Speedway GB. 21 October 2019.
5. "Kings Crowned NL Pairs Champions". Speedway GB. 25 August 2019.
6. "Potters' Fours Glory". Speedway GB. 14 July 2019.
7. "Cradley Ommered". Belle Vue Colts. 30 August 2019.
8. "Plymouth 38, Lion Cubs 52". Leicester Lion Cubs. 2 August 2019.
9. "Lions Launch Championship Bid". Leicester Lions. 14 November 2018.
10. "Hitmen Withdraw From League". Speedway GB. 29 November 2018.
11. "Stadium Sold As Potters Close At The End of Season". Stoke Potters. 10 September 2019.
12. "Belle Vue Bring In Bailey". Belle Vue Colts. 7 June 2019.
13. "Heathens Snap Up Smith". Cradley Heathens. 21 May 2019.
14. "Heathens Swoop". Cradley Heathens. 6 June 2019.
15. "Preview: Wight Warriors Swoop To Re-Sign Scott Campos". Isle of Wight Warriors. 1 July 2019.
16. "Preview: Kings v Isle of Wight". Kent Kings. 1 June 2019.
17. "Ablitt Out - Mulford In". Kent Kings. 15 August 2019.
18. "National League Averages Issue 29" (PDF). Speedway GB. 16 September 2019.
19. "MacDonald joins Lion Cubs". Leicester Lion Cubs. 11 April 2019.
20. "Lion Cubs Sign Terry-Daly". Leicester Lion Cubs. 9 July 2019.
21. "National League Averages Issue 19" (PDF). Speedway GB. 29 August 2019.
22. "Fen Tigers Make Team Changes". Mildenhall Fen Tigers. 16 June 2019.
23. "Kinsley Returns To Lead Fen Tigers Play Off Charge". Mildenhall Fen Tigers. 13 August 2019.
24. "Gladiators Bring In Wallinger". Speedway GB. 26 June 2019.
25. "Chessell In For Gladiators". Speedway GB. 10 July 2019.
26. "Two In For Gladiators". Speedway GB. 28 August 2019.
27. "National League Averages Issue 29" (PDF). Speedway GB. 6 September 2019.
28. "Rutherford Signs". Stoke Potters. 9 January 2019.
29. "Lawlor Signs". Stoke Potters. 9 May 2019.
30. "Pavitt Quits Due To Personal reasons". Stoke Potters. 23 July 2019.
31. "Kieran Douglas Makes Official Debut Against The Warriors". Stoke Potters. 31 August 2019.
32. http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/march19%7Ctitle= March Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/april19%7Ctitle- April Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/may19%7Ctitle- May Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/june19%7Ctitle- June Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/july19%7Ctitle- July Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/august19%7Ctitle- August Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/september19%7Ctitle- September Results
    http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk/october19%7Ctitle- October Results
    All British Speedway Result Details Are Retrieved From Official Speedway GB Website http://www.speedwaygb.co.uk
33. "Result: Cradley Outclassed By Leicester". Cradley Heathens. 2 October 2019.
34. "Double Final For Lion Cubs". Leicester Lion Cubs. 5 October 2019.
35. "Result: Belle Vue 47 Kent Kings 43". Belle Vue Colts. 4 October 2019.
36. "Kings Qualify For Play-Off Final". Kent Kings. 7 October 2019.
37. "Lion Cubs 59 Kent 31". Leicester Lion Cubs. 16 October 2019.
38. "Cubs Claim Title Glory". Leicester Lion Cubs. 28 October 2019.
39. "Potters Tak A 11-Point Lead To Devon". Stoke Potters. 6 July 2019.
40. "Potters Secure KO Cup Semi Final Place". Stoke Potters. 13 July 2019.
41. "Flying Start Inspired By Teen Twins". Leicester Lions. 12 May 2019.
42. "Mildenhall 52, Lion Cubs 38". Leicester Lions. 26 May 2019.
43. "Warriors 41, Cradley 49 (KOC)". Isle of Wight Warriors. 9 May 2019.
44. "Heathens Hold Nerve Tp Reach Semi-Finals". Cradley Heathens. 20 May 2019.
45. "Belle Vue Colts 51, Kent Kings 39". Belle Vue Colts. 20 June 2019.
46. "Belle Vue Colts 43, Kent Kings 45". Belle Vue Colts. 24 June 2019.
47. "Potters Beaten By The Better Side". Stoke Potters. 3 August 2019.
48. "Result: Cradley 39, Belle Vue 45". Belle Vue Colts. 16 September 2019.
49. "KOC Finals Are Calling!". Belle Vue Colts. 17 September 2019.
50. "Lion Cubs 5 Belle Vue 27". Leicester Lion Cubs. 23 October 2019.
51. "Double Double Completed!". Leicester Lion Cubs. 29 October 2019.
52. "National League Individual Championship Score Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 21 October 2019.
53. "National League Pairs Semi Semi Finals Score Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 25 August 2019.
54. "National League Pairs Final Score Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 25 August 2019.
55. "National League Fours Group A Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 14 July 2019.
56. "National League Fours Group B Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 14 July 2019.
57. "National League Fours Final Score Sheet" (PDF). Speedway GB. 14 July 2019.
58. "Final National Development League Averages Issue 33" (PDF). Speedway GB. 1 November 2019.