Hull Vikings
Encyclopedia
Hull Vikings, were a speedway
team from Hull
, England. The team began life as the 'Hull Angels', based at Hedon
on the outskirts of Hull between 1947 and mid 1949. Speedway came back to Hull after a long gap and were known as the Vikings, racing at The Boulevard
, the former ground of rugby league
side Hull. After another long number of years away, speedway came back to Hull
, this time at Craven Park, the home of the city's other rugby league
team, Hull Kingston Rovers
, where the speedway track ran inside of the greyhound dog racing track.
Although the Vikings have raced in speedway's top flight, the Elite League
in 1999
, it was in the Premier League
where they enjoyed the most success, racing to the treble in 2004.
By becoming Premier League
Champions, holders of the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield
, the team became the most successful sporting team in Hull's history, in terms of silverware.
However just one year later, in 2005, the club was forced to close its doors due to a spate of crippling financial problems. Although potential new owners have been mooted, the team remains homeless.
, Barry Briggs
, and Egon Müller
(all World Speedway Champions), Kelly Moran
, Shawn Moran
, Dennis Sigalos
, Billy Sanders
, Reg Wilson
, and Paul Thorp
.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
team from Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, England. The team began life as the 'Hull Angels', based at Hedon
Hedon
Hedon is a small town and civil parish in Holderness in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately east of Hull city centre. It lies to the north of the A1033 road at the crossroads of the B1240 and B1362 roads....
on the outskirts of Hull between 1947 and mid 1949. Speedway came back to Hull after a long gap and were known as the Vikings, racing at The Boulevard
The Boulevard (Stadium)
The Boulevard was a multi-purpose stadium in Hull, England. The venue was saved from demolition and reopened on 25 October 2007 as the home of greyhound racing in the city. It can also be used as a community stadium hosting amateur rugby league matches...
, the former ground of rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side Hull. After another long number of years away, speedway came back to Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, this time at Craven Park, the home of the city's other rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team, Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull Kingston Rovers or Hull KR is an English professional rugby league football club based in Hull, England. The club formed in 1882 and currently competes in Super League, having won promotion from National League One in 2006...
, where the speedway track ran inside of the greyhound dog racing track.
Although the Vikings have raced in speedway's top flight, the Elite League
Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway league competition in the United Kingdom and is governed by the Speedway Control Bureau , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . It is sponsored by Sky Sports...
in 1999
1999 Speedway Elite League
The Elite League is the top division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association .-Season summary:...
, it was in the Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
where they enjoyed the most success, racing to the treble in 2004.
By becoming Premier League
Speedway Premier League
The Premier League is the second division of Speedway in the United Kingdom and goverened by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association . The Premier League was founded in 1995 when it replaced the British League as the first division...
Champions, holders of the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield
Craven Shield
The Craven Shield is a Speedway cup competition in the United Kingdom governed by the Speedway Control Board , in conjunction with the British Speedway Promoters' Association...
, the team became the most successful sporting team in Hull's history, in terms of silverware.
However just one year later, in 2005, the club was forced to close its doors due to a spate of crippling financial problems. Although potential new owners have been mooted, the team remains homeless.
Notable riders
Notable riders to appear for Hull include Ivan MaugerIvan Mauger
Ivan Mauger, OBE, MBE, is a retired motorcycle speedway rider. He won a record six World Championships, a feat only equalled by Tony Rickardsson of Sweden...
, Barry Briggs
Barry Briggs
Barry Briggs MBE from Christchurch, New Zealand is a former Speedway rider.He won the World Individual Championship title four times - in 1957, 1958, 1964 and 1966. He appeared in a record 17 consecutive World Individual finals , and a record 18 in all, during which he scored a record 201 points...
, and Egon Müller
Egon Müller
Egon Muller is a former international motorcycle speedway rider and was winner of the Speedway World Championship in 1983, winning the title in his homeland with a maximum score of 15 points. He was also German Champion eight times...
(all World Speedway Champions), Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran
Kelly Moran was a professional speedway rider who rode for a number of British clubs and also represented USA....
, Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran
Shawn Moran is a retired former professional speedway rider who was one of the most popular and talented riders ever to race for Sheffield Tigers who also represented USA....
, Dennis Sigalos
Dennis Sigalos
Arthur Dennis Sigalos is a professional speedway rider in the United States. He became World Pairs Champion with Bobby Schwartz in 1982 and appeared in the 1982 and 1983 Speedway World Finals, finishing in third place in 1982 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum...
, Billy Sanders
Billy Sanders
William Robert Sanders 'Billy Sanders' was an Australian international Speedway rider who won six Australian Championships and was a five time Speedway World Championship finalist with a career best second place in Germany 1983.-Australian Speedway:Billy Sanders bought his first speedway bike from...
, Reg Wilson
Reg Wilson
Reg Wilson is a retired former professional speedway rider who is currently team manager of the Sheffield Tigers....
, and Paul Thorp
Paul Thorp
Paul Thorp is a motorcycle speedway rider won the World Team Cup with England in 1989.-World final appearances:* 1991 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 6th - 10pts-References:...
.