Coventry Bees

Coventry Bees
Club information
Track address	Brandon stadium Rugby Road Brandon Warwickshire
Country	England
Founded	1928
Team manager	Colin Pratt & Alun Rossiter
League	Elite League
Website	Official site
Club facts
Colours	Yellow and Black
Track size	301 metres
Track record time	57.6 seconds
Track record holder	Chris Harris
Current Team
Rider	CMA
Emil Sayfutdinov	8.00 (A)
Richard Sweetman	4.95
Ryan Fisher	5.81
Kenni Larsen	5.80
Edward Kennett	7.06
Nick Morris	5.00
Przemysław Pawlicki	6.70
Total	43.32
Major team honours
Elite League Champions British League Champions Elite League Knockout Cup British League Pairs Champions Elite League Pairs Champions Craven Shield Winners	2005, 2007, 2010 1968, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1988 1967, 2006, 2007 1978 2008, 2010 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008

Coventry Stadium at Brandon

The Coventry Bees are a motorcycle speedway team based at Brandon near Coventry, England. A Coventry team was first formed in 1928 and competed in the Southern League and then the National League in the pre-war era at Brandon stadium. There were also meetings at a stadium in Lythalls Lane. After the war, the club became The Bees and have been involved in every season since 1948.

They won the British Elite League Speedway Championship in 2010, defeating the Poole Pirates in both legs of the play-off grand finals.^[1] It was the ninth time that the club have been crowned League Champions, following on from successes achieved in 1953, 1968, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1988, 2005 and 2007.

On 28 October 2007, the Bees lifted the Elite League Knockout Cup for the third time in their history defeating the Swindon Robins in the final, completing a clean sweep of all three major trophies, having already annexed the Craven Shield by beating Swindon Robins and the Poole Pirates over the three leg final.

The club is owned by local businessman and Brandon Stadium owner Avtar Sandhu,^[2] and the promotion licence is held jointly by Colin Pratt, Alun Rossiter and former Oxford Cheetahs promoter Allen Trump.^[3]

On 24 November 2010 following changes to the rules for rider averages made at the Annual General Meeting of the BSPA, the Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers walked out of the meeting.^[4] As a result on 27 November 2010 the BSPA omitted both teams from the 2011 Elite League for failing to declare their intent to compete in the 2011 league at the AGM.^[5][6] The decision is set to be the subject of a legal challenge by both clubs.^[7]

On 17 February 2011, it was announced by the BSPA that both Coventry and Peterborough would not be competing in the 2011 Speedway Elite League. Both clubs rejected an offer from the BSPA issued on 31 January 2011, which would have permitted both clubs to continue with their proposed legal action (including claims for compensation from any losses) whilst resuming their league membership with immediate effect.^[8]

On 15 March 2011 it was announced that both the Coventry Bees and Peterborough Panthers would be part of the 2011 Elite League season.^[9] However this was not officially confirmed by the BSPA despite announcements by Peterborough and Coventry bees co-promoter, Allen Trump.

On 8 April 2011, the BSPA officially confirmed both teams had returned to the Elite League for the 2011 season.^[10]

On 11 August 2011 Edward Kennett resigned from Coventry Speedway, after it was deemed his silencer was 'illegal' when racing against Lakeside on 6 August.^[11] Kennett said this was caused by 'a member of his team' who had 'tampered with it'. Kennett was banned from racing for 7 days by the SCB ^[12] and appeared in front of a disciplinary hearing on 16 August where he received a 6-month worldwide ban.^[13]

On 21 September 2011 the Bees was put up for sale by owner Avtar Sandhu.^[14] On 31 October 2001 it was announced that, subject to BSPA approval. Peterborough businessman Mick Horton would take over as owner of the club.^[15]

Club honours

• Elite League Champions - 2005, 2007, 2010
• British League Champions 1968, 1978, 1979, 1987, 1988
• Knockout Cup Winners - 1967, 2006, 2007
• Craven Shield Winners - 1997, 2000, 2007, 2008
• Division 2 Champions - 1953
• League Cup - 1981 1985 1987
• Premiership Trophy - 1986
• Midland League - 1980
• Elite Shield - 2006
• Elite League Pairs Championship - 2008, 2010
• Midland Cup - 1952, 1960, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 2011

References

1. ^ "Coventry Bees crowned Elite League champions". BBC Sport (BBC). 5 October 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/speedway/9062265.stm. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
2. ^ "Bees owner preparing to sell up". BBC Sport. BBC Sport. 21 November 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/speedway/7105371.stm. Retrieved 24 November 2007. 
3. ^ "Trump takes over at Brandon". Sky Sports. 23 November 2007. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12268_2914643,00.html. Retrieved 24 November 2007. 
4. ^ "Coventry Bees speedway future under threat". BBC Sport (BBC). 24 November 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9224117.stm. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
5. ^ "British Speedway Statement". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 27 November 2010. http://www.speedwaygb.com/news.php?extend.9620.2. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
6. ^ "Coventry Bees' Elite League exit confirmed by BSPA". BBC Sport (BBC). 29 November 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9237067.stm. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
7. ^ "Bees and Panthers launch legal challenge". BBC Sport (BBC). 2 December 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9249661.stm. Retrieved 15 January 2011. 
8. ^ "British Speedway Statement". British Speedway Promoters' Association. http://www.speedwaygb.co/news.php?extend.10045. Retrieved 17 February 2011. 
9. ^ "Peterborough and Coventry allowed back in Elite League". BBC Sport (BBC). 15 March 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9425796.stm. Retrieved 15 March 2011. 
10. ^ "BSPA confirm return of Coventry Bees and Peterborough". BBC Sport (BBC). 8 April 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9450041.stm. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 
11. ^ "Coventry Bees skipper Edward Kennett resigns from club". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/14490706.stm. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
12. ^ "Coventry Bees skipper Edward Kennett banned for a week". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/14451419.stm. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
13. ^ "Ex-Coventry captain Edward Kennett gets six-month ban". BBC Sport (BBC). 17 August 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/14556629.stm. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
14. ^ "Coventry Bees speedway put up for sale". BBC Sport (BBC). 21 September 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9596430.stm. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
15. ^ "Mick Horton is new Coventry Bees speedway owner". BBC Sport (BBC). 31 October 2011. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/9628193.stm. Retrieved 31 October 2011. 

External links

• The Official Coventry Bees website