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British motorcycle speedway team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mildenhall Fen Tigers are a British speedway team, founded in 1975, who last raced in the National Development League during 2023.[1]
| Mildenhall Fen Tigers | |||||||||||||||||
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Mildenhall Fen Tigers | |||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||
| Track address | Mildenhall Stadium Hayland Drove West Row Mildenhall | ||||||||||||||||
| Country | England | ||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1975 | ||||||||||||||||
| Website | www | ||||||||||||||||
| Club facts | |||||||||||||||||
| Colours | Orange and Black | ||||||||||||||||
| Track size | 260 metres (280 yd) | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record time | 49.68 | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record date | 14 July 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Track record holder | Steve Boxall | ||||||||||||||||
| Major team honours | |||||||||||||||||
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The original track was built in 1971 on farm land owned by Terry Waters, with Bernie Klatt the driving force behind establishing speedway in Mildenhall.[2] Klatt had been the head chef at the officers club at the nearby air force base, and later established a restaurant at the track.[2]
The speedway track was moved to a second area on the same farm in February 1973,[3] with Klatt and Waters opening the 300 yard circumference circuit as a training school for riders.[4] The following year in 1974, an application was made to the Speedway Control Board for the status of an official practice track.[5]
After running as a training track, the Mildenhall team entered the New National League (division 2) in 1975,[6] with the first home fixture held on 18 May against Scunthorpe Saints.[7]
Following four tough seasons from 1975 to 1978, the team came good during the 1979 National League season, winning the league title.[8] Four riders were influential throughout the season and scored heavily, Ray Bales, Mick Hines, Melvyn Taylor and Robert Henry averaged between 9.51 and 8.87 respectively.[9]
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The Fen Tigers were a major challenger during the 1980s and were unlucky to finish runner-up four times in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1987 and runner-up in the Knockout Cup in 1986 and 1987.
However, the club did win the Fours championship final, held at the East of England Showground on 22 July 1984, with Bales, Henry, Carl Blackbird and Carl Baldwin[10] and the Pairs and Fours in 1987. The pairs was won by Dave Jessup and Melvyn Taylor (the latter had returned to the club in 1985),[11][12] and the fours was sealed by Jessup, Taylor, Eric Monaghan and Dave Jackson.[13] The 1989 season saw a complete change to the club and team, with Skid Parish taking over the promotion and Dave Jackson being the only rider retained. A financial crisis ensued and Mildenhall dropped out of the league.[14]
Despite no team racing at West Row, the track remained open from 1990 to 1991. The 1992 season started with fixtures in the Gold Cup and league before the team withdrew from the 1992 British League Division Two season. The club finally found some stability in 1994, when they joined the third tier of British speedway (primarily for junior riders). The club then experienced six years of mediocrity.
In 2000, the team were denied the league title in unfortunate circumstances. The bad weather meant that the Fen Tigers were unable to hold their final home fixture before the 1 November deadline and finished runner-up to Sheffield Prowlers, with both teams on 31 points.
The Tigers won the league and cup double twice during the 2003 Speedway Conference League and 2004 Speedway Conference League seasons.[15]
The club moved up to the Premier League in 2006, when new promoter Mick Horton took over.[16] He also formed a junior side called the Mildenhall Academy that rode in the 2006 Speedway Conference League. In 2007, stadium owner Carl Harris formed Fen Tigers Limited with the intention of selling the company shares to the fans. Lifelong supporter Simon Barton bought a major shareholding in the club until the promotion sold to Keith & Jonathan Chapman in August 2008.[17][18] Team manager Laurence Rogers was replaced with former Tigers rider Richard Knight. At the beginning of the season the club struggled to find a sponsor, so uniquely, the fans collectively sponsored the team.[19] Following the 2008 season. the club dropped back down to the third division.
In 2010, the team withdrew from the league and had their results were expunged but the following season they bounced back by winning the Knockout Cup. The 2012 National League speedway season was even better as the Fen Tigers made a clean sweep of four trophies, winning the league and cup double, pairs and fours.[20]
After dominating the league standings during the 2018 season, the Tigers were unlucky to lose the play-off final to Eastbourne Eagles, although some consolation was found in winning the National Trophy.
After the leagues were cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the team competed in the third division for the 12th consecutive season and were crowned champions for the fourth time since 2003.[21][22]
After the 2022 campaign there was uncertainty as to whether the club could line up for the 2023 season but in January it was announced they would compete.[23] In 2023, the team went on to win the Knockout Cup[24] but then declared their intention to sit out the 2024 season, following an ownership change.[25]
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