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Somerset Rebels

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Somerset Rebels
Club information
Track addressOaktree Arena
Edithmead
Highbridge
Somerset
CountryEngland
Founded2000
Closed2021
LeagueSGB Championship (2019)
Club facts
ColoursBlue, Red & White
Track size300 metres (330 yd)
Track record time55.12 seconds
Track record date17 July 2019
Track record holderRory Schlein
Major team honours
Premiership KO Cup (tier 1)2018
Premier League (tier 2)2013, 2016
Premier League KO Cup (tier 2)2008, 2013, 2015
Premier Shield2014, 2016
Pairs (tier 2)2013, 2016
Fours (tier 2)2005, 2014, 2019
Premier League Cup2012, 2016
Conference KO Cup (tier 3)2001
Conference Trophy2001

The Somerset Rebels were a British speedway team based in Highbridge, Somerset. Founded in 2000, the club competed in the British SGB Championship until 2019. Their home track was located at the Oak Tree Arena.[1]

History

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Origins & 2000s

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The Oaktree Arena

Promoter Andy Hewlett had been searching for a venue in Somerset to host speedway for some time, when in 1999 he was offered a site by a local farmer. Former Australian rider Glyn Taylor was called in to construct a 300 metres purpose-built speedway stadium ready for the 2000 season.[2][3] The stadium called the Oak Tree Arena was subsequently opened for the[4] 2000 Speedway Conference League and the Rebels finished 3rd in their inaugural season.[5]

After winning both the Conference Trophy and Conference League KO Cup in 2001 they moved up to the Premier League (division 2) for 2002. After struggling for several seasons, the club signed Magnus Zetterström and together with Glenn Cunningham, Paul Fry and Ritchie Hawkins, the Rebels won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, which was held on 20 August 2005, at Derwent Park.[6][7][8]

The 2006 season saw Somerset reach the Knockout Cup Final for the first time, finishing as runners up to King's Lynn Stars over two legs. Magnus Zetterström was the star of the season, winning both the Riders' Championship and setting the highest league average.[9] The Rebels reached the KO Cup final for a second time in a row in 2007, losing out to King's Lynn again.[5]

The 2008 season proved to be successful, despite a major change in the club's line up after their number one rider for the past three seasons, Magnus Zetterstrom was replaced by Jason Doyle but the team finished second in the Premier League table behind the Edinburgh Monarchs, after a season long battle with the Scottish side.[10] Somerset won the Premier League Knockout Cup (tier 2) for the first time in their history. After winning the first leg of the final at Workington 43–46, the Rebels won the return leg at the Oak Tree Arena 52-41 for a 98-84 aggregate victory, with Jason Doyle and Emil Kramer top scoring for Somerset.[11]

Prior to the 2009 season, the team was purchased by Bill Hancock, the owner of the Oaktree Arena.[12]

2010s

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The confederate logo was replaced for the start of the 2016 season
Jake Allen (right) races for the Rebels during their 2016 winning season
Jason Doyle had three successful spells at the club

In December 2009, Rebels rider Emil Kramer was killed in a road accident in his native Sweden.[13] In his honour, the riders wore blue and yellow race suits for the 2010 season with Kramer's initials embroidered on the collar. Australian Sam Masters was brought in as number 1 for the 2011 season and won the Riders' Championship.[14]

The 2012 season saw the Rebels achieve one of their most successful seasons since their formation. Jason Doyle returned to the club and spearheaded them to winning the Premier League Cup, beating Ipswich Witches over two legs in the final. They also reached the play-off final, losing out on the Premier League Championship to Scunthorpe Scorpions by a single point over two legs.[15]

In 2013, Steve Bishop announced that he would step down as team manager leaving the responsibility to Garry May and the Rebels went on to have the best season in their history by winning the league and cup double and the pairs championship. Jason Doyle and new signing Josh Grajczonek won the Premier League Pairs Championship, held at the Oaktree Arena on 31 May.[16][17] The Rebels then went on to lift the Premier League KO Cup for the second time in their history, defeating Edinburgh Monarchs in an entralling semi-final before beating the Rye House Rockets in the final.[18][19] To complete the treble, the Rebels finished top of the Premier League table and eventually met Edinburgh Monarchs in the play-off final. Edinburgh won the first leg 45–43 but the Rebels won the second leg 49-44, giving them an aggregate win of 3 points.

2014 saw the Rebels pick up more silverware, after the team defeated Newcastle Diamonds to win the Premier League Shield and Oliver Allen, Nick Morris, Pontus Aspgren and Charles Wright won the Premier League Four-Team Championship, held on 3 August 2014, at the East of England Arena.[20]

Somerset won the Premier League Knockout Cup for the third time in eight years in 2015, continuing the success experienced by the club.[21][22] At the start of the 2016 season the Rebels promoter Debbie Hancock announced a change to the club logo, replacing the original American confederate logo for a logo representing the county of Somerset.[23]

In late 2016, the club announced that it would be moving up into the newly formed SGB Premiership for the 2017 season.[24] In their first top flight season the Rebels endured a tough campaign, finishing sixth overall. The following season in 2018, the club signed 2017 world champion and former Rebels rider Jason Doyle as their number 1, following his release by Swindon Robins. Doyle captained the Rebels to their first top flight trophy, defeating Kings Lynn Stars 98-82 on aggregate in the final of the Premiership Knockout Cup.

In November 2018, after two seasons in the top flight, the Rebels announced that they would be moving down to the SGB Championship, the 2nd tier of British Speedway, for the 2019 season. They reached third in the league that year.[25]

2020s

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After sitting out the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic the promotion announced that they would not be running in 2021 despite already having named a squad. On 26 May 2021 the owners formally announced that they had sold the land and there would be no more racing at the site.[26][27]

In late 2022, it was announced that discussions had taken place between the North Somerset District Council and British Speedway Promoters Ltd for a possible return of speedway in Weston-super-Mare and retaining the Rebels nickname.[28]

Season summary

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Extended content
Year and league Position Notes
2000 Speedway Conference League 3rd
2001 Speedway Conference League 2nd Knockout Cup winners
2002 Premier League speedway season 16th
2003 Premier League speedway season 17th
2004 Premier League speedway season 13th
2005 Premier League speedway season 11th
2006 Premier League speedway season 5th
2007 Premier League speedway season 6th
2008 Premier League speedway season 2nd Knockout Cup winners
2009 Premier League speedway season 6th
2010 Premier League speedway season 11th
2011 Premier League speedway season 6th
2012 Premier League speedway season 3rd PO final
2013 Premier League speedway season 1st Champions & Knockout Cup winners
2014 Premier League speedway season 2nd
2015 Premier League speedway season 2nd PO semi finals
2016 Premier League speedway season 1st Champions
SGB Premiership 2017 6th
SGB Premiership 2018 2nd PO semi finals & Knockout Cup winners
SGB Championship 2019 4th

Notable riders

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Riders previous seasons

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Extended content

2008 team

Also Rode:

2009 team

Also Rode:

2010 team

Also Rode:

2011 team

Also Rode:

2012 team

Also Rode

2013 team

Also Rode

2014 team

2015 team

Also Rode

2016 team

2017 team

Also Rode

2018 team

Also Rode:

2019 team

Also Rode:

2020 team

Club honours

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  • SGB Championship Fours Championship Winners: 2019
  • SGB Premiership Knockout Cup Winners: 2018
  • Premier League Championship Winners: 2013, 2016
  • Premier League Knockout Cup Winners: 2008, 2013, 2015
  • Premier Shield Winners: 2014, 2016
  • Premier League Cup Winners: 2012, 2016
  • Premier League Pairs Championship Winners: 2013, 2016
  • Premier League Fours Championship Winners: 2005, 2014
  • Conference Trophy Winners: 2001
  • Conference Knockout Cup Winners: 2001

References

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  1. ^ Bamford, R. (2007). Speedway Yearbook 2007. ISBN 978-0-7524-4250-1
  2. ^ "New opponents". Cambridge Daily News. 14 April 1999. Retrieved 16 May 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "Somerset speedway". Darwin Escapes. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  4. ^ Bamford, R & Jarvis J. (2001). Homes of British Speedway. ISBN 0-7524-2210-3
  5. ^ a b "BRITISH LEAGUE TABLES - MODERN ERA (1991-PRESENT)". Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 2 September 2021.
  6. ^ "2005 season fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Somerset Rebels 2005 season review". BBC. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Somerset Rebel Magnus Zetterstrom wins Champion Chase". BBC Somerset. BBC. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  9. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  10. ^ "Champs move on to playoffs". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Rebels are cup winners". British Speedway Promoters' Association. 2008. Retrieved 18 October 2008.
  12. ^ "Rebels' future secured by Hancock". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Tributes paid to speedway star Emil Kramer killed in road accident". Burnham On Sea. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Masters wins the title". Edinburgh Speedway. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  15. ^ "2012 Play-off Final…. In Words and pictures". Scunthorpe Scorpions speedway club. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  16. ^ "2013 fixtures" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Somerset Rebels win Premier League pairs championship". Burnham on Sea. 4 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Speedway: Somerset Rebels beat Rye House to Knockout Cup". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Speedway: Rebels relive 2013 Rye House KO Cup final". The Weston Mercury. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Fixtures and results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
  21. ^ "KO Cup final 1st leg" (PDF). Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  22. ^ "KO Cup final 2nd leg" (PDF). Official British Speedway website. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Somerset Rebels speedway club ditch Confederate flag on new logo". Burnham-On-Sea.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  24. ^ "Highbridge-based Somerset Rebels ready for start of new season". Burnham-on-sea.com. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  25. ^ "British Speedway Official Website". www.britishspeedway.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  26. ^ "REBELS TO EXPLAIN DECISION - British Speedway Official Website". www.britishspeedway.co.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  27. ^ "The Oaktree in Highbridge to be sold by Hancock family". Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  28. ^ "A Rebels Return". Speedway Star. 17 December 2022. p. 6.
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