The National League Pairs Championship is a motorcycle speedway contest for tier three clubs in the United Kingdom. The Championship is between the top two riders from each club competing in the National League. The meetings comprise a competition between teams of two riders drawn into two qualifying groups. It was known as the Conference League Pairs from 2004 to 2008.
Format Gate positions
In the Qualification Heats, riders are allocated starting gates. For the Semi-Finals, the group winners have first choice of gate positions (A&C or B&D). Gate A is on the inside of the track, whilst Gate D is on the outside. For the Final, the gate positions (A&C and B&D) are decided by the toss of a coin.
Points scoring
All heats are scored as follows: 1st = 4pts, 2nd = 3pts, 3rd = 2pts, 4th = 0pts
This system is used to encourage team riding. A pair finishing first and second will score seven points, whereas a pair finishing first and last will score only four. Race points scored over all 'qualification heats' are used to determine the final group placings. Where two teams are tied for a place, the team who scored most points scored in the heat where they met go through. Where more than two teams are tied for a place, the tie is resolved as follows: most wins, most second places, ballot.
Past winners Year Winners Riders Runners-up Riders Conference League Pairs 2004 Wimbledon Dons Mark Burrows & Barrie Evans Mildenhall Fen Tigers Ritchie Hawkins & Jon Armstrong 2005 Wimbledon Dons Mark Burrows & Scott James Oxford Silver Machine Academy Craig Branney & Chris Mills 2006 Scunthorpe Scorpions Paul Cooper & Benji Compton Stoke Spitfires Ben Barker & Adam Allott 2007 Boston Barracudas Paul Cooper & Simon Lambert Oxford Lions/Cheetahs Jordan Frampton & Lee Smethills 2008 Boston Barracudas Simon Lambert & James Cockle Redcar Cubs Scott James & Aaron Summers National League Pairs 2009 Newport HornetsTony Atkin & Grant Tregoning Bournemouth BuccaneersMark Baseby & Jay Herne 2010 Plymouth DevilsNicki Glanz & Mark Simmonds King's Lynn Young StarsSimon Lambert & Adam Lowe2011 Stoke PottersSimon Lambert & Tim Webster Newport HornetsJay Herne & Todd Kurtz 2012 Mildenhall Fen TigersLewis Blackbird & Cameron Heeps Buxton HitmenRobert Branford & Charles Wright 2013 Dudley HeathensAshley Morris & Lewis Blackbird Mildenhall Fen TigersJosh Bates & Danny Halsey 2014 Stoke PottersBen Wilson & Jon Armstrong Mildenhall Fen TigersJoe Jacobs & Danny Halsey 2015 Kent KingsBen Morley & Danny Ayres Cradley HeathensMax Clegg & Ellis Perks2016-2018 competition not held National Development League Pairs 2019 Kent KingsDrew Kemp & Anders Rowe Leicester LionsEllis Perks & Danyon Hume2020 & 2021 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic 2022 Leicester Lion CubsJoe Thompson & Dan Thompson Armadale DevilsTom Woolley & Elliot Kelly 2023
See also Speedway in the United Kingdom List of United Kingdom Speedway Pairs champions
References