The 1960 Southern Area Riders' Championship was the final edition of the Southern Area League Riders' Championship, which was a motorcycle speedway competition.
History From 1954 until 1959 the Southern Area League held a competition for its leading riders called the Southern Area League Riders' Championship. It was the second tier of speedway racing in the United Kingdom for Southern British teams.
However, in 1960, British speedway underwent a major revamp with the introduction of the 1960 Provincial Speedway League, which would act as the new second tier of speedway in Britain.
The five teams that previously formed the Southern League were forced to decide what direction they would take. Ipswich Witches joined the National League (the top division) and Yarmouth Bloaters joined the Provincial League. The remaining three teams Eastbourne Eagles, Aldershot Shots and Rye House Rockets were without a league, so they ran a series of challenge matches throughout 1960. The riders of the three teams competed in the Riders' Championship, which continued into 1960.
Result Ross Gilbertson won the Southern Area Riders' Championship. The final was held at Arlington Stadium on 25 September.
Pos. Rider Club Pts1 Ross Gilbertson Eastbourne 152 Stan Stevens Rye House143 Ken AdamsStoke 134 Eric Hockaday Aldershot125 John Dugard Eastbourne 106 Tommy Sweetman Rye House 97 Geoff MudgePoole 88 Jim Heard Eastbourne79 Bob DugardEastbourne 610 Bill Osborne Aldershot511 Pete Sampson Rye House412 Clive Hitch Rye House413 Jimmy Gleed Rye House4 14 Colin Gooddy Eastbourne 315 Dave Still Eastbourne 316 John EdwardsAldershot 317 Bob Warner (res) Eastbourne0 18 Geoff Pennikett (res)Eastbourne 0
See also List of United Kingdom Speedway League Riders' champions Southern Area League
References