Alfred Stuart H. Bowtell (born 23 January 1997) is a British speedway rider, who rides in the SGB Championship.[1]

Alfie Bowtell
Born (1997-01-23) 23 January 1997 (age 27)
Chelmsford, Essex
NationalityBritish (English)
Career history
2015Rye House
2016, 2023Mildenhall
2017-2018Lakeside
2017Newcastle
2018Isle of Wight
2018Cradley
2019Eastbourne
2020-2022, 2024Plymouth
2023Birmingham
Team honours
2023NDL Knockout Cup

Career edit

It was announced, on 6 March 2015, that Bowtell had signed for the Rye House Raiders for his debut season in the National League.[2] By the end of the season he had progressed out of the reserve and moved into the number 2 position, increasing his average from 3.00 to 3.95.[3] Bowtell moved to Mildenhall Fen Tigers for the 2016 National League season.[4] He maintained his position at number 2 throughout the season and increased his average to 4.21 by the end of the season.[5]

On 12 December 2017, Bowtell signed for Lakeside Hammers, after they dropped down to the National League from the top flight.[6] He helped Lakeside finish 4th in the league.[7] During the season Bowtell formed a middle order partnership with Paul Hurry; improving his average to 6.65.[8] Bowtell also signed for Newcastle Diamonds in the SGB Championship; he came into the side at reserve to replace Dan Greenwood.[9] He had improved his starting average of 2.00 to 2.19 by the end of the season.[10]

In 2018, Bowtell replaced Max Clegg in the Lakeside team after they were forced to change their plans due to a mix up of averages.[11] This was Bowtell's second consecutive season with Lakeside, and it allowed him to progress with them as they moved up to the SGB Championship for the 2018 season. Bowtell improved his average to 2.38 at the end of the season.[12] In addition, Bowtell also signed for Cradley Heathens, who ran a team that only competed in the National Trophy. He was a replacement for the injured Jordan Jenkins.[13] He helped the Heathens finish top of the North group taking them to the final against Mildenhall Fen Tigers.[14]

On 11 June, Bowtell replaced Ben Hopwood in the Isle of Wight Warriors team.[15] He started in the number 5 position before progressing to the number 1 position[16] for the rest of the season. On 30 September he competed in the National League Rider's Championship, losing the run off for the title, after finishing on 14 points with Isle of Wight team-mate Morley.[17] He finished the season with an average of 9.28.[18]

Bowtell joined Eastbourne Eagles for the SGB Championship in 2019.[19] He completed the season with an official average of 3.1.[20]

Plymouth Gladiators brought in Bowtell as their number 1 rider in advance of the 2020 National League season but the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.[21] In 2021 and 2022, he rode for Plymouth in the SGB Championship 2021 and SGB Championship 2022, He also rode for Kent Royals during the 2022 National Development League speedway season, finishing 3rd in the league averages.[22]

In 2023, he signed for Birmingham Brummies for the SGB Championship 2023[23] and returned to Mildenhall for the 2023 NDL.[24] In 2023, he helped Mildenhall win the Knockout Cup.[25]

He re-joined the Plymouth Gladiators for the 2024 season.[26]

References edit

  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Raiders Complete". Rye House Speedway. 6 March 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  3. ^ "2015 National League Final Green Sheets Issue 25" (PDF). Speedway GB. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Final Tiger Is Named..." Mildenhall Fen Tigers. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  5. ^ "2016 National Development League Final Green Sheets Issue 27" (PDF). Speedway GB. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Hammers make Double Signing". Speedway GB. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  7. ^ "2017 National League Table". Speedway GB. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  8. ^ "2017 National Development League Final Green Sheets Issue 33" (PDF). Speedway GB. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  9. ^ "What's It All About ................. Alfie!". Newcastle Diamonds. 4 July 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  10. ^ "2017 SGB Chamionship [sic] League Green Sheets - Final Issue - Alphabetical" (PDF). Speedway GB. 22 November 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2018.
  11. ^ "Lakeside Hammers Club Statement". Lakeside Hammers. 26 January 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  12. ^ "2018 SGBC Final Team Declarations and Green Sheets Issue 25" (PDF). Speedway GB. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Heathens Swoop for New Signing". Cradley Heathens. 13 May 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Mildenhall 49 Cradley 41". Cradley Heathens. 16 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  15. ^ "Warriors Bring in Bowtell". Speedway GB. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  16. ^ "2018 National Development League Issue 25" (PDF). Speedway GB. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  17. ^ "National League Rider's Championship at Leicester" (PDF). Speedway GB. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  18. ^ "2018 National Development League Final Averages" (PDF). Speedway GB. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Eagles are Go!". Eastbourne Eagles. 6 December 2018. Archived from the original on 17 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
  20. ^ "2019 SGBC TEAM DECLARATIONS and GREEN SHEETS Issue 34 Final Averages" (PDF). SpeedwayGB. 30 October 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  21. ^ "2020 NDL News + 5 Plymouth Gladiators for 2020 announced." Plymouth Gladiators. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  22. ^ "British Speedway rider profile". British Speedway. Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  23. ^ "Bowtell joins Brummies". British Speedway. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  24. ^ "Fen Tigers name top two". British Speedway. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  25. ^ "Fen Tigers awarded KO Cup". British Speedway. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Covatti in to complete Gladiators". British Speedway. Retrieved 15 December 2023.