Peterborough Panthers bid farewell to showground after 53 years

Peterborough Panthers have been left without a racetrack for the 2024 season

Thousands of Peterborough Panthers' fans watched the curtain come down on speedway in the city as a special meeting ended in a crash.

The racetrack has closed after 53 years, as plans are under way for the East of England Showground site to be a redeveloped.

This leaves Panthers without a track for 2024.

Saturday's individual event was won by Niels-Kristian Iversen, despite his crashing in the final race.

After the end of the regular 2023 speedway season, the club decided to stage a final event on Saturday evening, featuring a 20-heat event for individual riders, followed by a Grand Final.

Speedway fans went through a variety of emotions from "I have been coming here for 30 years. It's really sad to see it close" to "disgusting" that the racetrack was disappearing.

Fans witnessed the end of an 53-year era as the last speedway meeting was staged at the East of England Showground

The meeting ended after a crash between Iversen and the Wolverhampton Wolves' Ryan Douglas that damaged the fence.

Iversen was declared the winner having led both the qualifying scores and the final at the time of the stoppage.

• Nicholls still hoping for Panthers 'miracle'

• Panto saved at theatre shut by concrete crisis

• Museum and heritage funding at risk - civic group

Club owner Keith Chapman said "it was fantastic to see the outpouring of support".

"Let's hope it shows the council what they're going to miss," he said.

"It was a bad way for it to end, but these things do happen and I thought the decision by the referee to call the result was the best one.

"It's a sad night anyway, but to have that happen in the last race really makes it worse."

Thousands of fans said their goodbye to the showground racetrack on Saturday

Development plans for the 165-acre site include a leisure complex, up to 1,500 new homes, a hotel, a primary school and care home.

The site's operators Asset Earned Power Group (AEPG), said they "understand the disappointment" from Panthers' fans.

The East of England Agricultural Society owns the East of England Showground and is in the process of selling it.

As part of the sale, the land needs to be clear of commercial operations or agreements.

A spokesperson for AEPG said: "Therefore, there's no ability to commit to a 2024 speedway season.

"We have been in consultation with Peterborough Panthers since 2021, when the East of England Agricultural Society appointed AEPG as promoter and operator.

"The discontinuation of speedway at the showground is not new news or a surprise and we are sorry to hear the club has not found a new home in this time."

The planning application is being considered by Peterborough City Council.

The site, which also used to host the East of England Show, is to be redeveloped and could include sports such as bowling and mini-golf

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Got a story? Email [e-mail] or WhatsApp [phone]