The World Championship Semi Finals are an annual event and the 2nd stage on the Road to Gold.
The first World Championship Semi Finals were run in 1961 at the Belle Vue Hyde Road Stadium and won by Johnny King (6), the second ran at Harringay won by Phil Griffin (242). Originally the Semi Finals ran over four semi finals at two tracks.
From 1965 it was reduced to a single World Championship Semi Final at two tracks. This continued until 1988 with the introduction of the Consolation Semi Final, which was a last chance after the completion of the Semi Finals.
In recent years the Semi Finals have been split, with one running on shale and one running on tarmac. The winner of the World Championship qualifying points makes the choice of which World Championship Semi Final they would like to take part in..
How it Works
The top forty-eight drivers from the World Championship Qualifying points will qualify for one of the two World Championship Semi Finals with twenty-four drivers in each Semi Final. These are usually staged in late July or early August with one being held on shale and one on tarmac. Drivers are prohibited to swap Semi Finals and the only options open to them are race or cancel. If a driver cancels, their spot will be left vacant and the next driver in the points will be inserted into a new row at the back.
The Semi Final is run over twenty laps and usually doubles up as a Heat at the meeting it is contested. The grid is formed in points order and as a closed grid.
Only the top ten from each Semi Final will transfer into the World Final.
| Year | Event | Top 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Semi Final 1 – Harringay (1st Leg) | Phil Griffin (242) Barry Van Den Oeteelar (386) Jock Lloyd (131) |
| Semi Final 1 – Harringay (2nd Leg) | Ken Freeman (61) Trevor Frost (68) Fred Mitchell (38) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue (1st Leg) | Johnny King (6) Aubrey Leighton (42) Nev Hughes (69) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue (2nd Leg) | Nev Hughes (69) Johnny King (6) Aubrey Leighton (42) | |
| 1962 | Semi Final 1 – Harringay (1st Leg) | Doug Wardopper (5) Ken Freeman (61) Johnny King (6) |
| Semi Final 1 – Harringay (2nd Leg) | Vic Ferriday (73) Ken Freeman (61) Barry Hebbern (282) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry (1st Leg) | Alan Wardropper (245) Trevor Frost (68) Aubrey Leighton (42) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry (2nd Leg) | Alan Wardropper (245) Nev Hughes (69) Johnny Gunn (235) | |
| 1963 | Semi Final 1 – West Ham (1st Leg) | Alan Wardropper (245) Ken Freeman (61) Doug Wardopper (5) |
| Semi Final 1 – West Ham (2nd Leg) | Ted Pankhurst (104) Johnny King (6) Terry Coell (133) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry (1st Leg) | Ron Pears (331) Aubrey Leighton (42) Trevor Frost (68) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry (2nd Leg) | Trevor Frost (68) Barry Van Den Oeteelar (386) Aubrey Leighton (42) | |
| 1964 | Semi Final 1 – West Ham (1st Leg) | Fred Mitchell (38) Alan Wardropper (245) Don Evans (37) |
| Semi Final 1 – West Ham (2nd Leg) | Ron Pears (331) Willie Wanklyn (304) Geoff Elliott (135) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue (1st Leg) | Aubrey Leighton (42) Nev Hughes (69) Ron Rogers (152) | |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue (2nd Leg) | Trevor Frost (68) Nev Hughes (69) Charlie Finnikin (55) | |
| 1965 | Semi Final 1 – Harringay | Alan Wardropper (245) Les Taylor (197) Rod Dore (35) |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue | Ellis Ford (3) Ron Rogers (152) Terry Coell (133) | |
| 1966 | Semi Final 1 – Coventry | Willie Harrison (2) Ron Rogers (152) Russ Bate (225) |
| Semi Final 2 – Harringay | Fred Mitchell (38) Jock Lloyd (131) Don Evans (37) | |
| 1967 | Semi Final 1 – Coventry | Ron Rogers (152) Tony Neal (100) Geoff Harrison (127) |
| Semi Final 2 – Walthamstow | Jim Esau (244) Jock Lloyd (131) Pete Gunichard (258) | |
| 1968 | Semi Final 1 – Belle Vue | Ron Rogers (152) Tony Neal (100) Doug Cronshaw (396) |
| Semi Final 2 – Harringay | Ted Pankhurst (104) George Ansell (375) Jim Esau (244) | |
| 1969 | Semi Final 1 – Coventry | Stuart Smith (391) Jim Esau (244) Mick Noden (306) |
| Semi Final 2 – Harringay | Ray Pearce (234) Gerry Wier (13) Johnny Pratt (394) | |
| 1970 | Semi Final 1 – Nelson | Doug Cronshaw (396) Stuart Smith (391) Brian Wignall (102) |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry | George Ansell (375) Jim Esau (244) Pete Gunichard (258) | |
| 1971 | Semi Final 1 – Harringay | Jim Esau (244) Ian Durham (311) Pete Webb (8) |
| Semi Final 2 – Long Eaton | Willie Harrison (2) Mick Noden (306) Doug Cronshaw (396) | |
| 1972 | Semi Final 1 – Nelson | Doug Cronshaw (396) Stuart Smith (391) Willie Harrison (2) |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry | Mick Noden (306) Tony Allen (348) Dave Chisholm (252) | |
| 1973 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Dave Chisholm (252) Tony Neal (100) Mike Close (199) |
| Semi Final 2 – Northampton | Mick Noden (306) George Ansell (375) Dick Sworder (150) | |
| 1974 | Semi Final 1 – White City | Stuart Smith (391) Gordon Smith (293) Mike Close (199) |
| Semi Final 2 – Bristol | Dave Chisholm (252) Tony Allen (348) George Ansell (375) | |
| 1975 | Semi Final 1 – Northampton | Willie Harrison (2) George Ansell (375) Dave Chisholm (252) |
| Semi Final 2 – Leicester | Stuart Smith (391) Mick Noden (306) Frankie Wainman (212) | |
| 1976 | Semi Final 1 – Nelson | Willie Harrison (2) Tony Allen (348) Frankie Wainman (212) |
| Semi Final 2 – Coventry | Johnny Goodhall (261) Mick Noden (306) Frank Bourne (16) | |
| 1977 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Frankie Wainman (212) Dave Hodgson (272) John Hillam (229) |
| Semi Final 2 – Rochdale | Willie Harrison (2) Mike Close (199) Harry Smith (219) | |
| 1978 | Semi Final 1 – Hartlepool | Stuart Smith (391) Mike Close (199) Dave Berresford (260) |
| Semi Final 2 – Northampton | Glyn Pursey (175) Bert Finnikin (55) Dave Mellor (304) | |
| 1979 | Semi Final 1 – Leicester | Frankie Wainman (212) Bert Finnikin (55) Mick Noden (306) |
| Semi Final 2 – Sheffield | Stuart Smith (391) Alan Barker (179) Len Wolfenden (190) | |
| 1980 | Semi Final 1 – Bradford | Glyn Pursey (175) Stuart Smith (391) John Lund (53) |
| Semi Final 2 – Long Eaton | Mike Close (199) Dave Mellor (304) Rod Falding (36) | |
| 1981 | Semi Final 1 – Rochdale | Len Wolfenden (190) Willie Harrison (2) Mike Close (199) |
| Semi Final 2 – Northampton | Doug Cronshaw (396) Bert Finnikin (55) Glyn Pursey (175) | |
| 1982 | Semi Final 1 – Leicester | Willie Harrison (2) Dave Berresford (260) Glyn Pursey (175) |
| Semi Final 2 – Blackburn | Mike Close (199) Len Wolfenden (190) Andy Stott (160) | |
| 1983 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | John Lund (53) Stuart Smith (1) Mike Close (199) |
| Semi Final 2 – Hartlepool | Len Wolfenden (190) Bert Finnikin (55) Andy Stott (160) | |
| 1984 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Dave Mellor (304) Bobby Burns (471) Len Wolfenden (190) |
| Semi Final 2 – Rochdale | Frankie Wainman (212) Dave Berresford (260) John Toulson (286) | |
| 1985 | Semi Final 1 – Aycliffe | Stuart Smith (1) Harry Smith (100) Dave Berresford (260) |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue | Mike Close (199) Len Wolfenden (190) John Toulson (286) | |
| 1986 | Semi Final 1 – Northampton | Stuart Smith (1) Peter Falding (33) Frankie Wainman (212) |
| Semi Final 2 – Hartlepool | Graham France (216) Dave Mellor (304) Mick Noden (306) | |
| 1987 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Dave Berresford (260) John Lund (53) Bert Finnikin (55) |
| Semi Final 2 – Long Eaton | Frankie Wainman (212) Nigel Whorton (422) Len Wolfenden (190) | |
| 1988 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | Frankie Wainman (212) Peter Falding (33) Chris Elwell (501) |
| Semi Final 2 – Crewe | Ian Higgins (29) John Lund (53) Dave Berresford (260) | |
| Consolation – Hednesford | Nigel Whorton (422) Graham Blundell (156) Dave Mellor (304) | |
| 1989 | Semi Final 1 – Northampton | Ray Tyldesley (85) Peter Falding (33) Paul Harrison (22) |
| Semi Final 2 – Aycliffe | Nigel Whorton (422) Des Chandler (213) Les Mitchell (499) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Frankie Wainman (212) Dave Berresford (260) Murray Harrison (97) | |
| 1990 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Dave Berresford (260) John Lund (53) Des Chandler (213) |
| Semi Final 2 – Scunthorpe | Ray Tyldesley (85) Peter Falding (33) Bert Finnikin (55) | |
| Consolation – Boston | John Wright (128) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Neil Brigg (87) | |
| 1991 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | Bert Finnikin (55) Bobby Burns (471) Danny Clarke (203) |
| Semi Final 2 – Crewe | Peter Falding (33) Andy Hodgson (272) Paul Harrison (2) | |
| Consolation – Scunthorpe | Frankie Wainman (212) Dave Berresford (260) Richard Mason (202) | |
| 1992 | Semi Final 1 – Hartlepool | John Lund (53) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Bobby Burns (471) |
| Semi Final 2 – Boston | Danny Clarke (203) Dave Berresford (260) Russell Humphreys (113) | |
| Consolation – Long Eaton | Frankie Wainman (212) John Wright (128) Peter Falding (33) | |
| 1993 | Semi Final 1 – Buxton | John Lund (53) Ian Platts (77) Jamie Davidson (464) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Peter Falding (33) Nigel Whorton (422) Paul Harrison (2) | |
| Consolation – Long Eaton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Murray Harrison (97) Des Chandler (213) | |
| 1994 | Semi Final 1 – Stoke | Dave Berresford (260) Andy Smith (391) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) |
| Semi Final 2 – Long Eaton | Kev Smith (64) Paul Harrison (2) Rob Cowley (73) | |
| Consolation – Coventry | Gaz Bott (41) John Lund (53) Les Spencer (98) | |
| 1995 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | John Lund (53) Jamie Davidson (464) Paul Harrison (2) |
| Semi Final 2 – Hartlepool | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Andy Smith (391) Keith Chambers (250) | |
| Consolation – King’s Lynn | Chris Brocksopp (338) Steve Cayzer (380) Barry Heath (343) | |
| 1996 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Ian Platts (77) Matt Bennett (413) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) |
| Semi Final 2 – King’s Lynn | John Lund (53) Paul Harrison (2) Rob Perry (217) | |
| Consolation – Stoke | Glyn Daft (96) Andy Smith (391) Wayne Handley (378) | |
| 1997 | Semi Final 1 – Long Eaton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Jamie Davidson (464) Rob Pearce (175) |
| Semi Final 2 – Bradford | Andy Smith (391) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Paul Harrison (2) | |
| Consolation – Coventry | Ray Tyldesley (85) Paul Harrison (2) Peter Falding (33) | |
| 1998 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | John Lund (53) Andy Smith (391) John Cayzer (495) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Chris Lloyd (284) Rob Pearce (175) | |
| Consolation – Buxton | Richard Mason (202) Rob Cowley (73) Gary Coyle (345) | |
| 1999 | Semi Final 1 – Northampton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) John Lund (53) Peter Falding (33) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Andy Smith (391) Murray Harrison (97) Paul Harrison (2) | |
| Consolation – Stoke | Mark Webster (226) Ray Witts (180) Chris Brocksopp (338) | |
| 2000 | Semi Final 1 – Swindon | Andy Smith (391) Paul Harrison (2) Ray Witts (180) |
| Semi Final 2 – Swaffham | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) John Lund (53) Rob Speak (318) | |
| Consolation – Sheffield | Derek Fairhurst (218) Stuart Fellows (13) Neil Scothern (152) | |
| 2001 | Semi Final 1 – Buxton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Rob Speak (318) Mark Gilbank (21) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Andy Smith (391) Gary Castell (247) Neil Scothern (152) | |
| Consolation – Belle Vue | Mark Taylor (490) Phil Smith (109) Dave Johnson (383) | |
| 2002 | Semi Final 1 – Coventry | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) John Lund (53) Paul Harrison (2) |
| Semi Final 2 – Sheffield | Andy Smith (391) Rob Speak (318) Neil Scothern (152) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Mark Taylor (490) Karl Gilbert (295) Craig Finnikin (55) | |
| 2003 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Paul Harrison (2) John Lund (53) Murray Harrison (97) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Gary Castell (247) Mark Gilbank (21) Peter Falding (33) | |
| Consolation – Hednesford | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Neil Scothern (152) James Neachell (322) | |
| 2004 | Semi Final 1 – Buxton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Andy Smith (391) Peter Falding (33) |
| Semi Final 2 – King’s Lynn | Stuart Smith Jnr (390) Mark Gilbank (21) Ed Neachell (321) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Carlos Perez (305) Paul Hines (259) Rob Cowley (73) | |
| 2005 | Semi Final 1 – Belle Vue | Andy Smith (391) Simon Panton (288) Tom Harris (84) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Peter Falding (33) Ivan Pritchard (434) | |
| Consolation – Wimbledon | Neil Shenton (35) Mark Gilbank (21) Rob Cowley (73) | |
| 2006 | Semi Final 1 – King’s Lynn | John Lund (53) Steve Cayzer (380) Lee Robinson (107) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Andy Smith (391) Will Yarrow (22) Paul Hines (259) | |
| Consolation – Belle Vue | Mark Gilbank (21) James Neachell (322) Dan Squire (291) | |
| 2007 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Andy Smith (391) Mat Newson (16) Peter Falding (33) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Mark Gilbank (21) Stuart Smith Jnr (390) | |
| Consolation – King’s Lynn | Chris Bonner (105) Frankie Wainman (212) Geoff Nickolls (215) | |
| 2008 | Semi Final 1 – King’s Lynn | Paul Harrison (2) Stuart Smith Jnr (1) Mat Newson (16) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Andy Smith (391) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Carlos Perez (305) | |
| Consolation – Sheffield | Lenny Smith (185) Tom Harris (84) Mark Woodhull (335) | |
| 2009 | Semi Final 1 – Coventry | Andy Smith (391) Paul Hines (259) Peter Falding (33) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Paul Harrison (2) Stuart Smith Jnr (390) | |
| Consolation – King’s Lynn | John Lund (53) Simon Panton (288) Tom Harris (84) | |
| 2010 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Paul Harrison (2) Dan Johnson (4) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Andy Smith (391) Paul Hines (259) John Lund (53) | |
| Consolation – Coventry | Nigel Whalley (198) Mark Gilbank (21) Michael Scriven (12) | |
| 2011 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | Paul Harrison (2) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Michael Scriven (12) |
| Semi Final 2 – Belle Vue | Paul Hines (259) Tom Harris (84) Dan Johnson (4) | |
| Consolation – Northampton | Mat Newson (16) Ed Neachell (321) Lee Fairhurst (217) | |
| 2012 | Semi Final 1 – King’s Lynn | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Craig Finnikin (55) Paul Harrison (2) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Mick Sworder (150) Tom Harris (84) Danny Wainman (212) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Ron Kroonder (H217) Dan Johnson (4) Lee Fairhurst (217) | |
| 2013 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Ryan Harrison (197) Paul Hines (259) Mick Sworder (150) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Lee Fairhurst (1) Tom Harris (84) Dan Johnson (4) | |
| Consolation – King’s Lynn | Mark Poole (276) Will Yarrow (22) Russell Cooper (415) | |
| 2014 | Semi Final 1 – Stoke | Mat Newson (16) Dan Johnson (4) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Paul Harrison (2) Rob Speak (318) Mick Sworder (150) | |
| Consolation – Belle Vue | Danny Wainman (212) Michael Scriven (12) Ian Noden (306) | |
| 2015 | Semi Final 1 – Belle Vue | Stuart Smith Jnr (390) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Mat Newson (16) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Rob Speak (318) Mick Sworder (150) Dan Johnson (4) | |
| Consolation – Belle Vue | Ed Neachell (321) John Lund (53) Chris Cowley (37) | |
| 2016 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Rob Speak (318) Mat Newson (16) Stuart Smith Jnr (390) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Nigel Green (445) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Lee Fairhurst (217) | |
| Consolation – Coventry | Michael Scriven (12) Ryan Harrison (197) Joff Gibson (249) | |
| 2017 | Semi Final 1 – Skegness | Nigel Green (445) Stuart Smith Jnr (390) Ryan Harrison (197) |
| Semi Final 2 – Stoke | Dan Johnson (4) Paul Hines (259) Frankie Wainman Jnr (1) | |
| Consolation – Ipswich | Neil Scriven (11) Luke Davidson (464) Michael Steward (512) | |
| 2018 | Semi Final 1 – King’s Lynn | Stuart Smith Jnr (390) Tom Harris (84) Mark Gilbank (21) |
| Semi Final 2 – Birmingham | Lee Fairhurst (217) Dan Johnson (4) Nigel Green (445) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Mat Newson (16) Micky Randell (172) Will Hunter (220) | |
| 2019 | Semi Final 1 – Sheffield | Tom Harris (84) Lee Fairhurst (217) Mat Newson (16) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Paul Hines (259) Ryan Harrison (197) | |
| Consolation – King’s Lynn | Sam Jacklin (137) Bobby Griffin (166) Mick Sworder (150) | |
| 2020 | Event not held | — |
| 2021 | Semi Final 1 – King’s Lynn | Craig Finnikin (55) Bobby Griffin (166) Danny Wainman (212) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Tom Harris (1) Lee Fairhurst (217) Ryan Harrison (197) | |
| Consolation -Sheffield | Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) John Lund (53) Mark Sargent (326) | |
| 2022 | Semi Final 1 – Bradford | Paul Hines (259) Paul Harrison (2) Charlie Sworder (5) |
| Semi Final 2 – Skegness | Tom Harris (1) Frankie Wainman (515) Bobby Griffin (166) | |
| Consolation – Ipswich | Bradley Harrison (25) Luke Davidson (464) Joshua Smith (191) | |
| 2023 | Semi Final 1 – Mildenhall | Jack France (216) Mat Newson (16) Neil Scriven (11) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Tom Harris (84) Lee Fairhurst (217) Bobby Griffin (166) | |
| Consolation – Northampton | Richard Woods (268) Jake Walker (289) Mark Gilbank (21) | |
| 2024 | Semi Final 1 – Hednesford | Mat Newson (16) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Craig Finnikin (55) |
| Semi Final 2 – King’s Lynn | Tom Harris (1) Finn Sargent (526) Danny Wainman (212) | |
| Consolation – Skegness | Lee Fairhurst (217) Liam Gilbank (20) Ant Whorton-Eales (408) | |
| 2025 | Semi Final 1 – Bradford | Tom Harris (1) Mat Newson (16) Sam Brigg (587) |
| Semi Final 2 – Buxton | Callum Thornton (368) Frankie Wainman Jnr (515) Karl Hawkins (175) | |
| Consolation | Charlie Sworder (5) Finn Sargent (526) Joe Booth (446) |