Berwick Bandits star Peter Kildemand announces retirement from speedway
Peter Kildemand will call time on his speedway career at the end of the current season
Berwick Bandits star Peter Kildemand has announced his intention to retire at the end of the 2026 speedway season.
The Dane, who turns 37 next Tuesday, currently races for the Bandits and Belle Vue Aces, with both clubs chasing silverware as the two-time GP winner’s career winds down.
Kildemand’s distinctive riding style has won him fans across Europe, as well as championships in England, Poland, Sweden and Denmark. Last year, he returned to British racing after a break of eight years, initialy signing for the Bandits on a short-term deal until Nick Morris was available after his two-year ban. But such was his impact with Berwick, and in the Premiership with Oxford Spires, that the club extended the deal and re-signed him during the winter.
This year, however, a broken collarbone and cracked ribs have sidelined the popular Bandits talent for a notable portion of the summer.
Reflecting on his decision to retire, Kildemand said: “It is a decision I have thought about a lot. Speedway has been a huge part of my life for 33 years and the sport has given me far more than I ever dared to dream. Therefore, it feels right to stop now, while I can make the decision and say goodbye to my own terms.
“I am incredibly proud of what I have achieve and I would like to say a huge thank you to all of you fans who have followed me through thick and thin. Your support has meant more than you will ever know.”
Kildemand’s next British action is on Saturday evening, when Berwick face Edinburgh Monarchs at Shielfield Park, and his last professional outings will come in the Knockout Cup Final, which take place across late September and into early October.
Berwick owner Jamie Courtney, who also acts as a promoter for Kildemand’s Premiership outfit Oxford, said: “As with everything about Peter this announcement was sheer class. We have been very lucky to enjoy this very special rider at Berwick over the past two seasons and his final few meetings in our colours are some of the biggest in the club's recent history.”