REGIONAL CONFERENCE 2009


The Minutes of the Regional Cycle Speedway Conference are published here with the express consent of British Cycling's Cycle Speedway Commision chairman Colin Docker.

BRITISH CYCLING CYCLE SPEEDWAY COMMISSION REGIONAL CONFERENCE

EATON HOTEL, HAGLEY ROAD, BIRMINGHAM

SUNDAY 22nd NOVEMBER 2009 FROM 11:00 AM

MINUTES

Present

Colin Docker (chair) Terry Ashford, Ian Brown, Ian Grange, Mike Hack, Mike Legge, Bob Prince, Tim Metcalfe, Pete Ward (Commission) Brian Furness, Phil Godfrey (BC Staff), Albert Bentley, Paul Bodley, Ralph Doughty (Midlands) Alan Farrell, Tony Mann, Andy Schofield (North) Glenn Grange, Dave Hunting, Ivan Pike (South East) Rob Absalom, Geoff Gamage, Colin Sutton (South West)

1. Welcome: Colin Docker, Chairman and BC Board Member

Colin introduced himself to the meeting and explained his role as chair of the Commission and BC board member.

1a. Cycle Speedway Regional Issues (moved in agenda): Reports from Regions:

South West

Following its recent AGM it was felt that the region had made good progress. Junior league events were very well supported with 90+ riders. Numbers have increased throughout the region.

GG brought up the issue of the track grading system – what was it for and how were grades assessed. ML stated that some clubs in the region were unhappy with the grading system and wanted to know why they had been graded as they had. BP replied that the exercise is done in conjunction with track inspections and was based on a facility audit rather than a safety inspection. A facility grading could be changed mid season if it’s status improved, and there was nothing to prevent lower graded clubs from staging national events by bringing in the appropriate facilities. BP stated that his details are in the CS directory and he can be contacted at any time to discuss these issues . PB stated that more clubs should strive for clubmark status and this would ensure that facilities are correctly maintained.

DH noted that some South East track inspections had only recently been done. BP stated that a track inspection should be done by the referee at every meeting anyway, however DH was of the opinion that safety inspections must always be made every year at the start of the season. This may preclude a realistic assessment of the track surface, which could be reviewed by the match day referee

CD summarised that proper risk assessments should be in place for every track, and all present agreed. BF suggested that the track inspection form , relating to the racing facilities, could be made more detailed, which could allow the process to be carried out by non cycle speedway specialists to carry out the task. This would facilitate the inspection of far flung tracks by neutral observers. It was agreed that the inspector needed to ensure that the club received a copy of the inspection report.

South East

TA stated that this region was growing. However, the region was the only one not to have held its AGM prior to the  regional conference. DH said that this needs to be resolved in future years; a proposal to hold an EGM had been made and 5 of 7 clubs had agreed to this, but nothing had happened, and therefore the clubs in the SE were not represented at this meeting. TA said that the AGM would take place on the 12th December.

DH told the meeting that there is an attempt to get the Woodbridge track back up and running.

BF explained the new Regional Event Officer posts and their role within the regions in encouraging participation across all cycling disciplines. The BC Eastern region covers the same geographical area as the Cycle Speedway South East region and BF asked if it would be possible to change the CS SE region to be called Eastern to avoid confusion. The CS SW region would also consider a more appropriate name.

Midlands

PB reported that a successful AGM had been held. Next years Regional League will have 7 teams. There have been many new juniors recruited in the region, however there is concern about Sandwell as they are struggling for new members.

PB spoke about his attendance at National Council. He noted that there were over 28000 members now in BC and PB spoke about the award given to a region with the greatest membership growth. He asked that a new award be put in place for the CS club with the greatest membership growth in a year. This was agreed.

The East Park club was congratulated for their hard work and success over the season.

Coventry are meeting on 8th December on how to go forward. They are seeking commitment from members of the club to seek stability, try to build it up and aim for Go-Ride status. BF advised that Regional Club Development Officer Nick Yarworth should be involved in this process.

Tony Mann reported that he had received a letter that he believed contained misinformation, as Stoke were under the impression that they had to compete in the Midland League. BF stated that any club can apply to ride in a league outside of the region in which they are based by consent of both regions concerned and that the letter may have intended to imply that the Midlands region was not giving permission for them to do so. However, it was agreed that the letter was not well worded, and BP apologised for any misinterpretation that may have arisen. It was agreed that if a club rides outside its region, it is still expected to support racing in its own region.

North

A written report by IB was circulated to the meeting, reviewing the recent season and AGM and highlighting recruitment successes, most notably by Astley, Hull and Sheffield. CD thanked IB for compiling this informative report, and picking up on one point therein, offered the sympathies and best wishes of those present to Tony Mann following the death of his wife.

TM thanked IB for his hard work this year, and reported that Bury hoped to attain Clubmark status by January. PB stated that having 21 Go-Ride clubs is excellent for Cycle Speedway and its links to BC.

Issues Raised by Regions

SW had raised the matter of transfer deadlines, which would be covered under item 7 of the agenda.

2. National Competition Programme 2010

National Championship Events

The draft calendar has been circulated, and it was noted that the dates for events at Exeter and Ipswich may be swapped to accommodate a women’s league and junior international fixture on the Bank Holiday Saturday. BF had not yet received the venues for the BYJL, but PW stated that most of these are now decided. ML announced that National round 4 would be at East Newport.

BP had received a query from Pete Dalley concerning the clash between the European Club Championship at Bury and the regular major Bank Holiday club promotion at Sandwell. BF had already answered this query on the phone. It was noted that the clash was unfortunate, but international dates were difficult to schedule and could not now be amended.

Premier League

TM reported that 10 applications had been received for the 2010 Premier League, comprising the eight existing clubs plus Ipswich and Stoke. David Flemming had employed a grading system for existing clubs prior to standing down at the end of 2008, and had initiated a scoring system for comparing with new applicants; however this had not been fully developed or circulated to clubs, and there was therefore no robust and objective exit strategy for clubs already in the league. The conference was canvassed on its views as to how this issue could be moved forward for the benefit of the sport as a whole.

The matter evoked considerable debate. It was generally felt that the 2009 league had been the best and most closely contested to date. BP was of the opinion that the Premier League should comprise no more than eight teams as expansion doesn’t necessarily develop the sport. PB stated that the league should be something for clubs to strive to attain and this should not be diluted by adding more clubs. DH agreed, feeling that the base of the pyramid (grass roots events) wasn’t large enough to support a wide t (premier league). CD also noted that eight teams represented approximately 25% of the national club strength, and any increase would be disproportionate.

IP stated that a club applying for the league needs to know what the entry criteria are when applying. He noted that his club, Ipswich, have always strived to be a top level club and as such are trying to attain entry to the Premier League. To not be given this status would damage the club. RA said that the goal of his club (East Newport) was also to gain entry to the Premier League, but not by expanding the number of clubs in the league, but rather by gaining entry on merit.

PB said that a club should be put on a probationary period when entering the Premier League. He also said that if their application was refused initially, they should continue to strive for Premier League status.

BF reported that a formula was available to accommodate 10 clubs in a transitional arrangement that would result in two divisions the following year, with the potential for promotion and relegation. However he felt this was only viable if the league was ripe for expansion, and his feeling, and that of the meeting to that point suggested that it was not, although it remained a possibility for the future when there were more clubs and members in the sport. At the present time a division of only five teams may be considered unattractive, and if the overall number of teams dwindled to nine then a two-tier system could not be supported.

BF also indicated that we are getting to a point where a number of clubs are able to meet the minimum standards of the Premier League as originally proposed, and the bar needed to be constantly raised to maintain the prestige of the competition and the wider development of the sport.

CD attempted to summarise this complicated issue, and put to the meeting that a strong message coming from the delegates was that the league should remain at eight clubs. This was agreed unanimously. It was also agreed that a new set of regulations/criteria should be drawn up, to be communicated early in 2010 and to be applied to selection for the 2011 league. TM asked that as part of this process a common set of referee reporting forms for both premier and regional leagues be adopted to facilitate comparison.

CD indicated that the Commission would review the way forward during the conference break and report back to the meeting.

Youth & Junior League

All agreed that the league was a great success in 2009. There were some issues at the first national round due to a very high number of riders turning up on the day to race and trying to fit all the racing into the day. IP indicated that the format would continue in 2010 but took on board concerns that this would have to be reviewed if numbers continued to increase. It was also noted that clubs make a good deal of money by hlding these events.

Women’s League

Ian Brown gave a detailed presentation on the new women’s league initiative, and circulated written details to all present. The plans involved teams representing each of the four regions, competing in both team and individual events at four different venues. The initiative was warmly endorsed. BF asked that IB produce draft regulations for the league, using the existing BYJL regulations as a template, and submit them to the next meeting of the Commission. A dedicated website was proposed for the league, and CD urged that this be linked to the BC site. IB referred to Sport England grant funding opportunities for women’s participation, which would be explored in collaboration with BC development staff.

GG asked why there isn’t a Women’s Championship at the indoor. BF stated that this has been discussed as a trial event, but the level of entries for the other categories meant that it had proved difficult to accommodate within a busy schedule. 

3. International Competition

Junior Academy Project

Ian Brown gave a second detailed presentation on this project, and written details were also circulated. He started by telling the meeting that in 2009 the Australians had the upper hand due to their better training and preparation regime, and this was something that the junior academy project sought to replicate. Initially the top 20 eligible juniors would be identified, and the project would commence with a “world class” coaching day in February 2010 in Manchester, which would also target accredited cycle speedway club coaches. This had been costed and agreed in principle, and would involve senior BC coach education staff and Olympic performance personnel.

CD congratulated IB on his presentation, which was applauded by all those present.

Calendar 2011 and Beyond

BF confirmed that the 2011 World Championships would be staged at Edenton, North Carolina, USA, the exact date to be confirmed. BP asked why there continues to be a rotation of World Championships between northern and southern hemispheres when there are only a handful of southern hemisphere clubs. This was supported by GG, who noted that by maintaining this principle, there would not be another Senior World Championship in Britain until 2015, and in Poland until 2019, these being the two major cycle speedway nations. While noting comments that this had been the outcome of the last International Federation meeting held in Adelaide, CD proposed that this be addressed at the next Commission meeting.

A proposal had been received to hold two Great Britain vs Poland test matches in 2010, one during the European Club Championship meeting at Bury, and the other at the European Championships in Poland. While the principle of such matches was broadly supported, the feeling of the meeting was that they could be difficult to schedule, and may jeopardise the performances of leading rides in the existing competitions.

4. Development Strategy to 2015

Tim Metcalfe circulated a written review of Project 2010, plus an outline proposal for a “Project 2015”, which seeks to set identifiable goals and deliverables for the next five year period. He would like a meeting to launch this early next year.

He would also like a chair from BC and someone from the Commission to deliver the project. There should also be a project manager to communicate progress and flag up any issues to the Board. Tim was thanked by CD for the good work and he suggested that we all take the docum ent away for discussion. He also suggested that a meeting is to be convened next year to drive this forward. Tim also stated that everything in the document is up for discussion. CD asked TM for an update prior to every commission meeting.

5. Referees

MH reported a significant increase in feedback in the form of referee reports and assessments, which would greatly facilitate the seasonal review and assist in making appointments for 2010. He confirmed that four regional training courses had been arranged on 6th December, to be held at Manchester, Wednesfield, Poole and Great Blakenham. He will also communicate information on the BC Commissaire and Referee Conference in February 2010 to all A and B grade referees. BP congratulated MH for his hard work in this difficult task.

6. Operations: Track Inspections and Grading.

It was acknowledged that this had largely been covered under item 1a of the agenda. It was agreed that regional representatives should lead in ensuring that inspections are carried out before the start of the season. RA agreed to assist on improving the inspection document.

On the matter of track gradings, the need was stressed to make clear to clubs the criteria for each level, so that they are aware what is required if they wish their grading to be improved.

7. Regulations

Proposals put to the Rules Sub-Committee

Those technical regulation changes submitted to and agreed by the sub-committee and ratified by the Commission were circulated and approved. Tony Mann felt that the clarification of the penalty application in appendix 1 of the rulebook was still incorrect, however it was pointed out that the same penalty did indeed apply for both a match ban and a red card, and the wording was correct.

Secondary Registrations

A proposal to formally restrict secondary registrations, so that a rider can only ride for one club at the same tier of racing, had been agreed in principle by the Commission, but had been challenged as it restricted the aspirations of one or two riders. In one case this was a rider who was a student at one location but wanted to be able to ride for his home club outside term time. CD noted that a general BC regulation covers this, but it was felt this would be very difficult to enforce in cycle speedway.

BF noted that suggestions that “Local League” be defined as a separate fourth tier, and that each level be defined in terms of the leagues operating in any given year, had already been taken on board. TM asked why combination is separated from regional leagues as he regarded them as part of the same thing, but it was pointed out that the structure varied from region to region. MH suggested amending to say regional and secondary league. However the principle of the revised regulation was approved by the conference, and CD indicated that the necessary clarifications would be discussed by the commission at its next meeting.

RA had a request from the SW to clarify the rules on transfers in relation to the indoor championships. BF indicated that the indoor championships had been specifically excluded from the transfer embargo since 2005, when the U13, U16 and U19 Club Championships, then held in September, were also excluded. However in that year a later transfer deadline for these competitions had been stipulated by the Commission. No such later deadline had been put in place in 2006, when the three age category outdoor club championships had been moved to earlier in the outdoor season, or in subsequent years. This had not been an issue until this year, when transfers had been processed prior to the indoor championships. GG felt that this was an error, and it was agreed that a deadline should be set by the Commission on an annual basis. CD noted that this could not be applied retrospectively for 2009, and therefore those transfers received prior to the indoor closing date must stand.

8. Any Other Business

BF indicated that there would be a refocusing of responsibilities within the BC Events Department, and he would now be covering cross country mountain biking which complemented his existing duties towards cyclo-cross. As a result a new member of staff – to be appointed – would be taking on cycle speedway, while Phil Godfrey would assist with administrative issues during the transition period. BF was thanked for his efforts for the sport.

Tony Mann pointed out that the current BC membership form doesn’t define the status of the signatory where parental consent is required. BF to raise with membership department.

AS asked if all cycle speedway coaches could be added to the cycle speedway handbook. BF to investigate, bearing in mind that coaches have the right to withhold details from publication.

BP asked for a further supply of red and yellow to be sent to clubs.

PB stated that at National Council it was decided that decisions from Commission Meetings are to now be published on the BC website.

IB said that cycle speedway should have a press officer. CD suggested that someone should be designated to do this and the information should go through BC’s press officer – Iga Kowalska-Owen.

Concerns were expressed about the spokesman online web site by a number of delegates, and it was suggested that commission members should not publish anything on that site. DH disagreed with this and defended the website as a method of the membership airing their views . CD indicated that British Cycling would not respond to issues aired on public forums.

DH restated his views about the Commission and his opinion that members should be elected and accountable to the membership. CD explained the structure of commissions within British Cycling, in that members are appointed rather than elected in order to ensure that the best people are involved. In the case of cycle speedway, opinion and recommendations are sought from within the sport

It was announced that the Wilkinson Sword had been awarded to David Flemming.

Premier League 

CD reported on the deliberations of the Commission held during the mid session break to address the composition of the 2010 Premier League, which he had chaired. Given the unanimous view of the conference that the numbers should be restricted to eight, he had asked all the Commission members to express their views in turn, and then indicated that those aligned to clubs with an interest in the final outcome should withdraw, with the remainder forming a sub-committee to decide the matter. He announced that, with no measurable criteria in place to remove a club from the league, it had been decided that the membership of the 2010 Premier League would be unchanged. He felt that this had been a very tough decision to make, and expressed regret that the outcome had had to be made in this way.

Finally, the chairman thanked attendees for their attendance and contributions to a long meeting.

The meeting closed at approx. 5:10 pm.


- report and personal perspective by Dave Hunting -

On Sunday 22nd November the now annual Cycle Speedway Regional Conference took place at the Eaton Hotel in Edgbaston, Birmingham. With at least twenty four delegates in attendance, the individual regions were well represented, but with the South East Region having failed to have its AGM, its representatives were unaware of some of its clubs requirements for 2010 and beyond.

The meeting itself was extremely well chaired by Colin Docker, the British Cycling Board Member who has been selected by British Cycling to oversee the affairs of Cycle Speedway for the foreseeable future.

There was a very noticeable array of talented and well respected delegates seated around the table for this extremely important meeting, where forward planning was discussed in relation to British Cycling's plans in relation to future coaching techniques, including the much overdue 'Youth Academy'. An extremely good presentation by Ian Brown, ably helped by Ivan Pike, with input from Ian Grange in relation to the new 'Girls League' was very well received around the table, as was the 'Project 2010' review plus the 'Project 2015' scope  documentation by Tim Metcalf.

There were proposals put forward that the four cycle speedway regions be renamed, to avoid conflict with other cycling bodies areas. It was suggested that the South East becomes the Eastern Region, the South West becomes the Southern England and Wales Region, the North becomes the Northern England & Scotland Region, whilst the Midland Region remains the same.  None of the delegates present objected to this proposed renaming of regions.

During the Chairman's welcome, the question was raised why the present British Cycling Cycle Speedway Commission was not now voted into place by the membership itself, as was the original manner, and was this likely to change. The Chairman explained that the Commission was now a selected number of people within cycle speedway who were invited by British Cycling themselves, and that this would remain in place. It was explained to the table that this was not a democratic way, and that it gave the present Commission members a life long ticket, with no address from the membership whatsoever.  (On a personal note I feel that the present Commission members have had a very strong, fast drying and steel reinforced wall built around them by British Cycling, not dissimilar to the concrete used to build Hitler's war bunkers)!!

Although much discussion had taken place prior to the meeting regarding the Premier League, the concensus of opinion was that this was not the place to decide the outcome, this being explained to the Chairman by myself, the matter went ahead as directed in the agenda. The initial subject of how many clubs were allowed into the league was probably quite correctly dealt with by the delegation, as this would affect all clubs throughout the UK, and they should be entitled to their say on the matter. It was unanimously voted that only eight clubs be allowed into the league for 2010, but this is where it all went terribly wrong. 

Although I proposed that the subject of which eight clubs were allowed into the Premier League should be dealt with by the Commission, together with a representative from each applicant club, this was ignored by the Chairman, who decided that the matter would be dealt with later on that day. How on earth he came to this decision I will never know, with nine of the applicant clubs in attendance, and one solitary club (Stoke) with no representation whatsoever. 

If the Chairman knew that the decision was going to be made on that day, then he should have personally invited Stoke to send a member along to the meeting. The decision itself was made during the lunch break, with various members of the Commission, sandwiches in hand, wandering across to the Chairman's table to make their decision known. What a way to conduct such an important decision, a 'Mickey Mouse' way if ever there  was one. At the end of the meeting, the Chairman announced the Commission's decision, this being that all eight clubs who competed in the league in 2009 would be reinstated for 2010, with the two new applicant clubs remaining on the side line.  What a kick in the teeth for both Ipswich and Stoke, two clubs who should so rightfully be in this league. Why, one will ask?

Firstly, one of the main reasons that Stoke were removed from the Premier League was the fact that they did not have toilet facilities, and yet one of the current Premier League clubs, although promising to have these facilities in place for 2009, have still not done so, and yet are allowed to remain in the league!!
 
Secondly, two current Premier League clubs are using names of qualified coaches who have nothing whatsoever to do with the club itself, this fact being brought to the attention of the Chairman himself by yours truly. 

Thirdly, one of the current Premier League clubs finished the end of the 2009 season in great rider strength difficulty, having to track low calibre riders in a league that has been described by all as an elite league!! Therefore, if the same rules had been used as was the case when Stoke were excluded, then these same rules should have seen Stoke reinstated, together with the rightful inlcusion of Ipswich.

This will probably go down as one of the poorest decisions ever made by our governing body in the history of our sport, but I have explained the reasons why I consider this so above. 

The second glaring mistake by the Chairman was the fact that he decided to announce who the eight teams in the Premier League were going to be at the end of the meeting, Why???  He knew that this was a piece of extremely high sensitivity news, and he should have realised that this news would be conveyed to all and sundry once it had been announced. When I took my belongings to my car after the meeting had been concluded, there were at least ten of the delegates with their mobiles to their ears, obviously conveying the news to their clubs and friends. These recipients of this news would then be on their mobiles, and before long everyone in the country would know the results of the meeting. 

Wouldn't it have made sense for the Chairman himself to have telephoned Stoke prior to anyone leaving the room to let them know first hand of the Commission's decision, rather than to find out second hand. I stayed behind after the meeting having a coffee and a chat with the Chairman plus Ian Brown and Ivan Pike.  During this period all three of us cycle speedway members received various calls from our clubs requesting news of the meeting. 

Another glaring mistake was failing to invite spokesman-online to the conference, for, as was rightly observed by all those present, Rod Witham has 95% of this coverage absolutely spot on.  It's just Viewpoint that seems to upset some of our membership. I personally am all for an open discussion, but if a majority of the membership objected, then that's where democracy comes into the equation, and I would happily toe the line. Perhaps the Chairman feels threatened by Rod's supreme knowledge of our sport, perhaps he realises that he would not be able to compete at the same level, or perhaps he just feels threatened by having Rod in attendance at these meetings, but whatever the reason, it was wrong not to have spokesman-online present on Sunday.

Having said all the above, I personally think that Colin Docker chaired the meeting extremely well.  It was just some of the more technical points that let him down.  Perhaps a more competent cycle speedway administrator would have handled the meeting differently, who knows?

Other news that came out of the meeting was that Brian Furness was taking Mountain Biking under his wing, and would be stepping aside from cycle speedway, and that Dave Flemming would be taking over as the Premier League Manager for 2010.

Dave Hunting