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REGIONAL NEWS
MIDLAND NOTES posted 12 February 2014
Midland clubs have received the traditional pre-season newsletter issued by regional secretary Brian Buck. The circular contains a wealth of information including details of the 2014 regional league structure, points system and fixtures update. The principal points of interest are:
League Structure Birmingham, Coventry, East Park, Leicester, Wednesfield Aces and Wednesfield Dragons will comprise the 2014 league's First Division. Wednesfield will however, track only one team in Division Two but Leicester hope to continue to enter two teams at this level and will make a firm decision on whether or not to persue with this plan, within the next few days.
Birmingham, Bretford, East Park, Leicester and Wednesfield will compete in the Third Division in which fixtures will continue to be on an ad-hoc basis as in previous years although it is planned to have as many fixtures as possible printed in the British Cycling Handbook.
Penalty Points System The penalty points system relating to the use of riders in both first and second division matches will continue as before, with riders under-16 being exempt from conceding penalty points provided that their names are recorded on the scorechart as being under-16. Penalty points will be applied in every instance that this is not done and no appeal against this will be allowed.
Bonus Points System The awarding of a bonus point for clubs tracking totally separate teams in both first and second division matches will continue as before but in continuation of last season's arrangement, and as a concession to Wednesfield entering two teams in Division One, the two Wednesfield teams will be permitted the use of a maximum of two second teamers in both first and second teams and still receive a bonus point conditional on the riders concerned both being under-16.
Guest Riders Birmingham were given a dispensation at the AGM to use two named guest riders in certain circumstances. If the Birmingham club still wish to take up this option they need to advise the committee of the names of the riders they have in mind as soon as possible.
League Entry Fee Midland League entry fee for the 2014 season will be £50 per club. (Bretford as associate members, will pay a nominal fee of £10. Payment of these fees will be required by the last day of April 2014 which date will allow those clubs who wish, to pay in instalments.
Fixtures The issue of a full fixture list has been delayed through the revision of the Elite League fixture around which these have to be compiled, but these are in the process of preparation and will be supplied to all clubs as soon as possible.
Changes to fixtures will be allowed conditional on the two clubs concerned agreeing an alternative date and advising the league recorder accordingly before the original date of the of the match concerned. Where no such agreement between the clubs is forthcoming, the original date for the fixture must stand. Clubs will not be allowed to postpone fixtures without an alternative date being agreed. (ie to be re-arranged later in the season will not be acceptable.
Midland Riders Championship The committee are aware of the lack of interest shown in this competition during the past few seasons and is endeavouring to restore some of its lost prestige by rescheduling the staging date to mid-season and having details of the championships and the staging date printed in the British Cycling Handbook, and urges all clubs to co-operate in helping make this become a major event again by giving the competition their full support.
Indoor Championships Following the success of the last Indoor Championships staged in Coventry, the committee are keen to stage this event again at the end of the forthcoming season and have accordingly submitted a formal application to British Cycling to do so, although if the application is successful, the Championships will be run in January 2015 and not in the traditional month of November since the venue in Coventry will not be available to us until the later date.
If this event is to be successfully presented, a number of volunteers will be needed to help promote it and in particular, a Project Manager and a PRO/Sponsorship Officer and clubs with personnel willing to undertake these and other administrative posts should contact the General Secretary for more information.
A swift change of dates by the South and South Wales region saw their pre-season planning meeting at Harbourside brought forward to coincide with the visit of newly appointed Commission chairman Graham Elliott to Poole on Sunday, where he was attending the British Cycling referees seminar.
Having sampled a similar gathering in the East region just seven days previously, Graham has refreshingly set out his stall to cover as much ground as possible in order to equip himself with the necessary knowledge of the sport to carry out his new role. This could be seen as above and beyond the job description but it is especially welcomed at this difficult time.
Graham will have been well aware that the CS Chair position is regarded as something of a poison chalice within the British Cycling organisation but surely he would not have expected mayhem to break out within days of his appointment following the storm of protest following recent decisions emanating from Manchester!
All the more creditable that he was prepared to face a two hour Q&A session just a week ahead of a potential breakaway. There were some searching questions and robust feedback on the performance of the "Manchester-centric" Commission from clubs disaffected by a number of recent decisions.
While delegates had mixed views on the impact from the recent hike in charges, they were unanimously alarmed by the way the decision was transacted.
Graham Elliott gained the respect of the meeting for his honest responses and his stated objective to devote his efforts to repair the rift and steer the sport away from its perceived terminal decline.
The general consensus was that he should be given the time and opportunity to do this but he was left in no doubt that unless the style and nature of cycle speedway governance was fundamentally improved, the breakaway movement would win the support of the South West.
Next weekend sees the meeting at Leicester called by Tim Jarvis, followed by the CS Commission meeting in a fortnight and a meeting British Cycling board meeting on February 12th which Graham Elliott attends as a non-executive Director. Developments at those three events will clearly have a profound affect on the future of cycle speedway.
At the close of the Q&A session, the SSW region asked chairman Dave Murphy to request that Graham Elliott be invited to the "breakaway" meeting at Leicester to give clubs in the Midlands and North the same opportunity that they and South East colleagues had been given.
Treasurer Mel Perkins reported a healthy operating profit of over £500 on the season, mainly as a result of the highly successful and lucrative South East Grand Prix series which was well supported by riders.
Development officer Jamie Goldsmith was equally buoyant reporting that several clubs had promoted Go-Ride or Try It events during the year. As a result many new youngsters have been introduced to cycle speedway for the first time.
There was further good news - a revival in Essex and new interest in Cambridgeshire. With assistance from Essex Roads cycling club, former rider Nigel Hoggart is hoping to re-introduce the sport in Great Wakering. There is also optimism that the sport could be launched in Royston following interest from a speedway enthusiast who had seen cycle speedway on YouTube.
Norfolk devotee Shaun Dyball, who lives in Spixworth, is helping veteran administrator Roy Chapman to relaunch the sport in the Norfolk village. However there is a real urgency to use the Crostwick Lane track because local development could threaten the future of the dormant circuit.
Its a similar story at Somersham where the village committee is keen to see the sport revived. It is hoped that squabbles over keyholder responsibilities can be quickly resolved, allowing personnel from the Ipswich club to take over the playing field facility.
Newly elected Commission chairman Graham Elliott attended the meeting. Unsurprisingly, several clubs voiced their concerns at the recently introduced rider levy. Despite protestations from Hethersetts John Nelson who thought the £1.50 would stifle recruitment, there seemed a begrudging acceptance that the levy was unavoidable. Norwich official Gary Colby outlined the difficulties this would cause clubs as many 2014 events had already been planned and budgeted. He suggested that the levy should be postponed for 12 months to allow clubs time to plan for its introduction.
There was universal agreement that the process had been badly handled with little or no consultation. Even senior Commissioners were not aware of the levy.
Deftly fielding the questions but clearly empathising with many of the sentiments expressed, Graham Elliott has already raised the matter with senior officials at British Cycling headquarters in Manchester and hopes to have an answer to his questions in time for the next Commission meeting on Saturday 1 February.
On the racing front a new exciting race formula, devised by Gary Brown, will be introduced next season. It will be primarily a six-rider team format with three optional reserves raced over 18 heats. The first half with follow the traditional fixed pairs configuration but the pairs will be mixed up in the last nine heats, giving more variety to the racing. With each rider having six scheduled riders, it is hoped clubs will fully utilise substitutes, allowing the maximum number of competitors to race.
A new competition looks like being launched in the Midlands ahead of the 2014 season.
As well as the normal eight plus six structure, the new season will see the region running a new competition which will operate in a similar way to the very successful BYJL.
The new competition will be open to all age and gender categories and operate on a turn-up-and-ride basis explained a Midland official. This will enable new and former riders to participate in the sport without having to commit to the pressure on time and expense that the normal racing calendar causes.
The new competition also gives the league the opportunity to help develop new clubs and offer clubs like Stoke the chance to stage a meeting or two to try to revive cycle speedway in the Potteries.
The South East annual general meeting takes place at Great Blakenham village hall on Sunday 12 January at 11am, followed by the equivalent East Anglian and Norfolk County meetings.
The lengthy agenda covers 17 items including traditional year-end reports and election of officers. Competition planning, finance and internal secondary registrations will also be on the agenda.
Newly elected British Cycling Board member Cycle Speedway Commission chairman Graham Elliott is expected to attend the meeting and, no doubt, will be asked to explain British Cyclings recent hike in entry fees and insurance levies. After over three hours of passionate and at times animated discussion at the South-East Conference held at Great Blakenham on Sunday, the six clubs present came up with some radical plans to change the structure of racing in the Region in 2014.
Much emphasis from the delegates was on ensuring stability of existing clubs and tracks, running competitions where teams are more evenly matched, providing more team competitions and, most importantly, encourage the development of the younger riders.
League racing will be on a three-tier basis with the present division (which allows a mix of A and B teams) scrapped and the under-16 youth division, which as a separate entity was abandoned after one match in 2013, now added to the same day's racing as the other divisions.
South-East Division One will see a number of changes - * The race formula will be six-a-side over 18 heats * Any number of substitutes can be used having a maximum of three rides each per match * A list of restricted riders has been compiled. This list has 39 riders past and present on it - any rider who averaged three pts or more a race in their best season over the period of 2009-2013 * Teams can only use a maximum of three riders from the list in any match without penalty. Use of additional restricted riders will carry a 15-point penalty each
South-East Combination Division has been reintroduced - * Will be optional for B teams of all division one clubs only * The race formula will be six-a-side 13-heat as the default formula * Any number of substitutes can be used having a maximum of three rides each per match * If both teams list a minimum of eight riders each then the formula will automatically change to six-a-side 16 heats * At any match teams can mutually agree to increase the formula to 16-heats or 18-heats * No riders on the restricted riders list can race in this division * Matches will always follow division one matches and any points riders score in the division one match (excluding bonus points) will act as a penalty in the Combination division match
The South-East Youth Division (Under-16) has also changed - * All clubs have the option of entering a team * All matches will take place on the same day as the corresponding division one and Combination division matches (not necessarily after - could be before if mutually agreed) * The race formula will be six-a-side 13-heat as the default formula * Any number of substitutes can be used having a maximum of three rides each per match * At any match teams can mutually agree to increase the formula to 16-heats or 18-heats
All six clubs present gave verbal indication that they would support Division one with Ipswich already indicating they will enter two teams (hopefully one of them based at Somersham). All teams are expected to enter the Combination division and hopefully all (except East London) supporting the youth division. All commitments have to be made by December 31st.
The conference centred mainly on the racing structure but also looked at how to make best use of Colchester, Eaton Park, Somersham and Spixworth to keep the tracks alive and develop future teams at these venues. Recruitment and retention methods need to shared and developed, not only at these venues but also at East London.
The clubs gave regional officer Terry Ashford a clear mandate to express at the next Commission meeting the region's disappointment that the introduction of an Elite League licence and the ending of the secondary licence (except for internal regional development) were not now going ahead.
With the British indoor championships being held on 5th January, the regional, East Anglian and county AGMs have now been moved to Sunday 12th January.
The Midland League will have a new look committee next season following a plea by its outgoing chairman Paul Bodley for more people to come forward to share the workload.
Experienced administrator Bob Prince takes over the chairmans role where he will be joined by Mick Aris (vice-chairman) and Steve Mullinder (treasurer) while Mark Winwood and Brian Buck will both continue in their roles as fixtures compiler and secretary/recorder respectively, giving the region some much needed stability.
The modernised committee was one of the main outcomes as Midland clubs gathered at the Wednesfield clubhouse on Sunday for the regions annual general meeting.
Making his final address before standing down as the regions chairman, Paul Bodley thanked the outgoing committee together with Tim Jarvis, the region's British Cycling representative, for the work they had undertaken during the year. He congratulated the Midland clubs and riders on their on-track achievements and had a special word of praise for the Coventry club for their superb presentation of the British Finals.
He regretted the lack of interest shown in the Midland Riders' Championships and agreed with the comments made from the floor that the event need to be staged in mid-season rather than at the tail end of the campaign, and needed to be better publicised if it is to regain its former prominence.
After providing the meeting with an outline of the problems which resulted in Stoke's resignation from the league, Bodley welcomed the latest initiative to resurrect the Stoke club. In closing his address Paul Bodley confirmed his intention to resign as chairman and said that he would not be standing for any alternative committee position.
In his annual report, regional secretary Brian Buck made the point that clubs needed to co-operate better with each other and with the committee if the slide in standards so evident last season, was to be reversed, and cited a number of instances of failure to reply to correspondence and the failure to promptly submit scorecharts and feedback forms.
Combining the positions of chairman with that of treasurer, Paul Bodley provided a financial report which, once outstanding bills had been paid, forecast a balance of £375. The treasurer reminded the meeting that in recent seasons, the league had been able to give financial assistance to several clubs, but with the reduction in funds this was no longer possible and he recommended that the £30 league affiliation fee should be increased to £50.
Prior to the election of a new committee, Coventry asked if it would be possible to have a committee comprising one representative from each club. This was seen as a good idea in principle, but the practicalities of persuading people to allow their names to be presented as potential members would probably be the stumbling block, at least for the time being.
Ross Mees accepted the position of junior co-ordinator in succession to Bernie Kemp who had held this post for the last seven years, and who confirmed that she would be available to assist her successor whenever help was needed.
Paul Bodley was thanked for his long service to the league before vacating the chair with the meeting continuing with Mick Aris as acting chairman.
Coventry and Wednesfield outlined the plans for the national indoor championships to be held on 4th and 5th January and stressed the need for the other Midland clubs to give their full support and assistance especially in the provision of officials since the event would be featuring nine meetings on each day. Volunteers from all clubs would be crucial if the week-end was to be the success everyone wanted.
Bob Prince's suggestion that the league introduce a British Youth and Junior League type competition to its calendar was universally supported as was the desire to raise the profile of the Midland Riders' Championships.
Tony Mullinder raised the subject of Coventry's use of a limited number of guest riders and whether this dispensation was to continue. It was agreed by all parties including Coventry, that this arrangement had now served its intended purpose and should be discontinued from the start of next season.
Birmingham informed the meeting that they were likely to be without the services of Nathan Groves, Scott Millward, Mark Winwood and Chris Timms on numerous occasions next season and suggested that they be allowed a similar dispensation to that previously granted to Coventry inasmuch as they be allowed to replace any of these riders with a guest on instances than any of them were not available.
It was agreed that this would be allowed for the first three named riders but not for Chris Timms who it was expected would be serving a disciplinary ban. The arrangement would be that guests would be permitted on a one-for-one basis (ie one rider absent one guest allowed, two riders absent two guests allowed etc.) and that the guests would come from three riders who would be named in advance of the start of the season and whose names would have been circulated to the other clubs.
Birmingham agreed to approach a few potential guest riders and supply the league with the names of the three they finally decided upon.
It was agreed that Mark Winwood would be asked to reserve dates for both of these events when drawing up the 2014 fixture list and that these dates should be included in the British Cycling handbook.
Coventry raised the possibility of the two Wednesfield teams racing on separate days in order to create a more meaningful programme and help alleviate some of the gaps in the fixture list, but although everyone agreed that this was desirable, the logistics of Wednesfield having two teams racing at different venues on the same day, made this an unviable proposition.
Bretford were urged to consider re-joining the league proper or at least division two but Bernie Kemp stated that Bretford's older or more experienced riders were looking to join other clubs and that there was a distinct lack of commitment from many of the younger members which made this a problem, but that the club would continue as third division members with assistance from Coventry who were prepared to help with coaching without wishing to take over the Bretford operation.
Coventry, Leicester, Birmingham and Wednesfield also confirmed their intention to compete at third division level and it was planned that division three fixtures should also appear in the handbook.
The confusion over British Cycling's proposed new Elite League licence was debated, regional officer Tim Jarvis explaining the background behind the uncertainty over its introduction. |
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