ICSF MEETING MINUTES
International Cycle Speedway Federation
Affiliated Forum of International Cycle Speedway Nations – Founded in 1983
HOSTING THE 2011 WORLD CYCLE SPEEDWAY CHAMPIONSHIPS
BACKGROUND – (ICSF Meeting at Adelaide in 2009):
At the February 2009 ICSF Meeting in Adelaide, it was agreed that the ICSF should write to the Edenton Club, in USA, to obtain some assurances with respect to their capability for staging the 2011 World Championships. This with particular reference to concerns identified about poor communication and their unfulfilled expectations leading up to the 2009 World Championships.
The ICSF agreed that such assurances should include a draft schedule for the 2011 event with proposals on for accommodating riders and officials from Europe and Australia – The ICSF secretary was to provide assumptions for numbers involved, based on the 2009 Championships in South Australia.
Such assurances were provided, by Edenton CSC, in May 2009 (initial Draft) and confirmed in a formal document scheduling the Edenton Clubs plans for staging the 2011 Championships and for the hosting of visiting riders & official. These details were circulated to the other members of the ICSF.
AUSTRALIAN CYCLE SPEEDWAY COUNCIL OBJECTION:
The Australian Cycle Speedway Council has subsequently reaffirmed its concern about the process for nominating Edenton (i.e. during the ICSF meeting at Poole in July 2007) as the host nation for the 2011 World Championships. These Australian Council concerns were primarily based on the fact that their representatives, at that meeting, did NOT have voting rights issued by the Australian Council.
The then ICSF secretary (Pete Barnes) has confirmed that it was not clearly stated (at the time) whether the two Australian representatives had voting rights or not – although the representatives did vote on other agenda items at that meeting.
Therefore, following a proposal from the BCF (via Bob Prince) to nominate Edenton CSC as hosts for the 2011 World Championships, a vote was not specifically requested - In such that all those present were simply asked to consider the proposal and were then asked if any of the member Federations or Council’s had an objection to the nomination.
In the absence of any objections, the meeting agreed to award the 2011 World Championships to Edenton, USA.
This was acknowledged by the ICSF as an endorsement, from those present, that the member Nations were all in agreement with this decision. In effect, at the time, it was understood that Australian Council had also agreed (via representatives present) – However, it is now acknowledged that this was not the case.
Therefore, the ICSF is retrospectively prepared to acknowledge that the Australian Cycle Council would have voted their ‘objection’ to the nomination of Edenton USA and this fact will be duly recorded.
However, the ICSF (after consultation with other members) is of the view that the decision to award the 2011 World Championships to Edenton USA is still valid, based on the majority of members having no objection to the proposal.
This matter was discussed at Leicester on August 31str 2009 (during the British Individual Championships Finals) with Mick Harley and Bob Prince, who had been nominated as representatives of the BCF & ACSC to discuss the issue. The conclusion being that the 2011 World Championships will be staged in Edenton USA, as previously agreed by the ICSF Forum at Poole in July 2007.
Compiled by Dave Murphy – August 31st 2009
ICSF MEETING – FINDON, South Australia on February 25th 2009
Attendees:
Bill Rufus & Mick Harley – Australia
Bob Prince & Geoff Gamage – GB
Janusz Danek – Poland
Dave Murphy – ICSF
OFFICIAL MINUTES OF THE MEETING as taken by Dave Murphy.
1. Review of items from ICSF meeting in Rawicz 2008:
· Red & Yellow Card – The Red and Yellow cards will be applied for ICSF events in European Championships & European Club Championships only.
· Following an objection from Australian Council the card system will not be applicable for ICSF World Championships.
· Referees Assistants – Following a review of the pilot (held in Poland 2007) and in view of concerns explained by Australian Council, the provision for referee’s assistants has not been agreed for ICSF events going forward,
2. Venues for Next Championships -
WORLD:
· 2011 World Championships – USA * (ICSF to seek some assurances from Edenton CSC)
· 2013 World Championships – South Australia.
· 2015 World Championships – Great Britain
It was unanimously agreed that World Championships will continue to rotate between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere every two years.
It was also agreed that the ICSF should write to the Edenton Club, in USA, to obtain some assurances with respect to their capability for staging the 2011 World Championships, with particular reference to concerns raised about poor communication and unfulfilled expectations leading up to the 2009 World Championships.
The ICSF agreed that such assurances should include a draft schedule for the 2011 event with proposals on for accommodating riders and officials from Europe and Australia – The ICSF will provide assumptions for numbers involved, based on the 2009 Championships in South Australia.
Such correspondence will be exchanged during April/May 2009 with a request that such assurances will be provided and acknowledged by the end of May 2009.
Should such assurances not be forthcoming, the ICSF feels bound to consider the potential for re-allocating the 2011 World Championships.
EUROPEAN:
· 2010 European Championships – Poland
· 2012 European Championships – Great Britain
· 2014 European Championships – Poland
The ICSF will seek agreement from BCF and Polish Federation for GB to stage 2010 Club Championship, with the 2012 event staged in Poland - this will provide better alignment with European Championships in those years.
3. World Cup Formula:
It was unanimously agreed that the World Cup Final will revert to the Four-Team / Sixteen Heat formula (Senior & Junior)
Appropriate qualification rounds will be stage to identify the four finalists – the format for such qualification will be modified for each Championship to accommodate the number of Nations which nominate to compete.
* Appropriate qualification process will be agreed between ICSF secretary and host nation, before being published as part of the race schedule for the championships.
As per previous World Cups, should the number of nominations be less than four (e.g. three or two) then the appropriate 3 team or Test Match formula’s will be used.
It should be noted that no changes were proposed or agreed for the European Cup, which will continue as per previous format (i.e. Formula to be determined by the number of Nations nominating to compete).
4. World Club Championships – Review of first staging:
The was a discussion about the first staging of this event, in Adelaide 2009, and concerns were voiced about the impact this extra racing had on the schedules. It was also thought that the competition was devalued by weakened teams (i.e. inclusion of wives and fathers purely to make up a four-rider team).
After much consideration, it was decided that the World Club Championships would be removed from the ICSF calendar. However, it should be stressed that the European Club Championship has been successful (in comparison) and will continue to be staged.
5. ICSF Rules & Regulations:
Mick Harley has provided a set of draft Rules & Regulations which is being circulated for review and approval by all ICSF members – the agreed outcome from this review will be published as the official ICSF Rulebook.
This draft is based on BCF rulebook, with some ‘International’ modifications to accommodate differentials that exist in the governance of racing within the member countries.
Compiled by Dave Murphy – March 31st 2009
ICSF MEETING – RAWICZ, Poland - 26 July 2008
Editor's Note - Apologies for the inconsistent formating of the following text - which I cannot adjust for some unknown reason.
Attendees: Dave Murphy - ICSF General Secretary, Mike Hack & Geoff Gamage - BCF, Darek Wychodil & Janusz Danek - Polish Federation plus Tomasz Wlodarczyk (co-opted translator)
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Transfer blockade before World Club Championship in Australia (ref World Club Championships).
The BCF has proposed a block on all transfers before March 1st 2009, to prevent riders transferring to new team (just for World Club event) and then transferring back to original team.
The Polish Federation governs transfers as follows: Riders sign a contract with a club at beginning of each year and these contracts have a minimum duration of 12 months - no rider can transfer or sign a contract with a different Polish club during the period of such a contract.
ICSF Decision: It was accepted that both methods are adequate controls to ensure that riders do not transfer between clubs for the World Club event and then revert to original club for domestic league racing.
2. Over 40 or over 39 age classification for World Veterans Individual - (this has never previously been written into ICSF rules)
· BCF rules allow riders to compete while still 39 (i.e. during year of 40th birthday).
· The Polish Federation were happy to adopt the BCF age qualification rules for ICSF World Veterans Championship.
· The Australian Council have voted that riders should have reached 40th birthday before January 1st for the year of competition (i.e. over 40)
ICSF Decision: To seek input from the USA representative before confirmation on this ruling.
3. Eligibility of riders for World & Euro club events - i.e. currently riders must compete for the club of the own nationality (so Polish rider in England cannot compete for an English club).
Dave Murphy offered following proposal:
· If a rider is registered with one club only (in any country affiliated to the ICSF), then he/she will be eligible to race for that club in Euro & World Club events.
· However, if such a rider is registered with two clubs in two different countries, then he/she can only compete for the club of their home nationality in Euro & World club championships.
Eg:
· If Lukasz Nowacki is registered for Leicester only - he may represent Leicester in Euro club championship.
· If Lukasz Nowacki is registered for Leicester & Bydgoszcz then he will only be eligible to represent Bydgoszcz.
· Note: This would not impact the riders eligibility to represent his country of birth International Team or Individual Championships
ICSF Decision: This proposal was accepted in respect to eligibility for European Club Championships. It was accepted that Australian Council agreement is required for this rule to apply for World Club Championships also. Dave Murphy will contact Australian Council and request their acceptance of this proposal.
It was also agreed that the Polish Federation and BCF will exchange details of any non-nationals who register with a club under their governance - (i.e. Poland will advise BCF (and ICSF) of all British riders who register with Polish clubs and BCF will advise Poland (and ICSF) of all Polish riders registered with British clubs). This process will allow each federation and the ICSF to monitor eligibility for International club events.
4. On behalf of Australian Council, the ICSF asked for clarification from Euro Federations of:
· How many riders will be travelling to Adelaide (i.e. those known to federation) ?
· How many clubs will enter the World Club Championship?
· How many Nations will compete in World Cup?
ICSF Decision: It was stated that BCF has a closing date of Sept 29th for riders and clubs to submit their intention. The Polish Federation agreed to implement the same closing date for clubs and riders, allowing the Australian Council adequate time to assess the numbers and organise 2009 events.
Additional Discussion: It was suggested, by Polish Federation, that the World Club Championships in Australia should be modified to 3 man teams (i.e. pairs racing with a reserve). It was agreed that this option should be shelved, but could be revisited if all ICSF nations vote (unanimously) to review the matter in the event of insufficient number of 4-man team entries.
5. Red/Yellow Cards:
The BCF proposed that the Red/Yellow Card disciplinary process (current implemented under BCF rules) should be adopted by the ICSF.
ICSF Decision:
· It was agreed with the Polish Federation that this process will be accepted for European ICSF events.
· It was agreed that the British Pound (or current exchange rate to local currency at time of event) would apply to fines based on the following:
Red Card = £20 fine (inclusive of match ban)
Yellow Card = £10 fine (2 yellow cards in the same meeting would also carry a match ban)
· It was agreed that this proposal should be offered to the Australian Council and USA representation with a request that Red/Yellow cards are adopted for World ICSF events also.
6. Referees assistants (i.e. corner referees with flag to assist referee)
It was noted that both Polish Federation and the BCF thought that this was a good idea for ICSF Individual and team finals, but that good ideas can only work if all those involved want to make them work. The Australian Council have clearly identified that they do not support the inclusion of such Referees assistants and that this approach would not be welcome at the 2009 World Championships.
ICSF Decision: It should be for the designated referee at any ICSF Team or Individual final to request that he/she is supported by two Referees assistants (i.e. corner flag assistants). Then providing that two internationally approved referees are available and willing to cooperate, the referee may utilise this facility.
7. Polish request for BCF to provide reference to Polish Cycling Federation
The Polish Federation made a request for BCF to provide a reference to Polish Cycling Federation to confirm it's recognition of cycle speedway in Great Britain. This was because Polish Cycling does not currently recognise cycle speedway and the Polish Federation wanted to explore possibilities of affiliation. Mike Hack agreed to take this request back to the BCF on behalf of the ICSF.
These Minutes Recorded and provided by Dave Murphy on behalf of the ICSF.
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