INTERNATIONAL CYCLE SPEEDWAY FEDERATION NEWS

NEW ZEALAND TO HOST 2017 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS – posted 9 December 2013

New Zealand will host the 2017 cycle speedway World championships.

The surprise announcement follows a meeting of the International Cycle Speedway Federation (ICSF) held recently in Adelaide.  However the international governing body will seek reassurances that the country is capable of staging the sport’s blue riband event before finalising the appointment.

Confirming the position, ICSF secretary Dave Murphy told Spokesman

“It was agreed that New Zealand should be required to stage an international event at Auckland during February 2016 to which all ICSF members will be invited to send participants and/or officials. This event will ascertain the suitability of New Zealand to meet the minimum ICSF requirements for staging the 2017 World Championships.  South Australia will remain the alternative host for staging the 2017 championships, should New Zealand be deemed unsuitable” said the ICSF secretary.

The International Cycle Speedway Federation has also announced dates for its principal championships from 2014 through to 2019.

It has been confirmed that the 2014 European Championships will take place in Poland on 15/16/17 August 2014 at Bydgoszcz, Torun and Maksymilianow.  As recently designated by the British Cycling Commission, Exeter will stage the 2014 Euro Club Championships, which will take place on 3/4/5 May 2014.

The following dates were recently confirmed at the 2013 meeting of ICSF delegates held in South Australia:

World Championships 2015-2019

2015 (July/August) - Great Britain

Venues to be decided and confirmed by British Cycling.

2017 (November/December) - New Zealand

Providing facilities meet ICSF minimum requirements by 2016.

2019 (July/August) - Poland

Venues to be decided and confirmed by Polish Federation.

European Championships 2014-2018

2014 Euro Champs – Poland

          Euro Club – Great Britain

2016 Euro Champs – Great Britain

          Euro Club – Poland

2018 Euro Champs – Poland

          Euro Club – Great Britain 

ICSF DISCUSS REFEREES – posted 9 December 2013

One major talking point at the recent ICSF meeting surrounded the process for selection of referees for ICSF events. Current international regulations stipulate that the host nation has responsibility for selecting from a panel of available referees submitted by member countries.

Significant discussion and debate followed a proposal from the British representatives that the process needs to be reviewed and improved with an emphasis on more ICSF control. There was a strong response from the Australian Council supporting a view that host nations should retain their responsibility for selecting referees for ICSF championships.

However, there was understanding that the ICSF should look at options for introducing more transparency into the process for identifying an International Referees Panel.  The subject is due for further debate at the next ICSF meeting, scheduled for January 2014.

WILD CARDS REMOVED – posted 9 December 2013

The ICSF has decided to withdraw the facility for nations to seed riders direct to the semi-finals of World and European individual championships.

It was agreed that wild cards are no longer necessary to help with promoting championships (eg such as when England riders were dominating World events, which often resembled a British final line-up, until the process for seeding of a rider from each nation direct to the final was introduced).

ICSF spokesman Dave Murphy stated that "We now need to ensure that the very best riders have every opportunity to qualify for the latter stages of European and World Championships."

However, he added "Should we want to promote championships in a new country, and feel that the inclusion of a local rider would benefit the promotional aspect of the event, then it is feasible that this facility could be re-introduced to include such a rider."

NEW LOOK ICSF WELCOME ADDITION – posted 6 December 2013

ICSF General Secretary Dave Murphy has welcomed the addition of Mick Harley and Pawel Cegielski as permanent members of the ICSF committee.

Murphy told Spokesman "Mick Harley was the original ICSF secretary, and a founder member along with Pete Barnes, so his experience and close links with Bryan Scott in Auckland will make his contribution as International Development Officer vital in helping New Zealand progress towards participation in International competition over the next two years."

"I'm also very pleased to welcome Pawel Cegielski into the committee" Murphy added.  "Pawel is someone who I can work well with and it was the Torun based rider who was most cooperative in helping me coordinate the 2013 GB v Poland series". Cegielski will be responsible for maintaining ICSF rules and regulations, which have proven to be an evolving mechanism with the interpretation of many racing rules still varying between continents and nations across the cycle speedway world" added Murphy.

Following the World championship in South Australia a number of matters have arisen that will require review. "These may result in changes to how referees are allocated for ICSF events and influence the instructions that will apply to international referees in future" Murphy informed Spokesman.

On a final note, with Mick Harley moving into his new role, an opportunity has beencreated for Brad Hoppo from the Salisbury club in South Australia.  Brad who has experienced cycle speedway life in both Australia and Europe (when he raced for Poole), has been announced as the new Australian international representative and he will carry the Australian Council vote at ICSF meetings.

NEW ICSF COMMITTEE FORMED – posted 6 December 2013

The International Cycle Speedway Federation (ICSF) conducted its 2013 meeting in South Australia during November.  The key outcome was the creation of a new ICSF working committee, which will be supplemented by representatives from the governing body of each member country.

In the absence of any volunteers since he declared his intention to resign 12 months ago, Dave Murphy has now agreed to continue as General Secretary, within this new structure which should provide the organisation with an accountable working group, something that Murphy believed to be necessary to facilitate and manage the ICSF business more efficiently.

The ICSF statement announcing the changes stated:

 The ICSF will be managed via a forum of three invited officers (to serve for a minimum two year period) and these will be supplemented by nominated delegates from each member nation.  The following officers were proposed and elected to undertake specified responsibilities:

Dave Murphy - General Secretary
Responsible for administration and communications relating to ICSF business and competitions. The General Secretary will act as Chairman for ICSF meetings.

Pawel Cegielski - Rules and Regulations Officer
Responsible for maintaining the ICSF rules and regulations, in collaboration with ICSF members.

Mick Harley - International Development Officer
Responsible for the development of International cycle speedway (eg in guiding/encouraging new member nations to meet international standards for facilities and participation).

These elected individuals will have individual voting rights at ICSF meetings  but will not represent the National Federations or Councils from the country of their residency or registration.  Each ICSF member (ie the recognised governing body from each member nation) shall also be represented at ICSF meetings by a nominated representative who will carry the vote of that nation.

Spokesman will be publishing details of the key decisions made at the ICSF meeting during the next few days.