THE BIG ISSUE
Should cycle speedway break away from British Cycling and form its own governing body - or would it be a retrograde step?
Please let us have your views on the biggest issue facing the sport since its merger with British Cycling in 2000.
DIALOGUE WITH BC MUST BE THE FIRST STEP posted 27 January 2014
How refreshing to see the sport is seeking discussions with British Cycling following Saturday's meeting in Leicester. I waited all of Saturday, with anticipation and hope, for Spokesman to post the news of the day.
In my mind I knew the pedigree of some of those around the table and was certain that things would progress in an orderly fashion. Today when I saw the comments posted by Graham Sutton, I was now more certain that the right decision had been made. I have always thought that dialogue with British Cycling was the first step and if the Commission members are fearful of their positions being placed in jeopardy, there are many others both able and willing to get into this discussion.
As stated before, the VCSRA have asked me to offer every assistance I can mainly because the other committee members come from the earliest day of the sport and fear that they have little to offer the current membership.
If British Cycling have removed Spokesman from the mailing list then I am truly sad because, from the very early days, Spokesman was the jewel in the crown and should have been financed by British Cycling when they assumed control of the sport and not, as it appears, thrown to the dogs.
I had first hand experience of the dedication, enthusiasm and total commitment that Spokesman's editor has, when he sat on the executive committee of the Cycle Speedway Council and I am sure that all the other readers appreciate this fact. When I resigned as Chairman of the Cycle Speedway Council I was made a life member of British Cycling and, although I offered to cover the costs, I was unable to receive any information about the current happenings within the sport, except I received the fixture booklet containing all racing disciplines twice a year.
As secretary of the VCSRA, I now receive everything the clubs receive from British Cycling but perhaps I will be removed if I ally myself closer to Spokesman and its editorial comments.
I wait with anticipation to see how matters progress and if things will be left with Graham Elliot to resolve, or if a select group of people might be brought together to engage in dialogue with British Cycling before the new season begins and before too many youngsters are forced to leave cycle speedway.
I feel that British Cycling decision makers need a history lesson on why this very small sport has survived for so long during some very changing and difficult times.
Bill Gill
VCSRA
OPTIMISM STILL REQUIRED posted 27 January 2014
Like many who attended Saturdays "Big Issue" meeting in Leicester, I returned to Poole with much less of a feeling of impending homelessness as far as future cycle speedway governance is concerned.
The uncertainties of recent weeks have had a depressing effect across the sport but although there is much challenging work to do, the significant club representation from across all four regions was able to reach a clear concensus of where we go from here.
Whilst a degree of optimism may still be required, it is not unreasonable to expect some interim protection for our most valuable younger riding talent whilst accepting the general principle of match and rider levies. The sudden arrival of these without notice or consultation requires an explanation especially, as John Burston points out, we clearly dont have the same level of understanding of the rule technicalities as our paid professionals.
Acceptance of a discussion forum with representatives drawn from the sport to address the relationship issues with BC makes complete sense in the current climate. It would be unfair to expect our present Commissioners to drive this debate as their very appointments place them in a compromising position.
Alongside the "future forum", we now have a Chairman who has a good understanding of our sport and a strong desire to repair the damage. Without wishing to rub salt into any wounds, this is where things have fallen away in the past.
The unanimous support by clubs for a negotiated solution was reassuring. But equally reassuring was the credibility of the "Plan B" alternative and the strong backing it would receive if things do not go the way the sport clearly desires.
In closing, and without wishing to cause embarrassment, how lucky are we to have the services of Spokesman-Online to keep everyone in touch with these important developments. The editorial coverage has been timely, informative and objective.
Lets hope that the spotlight can soon revert to the racing, which is why we are really "in it"!
Graham Sutton
STORM CLOUDS GATHERING posted 24 January 2014
As the storm clouds seem to be gathering and the potential for a breakaway increases due to there being no response from British Cycling to counter it, I must get a few last words out, whether or not I make it down to Leicester myself.
Forget about the lack of interest in, the lack of support for, the lack of
enthusiasm for and the lack of knowledge of British Cycling about cycle speedway. This has all come to a head now over simple Pounds Sterling.
To those within our ranks who suggest that we don't pay enough in comparison to other activities, I'd give the following example to counter their argument. You can enter and run a Citroen 2CV in their racing car club events for £350 plus a racing licence. You need a few million quid to do the same in Formula 1 but both operations fall under the jurisdiction of the very same FIA.
2CV racing does not subsidise or prop up Formula1 and is
treated by the overall governing body as a unique entity with its own needs and well recognised as one of the cheapest forms of motorsport. Sound familiar?
Cycle speedway, even if solely because of its very low comparative racing membership, should be a million miles cheaper than competing in the major, BC-favoured majority forms of cycle racing and I just can't find myself ever agreeing that we get our sport too cheaply as some of "us" are suggesting.
It should be what it always was - the cheapest form of bike racing. Surely that's one of the attractions of CS? If it wasn't for the Old Fogies
building bikes from scrap and paying nothing to race in the Good Old Days there would be no New Fogies to race now.
For those in the lower third or maybe half of the UK geographically with reasonably healthy and fairly localised competition, just try to imagine cycle speedway from an Edinburgh Falcons point of view, and read what's already been written about the real financial threat to them here on Spokesman.
If that sounds like I'm a confirmed opponent of cycle speedway and British Cycling remaining joined at the hip, I apologise because I'm not. But, as has been repeated many times now by others, what happens without them? Yes, something must be done about the increased costs, maybe by the Elite League paying a bit more than their lowly colleagues for example? And something must be done about BC's lack of knowledge of CS, for instance by someone pointing out the problems to BC but in the right atmosphere.
It already looks like the method of collecting the levy forms and cash has been eased somewhat, so if they've had second thoughts about that. After all the adverse publicity there must be room for some more manoeuvring, surely?
Just for your thoughts, a geography lesson! It's about 245 miles from the sport's newest track in Fife to Manchester and 260 from Poole to Manchester, so there shouldnt be a feeling that even BC itself is "too far north". Too far out, yes. Too far gone? I hope not.
Having just read Ross Mee's interview with Spokesman, isn't there a
possibility that the favourable insurance quotes Ross and Tim Jarvis have obtained could be demonstrated to British Cycling as an alternative to the current one? I'm pretty sure (fingers crossed) that red tape rules in BC like most other such large organisations and they won't be in the business of chasing the best deal, more likely going straight to the nearest Government Minister or MP's closet insurance company, or at least one they have a chairmanship or similar position in.
It will be very interesting to see how those in cycle speedway (outside of
British Cycling) with the sport's best interests at heart treat the future of its three newest clubs on Saturday, all being well north of BC's headquarters and historically, maybe in the some of the poorest areas of the UK?
Sorry if there are mixed messages here but I honestly have no idea what would be best for my club, my region or the whole sport. I am quite worried about Saturday's meeting and beyond.
Terry Kirkup
AVOID QUICK DECISIONS posted 24 January 2014
Having read the interview with Ross Mee, I appreciate why the meeting is being called in Leicester but hope the club officials tread carefully and avoid quick decisions.
I would have thought the first approach was using the offices of the newly appointed chairman to seek a full discussion with the policy makers at British Cycling and then if no progress is made look to consider going it alone.
Ross is unquestionably a good accountant and keen to see the sport
go forward but do not over simplify the administration requirements of the sport. I realise there are less clubs now to organise than when I was
starting out but I remember the demands when the Cycle Speedway Council was formed and how complex it evolved when it was taken into Central Office.
The sport always needed strong administration and throughout its history attracted some of the best brains around, people who were both
knowledgeable and enthusiastic . Perhaps that is what is lacking in
British Cycling.
The Veteran Cycle Speedway Riders Association still offers any help it can to further necessary discussions with British Cycling, if the current club membership desires, as like everyone else involved in cycle speedway they wish it to survive. I realise that there are still plenty of experienced, wise people involved in the current membership and I am sure the right decision will be reached.
I am amused at the heading 'Big Issue' as it reminds me of the unemployed street vendors seen in all our towns . Be careful cycle speedway doesn't join them!
Bill Gill
Secretary
VCSRA
SPLIT COULD BE SO DAMAGING - posted 21 January 2014
Can I ask that the members who go to the meeting on Saturday do not allow the sport to be split into two because I remember how disrupted the sport in the Seventies and Eighties with the different associations and the BCF.
We are much smaller now and a split would kill the sport for good, so please, please, I ask everyone who is going look at the whole picture, it should not be just about the rider levy.
I wish we could change the way British Cycling works and thinks about cycle speedway but I think it has gone too far. Would BC care if they lost us? I think the answer is no. We are a small fish in a big pond.
I hope the meeting goes well and I wish cycle speedway all the best for the future.
David Flemming
INDEPENDENT AUSTRALIA posted 19 January 2014
We run things just fine over here without being managed by somebody who knows or cares little for our sport. We run age group racing on a Sunday and let the team managers sort out the team racing for themselves, you don't need interference to operate, just co-operation from members and parents.
We are not affiliated or a member of any other organisation. We are totally independent and have no interest in affiliating with anyone. We do not like being told how to run our sport. If I was a member of a club over there I would rather leave the sport than put up with the rubbish that British Cycling throw out.
I see that people have concerns about insurance costs if you're outside of BC. No idea why! We pay A$597 a year to cover public liability, and that even covers our fire jump!
Mick Harley
Australia
EVERYONE WHO CARES SHOULD ATTEND MEETING
posted 17 January 2014
The recent developments as listed in these pages make for sombre reading to all those that have the best interests of cycle speedway to heart. It seems the tide of resentment, mistrust and outright hostility towards British Cycling, as we have all seen increasingly around the tracks in the past year, has reached a crescendo.
This is all very sad that it has come to this. Its been reported by very respected officials that already over 50% of clubs would wish to go it alone. I am told, in one key region, every single club are heavily learning towards a breakaway.
This is a critical time in our history. Why is it the case that a body so expert in producing Olympic champions and doing so much good work in other disciplines of cycling, with millions of pounds at its disposal, cannot bring itself to use its obvious expertise to advantage cycle speedway in the way that the sport wishes?
Tim Jarvis and Ross Mee are to be congratulated in bringing about a national platform next Saturday to discuss these issues. I would suggest everyone should attend that cares for our wonderful sport. However, I say now, that a breakaway option should be plan `B` and the least preferred option.
This is a time for thoughtful thinking and cool heads. In my view, plan `A` should be to use Saturday`s meeting as a forum to solicit the most widespread support, with a view to our leaders going back to British Cycling and sitting down in a proper manner to consider all the (very) many issues that have brought about such disharmony and rancour.
Let us hope all this is done in an agreeable fashion, with tolerance to everyone`s views. Let us also hope that Tim and Ross, the Leicester club and all those who are attending Saturday`s meeting can so freely assemble, without any fear or concern for their future sporting participation in their lawful associations in our free country.
Joe McLaughlin
GO IT ALONE! posted 17 January 2013
So pleased to see that Tim Jarvis is organising a meeting to discuss the future of cycle speedway.
The one important fact to consider is that cycling is now more popular than ever, perhaps more so than in the 60's so our membership should be booming with riders racing regularly and not perhaps once a fortnight as many of the current number do due to the falling numbers of clubs.
I read with great interest the comments of John Burston and Bill Gill, people who I have a great deal of respect for. I remember very clearly the days of the 70's and 80's and how vibrant cycle speedway was even then. I was just one rider back then but I would be racing at least four times every week in all sorts of different competitions against lots of different opposition.
My cycle speedway bike hangs proudly in the cycle shop where I work on a part time Basis. People come into the shop and look at and ask 'Whats that for ?' This perhaps speaks volumes for the promotion and publicity that British Cycling give to our great sport.
I was at the Velodrome in Manchester only five days ago and did not see any mention of cycle speedway there!
My nephew is the top coach at the Lyme Valley track in Newcastle-under-Lyme and he cannot cope with the volumes of youngsters that want to compete on the track. There are dozens and dozens of beginners there, four nights a week yet alone weekends. Cycling is on a huge boom and cycle speedway should be too. We are the very poor relations of British Cycling.
I have never been convinced of the commitment of British Cycling to our sport. To them for many their position is just a job. To the many talented people we have in our sport such as Ian Brown, Joe McLaughlin etc cycle speedway is a passion.
What is needed now is a strategic review of where our sport stands with contribution from all across the sport on the positives, negatives and the opportunities/ideas to advance our wonderful sport that I am proud to have been associated with.
The passionate people within cycle speedway itself with their many talents can easily do raise the cycle speedway image and promote it in a much more productive way than British Cycling do at present. It's clear they really don't care about us.
Andy Franks
Raced in the 70's, 80's, 90's, 00's but not yet in the 10's !
LITTLE INVESTMENT IN FACILITIES - posted 16 January 2014
I think I have to endorse the views of my Blackley colleagues regarding the benefits or otherwise of being a part of British Cycling.
Increasingly cycle speedway is becoming even more disenchanted with British Cycling. We see less and less control of our sports destiny, attached to an organisation that has shown little interest since it's marriage some 14 years ago.
When the merger was mooted and agreed only after a lot of soul searching and promises to maintain and increase the sport, this simply hasn't happened. We have lost much more, including democracy, fundamentally always a key and sometimes emotive part of cycle speedway.
The Cycle Speedway Council wasn't perfect but did possess a committee whose interest on the whole was in taking our sport forward, publicity, membership, clubs etc. BC have failed on all these grounds, indeed, we are in a much worse position. Sure there is much more for our youngsters to do but the BYJL and ladies leagues show we can attract and retain new memberships.
The recent trip to Australia was very successful, despite some of the results and some of the silly antics. However it was the facilities at the tracks which really highlighted important differences. The Aussie clubs really put us to shame. Those are the facilities CS should be aiming at in the UK, but sadly despite the massive amounts of money going into British Cycling, very very little comes to cycle speedway.
The question is, if we stay what benefits do we gain? On the record so far, very little. However importantly should the split take place we need to have a forward thinking committee focused very much on taking CS forward, and looking at every facet of our sport. The right people can take us forward, a feeling that we don't get from being part of British Cycling.
John Whiting
NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM posted 16 January 2014
Just a quick note to dispel the myth that cycle speedway is "in decline" in terms of numbers of clubs and participants.
Whilst I have not seen any up to date figures covering the past couple of years, work done by the development groups between 1999 and 2011 suggests that the number of participants has increased from around 700 in 1999 to about 1,000 in 2010.
By contrast, the number of clubs fell dramatically in the twenty years from 1970. At the start of the 70s, there were around 200 clubs but this fell to around 80 clubs by 1980 and to only about 30 clubs by the end of the 90s. Whilst no official figures were found to support decline in the 1960s, anecdotal evidence suggests that hundreds, if not thousands, of club perished in the "swinging 60s".
The number of clubs stabilised since the end of the 1990s and had actually increased from around thirty to thirty-five although, these days, the comparison is difficult as riders from other cycling clubs, schools, etc., participate without representing the traditional notion of "a cycle speedway club".
The 2011 Hallamshire Go-Ride League, for instance, included over thirty "teams" which included other cycling clubs, sports clubs and especially many schools with over twenty schools participating in the separate Sheffield Schools Championship.
Martin Gamble
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF posted 16 January 2014
The problems facing the sport in 2014 are not much different from what we were experiencing twenty years ago when cycle speedway was governed by democratically elected officers and financed through grant aid from Sports Council.
Two decades on and there are strong representations to return to a similar blueprint but without any funding from outside agencies.
I have some very strong views on the relationship between cycle speedway and British Cycling. My views are widely known amongst the Commission and BC officials.
Of course the grass is always greener somewhere else but before the sport makes decisions it could later regret, take a look at the report below. Not all roses back then you know!!
Regional Officers Report to AGM 16/01/1994
There exists in the sport today a them and us attitude concerning the way the sport is governed.
There have been many examples over the years which indicate that the sport is being manipulated solely for the benefit of a few prestigious clubs.
The way in which financial assistance has been geared towards the cream of the sport rather than at grass roots level, which would be more beneficial, also gives cause for concern.
The ever increasing costs to clubs just to conform to council requirements, is another burden which gets increasingly difficult to carry and for which at the end of the day, we can see no real benefit.
The whole financial structure need to be reassessed and streamlined to make it more affordable and maybe help encourage more participants.
The way in which prestigious events are placed, is at times detrimental to the stability of the sport. If more encouragement was given to smaller clubs to stage top events, I think this would offer them a much needed financial boost and provide them with the opportunity to sell themselves to a much wider audience, ( Take a look at what Eaton achieved last season with the under 15s final !).
The ever falling standards of discipline are another problem which needs to be addressed by the council, before we lose what little credibility we have left. It is about time we altered our Mickey Mouse image then we might be taken more seriously by the media and other sporting bodies.
To help the sport realise some of its ambitions, its members need to be more co-operative towards each other, especially inter regionally, and we must accept that if we are going to survive these difficult times we will need a more puritanical leadership than the one we have grown accustomed to in the recent past.
I have enjoyed the past year as regional representative and I know I have had some effect recently at council level, which will benefit this region in the coming year. Hopefully this will be the case in the future.
Bob Prince
British League Midlands. Regional Officer.
January 1994
PRAYING CYCLE SPEEDWAY CAN SURVIVE posted 15 January 2014
Having spent a great deal of my adult life in the administration of cycle
Speedway, I am left both bewildered and horrified at what I read in the pages of Spokesman.
As an executive member of the British Cycle Speedway Federation and a founder member of the Cycle Speedway Council, I believe I witnessed the very best of the sport. I, together with a committed group of enthusiasts, took cycle speedway administration and organisation to great heights.
When I was chairman of the Cycle Speedway Council, the initial steps to visit Australia were taken and the early tours were all well organised with all the arrangements being made in-house including sponsorship deals and the supply of kit for the international side together with four copies of Spokesman annually and the organisation of a central office with paid secretariat.
These duties were carried out at a fraction of the costs banded about today by British Cycling and, of course, we organised a full racing calendar and dealt with all disciplinary matters. In the early days we never had the luxury of pc's, smart phones or the web but somehow this band of dedicated enthusiasts managed to maintain high standards and the sport held its own. I was responsible for many years in arguing our case for funds with the Sports Council and fought continuously to remain independent of other cycling disciplines.
At the last committee meeting of the Veterans Association an item was placed on the agenda to discuss how we could influence British Cycling in dealing with cycle speedway in a more benevolent way. I was instructed to offer any assistance that the association has at its disposal but not wishing to upset the membership of the current clubs, waited for them to approach me.
Meanwhile everything seems to be going wrong and now talk is of a breakaway and going it alone. It would be interesting to know what funding would be available without membership of British Cycling, the true cost of British Cycling running the show, the costs of running it along the lines that the Cycle Speedway Council previously did and are the group of enthusiasts still available to take over from the professionals.
Cycle speedway has seen breakaways in its history and the sport initially suffered and it would be wrong to put cycle speedway on an even bigger decline than at present but it seems to be struggling at the moment if what I read in Spokesman is correct. Although I have had my best years I would be willing to join discussions to see how cycle speedway can survive again as a truly independent sport, proud of its traditions and past glories.
I pray that the sport of cycle speedway will continue so that future generations will have the enjoyment that I and many more have had throughout the years.
Bill Gill
SPORT IN DECLINE posted 15 January 2014
Having read the thoughts of Dave Wilson and John Burston, both veterans of the cycle speedway fraternity, their opinions have to be considered.
I agree with both of them that British Cycling has done nothing for the sport over the years. Yes clubs have benefited from BC by promoting Go Cycling but that is not the be all and end all of cycle speedway.
Back in my era under the Cycle Speedway Council, the sport was flourishing but in recent years the sport is declining.
I personally would love to see the sport be Independent once again.
Keith Wingrove
BREAKING AWAY THE MOST SENSIBLE THING TO DO
posted 15 January 2014
Whilst breaking away from British Cycling is a big step, i would suggest that it is probably the most sensible and reasonable thing the sport of cycle speedway could do in the present circumstances.
Looking at both sides of the equation, as one must in these situations, there are pros and cons for both arguments.
For BC one could argue that the education and coaching qualifications supplied by BC, are widely recognised and very useful to not only the recipients but invaluable to the clubs involved.
The Go Ride programmes and qualifications for clubs, and the Club Mark accreditation again are a invaluable asset to the clubs involved.
However, the alliance between BC and cycle speedway has from the beginning been an uneasy one, with officials at BC seemingly not really understanding what our sport was about, and giving off an aura that they couldnt really care about this minority sport anyway.
Cycle speedway, as we all know, is a unique sport with passion, contact and when done correctly, great skill. We within the sport want to keep it like that and keep it as a sport which we recognise, with people at the helm who understand the intricacies and regional variations of the sport and, whilst growing the sport, retain the basic core values and excitement of cycle speedway whether one is 7 or 70plus years old.
Unfortunately , despite 14 years of alliance, things are still no better on the trust, understanding , assistance, listening and action situations.
Indeed, when I enquired of a senior cycle speedway official as to how one got a position on the disciplinary committee, i was told that they were recommended to the Board, by a BC official. The next words I was told were We are getting away from this democracy thing, we dont get the right people. Says it all really doesnt it?
An organisation, which apparently does not believe in democracy, has a Commission which although having a vote, have no executive powers, and all matters are referred to the Board, who then apparently issue a dictat to suit what they wish to see, without concerning themselves with the information passed to them by the Commission is not an organisation which I suggest most people would be happy being a part of.
The apparent loss, made by British Cycling needs to be explained ,clearly and in depth, as to where the losses are attributed to. I too feel that the fee increases and impositions will only carry on increasing over the next few years. A family, as in my own club, with four children and a parent riding perhaps two or three times a week will incur a massive extra charge to allow them to participate.
BC is recorded as saying it wishes to grow the number of cyclist members to 100,000. How on earth can these fees be conducive to reaching that aim when, instead of making things easier, a major financial stumbling block has been placed in the way.
I and a number of other people in the sport have for a time considered that our best interests are not served by Britsih Cycling, indeed it has been often said that actually certain people within BC would be glad to see the back of us. Well maybe the time has come to seriously get down to the nitty gritty and see what can be achieved outside BC.
The main issue has always been the insurance issue, but if we can overcome that, then what a wonderful relief it would be to be back in charge of our own affairs again.
Whilst some people within the sport will be throwing themselves on their swords at the mere thought of a breakaway, one only has to look at the agreements and understandings which we had with BC at the date of amalgamation, and how many have been reneged upon, ignored, or disputed, so that we are in the situation we are in now.
Do we really want to be associated with an organisation which treats its members like this, or, are we happy to be under the big umbrella and just let things drift along.
A good discussion could clear the air and chart a new course for us 2014.
John Burston
LACK OF ENTHUSIASM FOR CYCLE SPEEDWAY posted 15 January 2014
Some five years ago, having once again taken an interest in cycle speedway after a 36 year absence following my retirement from racing in 1972, I asked the question in the columns of Spokesman " What Use is British Cycling ", being of the opinion that the governance of cycle speedway by British Cycling produced very little if at all anything to the benefit of cycle speedway.
The five years that have passed since have done nothing to alter my opinion, having been characterised by a succession of poor decisions, poor management, poor PR, the majority of which can be laid firmly at the door of British Cycling, who as an organisation appear to have a lack of enthusiasm for cycle speedway.
British Cycling can no doubt point to their success within the, Road, Track and BMX cycling disciplines and for that they are to be applauded, however I see no future for cycle speedway within governance by British Cycling.
I do not believe the sport will prosper, but decline further until it once again is independent of British Cycling and is run by elected people who have the best interests and future development of the sport of Cycle Speedway as the overriding factor, people who live for the sport and are committed to its future ongoing development.
Dave Wilson
Blackley CSC
