Star Lady Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Can anyone tell exactly what criteria have to be fulfilled for raider to be granted a testimonial? I'm sure in the good old days it used to be a rider having ridden for the same club for 10 years. Seems now anyone who's been around for a while gets one. I seem to remember hearing there were tax concessions/advantages. Also are there criteria for farewells/retirements etc. will we see these same riders having another meeting in a few years time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontforgetthefueltapsbruv Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 You've started 2 threads with the same title - 8 more and you qualify!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Lady Posted February 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 You've started 2 threads with the same title - 8 more and you qualify!! Wow is it that easy Seriously I'm new to posting from new iPad lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Wow is it that easy Seriously I'm new to posting from new iPad lol You kids and your gadgets I think it's 10 years without asking for a transfer or taking a cut of any transfer fee these days. Some testimonials are a farce though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I can tell you what the criteria for testimonials used to be-and probably still is. 10 years service with one club-if a rider moved clubs and took a cut of the transfer fee that service was lost however if the cut was waived those years were transferred too. I think a rider who has done over 20 years would be allowed a farewell meeting.(as a 2nd testimonial) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 I think a rider who has done over 20 years would be allowed a farewell meeting.(as a 2nd testimonial) AFAIK that is true. I cant think of the last rider to have a 20 year testimonial though. I believe riders are only allowed two benefit meetings, so if you manager 30 years you dont get another and if you have had two testimonials you dont get a farewell. On that note, does anyone know how you get a farewell meeting? Could I ride half a done meetings, retire and get a farewell meeting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
racers and royals Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 AFAIK that is true. I cant think of the last rider to have a 20 year testimonial though. I believe riders are only allowed two benefit meetings, so if you manager 30 years you dont get another and if you have had two testimonials you dont get a farewell. On that note, does anyone know how you get a farewell meeting? Could I ride half a done meetings, retire and get a farewell meeting? Has anyone had a farewell meeting who hasn`t done 20 years ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
george.m Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Must be able to slide the bike sideways ... ... intentionally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Leslie Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 (edited) Has anyone had a farewell meeting who hasn`t done 20 years ?? Chris Morton had his farewell after 18 years (all with the same club, after a brief start at Ellesmere Port) - And that was much deserved. Krzysztof Kasprzak gets a testimonial for 10 years with Poole even though he's been missing for part of that time and has ridden for nearly every club in the country in the years he has been here - a joke Edited February 1, 2014 by John Leslie 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCB Posted February 1, 2014 Report Share Posted February 1, 2014 Krzysztof Kasprzak gets a testimonial for 10 years with Poole even though he's been missing for part of that time and has ridden for nearly every club in the country in the years he has been here - a joke Lars Gunnestad got a testimonial for 9 years, with a year out in between! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HenryW Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Testimonial rules in speedway seen to be ridiculous but presumably somewhat encouraged by the stupid team building rules.... Teams will often not really want to part with a rider and the rider doesn't want to leave the team, but they are almost forced into it due to points limits and team declaration rules...This has seen a relaxation of the "10 years continuous service" that a testimonial was supposed to reward, whilst leading to strange situations where riders receive testimonials when they have only occasionally raced for the team that owns them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Isn't the qualification for a Testimonial now '10 years in British Speedway'? Havvy's Farewell was granted because if he hadn't had such horrendous injuries, he would probably still be riding, whereas the poor bloke can now hardly walk and still doesn't have full use of one arm!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldace Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Testimonials are a relic of an era when sportsmen didn't earn the sums they do today and for most by their mid thirties their careers were over. It was intended for those who had never asked for a transfer, to take advantage of better deals elsewhere and had stayed loyal to one club for ten years. the proceeds would often be used to get a foot in the door of the business world. The proceeds were also exempt from tax. Originally all testimonials in speedway were used exclusively in this way but now it is merely for being in the sport ten years, which in reality a goof 50% of riders are going to qualify for. That said these events only happen while there are mugs willing to attend them. Like JL says above when someone like Krzysztof Kasprzak is awarded a testimonial the it really is time to overhaul the system 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveLyric2 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 Testimonials are a relic of an era when sportsmen didn't earn the sums they do today and for most by their mid thirties their careers were over. It was intended for those who had never asked for a transfer, to take advantage of better deals elsewhere and had stayed loyal to one club for ten years. the proceeds would often be used to get a foot in the door of the business world. The proceeds were also exempt from tax. Originally all testimonials in speedway were used exclusively in this way but now it is merely for being in the sport ten years, which in reality a goof 50% of riders are going to qualify for. That said these events only happen while there are mugs willing to attend them. Like JL says above when someone like Krzysztof Kasprzak is awarded a testimonial the it really is time to overhaul the system KK hasn't had it yet!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) I do feel the ruling on Testimonials fairwell meetings and Goodbye meetings needs tightening up. At one time it was riding for or being associated with the same club for 10 continuous years, and or retiring through injury and or i'll heath while serving with that club qualifies you for a testimonial. Edited February 2, 2014 by Starman2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dornier Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I do feel the ruling on Testimonials fairwell meetings and Goodbye meetings needs tightening up. At one time it was riding for or being associated with the same club for 10 continuous years, and or retiring through injury and or i'll heath while serving with that club qualifies you for a testimonial. Well said starman I agree with you for once... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starman2006 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) Well said starman I agree with you for once... Thank you. but as far as im aware, it is a career ending injury that finished Gary. He has served Britsh speedway very well. And deserves a send off. I also feel, if somebody has given 10 or more years of continuous service to one club, or retires on grounds of a disabillity i'll heath or injury then that person should either get a Testimonial, or a Benifit meeting, and rightly so. And that should be the criteria. Loyalty is a rare commodity nowadays and people who serve British speedway with distinction should be rewarded. All riders imo should pay into an insurance/pension Scheme that covers them in the event of the above. Edited February 2, 2014 by Starman2006 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dornier Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) Thank you. but as far as im aware, it is a career ending injury that finished Gary. He has served Britsh speedway very well. And deserves a send off. I also feel, if somebody has given 10 or more years of continuous service to one club, or retires on grounds of a disabillity i'll heath or injury then that person should either get a Testimonial, or a Benifit meeting, and rightly so. And that should be the criteria. Loyalty is a rare commodity nowadays and people who serve British speedway with distinction should be rewarded. All riders imo should pay into an insurance/pension Scheme that covers them in the event of the above. No. don`t agree with a lot of that. As I understand it and I must admit I`m not totally up on this but Havvy has had his testimonial and that should be enough. I personally had to give up working after nineteen years at the same company and they didn`t give me a testimonial or benefit meeting. I had to send begging letters to Edinburgh Edited February 2, 2014 by dornier 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhamboy66 Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 I'm baffled by some of the coments about one of British Speedway's best servants. There have been many other riders who have benefitted by a second meeting after twenty years and considering Havvy's service and the fact that he has been left with a disability following a crash that ended his career i feel it is only just that he be given a meeting. His friends within the sport will give their time to be involved in the meeting and those who wish to attend will be happy to part with their cash. If you don't like these sort of meetings then you have the choice not to go. Continually bleating about it smacks of jealousy. Shame on the guilty one's 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dornier Posted February 2, 2014 Report Share Posted February 2, 2014 (edited) I don`t have a problem with Havvy having any ammount of testimonials he can have a dozen for me but to expect ALL British Speedway to come to a halt for a meeting brought together between Matt Ford and Gary Havelock is a bit much. If Gary is as popular as he thinks he is there won`t be a problem everybody will be at Poole but I very much doubt it..... Edited February 2, 2014 by dornier 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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