Speedway Referee Numbers In Decline

[Dickie Head]

Just read in this week's Speedway Star that Dale Entwhistle has quit and this follows the resignation of Dan Holt. These guys were from the younger contingent of referees. We know Dave Dowling is retiring at the seasons end having reached the upper age limit. From the official meeting scorecards we never see a trainee named. Do the SCB have a succession planning policy, enough referees already or just hoping no more guys opt out? Any thoughts?

[Ommer Mon]

What is the upper age limit for refs these days. I've seen a few veterans in the past Stan Green springs to mind.

[John Leslie]

Only seems a few years ago that the SCB were saying that they'd got more than enough refs.

With Graham Reeve retiring from the SCB, I guess another senior ref will be leaving the ranks and moving upstairs to replace him.

Shame to see Dave Dowling and Dale Entwistle go. They both seemed good blokes. Don't know much about Dan Holt.

The one they do need to cull is Dave Robinson.

[Starman2006]

Only seems a few years ago that the SCB were saying that they'd got more than enough refs.

With Graham Reeve retiring from the SCB, I guess another senior ref will be leaving the ranks and moving upstairs to replace him.

Shame to see Dave Dowling and Dale Entwistle go. They both seemed good blokes. Don't know much about Dan Holt.

The one they do need to cull is Dave Robinson.

Dont agree with you, Dave Robinson ok. Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

Edited September 9, 2016 by Starman2006

[John Leslie]

Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

Starman ain't afraid of no ghosts.

[TheReturn]

Dont agree with you, Dave Robinson ok. Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

And people wonder why referee's are stepping down! It's a really hard job and in my opinion referee's need more help, more support and more respect.

 

If you think referee's get it wrong is bad. Watch Sky and see some of the rubbish some of the managers come out with when their riders are excluded (I am mainly thinking about the managers of two west midlands clubs here). One of those is an ex international rider too!

[robert72]

Dont agree with you, Dave Robinson ok. Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

Frank Ebdon was the worse I came across.

 

Think there has been sone well talked about moments this year with riders,TM and promoters having ago at the refs. Not sure I would do it, doubt the money is worth the hassle it brings.

[f-s-p]

Being a ref is a hobby like every other. Usually with some financial compensation and possibility to "become something". Like in ice hockey a pro that could live on it and go to KHL or NHL. Or in speedway to become a SGP ref. Not much money in speedway ref'ing though, FIM pays SGP refs and it's not actually pay, it's partial compensation for spent time of ones life.

[screm]

I respect her, and I`m sure she is doing her best but you know your in for trouble when you see Barbara Horley sitting in the refs box.

[horneymikh]

Dont agree with you, Dave Robinson ok. Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

Agreed. Brilliant in Blues Brothers and trading places....garbage in the refs box!

[topsoil]

And people wonder why referee's are stepping down! It's a really hard job and in my opinion referee's need more help, more support and more respect.

 

If you think referee's get it wrong is bad. Watch Sky and see some of the rubbish some of the managers come out with when their riders are excluded (I am mainly thinking about the managers of two west midlands clubs here). One of those is an ex international rider too!

I cringe every time the camera or mic is pointed at Gary Havelock. Here comes another pulled face and a whine at the ref.

[allthegearbutnaeidea]

Babs Horley

Maggy Vardy

Jim McGregor

Christina Turnbull

aka the hit list

[Bryn]

So easy to slag off a referee for some isn't it and I suspect those who do wouldn't be prepared to give up their spare time, utilise part or as has been known nigh on all of their holiday allowance from their main employment, undertake the travel involved e.g. Scotland to the Isle of Wight as has been done, do all the track checks required prior to a meeting plus paperwork required before and after, and then take on the responsibility of arbitrating on a match/meeting in a sport where those taking part could suffer like changing injuries or worse.

Have those who suggest getting rid of this that and the other ref, who all started as fans of the sport before applying to become one, not considered what would be the situation if all the current referees followed Dan Holt (who I've seen watching matches since stepping down) and Dale Entwhistle's actions and stepped down?

Referee's can only make their decisions based on what they see happen in a flash from their position in the officials box a circuits overlooking the start line. A few may be disagreed with by those standing/sitting in different positions around any circuit but my experience is the vast majority of decisions they make, including those that go against 'my' team/rider, are correct.

So who's going to look into the prospect of becoming a trainee ref then?

Edited September 10, 2016 by Bryn

[Chris]

Bore off Lord Bryn. What the hell has life changing injuries or worse got to do with being a referee?

 

Do they jump down from the refs box & go and treat them?

 

Get off your soap box.

[orion]

Dont agree with you, Dave Robinson ok. Its Dan Ackroid they need to get shot of.

Who yer gunna call ?

Edited September 10, 2016 by orion

[E I Addio]

Bore off Lord Bryn. What the hell has life changing injuries or worse got to do with being a referee?

Do they jump down from the refs box & go and treat them?

Get off your soap box.

What a stupid post. What Bryn was alluding to if you bother to read his post properly was the track checks required prior to a meeting, for example making sure the airfences are securely fixed and the safety fences are in good condition. People might not realise this when they are sitting back looking for something to moan about but there are clubs running on a shoe string where some equipment is close to borderline and the ref can at times be under a lot of pressure from the promoters to turn a blind eye. Another thing is calling a meeting off mid way when rain makes it unsafe, often a controversial decision and frequently the ref doesn't make the right call but IF a rider was seriously injured the referee, as the person with overall responsibility could be called to account. There are a myriad of other things people don't think about like making sure track staff are correctly positioned.

 

It is a job that requires quite a high degree of concentration.

[Star Lady]

Bore off Lord Bryn. What the hell has life changing injuries or worse got to do with being a referee?

 

Do they jump down from the refs box & go and treat them?

 

Get off your soap box.

 

I think what Bryn may have been refering to is the fact that if, heaven forbid, a rider is killed the referee (and other officials) have to go thro the whole gamut of legal procedures, police statements, inquests etc.

 

Having witnessed a fatal crash and never being able to completely get it out of my mind, I can only imagine what having to go over and over the incident and all the things leading up to it and following on from it would do.

 

So no they don't have to treat injured riders, paramedics do that (any sympathy for them from you BTW), but they do have overall responsibility for the track and the riders on it, should anything untoward occur.

[E I Addio]

And people wonder why referee's are stepping down! It's a really hard job and in my opinion referee's need more help, more support and more respect.If you think referee's get it wrong is bad. Watch Sky and see some of the rubbish some of the managers come out with when their riders are excluded (I am mainly thinking about the managers of two west midlands clubs here). One of those is an ex international rider too!

Agreed. I see that loud mouthed half wit Muddlo has been sounding off in Speedwáy Star this week about Craig Ackroyd (that's Dans long lost cousin Starman) . Under the headline "Middlo Fumes" The Wimborne Windbag haurrumphs " That was disgraceful, some of the worst refereeing I have ever seen in my life "

 

Was it really that bad ? Hardly got a mention on the BSF thread. Foreverblue, one of the more fair minded Poole fans, concedes he was not saying the ref got it wrong. The Dean Machine says one decision was 50/50. The texter on Speedwáy Updates says one decision was debatable but in another one that Muddlo bleats about the texter says it was an easy decision to exclude Newman.

 

So at worst we have the referee calling it as he sees and Motormouth seeing from a totally different angle and a less advantageous position claiming it was "absolutely disgraceful". It seems though that it was not disgraceful enough to protest or complain to the SCB.

 

The point is not who is right or wrong, it's a team manager going off crying to Speedwáy star with OTT accusations against a referee who, because of his position can't answer back. No wonder referees sometimes feel they have had enough.

 

Strangely the only person that seems to agree with Muddlo is ....er ... Starman !

Edited September 10, 2016 by E I Addio

[TB1]

Should they or do the scb encourage ex riders into refereeing. Surely they are best qualified to see it from a riders point of view?

[Triple.H.]

I think you'll find the reason ex riders don't go into refereeing is most of them don't understand what 2 minutes is