SCB HEARING

The Speedway Control Bureau have ruled that the result of the Coventry v Poole league match which was abandoned after 10 heats on Monday June 1st will stand following their recent investigation to the events that prevailed on that night.

Poole won the meeting 36-22, gaining an unchallenged 5-0 in heat 10  after the Coventry management contravened Speedway Regulation 4.1.9 by refusing to allow their riders to take to track for what proved to be the final race of the evening, citing that they felt the meeting should be curtailed due to the worsening weather conditions.

 It was this breach of code that Coventry Speedway and the two riders programmed to appear in the heat were charged with on the night and  the Speedway Control Bureau members of Tony Gillias, Chairman, Dickie Staff (ACU representative), Alex Harkess (BSPA representative), Peter Gregory (deputising for Gary Thompson of the ACU), and Gordon Pairman (BSPA representative) met with the Coventry management of Mick Horton and Neil Watson after the Bees appealed.

 Pairman, a member of the Poole promotion declared that if it was the wish of the Coventry Promotion he would willingly withdraw from the discussions to avoid any conflict of interest, but this option was not taken up.

 After studying video footage supplied by the club's videographer and that broadcast by Sky TV the SCB members ruled that the Bees management had no defence and the fines imposed on the evening would be upheld with the result declared as stated on the evening. The Coventry promotion were fined a further £3000, and all parties concerned have the Right of Appeal to the Auto-Cycle Union.

 Under rule 15.12 had 10 heats not been completed  the match, between the top two sides in the Elite league, would automatically have had to have been re-staged.

Poole boss Matt Ford said of the decision "I am very pleased to learn that common-sense prevailed within the hearing;  had any other decision been reached I  would have been incensed"