ASSOCIATION OF SPEEDWAY REFEREES

FIM WOMEN'S SPEEDWAY ACADEMY

With a mandate to promote gender equality in all sports run under the governance of the FIM, the FIM Women’s Commission (CFM) has a clear mission and the FIM Women’s Speedway Academy (WSA) is a major tool in its armoury.

The fourth edition of the WSA supported by HKC Koopmann, Kineo and Anlas takes place on 10-11 July at Donji Kraljevec in Croatia and represents another major step forward for gender equality, highlighting the ongoing and successful collaboration between the CFM and the FIM Track Racing Commission (CCP).

“I believe we have achieved the goals we set at the start of this project, but of course there is still some way to go and I feel this fourth edition of the WSA will show that we are continuing to move in the right direction,” explained CFM Director Janika Judeika. “Hopefully there will be more and more riders joining not only the academy, but getting involved in women’s Speedway in general.”

The first WSA was held at Diedenbergen in Germany in 2022 with subsequent editions staged in Manchester, Great Britain, in 2023 and last year in Teterow, Germany. With an encouraging growth in numbers and unquestionably positive results, there is no doubt that the WSA has gained considerable traction in a short space of time.

German star Celina Liebmann was the first female competitor to race an FIM Speedway Under 21 World Championship (SGP2) event and the first women to sign for clubs in Great Britain and Poland, Liebmann has opened the door for other women racers to compete on equal terms with their male counterparts.

The SCB's own female speedway referee, Christina Turnbull has also taken part in the FIM Women's Speedway Academy and is in the picture taken at the 2024 event.

July 2025

2024 FIM Women's Speedway Academy © FIM

CRAIG's DOUBLE WEEKEND IN MALILLA

The first round of SGP2 this season will see the UK's Craig Ackroyd take charge. The SGP2 in Malilla is the precursor to the main event the following day, which also see's Craig take charge. This will be Craig's second SGP of the year, having been on the buttons earlier in the season in Warsaw.

July 2025

CHRISTINA MAKES HISTORY IN GORZOW

History will be made as Christina Turnbull takes charge of her first FIM SGP in Gorzow, Poland on Saturday 21 June.

Christina becomes the first female to ever officiate at a Grand Prix. Having been a regular on the UK referee list for around two decades, and also having taken charge of multiple FIM/FIME events, she now becomes the seventh Briton to referee a GP – following on from Frank Ebdon, Graham Brodie, Mick Posselwhite, Tony Steele, Jim Lawrence and Craig Ackroyd.

We wish her well in her first meeting at the top level of competition.

June 2025

CrAIG ON THE BUTTONS IN WARSAW

Craig Ackroyd will be the FIM referee at the 2025 Speedway Grand Prix of Poland on 17th May in Warsaw.

This is Craig's first SGP allocation of the 2025 season.

May 2025

british final referees

The 2025 Attis Insurance Sports Division British Final referee will be Phil Griffin.

Phil will take charge of his third British Final having previously officiated the competition in 2018 and most recently in 2023.

The British Final takes place at Belle Vue on Monday 12 May. Tickets, including hospitality packages are available from the Belle Vue Speedway website.

The draw for the British Final can be found here.

The Under-21 British Final takes place at Glasgow on Sunday 18th May at 14:00. Willie Dishington will take charge of this fixture for the second time, having previously taken charge of the 2015 final.

Tickets for the Under 21 British Final can be booked through the Glasgow Speedway website.

May 2025

A CAREER IN THE BOX - DR BARBARA HORLEY

Barbara Horley looks back on her 20 year career as a speedway referee.

To read the article click here.

April 2025

SHARED EVENT REFEREES

Referees for the two Championship Shared Events for the weekend of 5th and 6th April have been announced.

Wayne Jarvis will take charge of the Championship Pairs at Workington on Saturday with a start time of 3pm.

Chris Durno will be the referee at the Championship League Riders Championship on Sunday. The start time for this event at Scunthorpe is also 3pm.

April 2025

Jim McGREGOR at the ben fund

The 2025 Ben Fund meeting saw referee Jim McGregor officiate his final meeting. After 32 years of officiating , and having taken control of 936 matches, Jim retired from referee duties. He was touched by all of the riders wishing him well and shaking hands with him after the rider briefing at the Ben Fund meeting which saw Tom Brennan take the win.

Jim continues to act as the SCB technical advisor and is involved with the organisation of the Northern Junior League.

March 2025

GEOFF DALBY AWARD

On Saturday 1st March the Association of Referees (ASR) held their annual AGM prior to the start of the 2025 season.

Each year the Geoff Dalby Award is presented to an individual for their contribution to British Speedway.

This year is was announced that the award would be for the late Tony Steele who sadly passed away last August and whom had many roles within the sport which included almost 30 years as a SCB Referee as well as being on the FIM CCP Commission the ACU Track Racing Chairman and on the committee of the Speedway Control Bureau.

This award followed last months presentation from the FIM for Mr Steele to be an Honorary CCP Member.

ASR secretary Willie Dishington presented the Geoff Dalby Award on behalf of Mr Steele to Jim McGregor who himself has been a SCB Referee for 30 years and will be refereeing his last fixture at the Ben Fund meeting at Oxford on the 23rd of March before retiring.

March 2025