When SCB referee Si Humphrey-Kennett kindly agreed to talk to me I thought it only fair that I meet him on his own turf in Kent. Waiting patiently outside Specsavers I was a little disappointed when he left and walked straight past me. I hollered out, “You cannot be serious!”
Perhaps not exactly a true reflection of our meeting but at least I’ve managed to air a couple of the best lines often attributed to referees from all sporting disciplines.
From my experiences of the speedway variety their interventions are pretty much under the radar, save the usual post-heat confirmations, until that is, a decision has to be made, and then you can be assured that not all fans will agree. Occasionally a referee’s decision will go the whole nine yards and alienate everyone in the stadium! Rarely does a referee’s role figure highly in meeting reports, unless the decision is considered to be controversial. Up until a few years back heat four of the 1978 World Championship at Wembley played heavily on my mind. Was Ivan Mauger pushed or did he simply fall under a fair challenge? Catching up at Arlington with my hero Gordon Kennett, he confirmed the latter and fully supported Tore Kittilsen’s decision not to exclude him.
Nevertheless, the role of a referee is pivotal to the successful and safe presentation of any meeting. I was intrigued to discover what the attraction is for what I perceive to be a sometimes thankless task.
Why did you decide to become a speedway referee?
Like me, Si has been into speedway from an early age. Although, unlike me, he actually put his leg over a bike, starting with Grasstrack as a schoolboy, and then moving on to speedway. Life steered him away from a career on the shale, but he never lost his passion for the sport. “I have always enjoyed watching speedway and introduced my family to the sport back in 2013 when Kent first opened. I wanted to get involved with speedway but knew I was too old to ride so my wife encouraged me to have a go at refereeing.” Too old! Try telling Wayne Broadhurst and Jon Armstrong that!
How do you become qualified?
Si explained, “I applied to the SCB in 2017 expressing an interest in becoming a referee. I was invited for an interview at ACU House in Rugby, which took place during the week at a time a speedway meeting would usually take place.” When probed a little more he outlined the intensity of the assessment process that sought to reflect the hours on the road, the typical environment, and the need to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the regulations. IQ tests, face to face interviews and written assignments were crammed into a couple of gruelling hours. The SCB were tough but to be fair they supplied lashings of tea and coffee and even turned the heating on. Following success at the interview stage Si was invited onto the two-year training programme that commenced in 2018.
Is it a thankless task?
A broad smile dominated his face as he simply replied, “Some may say yes, but I personally would say no. The positives outweigh the negatives, always.” I then thought of Tore Kittilsen and wondered if he had thought the same as the controversy could have been chopped with a blunt knife on that famous night in ’78.
How would you counter the famous Bill Shankly quote, “The trouble with referees is that they know the rules, but they do not know the game.”?
Since I had personally met a few adrenalin-charged riders and the odd manager, I guessed that speedway referees also had to be talented diplomats. Si didn’t disappoint, “I believe referees, especially within speedway, know both. The wealth of experience across the board enables us to know both in our field.”
In the good old days (1978 World Final for example) we enjoyed the spectacle of pushing the tapes. Isn’t the insistence nowadays of all four riders remaining motionless at the tapes reducing the drama?
My woeful attempt to push this speedway judge into shouting “Order! Order!” didn’t even warrant a charge of contempt. “Not at all. All four riders remaining still at the start enables a fair start to every race.” M’ Lord I have still to rest my case!
Have you ever got it wrong, and if so, how did you remedy the situation?
Even though Albert Einstein once quipped, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new,” my own experience tends to suggest that figures in authority generally find it hard to admit getting it wrong. If you are undecided on this point, then listen to PMQ’s in the House of Commons. Si Humphrey-Kennett take a bow!
“Whilst in my first year of training, during my first test at Eastbourne, the heat was just about to begin, the green light on, all four riders were stationary, tapes released, and it appeared that the rider in Red, Tom Brennan, had touched and broken the tapes. The relevant exclusion light was on, but it was brought to my attention that the tapes had not gone up evenly. This was difficult to see at Eastbourne as you’re located straight down the line, and it was the inside tapes that had not released. After reviewing the evidence presented to me, I invited all four riders back for the re-run once a test of the tapes was completed.”
What club side do you support, and do you have to disclose this?
As tactful as ever Si replied, “As a referee I don’t support any clubs. Before I embarked on my training, I followed both Kent and Lakeside (Arena Essex) as they were my local clubs. I support British Speedway as a whole.”
Talk me through your typical day as a referee.
Drawing breath Si recounted the characteristic day, “A typical day consists of pre-meeting checks – checking team line-ups, licences, facilities, and match averages plus pre-populating the meeting report and programme. I arrive at a track no later than two hours before the start of the meeting, liaising with the home promotion, team managers, clerk of the course, machine examiners, medical team, other track officials and volunteers to ensure everything is in order and deal with any issues prior to the start of the meeting.” Phew! All I usually have to do is park the car, grab a programme, and decide if I want chips with my burger. He continued, “I then complete the track inspection and report back any defects I find to the clerk of the course. If they can be rectified prior to the start they will be, if not they will be noted on the report for remedial action for the following week. There are certain things that must be in place for the meeting to take place, especially as safety is paramount. Once the meeting is finished, it’s my responsibility to ensure all relevant paperwork is submitted to the SCB for processing.” Respect!
The highlight of your career to date?
Si, almost salivating at this point, blurted out, “Refereeing my first Premiership meeting in August 2021 – Peterborough versus Wolverhampton. The stadium was packed, the atmosphere was electric. It was a dream meeting for any referee – smooth running, no incidents and the racing was as Kelvin Tatum would say, “Out of the top draw,” from start to finish.” He is still in love with speedway!
Career ambitions?
Although Si has already covered some impressive terrain, he still has several outstanding professional goals. “Referee the big events like the U19/U21 Finals, NLRC etc., and eventually becoming a TV referee, taking charge of the meetings you see on Eurosport, including the British Final one day.”
Last season at Poole you passed on your thanks to a fallen rider who promptly cleared the track. A nice touch! Is this encouraged or is this just your personality?
Si remembered this event, and again displayed his endearing quality of self-reflection, “It was something I picked up during my training and reflects my personality. A speedway meeting is a team event, and if a rider who has fallen through no fault of their own clears the track to allow the race to continue, that rider, in my view, deserves recognition.”
What rule would you like to change?
Is this where Si would wobble? There was an unusual pause. Surely, I had him now?!
“Tough question but if I had to choose one, I’d change the two-minute clock rule. I’d like to see every track with the two-minute clock clearly displayed, so the fans know for sure that the limit has expired so there would be no argument over a disqualified rider. I think it would add some excitement – but that’s just my opinion!”
What’s the oddest thing you have excluded a rider for?
If a three times World Champion came within tape-touching distance of me I must admit that emotion may take over, but there was no fazing our Si!
“A broken clutch cable at the start of a race. I was refereeing at Plymouth at the end of August, the riders were at the tapes ready to race, green light on and just as the tapes were released, Jason Crump’s bike moved into the tapes resulting in him high-siding and breaking them. Unfortunately, this created a starting offence as all riders were under starting orders.”
With a surname like yours do you have any speedway heritage?
“If I’m completely honest, the only speedway heritage I’m aware of is my uncle who rode for Crayford back in the 1980’s.” So there was no family connection with my all-time hero!
What advice would you give a vexed rider or team manager before they decide to pick up the phone and speak to you?
Although this is often stardust on the TV Si was far more pragmatic. His sage words were simply, “Keep calm and think about what you want to say before picking up the phone. I will always listen and respect other people’s views, especially if they differ from mine.”
Next time you go to a meeting and, understandably, focus on the track, momentarily take a look back and up at the referee’s box. You may have to squint, but there is a very important person in that box, professionally trained and passionate, and like all fans they love our sport too.
© Ian Kirke 2021
PHOTO CREDITS: GEOFF YOUNG/TIFFANY GRAVELLING