PFD report

Richard Frederick PHILLIPS-SCHOFIELD · Prevention of Future Deaths report

Pin Get email alerts Request correction

Issued 21 Feb 2018•Portsmouth and South East Hampshire

Report record

Published report and response evidence

This page connects the concerns raised in this report with statements found in recipients’ published responses. A link shows a clear evidence connection; it does not assign responsibility.

View original report
Concerns
1

Raised in this report

Recipients
6

Named on the report

Responses found
3

Of 6 recipients

Stated actions
8

Described in responses

Recipients and published responses

Source document

Full report text

This is the full text from the original published report.

Open published report

Concerns and recipient responses

Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

Concerns raised1

  1. Lack of formal, effective procedures for halting cycle races after an accident or track hazard
Responses linked to these concerns

Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

Actions described in response An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.7

  1. Action

    Use black flags and audible equipment to slow or stop races at the Mountbatten Circuit.

    Stated by British Cycling (The British Cycling Federation and Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling UnionStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 June 2018.
  2. Action

    Communicate revised race-stopping education and training content to existing commissaires at regional commissaire conferences.

    Stated by British Cycling (The British Cycling Federation and Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling UnionStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 June 2018.
  3. Action

    Introduce scenario-based activities, improved reference materials and other measures in education and training on slowing or stopping races.

    Stated by British Cycling (The British Cycling Federation and Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling UnionStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 June 2018.

Respondent positions A position is what a recipient says about a concern when it does not describe a specific action.1

  1. Position

    Existing recognised controls, equipment and trained officials provide procedures to slow or stop races, contrary to the concern that no formal effective procedures exist.

    Stated by British Cycling (The British Cycling Federation and Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling UnionDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.

Source evidence

How this individual concern was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below. Response links show a clear evidence connection; they do not assign responsibility.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Lack of formal, effective procedures for halting cycle races after an accident or track hazard

Wider context from the report

“From the evidence given at the inquest, both by witnesses and a video of the race, the steps taken to halt the race after the accident were ineffectual to prevent numerous cyclists riding through the aftermath of the accident where a number of competitors, including the deceased, were lying injured. I was told in evidence that there are no formal, effective procedures in the regulations of any of the organisations controlling cycle racing in the United Kingdom for stopping a race in the event of an accident or hazard on the track. It would be left to the organisers on site to stop a race in whatever way they felt appropriate. I believe that the various national cycling organisations should consider introducing formal effective procedures for halting races which would be mandatory for all races organised under their regulations. ”

Is this part of a recurring concern?

No recurring-concern membership is currently published.

Open source report

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Use black flags and audible equipment to slow or stop races at the Mountbatten Circuit.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Mountbatten circuit is a hybrid circuit and is unique in terms of both circuit length and layout. British Cycling has specifically reviewed the procedures at Mountbatten and has introduced some new control measures to slow or stop a race. These measures include the use of black flags and audible equipment, such as a pistol and/or whistles, as part of this process, in common with the procedures used within the sport. The event organisers will work with the chief commissaire at each event to ensure the organising team and the appointed officials understand their responsibilities to stop a race. The chief commissaire will also provide a pre-race briefing to riders that will include specific information on how a race will be stopped if there is an incident. These specific control measures will also be incorporated into the standard risk assessment for the circuit.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Communicate revised race-stopping education and training content to existing commissaires at regional commissaire conferences.

Verbatim wording from the response

“disciplines. For example, it will include the use of scenario based activity and better reference material in educational resources. British Cycling also intends to communicate with existing circuit and track commissaires to ensure that as part of the rider pre-race briefing they communicate how a race will be slowed or stopped. The organisation will also communicate any revised education and training content related to how to slow or stop a race to existing commissaires at British Cycling’s regional commissaire conferences that take place in February each year.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 3 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Introduce scenario-based activities, improved reference materials and other measures in education and training on slowing or stopping races.

Verbatim wording from the response

“British Cycling also believes that the current procedures regarding how to slow or stop a race can be made clearer through both additional education and training of event officials and supplementary guidance for volunteers delivering British Cycling registered events. British Cycling will therefore complete a thorough review of all education and training content and associated resources for commissaires and organisers involved in the delivery of British Cycling registered events. This will involve the introduction of new measures to improve knowledge and understanding of how to slow or stop a race across the different cycling”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Review processes for events on similar-length and hybrid circuits and recommend improvements by September 2018.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition to the above actions, British Cycling intends to review the current processes that exist for events that take place on other similar length circuits or for hybrid circuits such as Mountbatten. British Cycling will further liaise with current facility operators to review the specific risk assessment for venues and consider any additional control measures that may be required at the facilities. British Cycling aims to complete the review and recommend any improvements by the end of the season, in this case September 2018.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Complete a thorough review of education, training content and associated resources for commissaires and event organisers.

Verbatim wording from the response

“British Cycling also believes that the current procedures regarding how to slow or stop a race can be made clearer through both additional education and training of event officials and supplementary guidance for volunteers delivering British Cycling registered events. British Cycling will therefore complete a thorough review of all education and training content and associated resources for commissaires and organisers involved in the delivery of British Cycling registered events. This will involve the introduction of new measures to improve knowledge and understanding of how to slow or stop a race across the different cycling”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Communicate race-stopping briefing requirements to existing circuit and track commissaires.

Verbatim wording from the response

“disciplines. For example, it will include the use of scenario based activity and better reference material in educational resources. British Cycling also intends to communicate with existing circuit and track commissaires to ensure that as part of the rider pre-race briefing they communicate how a race will be slowed or stopped. The organisation will also communicate any revised education and training content related to how to slow or stop a race to existing commissaires at British Cycling’s regional commissaire conferences that take place in February each year.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 3 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Incorporate Mountbatten-specific race-stopping control measures into the circuit’s standard risk assessment.

Verbatim wording from the response

“The Mountbatten circuit is a hybrid circuit and is unique in terms of both circuit length and layout. British Cycling has specifically reviewed the procedures at Mountbatten and has introduced some new control measures to slow or stop a race. These measures include the use of black flags and audible equipment, such as a pistol and/or whistles, as part of this process, in common with the procedures used within the sport. The event organisers will work with the chief commissaire at each event to ensure the organising team and the appointed officials understand their responsibilities to stop a race. The chief commissaire will also provide a pre-race briefing to riders that will include specific information on how a race will be stopped if there is an incident. These specific control measures will also be incorporated into the standard risk assessment for the circuit.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Source evidence

How this respondent position was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Existing recognised controls, equipment and trained officials provide procedures to slow or stop races, contrary to the concern that no formal effective procedures exist.

Verbatim wording from the response

“We have set out below the joint response of British Cycling, Scottish Cycling and Welsh Cycling to the Report addressing the matters of concern raised in the Report, namely that there are no formal effective procedures in the regulations of any organisations controlling cycle racing in the United Kingdom for stopping a race in the event of an accident or hazard on the track.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 1 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response

Other statements in published responses

These actions and other statements could not be clearly connected to one concern in this report.

Recipient-stated actions An action is something a recipient says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to a concern raised.1

  1. 1

    Liaise with facility operators to review venue risk assessments and consider additional facility control measures.

    Stated by British Cycling (The British Cycling Federation and Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists’ Union and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling UnionStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 8 June 2018.

Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation

Liaise with facility operators to review venue risk assessments and consider additional facility control measures.

Verbatim wording from the response

“In addition to the above actions, British Cycling intends to review the current processes that exist for events that take place on other similar length circuits or for hybrid circuits such as Mountbatten. British Cycling will further liaise with current facility operators to review the specific risk assessment for venues and consider any additional control measures that may be required at the facilities. British Cycling aims to complete the review and recommend any improvements by the end of the season, in this case September 2018.”

Source location

2018-0054-Response-by-British-Cycling
Page 2 · response
Published 8 June 2018

Open published response
Back to top

Information checked against the published report and official responses · Data reviewed 7 Sep 2026 · About data quality and limitations

Data last updated 7 September 2026