Nigel Boocock
| Nigel Boocock | ||
 | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Nationality | England | |
| Date of birth | 17 September 1937 | |
| Place of birth | Wakefield, England | |
| Current club information | ||
| Career status | Retired | |
| Career history | ||
| Bradford Tudors Birmingham Brummies Ipswich Witches Coventry Bees Bristol Bulldogs Exeter Falcons Canterbury Crusaders |
1955-1957 1957 1958 1959-1976 1978 1979-1980 1980 | |
| Individual honours | ||
| South Australian Champion | 1969 | |
| Team honours | ||
| British League Champions British League KO Cup Winners World Team Cup |
1968 1967 1968 | |
Nigel Boocock (born 17 September 1937 in Wakefield, England)[1] is a former speedway rider who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals and was a reserve in one other (1962).[2]
Career
Boocock started his career with the Bradford Tudors in 1955 and stayed there until 1957, followed by spells with the Birmingham Brummies and the Ipswich Witches, before moving in 1959 to the Coventry Bees. He spent the next eighteen seasons with the Bees, winning the British League Championship in 1968.
Boocock was the first English rider to win the prestigious FIM Internationale meeting held at Wimbledon. He was known for the blue leathers he raced in when most other riders wore black leathers – he was nicknamed "Little Boy Blue". He appeared with brother Eric Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place. He was also a regular England International rider and captain of the National team for many years.
Personal life
Boocock married Cynthia Boon in 1958, and they had three children, Victoria, Darren and Mandy. He and Cynthia retired to Australia, which he had visited on numerous occasions with British Lions and England teams during the English winter months. For some time they lived in Maroubra, NSW; and Darren and Mandy attended Maroubra Bay Public School.
In 2008 his son Darren Boocock, a former rider and Coventry Bees mascot, and his wife Sharon were killed in a road accident in Yorkshire.His and Cynthia's children each had at least one child Jack, Daniel, Carl, Thomas and Liam
World final appearances
- 1963 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 7th - 8pts - 1964 -
Göteborg, Ullevi - 9th - 6pts - 1965 - London, Wembley Stadium - 8th - 8pts
- 1966 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 15th - 2pt
- 1968 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 16th - 1pt
- 1969 - London, Wembley Stadium - 4th - 10pts
- 1971 - Göteborg, Ullevi - 9th - 6pts
- 1972 - London, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts
References
- ↑ Oakes, Peter; Mauger, Ivan OBE, MBE (1976). Who's Who of World Speedway. Studio Publications (Ipswich) Ltd. ISBN 0-904584-04-6.
- ↑ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5