Nigel Boocock
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wakefield, England
Queensland, Australia
.jpg) | |
| Born | 17 September 1937 Wakefield, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 3 April 2015 (aged 77) Queensland, Australia |
| Career history | |
| 1955–1957 | Bradford Tudors |
| 1957 | Birmingham Brummies |
| 1958 | Ipswich Witches |
| 1959–1976 | Coventry Bees |
| 1977–1978 | Bristol Bulldogs |
| 1979–1980 | Exeter Falcons |
| 1979 | Canterbury Crusaders |
| 1980 | Swindon Robins |
| Individual honours | |
| 1962, 1968 | Midland Riders' Champion |
| 1966 | The Laurels |
| 1966 | Brandonapolis |
| 1968 | Internationale |
| 1969 | South Australian Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1968 | World Cup winner |
| 1960, 1969, 1970 | World Cup silver |
| 1964, 1965 | World Cup bronze |
| 1969, 1970 | World Pairs bronze |
| 1968 | British League |
| 1967 | BL KO Cup |
| 1960, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976 | Midland Cup |
| 1961 | Central Shield |
Nigel Boocock (17 September 1937 – 3 April 2015) was a motorcycle speedway rider from England.[1] who appeared in eight Speedway World Championship finals.[2][3] He holds the record number of caps for Great Britain (64) and the record for total number of caps, when including England (154).[3]
Born in Wakefield, England,[4] Boocock started his career with the Bradford Tudors during the 1955 season and stayed there until the end of the 1957 season (Bradford replaced Birmingham Brummies during August of the 1957 season).[5]
After spending the 1958 season with the Ipswich Witches, he moved in 1959 to the Coventry Bees.[6] He found a permanent home with the Bees and spent the next eighteen seasons with them. His career also took off in terms of success and was regularly called up to represent his country.[3] In his first season with the Bees he topped the Coventry averages[7] and won the Midland Cup in 1960.[8]
As one of Coventry's leading riders[9] he was called up by England for the 1960 Speedway World Team Cup, taking a silver medal at the event. He would reach multiple Speedway World Championship finals from 1963 to 1972 and was the World Pairs bronze medal winner in 1969 and 1970, the latter with his brother Eric.[10] Two further bronze medals came in the World Team Cup (1964 and 1965) before his career best achievement, winning the World Cup with Great Britain in 1968 at Wembley.[11][12]
On the domestic front he won the British League Championship in 1968 and five more Midland Cup wins.[13]
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.
At retirement he had earned 90 international caps for the England national speedway team and 64 caps for Great Britain (a record) for a combined total of 154 caps (also a record).[3]
