Nigel Boocock facts for kids
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| Born | 17 September 1937 Wakefield, England |
|---|---|
| Died | 3 April 2015 (aged 77) Queensland, Australia |
| Nationality | British |
| 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
indiyear4 = 1968 indiv honour4 = [Internationale] |
| 1969 | South Australian Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1968 | British League Champions |
| 1967 | British League KO Cup Winners |
| 1968 | World Team Cup |
| 1960, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976 |
Midland Cup |
| 1961 | Central Shield |
Nigel Boocock (born September 17, 1937 – died April 3, 2015) was a famous British speedway rider. He was known for his exciting races. Nigel competed in many top-level speedway events. He even reached eight World Championship finals. He was a reserve rider in one other final.
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Nigel's Speedway Career
Nigel Boocock was born in Wakefield, England. He began his speedway career in 1955. His first team was the Bradford Tudors. After a few years with other teams, he joined the Coventry Bees in 1959. He stayed with the Bees for 18 seasons. This was a very long time for a rider to be with one team!
Achievements and Nickname
With the Coventry Bees, Nigel helped his team win the British League Championship in 1968. He was also the first English rider to win a big race called the FIM Internationale at Wimbledon.
Nigel was famous for wearing blue racing leathers. Most other riders wore black. Because of his blue gear, people nicknamed him "Little Boy Blue."
He often rode with his brother, Eric Boocock. They even finished third together in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals. Nigel was also a regular rider for the England International team. He was the captain for many years.
Nigel's Life Outside Speedway
Nigel Boocock married Cynthia Boon in 1958. They had three children: Victoria, Darren, and Mandy. Nigel visited Australia many times during his racing career. He went there with the British Lions and England teams. After he retired from racing, he and Cynthia moved to Australia. They lived in Maroubra, near Sydney.
Nigel loved speedway even after he stopped racing. He continued to support young riders. In 2006, he helped open a special junior speedway track. This track was for young riders in Adelaide, Australia. He joined other speedway legends for the opening. Nigel and another rider, John Boulger, even acted as starting marshals for the night. This showed his passion for helping new talent.
Nigel and Cynthia had grandchildren: Jack, Daniel, Carl, Thomas, and Liam. Nigel Boocock passed away on April 3, 2015, at the age of 77.
Competing on the World Stage
Nigel Boocock was a top international rider. He competed in many important world championships.
Individual World Championship Finals
Nigel rode in many Individual World Championship finals. He finished 7th in 1963 and 4th in 1969. These were great achievements against the best riders in the world.
World Team Cup Success
Nigel was a key part of the Great Britain team. He helped them win the Speedway World Team Cup in 1968. This was a huge victory for his country. He also helped the team finish second in 1960, 1969, and 1970. He was a strong team player.
