Eric Boocock: Difference between revisions

Eric Boocock
Born	28 February 1945 (age 79); Dewsbury, England
Nationality	British (English)
Career history
1961–1964	Middlesbrough Bears
1964	Long Eaton Archers
1965–1974, 1983	Halifax Dukes
Individual honours
1974	British Champion
1970	Northern Riders Champion
1968	NSW State Champion
Team honours
1966	British League Champion
1966	British League KO Cup
1966	Northern Cup Winner

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Latest revision as of 06:18, 1 January 2025

Eric Henry Boocock (born 28 February 1945 in Dewsbury, England)^[1] is a former motorcycle speedway rider who appeared in three Speedway World Championship finals.^[2] He was the joint manager of the Great Britain national speedway team with Colin Pratt and earned 53 international caps for the England national speedway team and 37 caps for Great Britain.^[3]

Career

Eric Boocock started his career with the Middlesbrough Bears in 1961^[4] and stayed there until the promotion closed in 1964. The promoter, Reg Fearman opened up a speedway track at The Shay in Halifax and moved his Middlesbrough riders there, to form the Halifax Dukes. Boocock spent his entire career with the Dukes from 1965,^[5] winning the British League and the KO Cup in 1966.^[6] He made three World final appearances and appeared with brother Nigel Boocock in the 1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship finals, finishing in third place.^[7] He was also a regular England International rider.

He became British Champion in 1974 after finishing on the rostrum three times previously. The same season he became the first rider to gain a testimonial meeting for his services to speedway and then retired as a racer at the early age of twenty-nine. He appeared again briefly for the Halifax Dukes in 1983 but retired shortly after.^[8]

Manager and promoter

In 1975, he became team manager of the Belle Vue Aces, where he stayed for seven seasons. In 1976, he also helped Peter Collins win the Speedway World Championship by stripping, cleaning and rebuilding his clutch between heats in the final. In 1980, he became coach of England, with Ian Thomas as team manager, winning the World Team Cup and the Speedway World Pairs Championship, and with Michael Lee also becoming World Champion. In 1982, he had a season as England team manager, and in 1986, he was appointed joint manager with Colin Pratt, with whom he spent seven years at the helm.

In 2004, he became co-promoter of the Hull Vikings, and they won the Premier League, the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield. He then went on to be team manager the Belle Vue Aces with Chris Morton. In 2008, he became co-promoter and manager at the Sheffield Tigers. He has served several terms on the British Speedway Promoters' Association management committee.

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship

1967 – London, Wembley Stadium – 7th – 9pts
1971 – Göteborg, Ullevi – 11th – 4pts
1972 – London, Wembley Stadium – 15th – 2pts

World Pairs Championship

1970 – Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Nigel Boocock) – 3rd – 19pts (13)

World Team Cup

1967 – Malmö, Malmö Stadion (with Ray Wilson / Barry Briggs / Ivan Mauger / Colin Pratt) – 3rd= – 19pts (5)
1970 – London, Wembley Stadium (with Ivan Mauger / Barry Briggs / Nigel Boocock / Ray Wilson) – 2nd – 31pts (5)

References

^ Boocock, E. & Neal, M. (2006). Booey. Retro Speedway. ISBN 978-0-9551176-6-4
^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
^ "Mattingly shines at Poole". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 10 June 1961. Retrieved 15 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Coventry's unchanged line-up". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 15 September 1965. Retrieved 20 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
^ "Zapomniane turnieje: Mistrzostwa Świata Par (część 1)" (in Polish). SportoweFakty.pl. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.
^ Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 515. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.

[1] Boocock, E. & Neal, M. (2006). Booey. Retro Speedway. ISBN 978-0-9551176-6-4

[2] Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5

[URI-3] "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

[4] "Mattingly shines at Poole". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 10 June 1961. Retrieved 15 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[5] "Coventry's unchanged line-up". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 15 September 1965. Retrieved 20 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[6] "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 28 October 2023.

[7] "Zapomniane turnieje: Mistrzostwa Świata Par (część 1)" (in Polish). SportoweFakty.pl. 9 July 2009. Retrieved 9 July 2009.

[8] Montague, Trevor (2004). The A-Z of Sport. Little, Brown. p. 515. ISBN 0-316-72645-1.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|British motorcycle speedway rider}}
-{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2012}}
+{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
 {{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
 {{Infobox Speedway rider
 | image = Eric Boocock.jpg
 | name= Eric Boocock
-| nationality = [[United Kingdom|England]]
+| nationality = British (English)
-| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|2|2|df=y}}
+| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1945|2|28|df=y}}
-| birth_place = [[Dewsbury]], [[England]]
+| birth_place = [[Dewsbury]], England
-| website =
-| retired = Manager
+| years1 = 1961–1964
-| manager = [[Sheffield Tigers]]
+| career1 = [[Middlesbrough Bears]]
+| years2 = 1964
-| career = [[Middlesbrough Bears]]<br>[[Halifax Dukes]]
+| career2 = [[Long Eaton Archers]]
-| years = 1961-1964<br>1965-1974, 1983
+| years3 = 1965–1974, 1983
-| indivhonour = [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]]<br>[[Northern Riders' Championship|Northern Riders Champion]]<br>[[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Champion]] (Aust)
+| career3 = [[Halifax Dukes]]
-| indivyear = 1974<br>1970<br>1968
+| indivyear1 = 1974
-| teamhonour = [[British League|British League Champion]]<br>[[British League Knockout Cup|British League Knockout Cup Winner]]<br>Northern Cup Winner
+| indivhonour1 = [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]]
-| teamyear = 1966<br>1966<br>1966
+| indivyear2 = 1970
+| indivhonour2 = [[Northern Riders' Championship|Northern Riders Champion]]
+| indivyear3 = 1968
+| indivhonour3 = [[New South Wales Individual Speedway Championship|NSW State Champion]]
+| teamyear1 = 1966
+| teamhonour1 = [[British League|British League Champion]]
+| teamyear2 = 1966
+| teamhonour2 = [[British League Knockout Cup|British League KO Cup]]
+| teamyear3 = 1966
+| teamhonour3 = Northern Cup Winner
 }}
-'''Eric Boocock''' (born 2 February 1945 in [[Dewsbury]], [[Yorkshire]], [[England]])<ref>Boocock, E. & Neal, M. (2006). ''Booey''. Retro Speedway. ISBN 978-0-9551176-6-4</ref> is a former [[Motorcycle speedway|Speedway]] rider who appeared in three [[Speedway World Championship]] finals.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5</ref>
+'''Eric Henry Boocock''' (born 28 February 1945 in [[Dewsbury]], England)<ref>Boocock, E. & Neal, M. (2006). ''Booey''. Retro Speedway. {{ISBN|978-0-9551176-6-4}}</ref> is a former [[motorcycle speedway]] rider who appeared in three [[Speedway World Championship]] finals.<ref>Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). ''A History of the World Speedway Championship''. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. {{ISBN|0-7524-2402-5}}</ref> He was the joint manager of the [[Great Britain national speedway team]] with [[Colin Pratt]] and earned 53 international caps for the [[England national speedway team]] and 37 caps for Great Britain.<ref name=URI>{{cite web |url=https://britishspeedway.co.uk/docs/Ultimate_Index_1929-2022.pdf |title=ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022 |website=British Speedway |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref>
-==Career==
-Eric started his career with the [[Middlesbrough Bears]] in 1961 and stayed there until the promotion closed in 1964. The promoter, [[Reg Fearman]] opened up a speedway track at [[The Shay]] in Halifax and moved his Middlesbrough riders there, to form the [[Halifax Dukes]].  Eric spent his entire career with the Dukes, winning the British League and the KO Cup in 1966.
-He made three World final appearances and appeared with brother [[Nigel Boocock]] in the 1970 [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]] finals, finishing in third place. He was also a regular England International rider.
-Eric became [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]] in 1974 after finishing on the rostrum three times previously. The same season he became the first rider to gain a testimonial meeting for his services to speedway and then retired as a racer at the early age of twenty-nine. He appeared again briefly for the [[Halifax Dukes]] in 1983 but retired again very quickly.
-==Manager and Promoter==
-In 1975, Eric became team manager of the [[Belle Vue Aces]] where he stayed for seven seasons. In 1976 he also helped [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]] win the [[Speedway World Championship]] by stripping, cleaning and rebuilding his clutch between heats in the final, and by keeping away an attempt by the Polish contingent to put off Collins who were making irrational protests over his fuel.
+== Career ==
-In 1980 he became coach of England with Ian Thomas as team manager, winning the World Team Cup and the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]], with [[Michael Lee (speedway rider)|Michael Lee]] also becoming [[Speedway World Championship|World Champion]]. In 1982 Eric had a season as England team manager and then in 1986 he was appointed joint manager with [[Colin Pratt]] with whom he spent seven years at the helm.
+Eric Boocock started his career with the [[Middlesbrough Bears]] in 1961<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19610610/434/0037 |title=Mattingly shines at Poole |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=10 June 1961 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 September 2024}}</ref> and stayed there until the promotion closed in 1964. The promoter, [[Reg Fearman]] opened up a speedway track at [[The Shay]] in Halifax and moved his Middlesbrough riders there, to form the [[Halifax Dukes]]. Boocock spent his entire career with the Dukes from 1965,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19650915/306/0024 |title=Coventry's unchanged line-up |website=Coventry Evening Telegraph |date=15 September 1965 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=20 September 2024}}</ref> winning the British League and the KO Cup in 1966.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedwayresearcher.org.uk/yearbyyear.html |title=Year by Year |website=Speedway Researcher |access-date=28 October 2023}}</ref> He made three World final appearances and appeared with brother [[Nigel Boocock]] in the 1970 [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]] finals, finishing in third place.<ref>{{cite web | title = Zapomniane turnieje: Mistrzostwa Świata Par (część 1) | language = Polish | publisher = SportoweFakty.pl | date = 2009-07-09 | url = http://www.sportowefakty.pl/zuzel/2009/07/09/zapomniane-turnieje-mistrzostwa-swiata-par-czesc-1/ | accessdate = 2009-07-09 }}</ref> He was also a regular England International rider.
+He became [[British Speedway Championship|British Champion]] in 1974 after finishing on the rostrum three times previously. The same season he became the first rider to gain a testimonial meeting for his services to speedway and then retired as a racer at the early age of twenty-nine. He appeared again briefly for the [[Halifax Dukes]] in 1983 but retired shortly after.<ref>{{cite book|last=Montague|first=Trevor|title=The A-Z of Sport|year=2004|page=515|publisher=Little, Brown|isbn=0-316-72645-1}}</ref>
-In 2004 Eric became co-promoter of the [[Hull Vikings]] where they won the [[Premier League (speedway)|Premier League]], the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield. He then went on to team manager the [[Belle Vue Aces]] with [[Chris Morton]].
+===Manager and promoter===
-In 2008 Eric became co-promoter and manager at the [[Sheffield Tigers]].
+In 1975, he became team manager of the [[Belle Vue Aces]], where he stayed for seven seasons. In 1976, he also helped [[Peter Collins (speedway rider)|Peter Collins]] win the [[Speedway World Championship]] by stripping, cleaning and rebuilding his clutch between heats in the final. In 1980, he became coach of England, with Ian Thomas as team manager, winning the World Team Cup and the [[Speedway World Pairs Championship]], and with [[Michael Lee (speedway rider)|Michael Lee]] also becoming [[Speedway World Championship|World Champion]]. In 1982, he had a season as England team manager, and in 1986, he was appointed joint manager with [[Colin Pratt]], with whom he spent seven years at the helm.
-Has served several terms on the [[British Speedway Promoters' Association]] management committee.
+In 2004, he became co-promoter of the [[Hull Vikings]], and they won the [[Premier League (speedway)|Premier League]], the Knock-Out Cup and the Craven Shield. He then went on to be team manager the Belle Vue Aces with [[Chris Morton]]. In 2008, he became co-promoter and manager at the [[Sheffield Tigers]]. He has served several terms on the [[British Speedway Promoters' Association]] management committee.
 ==World Final Appearances==
 ===Individual World Championship===
-* [[1967 Individual Speedway World Championship|1967]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 7th - 9pts
+* [[1967 Individual Speedway World Championship|1967]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] – 7th – 9pts
-* [[1971 Individual Speedway World Championship|1971]] - {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Göteborg]], [[Ullevi]] - 11th - 4pts
+* [[1971 Individual Speedway World Championship|1971]] – {{Flagicon|SWE}} [[Göteborg]], [[Ullevi]] – 11th – 4pts
-* [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]] - 15th - 2pts
+* [[1972 Individual Speedway World Championship|1972]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium – 15th – 2pts
 ===World Pairs Championship===
-* [[1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1970]] - {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö]], [[Malmö Stadion]] (with [[Nigel Boocock]]) - '''3rd''' - 19pts (13)
+* [[1970 Speedway World Pairs Championship|1970]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö]], [[Malmö Stadion]] (with [[Nigel Boocock]]) – '''3rd''' – 19pts (13)
 ===World Team Cup===
-* [[1967 Speedway World Team Cup|1967]] - {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö]], [[Malmö Stadion]] (with [[Ray Wilson (speedway rider)|Ray Wilson]] / [[Barry Briggs]] / [[Ivan Mauger]] / [[Colin Pratt]]) - '''3rd=''' - 19pts (5)
+* [[1967 Speedway World Team Cup|1967]] – {{flagicon|SWE}} [[Malmö]], Malmö Stadion (with [[Ray Wilson (speedway rider)|Ray Wilson]] / [[Barry Briggs]] / [[Ivan Mauger]] / [[Colin Pratt]]) – '''3rd=''' – 19pts (5)
-* [[1970 Speedway World Team Cup|1970]] - {{Flagicon|GBR}} [[London]], [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]]  (with [[Ivan Mauger]] / [[Barry Briggs]] / [[Nigel Boocock]] / [[Ray Wilson (speedway rider)|Ray Wilson]]) - '''2nd''' - 31pts (5)
+* [[1970 Speedway World Team Cup|1970]] – {{Flagicon|ENG}} London, Wembley Stadium (with Ivan Mauger / [[Barry Briggs]] / [[Nigel Boocock]] / Ray Wilson) – '''2nd''' – 31pts (5)
 ==References==
@@ Line 62: / Line 65: @@
 [[Category:Sportspeople from Dewsbury]]
 [[Category:Speedway promoters]]
-[[Category:British Speedway Championship champions]]
+[[Category:British Speedway Championship winners]]
 [[Category:Halifax Dukes riders]]
+[[Category:Long Eaton Archers riders]]
 [[Category:Middlesbrough Bears riders]]
+[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]