Geoff Mardon
Encyclopedia
Geoff Mardon is a former speedway
rider. He rode for the Aldershot Shots
, the Wimbledon Dons
and the Southampton Saints
.
and fellow Christchurch native Ivan Mauger
. He moved to England in 1951 and joined the third division team, Aldershot. He qualified as second reserve for the 1951 World Final
. The following year he transferred to the Wimbledon team. He rode in the 1953 World Final
and finished in 3rd place. In 1954 Mardon was one of the highest individual points scorers in the National League. He rode in the World final again and he won the Brandonapolis at Coventry. Later in the year he married Valerie Moore, the sister of Ronnie Moore
. At the beginning of 1955 he decided to retire and live in New Zealand. After a four year break Southampton persuaded him to return to British speedway in 1959. He rode the Saints for a year and he qualified for the World final.
Mardon won the 1964 New Zealand Championship
.
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
rider. He rode for the Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots
Aldershot Shots were a speedway team representing Aldershot, England.-Brief history:They first competed in the National League Division Three in 1950 and were based at Tongham Greyhound Stadium...
, the Wimbledon Dons
Wimbledon Dons
The Wimbledon Dons were a professional motorcycle speedway team who operated from the Wimbledon Stadium, Plough Lane in London.The track opened in 1928 and the Dons operated there from 1929 until 1991. They were closed during the Second World War but upon their re-opening in 1946 there were 42,000...
and the Southampton Saints
Southampton Saints
Southampton Saints were a speedway team which operated from 1928 until their closure in 1963. Their track was located at Banister Court Stadium in Southampton, Hampshire....
.
Career
Mardon began riding at the Aranui Speedway in Christchurch in 1949, the same track that would later start the career of six time World ChampionSpeedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
and fellow Christchurch native Ivan Mauger
Ivan Mauger
Ivan Mauger, OBE, MBE, is a retired motorcycle speedway rider. He won a record six World Championships, a feat only equalled by Tony Rickardsson of Sweden...
. He moved to England in 1951 and joined the third division team, Aldershot. He qualified as second reserve for the 1951 World Final
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
. The following year he transferred to the Wimbledon team. He rode in the 1953 World Final
Speedway World Championship
The World Championship of Speedway is an international competition between the highest ranked motorcycle speedway riders of the world. Today, it is organised as a series of Speedway Grand Prix events, where points are awarded according to performance in the event and tallied up at the end of each...
and finished in 3rd place. In 1954 Mardon was one of the highest individual points scorers in the National League. He rode in the World final again and he won the Brandonapolis at Coventry. Later in the year he married Valerie Moore, the sister of Ronnie Moore
Ronnie Moore (speedway rider)
Ronnie Moore MBE is a former international Speedway rider. His family moved to New Zealand when he was still a child and although Moore was born in Australia, he has always considered himself to be a New Zealander....
. At the beginning of 1955 he decided to retire and live in New Zealand. After a four year break Southampton persuaded him to return to British speedway in 1959. He rode the Saints for a year and he qualified for the World final.
Mardon won the 1964 New Zealand Championship
New Zealand Individual Speedway Championship
The New Zealand Individual Speedway Championship is a Motorcycle speedway championship held each year to determine the New Zealand national champion. The championship has been running since 1929 though it has only been running each year since 1958...
.
World Final Appearances
- 19511951 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1951 Individual Speedway World Championship.Speedway riders from Sweden, Scotland and Republic of South Africa was started in World Championship first time...
-
LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - Did Not Ride - 19531953 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1953 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*17 September 1953 London, Wembley Stadium...
- LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 12pts - 19541954 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1954 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 15, 1954 London, Wembley Stadium...
- LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 11th - 5pts - 19591959 Individual Speedway World ChampionshipThe 1959 Individual Speedway World Championship.-World final:*September 19, 1959 London, Wembley Stadium...
- LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts