Oldest Surviving World Finalists

[BOBBATH]

The oldest 16 surviving World Finalist list was last updated in 2011 and sadly we have lost a couple since then e.g. Fred Williams. can anybody e.g. Tiger Owl update the list(plus 2 "reserves") . Incidentally Cyril Roger was top of the last list in 2011 and Cyril would now be 101(born 27.12.1921) assuming he's still with us. Hope so.

[norbold]

"Cyril would now be 101(born 27.12.1921)"

 

Er......?????

[tigerowl]

With apologies for any riders on the list who are no longer with us I reckon the list would now read:

 

1. Cyril Roger - 91 - born 27.12.1921

2. Split Waterman - 89 (27.7.1923)

3. Danny Dunton - 89 (13.5.1924)

4. Arthur Payne - 88 (30.8.1924)

5. Dick Bradley - 88 (28.11.1924)

6. Fred Brand - 88 (3.2.1925)

7. Chum Taylor - 86 (4.4.1927)

8. Eric Boothroyd - 86 (26.4.1927)

9. Derick Close - 86 - (13.5.1927)

10. Geoff Mardon - 85 (24.11.1927)

11. Billy Bales - 84 (6.6.1929)

12. Olle Nygren - 83 (11.11.1929)

13. Rune Sormander - 83 (29.11.1929)

14. Jack Geran - 83 (10.12.1989)

15. Bryan Elliott - 83 (12.4.1930)

16. Ron Johnston - 82 (31.12.1930)

 

17. George White - 82 (24.5.1931)

18. Ian Williams - 81 (4..8.1931)

[BOBBATH]

Thanx Tigerowl-greatly appreciated. Apologies to Norbold and Cyril Roger(can't get used to this metric system!!)-still I hope Cyril is with us at 101 nevertheless. Lets hope we don't lose any more for a while yet!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

With apologies for any riders on the list who are no longer with us I reckon the list would now read:

 

1. Cyril Roger - 91 - born 27.12.1921

2. Split Waterman - 89 (27.7.1923)

3. Danny Dunton - 89 (13.5.1924)

4. Arthur Payne - 88 (30.8.1924)

5. Dick Bradley - 88 (28.11.1924)

6. Fred Brand - 88 (3.2.1925)

7. Chum Taylor - 86 (4.4.1927)

8. Eric Boothroyd - 86 (26.4.1927)

9. Derick Close - 86 - (13.5.1927)

10. Geoff Mardon - 85 (24.11.1927)

11. Billy Bales - 84 (6.6.1929)

12. Olle Nygren - 83 (11.11.1929)

13. Rune Sormander - 83 (29.11.1929)

14. Jack Geran - 83 (10.12.1989)

15. Bryan Elliott - 83 (12.4.1930)

16. Ron Johnston - 82 (31.12.1930)

 

17. George White - 82 (24.5.1931)

18. Ian Williams - 81 (4..8.1931)

 

Jimmie Gibb, West Ham and Canada, qualified as a reserve for the 1938 World Championship. He was still known to be alive in Canada late last year, then aged 101 years.

[tigerowl]

Thanks for that - and he would have been number one on the list had he appeared in a World Final.

[TonyMac]

We understand that Cyril Roger is still around and, indeed, we hope to interview him soon for Classic Speedway mag.

Edited June 12, 2013 by tmc

[Guest]

With apologies for any riders on the list who are no longer with us I reckon the list would now read:

 

1. Cyril Roger - 91 - born 27.12.1921

2. Split Waterman - 89 (27.7.1923)

3. Danny Dunton - 89 (13.5.1924)

4. Arthur Payne - 88 (30.8.1924)

5. Dick Bradley - 88 (28.11.1924)

6. Fred Brand - 88 (3.2.1925)

7. Chum Taylor - 86 (4.4.1927)

8. Eric Boothroyd - 86 (26.4.1927)

9. Derick Close - 86 - (13.5.1927)

10. Geoff Mardon - 85 (24.11.1927)

11. Billy Bales - 84 (6.6.1929)

12. Olle Nygren - 83 (11.11.1929)

13. Rune Sormander - 83 (29.11.1929)

14. Jack Geran - 83 (10.12.1989)

15. Bryan Elliott - 83 (12.4.1930)

16. Ron Johnston - 82 (31.12.1930)

 

17. George White - 82 (24.5.1931)

18. Ian Williams - 81 (4..8.1931)

Jimmie Gibb, West Ham and Canada, qualified as a reserve for the 1938 World Championship. He was still known to be alive in Canada late last year, then aged 101 years.

 

Henry Long (South Africa) qualified for the 1952 World Championship. He scored seven points - a third place, last place, then three seconds for seven points. Henry is now in his mid-80s.

Edited June 23, 2013 by Guest

[tigerowl]

Just read on the old time speedway message board that Henry is still alive. I think he was born in 1925 which would put him 6th or 7th on the list.

[BOBBATH]

Anyone in forumland know Henry's actual d.o.b.

[Guest]

Just read on the old time speedway message board that Henry is still alive. I think he was born in 1925 which would put him 6th or 7th on the list.

Anyone in forumland know Henry's actual d.o.b.

 

The excellent A-Z of Speedway only gives Henry Long's date of birth as circa 1925.

[TwoMinuteWarning]

Just as an update, I saw Rune Sormander at Nassjo Speedway, Sweden, on Saturday, looking very well at 84. He was selling copies of his autobiography (25 quid!).

 

A Swedish post-war great, along with Olle Nygren. Rune said he was 3 days older than Olle, which disagrees with earlier information on this thread, but he was very difficult to talk to, as he speaks little English these days, so maybe I misunderstood.

[tigerowl]

I've just seen what looks like a comprehensive review of Henry Long's career on a South African speedway website and it gives Henry's date of birth as July 1927. Taking that to be correct, I think the current list looks like this:

 

1. Cyril Roger - 92 - born 27.12.1921
2. Split Waterman - 90 (27.7.1923)
3. Danny Dunton - 90 (13.5.1924)
4. Arthur Payne - 89 (30.8.1924)
5. Dick Bradley - 89 (28.11.1924)
6. Fred Brand - 89 (3.2.1925)
7. Chum Taylor - 87 (4.4.1927)
8. Eric Boothroyd - 87 (26.4.1927)
9. Derick Close - 87 - (13.5.1927)

10. Henry Long - 86 (?.7.27)
11. Geoff Mardon - 86 (24.11.1927)
12. Billy Bales - 85 (6.6.1929)
13. Olle Nygren - 84 (11.11.1929)
14. Rune Sormander - 84 (29.11.1929)
15. Jack Geran - 84 (10.12.1929)
16. Bryan Elliott - 84 (12.4.1930)

17. Ron Johnston - 83 (31.12.1930)
18. George White - 83 (24.5.1931)
19. Ian Williams - 82 (4..8.1931)

[Guest]

I've just seen what looks like a comprehensive review of Henry Long's career on a South African speedway website and it gives Henry's date of birth as July 1927. Taking that to be correct, I think the current list looks like this:

 

1. Cyril Roger - 92 - born 27.12.1921

2. Split Waterman - 90 (27.7.1923)

3. Danny Dunton - 90 (13.5.1924)

4. Arthur Payne - 89 (30.8.1924)

5. Dick Bradley - 89 (28.11.1924)

6. Fred Brand - 89 (3.2.1925)

7. Chum Taylor - 87 (4.4.1927)

8. Eric Boothroyd - 87 (26.4.1927)

9. Derick Close - 87 - (13.5.1927)

10. Henry Long - 86 (?.7.27)

11. Geoff Mardon - 86 (24.11.1927)

12. Billy Bales - 85 (6.6.1929)

13. Olle Nygren - 84 (11.11.1929)

14. Rune Sormander - 84 (29.11.1929)

15. Jack Geran - 84 (10.12.1929)

16. Bryan Elliott - 84 (12.4.1930)

17. Ron Johnston - 83 (31.12.1930)

18. George White - 83 (24.5.1931)

19. Ian Williams - 82 (4..8.1931)

Canadian Jimmy Gibb (then West Ham), a 1938 world finalist reserve, was known to be alive at 101 years about 12 months ago. I have never heard or seen to contradict that fact.

[tigerowl]

He was a non-riding reserve I believe, so haven't included him in the list.

[norbold]

Ron Johnston has sadly just died. A great rider and such a friendly and helpful man. I contacted him several times over the years to ask for information or his personal memories. He was always very patient and helpful, spending a lot of time giving me full answers and also sent me some photographs. He will be very sadly missed.

[The White Knight]

R.I.P. + Ron.

[britmet]

I've just seen what looks like a comprehensive review of Henry Long's career on a South African speedway website and it gives Henry's date of birth as July 1927.

Just caught up with this topic.

HENRY LONG celebrated his 87th on Saturday, (dob 26.7.1927)

Still with impish humour over the phone, he had a few days in hospital earlier this month with a lung infection, but okay now. His mobility is a little dodgy, - the knees! (How many speedway rider who make it to this decade won't be?)

He has been good enough to pass over his collection of South African memorabilia (and some from his Belle Vue time,) which is in the process of being archived onto the Speedway-SA website,

.

He was, of course, a team-mate of Ron Johnston in the latter's early years at Belle Vue.

[mickthemuppet]

Is it quite incredible that how dangerous this sport of Speedway is that so many live to a grand old age

[Mike.Butler]

maybe they got used to 'having a fall' when young and it doesnt affect them so much in later years