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Oldest Survivng World Finalists


BOBBATH

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Do you remember we had a topic on this item some years ago 16 names + 2 reserves. Can someone help me reconstruct it as many folks on the list e.g. Cyril Roger, Fred Williams, Brian Elliott etc have passed away. I am sure Split must be #1 and Dick Bradley maybe #2. I would guess a number of riders born in the thirties who are now in their eighties would now qualify so we would be getting into the riders we all know e.g. Briggo, Ove, Ivan etc, Henry Long if still with us would surely make the list Peo Soderman also. What do forymlanders reckon the list would look like now?

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Do you remember we had a topic on this item some years ago 16 names + 2 reserves. Can someone help me reconstruct it as many folks on the list e.g. Cyril Roger, Fred Williams, Brian Elliott etc have passed away. I am sure Split must be #1 and Dick Bradley maybe #2. I would guess a number of riders born in the thirties who are now in their eighties would now qualify so we would be getting into the riders we all know e.g. Briggo, Ove, Ivan etc, Henry Long if still with us would surely make the list Peo Soderman also. What do forymlanders reckon the list would look like now?

Ove Fundin must have a few years under his belt I would think. 'Varg' Olle Nygren too I reckon.

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Ove Fundin must have a few years under his belt I would think. 'Varg' Olle Nygren too I reckon.

As it happens, it's Olle Nygren's 88th birthday today. Ove Fundin is 84.

 

Incidentally, I saw them both a couple of weeks ago at the Norwich WSRA lunch. They both look as fit as the proverbial fiddles.

Edited by norbold
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As it happens, it's Olle Nygren's 88th birthday today. Ove Fundin is 84.

 

Incidentally, I saw them both a couple of weeks ago at the Norwich WSRA lunch. They both look as fit as the proverbial fiddles.

That's good to hear. :t:

 

Cheers norbold. :t::)

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Check out page 17 of Years gone by Bob......it was only last year this was discussed....but an update would be good!

Thanx Roger-btw I really miss the speedway at Paris

Checked out page 17 of "years gone by" but don't see any oldest surviving World Finalists post there-although people did put lists up of their favourite riders-I also searched for"oldest surviving world finalists" and couldn't find anything there either. Help!!

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Just try searching for world finalist or oldest or chum Taylor or even bobbath.it is there from last year and even that was a new thread asking for updates....

'Link'?

 

To save BOBBATH some trouble. :t::)

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On my mobile i don't know how to save and post links,sorry

 

No probs iris123. :t:

Do you remember we had a topic on this item some years ago 16 names + 2 reserves. Can someone help me reconstruct it as many folks on the list e.g. Cyril Roger, Fred Williams, Brian Elliott etc have passed away. I am sure Split must be #1 and Dick Bradley maybe #2. I would guess a number of riders born in the thirties who are now in their eighties would now qualify so we would be getting into the riders we all know e.g. Briggo, Ove, Ivan etc, Henry Long if still with us would surely make the list Peo Soderman also. What do forymlanders reckon the list would look like now?

Try this 'Link':

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=81452&hl=oldest

 

ro this:

 

http://www.speedway-forum.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=73713&page=2&hl=oldest&do=findComment&comment=2565100

Edited by The White Knight
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Thanks TWK, so the last we had was this:

 

 

1. Split Waterman (England) 92 years - born 27/7/23

2. Arthur Payne (Australia) 91 years - born 30/8/24

3. Dick Bradley (England) 91 years - born 28/11/24

4. Fred Brand (England) 91 years - born 3/2/25

5. Chum Taylor (Australia) 89 years - born 4/4/27

6. Eric Boothroyd (England) 89 years tomorrow - born 26/4/27

7. Derick Close (England) 88 years - born 13/5/27

8. Henry Long (South Africa) 88 years - born 26/7/27

9. Billy Bales (England) 86 years - born 6/6/29

10. Olle Nygren (Sweden) - 86 years - born 11/11/29

11. Rune Sormander (Sweden) - 86 years - born 29/11/29

12. Jack Geran (Australia) - 86 years - born 10/12/29

13. George White (England) - 84 years - born 24/5/31

14. Ian Williams (Wales) - 84 years - born 4/8/31

15. Per Tage Svensson (Sweden) - 84 years - born 16/10/31

16. Peo Soedermann (Sweden) - 83 years - born - 29/10/32

 

17. Ronnie Moore (New Zealand) 83 years - born 8/3/33

18. Ove Fundin (Sweden) - 82 years - born 23/5/33

19. Arthur Wright (England) - 82 years - born 14/10/33

 

The ages are wrong now though!

Edited by norbold
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Sadly according to an internet search Fred Brand passed away at age 91

Also Arthur Wright passed away in November 2016-not sure about Arthur payne

So Ronnie Moore is promoted to the top 16, which probably gives us a clear winner when the meeting is held! (Mind you, the meeting had better be held soon, before Ove joins them next!)

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Bavaria's very own, and Germany's first speedway world finalist of 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960, Josef "Wack" Hofmeister" is still around and in very good shape. Don't know exactly how old he is though.

 

Josef Hofmeister was born in Abensberg, Bavaria, on the 17th of June, 1934, so he is not far off now .

 

Another soon to enter the top 20 is a certain Barry Briggs, born 30 Dec 1934

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Anybody know if Arthur Payne is still with us??

Also if the meeting were held who would win between Ronnie and Split when both riders were at their peak??

Yes, I think Arthur Payne is still with us.....Not sure about his birth date though, what I can find is, he was born 28.8.23 making him 94 now!

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