chunky Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 I usually provide answers in this section, but here, I am seeking one! This has bugged me for years, and I haven't been able to find a definitive answer. When did Ronnie Moore actually start representing New Zealand? I'm having a discussion with someone on Facebook at the moment. There was a painting of Ronnie (taken from a famous photo), and the guy wanted to know why the painting showed an Australian body-colour rather than a New Zealand one.The caption on the original photo (with Ronnie pulling a locker ahead of Jack Young and Freddie Williams) states that it was from a 1951 World Championship event. I don't think so; I get the feeling that it was from a Test Match - although I could be wrong. I explained that he represented Australia until 1953 or so, before switching to New Zealand. He argued, saying that he represented New Zealand in the World Championship in 1950 and 51. Why would he represent New Zealand in the World Championship when he was riding for Australia in Test Matches? Does anybody have a World Final programme from the early 50's where it actually states that he is representing Australia? I've seen programme covers, but I've never seen any inside pages/info. I did find an Australian newspaper that said he was riding as an Australian, but I don't consider that conclusive proof. Norbold? BL65? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOBBATH Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 I'd be interested in learning the answer to this myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iris123 Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 In this he mentions he went to England with a New Zealand passport, but in England they looked at him as an Australian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 Well you're in luck, Chunky, because I have all the World Final programmes from the 1950s. In 1950, 51 and 52 he is shown as representing Australia; from 1953 onwards it's New Zealand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 7 Author Report Share Posted June 7 52 minutes ago, norbold said: Well you're in luck, Chunky, because I have all the World Final programmes from the 1950s. In 1950, 51 and 52 he is shown as representing Australia; from 1953 onwards it's New Zealand. Thank you so much, Norman! That was exactly why I tagged you! I was 99% certain that he represented Aussie in at least the first three years, so now I can go back and tell the guy he was wrong... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bavarian Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 In the summer of 1953 Ronnie Moore for the last time rode for Australia in a test match against England at Wembley on August 13, 1953 http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/engvaus2.htm In the autumn of 1953 (after the world final) Ronnie rode for New Zealand in their first official test series in England. The first test was at Wimbledon on September 14, 1953. http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/engvnz.htm 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 2 hours ago, chunky said: Thank you so much, Norman! That was exactly why I tagged you! I was 99% certain that he represented Aussie in at least the first three years, so now I can go back and tell the guy he was wrong... I can send you a scan of the relevant pages in the programmes if he continues to argue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 7 Author Report Share Posted June 7 31 minutes ago, Bavarian said: In the summer of 1953 Ronnie Moore for the last time rode for Australia in a test match against England at Wembley on August 13, 1953 http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/engvaus2.htm In the autumn of 1953 (after the world final) Ronnie rode for New Zealand in their first official test series in England. The first test was at Wimbledon on September 14, 1953. http://www.internationalspeedway.co.uk/engvnz.htm Brian's website was one of the first places I checked! As I said though, I knew he was still riding for Australia in 1953, but the guy was adamant that he was representing New Zealand in the World Championship before then - which made no sense! Thanks. Incidentally, is anyone familiar with the photo I'm talking about? It said "World Championship", but I'm just not convinced... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 7 Report Share Posted June 7 1 hour ago, chunky said: Brian's website was one of the first places I checked! As I said though, I knew he was still riding for Australia in 1953, but the guy was adamant that he was representing New Zealand in the World Championship before then - which made no sense! Thanks. Incidentally, is anyone familiar with the photo I'm talking about? It said "World Championship", but I'm just not convinced... No. Which Facebook page is it on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 7 Author Report Share Posted June 7 49 minutes ago, norbold said: No. Which Facebook page is it on? It's on Speedway Scrapbook, but here is a link to it on the historicNZ website (top left) https://www.historicspeedway.co.nz/Moore, Ronnie.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted June 8 Report Share Posted June 8 (edited) 11 hours ago, chunky said: Incidentally, is anyone familiar with the photo I'm talking about? It said "World Championship", but I'm just not convinced... It is one of John Chaplin's photo's, from the 1951 test series. It is in The John Somerville Collection and shown as being at Wembley. Probably the first heat, which Norman Parker won, with Moore second and Williams third. Young fell. Edited June 8 by BL65 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norbold Posted June 8 Report Share Posted June 8 Just to add that Young, Williams and Moore didn't meet together in any heat in 1951. Nor did they meet together in any of the earlier rounds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chunky Posted June 8 Author Report Share Posted June 8 4 hours ago, BL65 said: It is one of John Chaplin's photo's, from the 1951 test series. It is in The John Somerville Collection and shown as being at Wembley. Probably the first heat, which Norman Parker won, with Moore second and Williams third. Young fell. From checking Brian's website, that was my conclusion. 4 hours ago, norbold said: Just to add that Young, Williams and Moore didn't meet together in any heat in 1951. Nor did they meet together in any of the earlier rounds. Again, that is what I figured. Thanks peeps, I appreciate your help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Split Posted June 10 Report Share Posted June 10 Born in Tasmania. So, can anybody tell us why he became a naturalised New Zealander? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BL65 Posted June 10 Report Share Posted June 10 41 minutes ago, Split said: Born in Tasmania. So, can anybody tell us why he became a naturalised New Zealander? The Moore family moved from Tasmania to New Zealand in 1948 when Ronnie was 14. Les Moore, Ronnie’s father, described his occupation in the late 1940s as ‘showman’, initially with Skulthorpe’s all-Australian rodeo and circus. He travelled around giving displays on his ‘wall of death’. Ronnie also tried and mastered the wall by 1947. As the family stayed in New Zealand, Ronnie opted to represent his adopted country. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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