Geoff Mardon

Geoff Mardon

Born	(1927-11-24)24 November 1927 Christchurch, New Zealand
Died	6 August 2015(2015-08-06) (aged 87) Christchurch, New Zealand
Career history
1951	Aldershot Shots
1952–1954	Wimbledon Dons
1959	Southampton Saints
Individual honours
1954	Brandonapolis
1964	New Zealand Champion
Team honours
1954	National League Champions
1953	National Trophy
1954	RAC Cup Winner

Geoffrey Cyril Mardon (24 November 1927 – 6 August 2015) was a New Zealand motorcycle speedway rider.^[1][2] He earned 10 caps for the New Zealand national speedway team.^[3]

Career

Mardon began riding at the Aranui Speedway in Christchurch in 1949, the same track that would later start the careers of World Champions and fellow Christchurch natives Barry Briggs and Ivan Mauger. He moved to England in 1951 and joined the third division team, Aldershot Shots.^[4] He qualified as second reserve for the 1951 World Final. The following year he moved up the first division to ride for the Wimbledon Dons. He rode in the 1953 World Final and finished in 3rd place.^[5] In 1954 Mardon was the third highest individual points scorer 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 Saints persuaded him to return to British speedway in 1959. He rode for the Saints for a year and qualified for the World final. He continued to race when he returned to New Zealand and in 1964 he won the New Zealand Championship.

Mardon also raced cars. In 1954, he competed in an Erskine Staride in England and in 1958 he drove a RA Vanguard in the Lady Wigram Trophy race.^[6] In the mid 1960s he drove a New Zealand built sportscar, the Stanton Corvette and in 1970 and 1971 he drove for the Begg Chevrolet Formula 5000 team in the Tasman Series and the New Zealand Gold Star Championship.^[7]

He died on 6 August 2015 in Christchurch.^[8]

World final appearances

Mardon had four appearances in world championship finals:^[9]

• 1951 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve - Did Not Ride
• 1953 - London, Wembley Stadium - 3rd - 12pts
• 1954 - London, Wembley Stadium - 11th - 5pts
• 1959 - London, Wembley Stadium - 10th - 6pts

References

1. Holmes, Tracy (13 August 2009). "Riders to Remember....Geoff Mardon". Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
2. Crozier, I. "The first of the kiwi greats" in Ivan Mauger's Speedway Spectacular. London: Pelham. ISBN 0-7207-0725-0
3. "Ultimate rider index, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
4. "Walthamstow rider joins Aldershot speedway team". Aldershot News. 23 February 1951. Retrieved 27 August 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
5. Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
6. Vercoe, Graham (1993). The Golden Era of New Zealand Motor Racing. Reed. p. 84. ISBN 0790003023.
7. "Obituary: Trail-blazer for three Canty World champions". The Press. Christchurch. 24 October 2015. p. 44.
8. "RIP - Geoff Mardon". Motorcycling New Zealand. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2015.
9. Jones, M. (1979). World Speedway Final : a history from 1929. London: MacDonald & Jane's. ISBN 0-354-08551-4