Mieczysław Połukard
 Połukard wins a race | |
| Born | 31 August 1930 Warsaw, Poland |
|---|---|
| Died | 26 October 1985 (aged 55) Bydgoszcz, Poland |
| Nationality | Polish |
| Career history | |
| Poland | |
| 1950 | Związkowiec Warszawa |
| 1951, 1954 | Spójnia Wrocław |
| 1952-1953 | CWKS Wrocław |
| 1955-1968 | Gwardia/Polonia Bydgoszcz |
| Individual honours | |
| 1954 | Polish Champion |
| Team honours | |
| 1955 | Polish League Champion |
| 1961 | World Team Cup Winner |
Mieczysław Połukard (1930 in Warsaw, Poland – 26 October 1985 in Bydgoszcz, Poland) was a Polish motorcycle speedway rider and coach, the first Polish rider to ride in the Individual World Championship Final in 1959 and won the World Team Cup in 1961.
Career
[edit]He began his racing career with Sparta Wrocław. In 1955 he moved to Polonia Bydgoszcz.
He was the first Polish rider to ride in the Individual World Championship Final (1959) where he finished 12th with 5 points. He also represented Poland in the World Team Cup three times, in 1960 (4th place), 1961 (gold medal) and 1962 (bronze medal).
He was Individual Polish Champion once in 1954. He also rode in Golden Helmet Finals, but he never finished high enough to win a medal. In 1956 he toured the United Kingdom with the Polish team, which cost £2,000 to organise and was paid by the Polish Motor Club and British authorities.[1] He also toured the United Kingdom with the Polish national team during 1960[2] and one year later in 1961, the New Cross Rangers promoter Johnnie Hoskins unsuccessfully applied for his services to ride in the British leagues.[3]
Accident
[edit]In 1968 he decided to retire. In his last match, he was involved in an accident on track, which resulted hospital treatment which required amputating his leg.
Death
[edit]He became a coach for Polonia Bydgoszcz. During track training sessions on the track he stood on the centre green coaching the riders. However, on 25 October 1985, a rider from Gorzów Wielkopolski lost control of his motorcycle and ran into Połukard, killing him.
Memorial
[edit]Since 1986 Criterium of Polish Speedway Leagues Aces, speedway meeting in Bydgoszcz who official opening of the new season, have a Mieczysław Połukard name (Polish: Kryterium Asów Polskich Lig Żużlowych im. Mieczysława Połukarda).
Honours
[edit]- Individual World Championship
- 1956 - 14th in Continental Final
- 1957 - 12th in Continental Semi-Final
- 1958 - 11th in Continental Quarter-Final
- 1959 - 12th place - 5 points (0,2,0,1,2) - First Polish rider in World Final
- 1960 - track reserve in World Final[4]
- 1961 - 15th in European Final
- 1962 - 12th in Continental Semi-Final
- 1963 - 10th in Continental Semi-Final
- 1964 - 10th in Continental Quarter-Final
- World Team Cup
World Final Appearances
[edit]Individual World Championship
[edit]- 1959 -
London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 5pts - 1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve, did not ride
World Team Cup
[edit]- 1960 -
Göteborg, Ullevi (with Konstanty Pociejkewicz / Marian Kaiser / Jan Malinowski) - 4th - 7pts (2) - 1961 -
Wrocław, Olympic Stadium (with Marian Kaiser / Henryk Żyto / Florian Kapała / Stanisław Tkocz) - Winner - 32pts (5) - 1962 -
Slaný (with Marian Kaiser / Florian Kapała / Joachim Maj / Paweł Waloszek) - 3rd - 20pts (0)
Individual Ice Speedway World Championship
[edit]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Polish speedway team visits England". Halifax Evening Courier. 4 May 1956. Retrieved 10 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Bees Take on Poland at Brandon". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 16 July 1960. Retrieved 11 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Searching for Poles". Sunday Mirror. 16 April 1961. Retrieved 6 September 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Bamford, R. & Shailes, G. (2002). A History of the World Speedway Championship. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. ISBN 0-7524-2402-5
