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Merv Harding

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Merv Harding
Born8 March 1926 (1926-03-08)
Woodville, South Australia, Australia
Died7 March 1971(1971-03-07) (aged 44)
Port Adelaide, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Career history
1949–1952Ashfield Giants
1952–1953New Cross Rangers
1953Belle Vue Aces

Mervyn Welsley Harding (8 March 1926 – 7 March 1971) was an Australian international motorcycle speedway rider. He earned 11 international caps for the Australia national speedway team.[1]

Biography

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Harding, born in Woodville, South Australia, began his British leagues career riding for Ashfield Giants[2] during the 1949 Speedway National League Division Two season.[3] He impressed immediately averaging 8.85, second only behind fellow Australian Ken Le Breton in the team averages.[4]

He spent four year with the Scottish club, before joining New Cross Rangers in 1952.[5] In-between he reached the Championship round of the 1950 Individual Speedway World Championship, winning two qualifying rounds on the way.[6]

His British racing career came to an abrupt end when he crashed and fractured his skull in July 1953.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "ULTIMATE RIDER INDEX, 1929-2022" (PDF). British Speedway. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Bulldog Riders to oppose Young Stars of Wembley". Bristol Evening Post - Wednesday. 11 May 1949. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  3. ^ "1949 season". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Rider averages 1929 to 2009" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Year by Year". Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Duval in round three". Liverpool Echo. 6 July 1950. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  7. ^ "Aussie Speed men come North on three wheels". Manchester Evening News. 9 July 1953. Retrieved 7 January 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.