Mieczysław Połukard

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 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. He also toured the United Kingdom with the Polish national team during 1960 and one year later in 1961, the New Cross Rangers promoter Johnnie Hoskins unsuccessfully applied for his services to ride in the British leagues.

Accident 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 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 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 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 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 1960 - 4th place - 2 points (0,1,0,1) 1961 - World Champion - 5 points (2,1,2,-) 1962 - Bronze medal - 0 point (0)

World Final Appearances

Individual World Championship 1959 - London, Wembley Stadium - 12th - 5pts 1960 - London, Wembley Stadium - Reserve, did not ride

World Team Cup 1960 - Gothenburg, 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 1966 - Ufa/Moscow - 14th - 9pts