Mick Ashdown Wins Sussex Sprint Championship
It was a proud moment for the Rye and District Wheelers when the club’s top track rider, Mike Ashdown, out-rode all competition and became the 1966 Sussex Sprint Champion. The event took place at Preston Park Track on Wednesday, 22nd June.
The 1,000 metre Sprint Championship is the top cycling event in the county and riders from far and wide gave of their best. The stakes were high, the winner has the honour of representing Sussex at the Meeting of Champions to be held at Herne Hill track in September.
Mike Ashdown was on top form, winning his heats and semi-final with no great difficulty. In the final he dominated the race and his fantastic sprint finish had the crowd gasping in astonishment. All opposition was crushed and Mike stormed over the’ finishing line a worthy Champion.
Mike, (who comes from a well known cycling family, his father and uncles are remembered in Rye for their pre-war prowess at the local sports meetings), is the first Sussex Sprint Champion the club has produced. If he rides with the same power and determination at the Meeting of Champions there is no telling what other honours will fall on the shoulders of this promising young cyclist.
From Rye’s Own August 1966