David Edward RICKETTS

David Ricketts, Alan Geldard, Wilf Waters and Tommy Godwin had just ten days to prepare together before the team pursuit at the 1948 Olympics. Their preparations were thrown into further disarray when manager Bill Bailey walked out on the eve of the Games, over star rider Reg Harris’s refusal to train with the rest of the squad. The replacement coach, Harry Ryan, a former Olympic tandem gold medalist, knew nothing about pursuit riding, and this meant the British four had to work out a strategy for themselves, and it took them to a bronze medal.

Ricketts started racing before World War II, and in 1939 won the National Open Handicap 880-yard title and was beaten in the final of the National Sprint Championships at Herne Hill. He was selected for the British team at the Word Championship in Italy but, due to the outbreak of the war, they were cancelled. After his Olympic success, Ricketts went overseas to ride, and based himself in Ghent, Belgium. Between 1953-59 he raced with the Plume Vainquier professional team, although he did have one season, 1958, with the British Viking team.