Martin Pike

In 1938, four days before his 18th birthday, Martin Pike came second in the quarter-mile at the AAA Junior Championship, and the following year won the title in a record 50.8s. His record stood until 1950. As a youngster he was also a speedy rugby winger, and played for the Prudential (Ibis) team that won the 1939 Insurance Offices’ Championship. After the War, Pike was in the 1947 Polytechnic team that won the AAA 4 x 440 yards relay title at Fallowfield, Manchester. He was the 1948 Middlesex quarter-mile champion, and was second to Derek Pugh in the 440 at the British Games at the White City that year. Both men were then in the Great Britain four in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the London Olympics, along with Les Lewis and Bill Roberts. Pike, Lewis, Pugh, and Angus Scott, won the gold medal in the 4 x 400 metres relay at the 1950 European Championships at Bruxelles. Pike never won the individual AAA 440 title, with his best finish being fourth in 1949.

Personal Best: 400 – 48.3y (1948).