Sport in Worthing
In the 19th century horse racing took place along the sands and at Ladies Mile (now Grand Avenue) in West Worthing.
In the early 19th century archery took place at the Liverpool Terrace pleasure gardens and also at the Anchor Inn Public House, now renamed, .
[6] This was one of a number of films made by pioneer William Kennedy Dickson on a visit to Worthing.
The Manor Sports Ground, also the home of Worthing Cricket Club, was used for an annual County Championship match for Sussex between 1935 and 1964.
In 1969 Worthing hosted the start of the opening stage of cycling's Milk Race (now the Tour of Britain).
Starting at Montague Place, this stage of the race ran along the seafront and on to Swindon, a distance of 164 km.
[8] The success of the event was overshadowed by the death of Zdeněk Kramoliš, a cyclist from the Czechoslovakia team, who collided with a lorry.
In 1969, 1970 and 1974 Worthing's Hill Barn Golf Club on the South Downs played host to the Penfold Tournament, part of the European Tour.
In 1972, Beach House Park in Worthing hosted its first World Bowls Championships, with people from 16 countries competing.
Twenty years later, in 1992, Worthing again hosted the World Bowls Championships, this time with people from 28 countries competing.
[2] The 1992 Singles event was won by Tony Allcock, who as of 2011 was the Chief Executive of Bowls England, also based in Worthing.
In 1982 Dr John Bull of Worthing Hospital started the town's annual Boxing Day charity sea swim, which typically takes place at Splash Point.
[11][12] In August 2012, the new cyclosportive known as The Devil in the Downs will take place, forming part of Worthing Excelsior Cycling Club 125th anniversary celebrations.
Peter Bonetti and Eric Parsons and Harrison Reed (football), Donald Smith, Arthur Somerset, Neil Lenham and Jason Lewry (cricket), Martin Lee (tennis), David Evans and David Leadbetter (golf), Angela Barnwell (freestyle swimming), David Bryant (bowls), Lisa John (ten-pin bowling), Byron Dafoe (ice hockey), Lewis Crathern (kitesurfing), Alan Warren (sailing).
