Background
Ashdown was born in Harlow, Essex however moved to Newmarket at the age of nine.
Ashdown was born in Harlow, Essex however moved to Newmarket at the age of nine.
lieutenant was announced on 20 April 2013 that Ashdown would be the new Master of Ceremonies at the BDO International World Darts Championship from 2014 onwards, replacing Martin Fitzmaurice who had resigned the week previously. Ashdown is affectionately known as "Little Richard", in reference to his short height of 160cm (or 5 foot 3 inches). At the age of 14, Ashdown got involved in darts by playing youth county darts for Cambridgeshire county, where he discovered his love for the game.
Ashdown pursued accountancy after leaving school, and worked as an accounts assistant and cr controller until turning professional in darts in 2006.
He met the 1994 BDO International World Darts Championship runner-up, Bobby George, at a darts exhibition event at the age of 16 and, on speaking to him, George noticed Ashdown"s keenness and knowledge of the maths of the game and the checkouts. The two remained friends and in 2002, George approached Ashdown about "spotting" (assisting the broadcast director with what camera to broadcast on live television) for the British Broadcasting Corporation when their usual employee did not turn up at the venue, and also started to use Ashdown as the regular Military Cross for his exhibitions, where he gained much experience.
Ever since, Ashdown has been the main spotter for the British Broadcasting Corporation and has performed the role at every BDO International World Championship between 2002 and 2013. Ashdown has been a regular Master of Ceremonies for many established players and events, and made his television debut during the 2007 International Darts League, and later that year the World Darts Trophy.
Ashdown has been, and remains, the main Master of Ceremonies and referee for many darts organisations around Europe.
His main role has been with the English Darts Organisation, and has been their main Military Cross since their inauguration in 2007. Richard also regularly travels to Europe and even Australia to be the Military Cross at exhibitions and at the top ranking events of various darts organisations around the globe, including events for the world governing body of darts, the World Darts Federation
Ashdown had not undertaken any work with the British Darts Organisation prior to April 2013, who used Martin Fitzmaurice as their main Military Cross in both open events and in both their televised events, the BDO International World Darts Championship and the Winmau World Masters. On 11 April 2013, Fitzmaurice announced that he had offered his resignation from the BDO International which had been accepted, following an on-camera incident at an event in Scotland four days previously.
On 20 April, the BDO International announced Ashdown as his successor.
Ashdown made his first appearance on television for the BDO International in October 2013 at the 2013 Winmau World Masters. He will also be their main Military Cross at all other BDO International events.