Description
£1300 Main Prize Fund
Overall: 1st £100 cash, £100 Exodus Travels voucher, jersey; 2nd - £70 cash, jersey; 3rd - £50 cash, jersey; 4th - £35 cash; 5th - £20 cash
Women: 1st - £75 cash, £100 Exodus Travels Voucher; 2nd - £50; 3rd - £35
Vets on VTTA Standard: 1st - £75 cash, £100 Exodus Travels voucher, jersey; 2nd- £50; 3rd - £35; 4th - £25
Fastest Junior: £30 cash & jersey
Fastest Team of 3: £25 each
Fastest Team of 3 on VTTA standard: - £25 each
To celebrate the 43rd birthday of Exodus Travels at the start of February, the rider placing 43rd will also receive a £100 voucher.
Road Bike Competition - £200 prize fund
Destination Bike, the bike shop at the top of Box Hill, are generously sponsoring a Road Bike category this year. The prize schedule is:
1st road bike: £50 Destination Bike voucher
2nd road bike: £30 voucher
3rd road bike: £20 voucher
1st Woman road bike: £50 voucher
1st Vet road bike (on standard) £30 voucher
1st Junior road bike £20 voucher
To be eligible for this competition you must be riding a bicycle that has:
- Drop handlebars
- No aerobars
- No Discs, Tri/Quad spoke wheels
- Wheels with rims no deeper than 60mm
The rider:
- Must wear a helmet that is legal in a road race i.e. no pointy TT helmets or those with cut-off tails such as the Kask Bambino
- Can wear a skinsuit
- Can wear shoe covers
Please email me in advance with any queries that you have on whether your bike/equipment/clothing is suitable. It is not the role of the timekeeper or any start line staff to provide guidance on eligibility – this must be confirmed in advance. The organisers’ decision on eligibility is final and any bikes deemed ineligible will for the road bike category will still be eligible for the TT category.
If you'd like to enter the road bike competition please put that in the comments section of the entry form. Once you have entered, you can switch to the road bike category by notifying me by email by midnight on 10th March. Please ensure I have confirmed receipt of your mail before leaving your pointy hat at home!
THE EVENT’S HISTORYIn 1958 East Surrey RC members Ken Duncumb and Bim Dore had an idea that the club could hold a challenging, hilly, non standard distance, early season event over local roads to test members fitness for the start of the racing season. They took it upon themselves one Saturday morning ride to devise a course. This initially started on Reigate Heath, followed the A25 to Dorking then the A24 into Horsham where it turned left along Wimblehurst Road, North Heath Lane and Giblets Lane to take a sharp left hand turn into Rusper Road. Then via Hurst Hill, Rusper, Newdigate, Parkgate, the cross roads in centre of Leigh and Flanchford to finish back at the start. The first year Ken was unable to compete as he was on National Service but was able to ride in 1960 and won the club event.
Despite some March mornings experiencing very cold and icy conditions in 1963 ESRC decided to develop their “hard hilly ride” into an open event. So in 1964 riders from other clubs undertook the test as well. However, no newcomer was able to beat East Surrey's own John Fisher. Over the years changes to the course have become necessary due to the increase in traffic, construction of the Capel and North Horsham by-passes, and the need to eliminate a right turn at Dawes Green. The original course was around 33 miles. The current course is 29.9 miles but may have to be shortened again this year to 27.25 miles (GS/491E) if the repair work on Flanchford Bridge is not completed on time.
The list of past winners shows that the event has attracted many top riders over the years. A number of these, as well as local clubmen, have ridden the event many times justifying the popularity of this kind of early season test. Unfortunately 2016 marked the last season that East Surrey RC had sufficient membership to be able to promote this event and so Dorking CC have taken up the mantle to ensure this test's survival.
Previous Winners 52 2016 Rob SHARLAND 0:59:43 Paceline RT (Short Course)
51 2015 Chris McNAMARA 1:00:16 Pedal Heaven (Short Course)
50 2014 Liam MAYBANK 1:01:18 Twickenham CC (Short Course)
49 2013 Steve BERRY (2) 1:07:05 Team Swift
48 2012 Steve BERRY 1:05:57 Team Swift-Allsports (Course Record)
47 2011 Wouter SYBRANDY (2) 1:06:01 Sigma Sport (30Ml. Course Record)
46 2010 Wouter SYBRANDY 1:07:44 Sigma Sport
45 2009 Richard PREBBLE (2) 1:07:34 Pinarello RT
44 2008 Mathew BOTTRILL 1:07:25 De Rosa RT
43 2007 Pete TADROS 1:07:51 In-Gear Quickvit RT
42 2006 Ray HUGHES (4) 1:10:45 Clarence Wheelers
41 2005 Paul MILL 1:07:38 Team Edwardes
40 2004 Michael HUTCHINSON (4) 1:01:28 Team MDT Giant (Short Course)
39 2003 Michael HUTCHINSON 1:09:20 Team MDT Giant
38 2002 Sean YATES (2) 1:10:42 Team Clean
37 2001 Michael HUTCHINSON 1:10:02 Team MDT Giant
36 2000 Michael HUTCHINSON 1:09:27 Bio RT
35 1999 Richard PREBBLE 1:12:24 Team Clean
34 1998 Tim STEVENS (3) 1:11:49 Team Clean
33 1997 Sean YATES 1:08:58 Team Clean (32Ml. Course Record)
32 1996 Tim STEVENS 1:12:36 Team 2000
31 1995 Peter MAIN 1:11:37 34 Nomads CC
30 1994 Gethin BUTLER (2) 1:11:38 RT Italia
29 1993 Steve ELMS 1:13:46 East Grinstead CC
28 1992 Simon COPE 1:14:12 Unsponsored Professional
27 1991 Gethin BUTLER 1:13:18 Norwood Paragon CC
26 1990 Ray HUGHES 1:17:58 Clarence Wheelers
25 1989 Ray HUGHES 1:12:59 Clarence Wheelers (Short Course)
24 1988 Steve HACKETT 1:17:53 Wembley CC
23 1987 Tim STEVENS 1:16:47 34 Nomads CC
— 1986 (Event Cancelled—Snow)
22 1985 Pete SANDERS 1:16:30 Manchester Wheelers
21 1984 Andrew SMITH 1:17:49 Clarence Wheelers
20 1983 John OAKES (3) 1:16:00 Anglia Sport
19 1982 Ray HUGHES 1:16:36 Clarence Wheelers
18 1981 John OAKES 1:17:54 Bedouin CC / GB Cycles
17 1980 John OAKES 1:19:00 Bedouin CC / GB Cycles
16 1979 Roger DUNNE 1:19:08 London St. Christophers CC
15 1978 Eddie ADKINS 1:16:15 VC Slough / Office Associ.
14 1977 Dave STALKER 1:21:30 Feltham RC
13 1976 John LYONS (3) 1:23:40 CC Orpington
12 1975 Dave ELDRIDGE 1:19:25 Addiscombe CC
11 1974 John LYONS 1:26:50 Bec CC
10 1973 Doug SHEEHY 1:21:00 Hainault RC
9 1972 John LYONS 1:21:44 Morden CC
8 1971 John SMITH 1:22:57 Addiscombe CC
7 1970 Robin BUCHAN 1:19:28 Norwood Paragon CC
6 1969 Robin BUCHAN 1:19:17 Norwood Paragon CC
5 1968 Robin BUCHAN 1:21:37 Norwood Paragon CC
4 1967 Robin BUCHAN 1:22:35 Norwood Paragon CC
3 1966 Dave KNIGHT 1:21:25 VC St. Raphael
2 1965 Mick BURREN 1:23:05 East Surrey RC
1 1964 John FISHER (2) 1:22:55 East Surrey RC
— 1963 John FISHER 1:20:38 East Surrey RC—Club Event
— 1962 Paul HUMPHREY 1:27:00 East Surrey RC—Club Event
— 1961 Andy ELLIOT 1:26:48 East Surrey RC—Club Event
— 1960 Ken DUNCUMB 1:27:27 East Surrey RC—Club Event
— 1959 Pete SWETMAN 1:29:41 East Surrey RC—Club Event