Hastings & St .Leonards Cycling Club Archive

The time trial season is now well on its way and some of the events may seem a long way back. It is not my intention to go over the programme week by week as many accounts naturally duplicate in other notes.

The KCA 50 was held in blustery and showery weather. Roy Manser won in 2-6-6. Bob French got going very well and should have been somewhere near this time. He unfortuately punctured and sufferred a delay of 9 minutes finishing in 2-18-58. Martin Chambers recorded 2-18-29.

Seven members entered the ESCA 25 held in June. Martin Chambers was best and recorded 1-4-29. He was eight fastest. One of our regular supporters in the all round sense, Brian Kent from London, did a personal best tricycle ride of 1-9-39.

Jack Southerden was amongst members who turned out to ride in the Sussex Senior road race championships. Unfortunately non managed to finish the event. An excellent photo of Jack in uncharachteristic style appeared in the local paper by way of compensation. On the same week end Maurice Carpenter partnered by John Mansell (Worhting Excelsior) rode the tandem trike in the Colchester Tandem 30. Their time was 1-12-36.

It was a wonderful morning for the club Open 50. Hazy with a soft breeze. 95 entries were received from a wide area, establishing this event as a popular fixture in the South.

With all racing members on the start sheet, and many on holiday, marshalling was far from easy. Dennis Neeves found the stregth and stamina for the push off. I should like to mention that in addition to a mountain of other work, Fred Martin, our President motored 300 miles to make the event possible. Guy Little has requested that green sponges be barred in future. From remarks afterwards it appears that everything went well for the competitiors. All six ladies faced the starter. They were not so lucky as the wind increased later on, but they plugged unfalingly. Bob French was in good form and triumphed in 2-3-23. R Gardiner (Folkestone) and J Clements (Letchworth Velo) were second and third respectively. Pam Wells won the ladies in 2-24-47 with Jean Baker (San Fairy Ann) and Iris Stevens (Eastbourne) second and third. Brian Kent (Mephisto) won the trike secion. Veteran Ted Coussens turned up and road in his usual steady style. As he rode to the event it was quite a tidy mileage for the morning.

After the event the sky clouded and the wind increased. The left over marshalls were robbed of the much anticpated kip on Little Stone Beach. Instead we had a chilly and fitful snooze on some forlorn grass verge. Tea at Stone was enjoyed before the weary ending to a succesful day.

Our Presidets’ birthday run was belssed with the usual fne weather as on previous occasions. Whether the dates come from Old Moore’s Almanack or not they are always right. As befitting the title this was a leisurly run. Elevenses were at Chitcombe. Just past Robertsbridge we bumped into a crowd of some 50 ramblers. Lunch was al fresco at Burwash. As the pub was near the recreation ground we were able to take our drinks over and watch the local cricket match. When they adjourned for lunch the midday break was rounded of by a snooze in the hot sunshine. Tea was originally arranged for the “Abbey Hotel” Battle, but they could not take us on this occasion. “The Star” bang opposite was fortunatley able to take us at a moments notice. It was a fine tea and not since pre war have I seen so much on the table. Although we had several young people at the tea, some was left over. Many thanks, Fred from all for an excellent day. In Battle ramblers were as thick as flies. Just like the 1930’s. Life goes on.

The evening 10’s have been well supported. Rye with Jim Holland at the head have provided fine support throughout. Bob French has done some 23m. odd at times. The juniors who turn up everytime must be mentioned. Peter Miles has proved fastest so far.

The experimental photographic evening last year proved a success. By popular request another evening on a bigger scale is planned for this year. It will be held at the “Abbey Hotel”, Battle on the 25th October commencing 4-30 p.m. Tickets including buffett tea 5/6. Those who would like to compete are invited to submit not more than 4 half plate prints mounted on card with a one inch border. Anyone may also submit 4 colour slides of 35 mm size only. A film show will round of the evening.

Stan Russell.

Three members the Hastings and St. Leonards Cycling and Athletic Club set off in the wet and windy conditions on Sunday to ride for 12 hours over Kent roads in a K.C.A. and club trial. B. Kemp retired after covering about 100 miles; R, Downey was soon in trouble with his change gear, but carried on, using only one of the four, to cover about 216 miles; and J. Southerden, delayed twice with punctures, ran out time after about 217 miles.
Tomorrow’s run leaves the King’s Head, Ore, at 6 a.m. Tea at Hawkhurst.

CYCLISTS from over South-East England rode Into the town last Saturday the guests of the Hastings and St. Leonards Cycling and Athletic Club, at their annual dinner at the Regent Hotel. Now entering its 75th year of operation, the club is one of the oldest cycling clubs In the country.

The visitors were from Tunbridge Wells,. Catford. Rye, the Medway Towns. Uckfield, Eastbourne. Bexhill and Welwyn. Welwyn Wheelers had the longest ride to the event 90 miles.

Guests of honour were Ken Joy, Medway Wheelers Cycling Club, British Best All-Rounder Competition winner in 1949, and holder of the R.R A. London to Brighton and back record, which he took last year: his clubmate. Peter Beardsmore, third in the B.B A.R competition, 1949, and winner in 1948: B W. Best, well known cycling journalist, timekeeper and administrator: A.E.C Harrison Medway Road Club and Tricycle Association, noted cycling official Roy Humphrey, Eastbourne Rovers Cycling and Athletic Club great enthusiast and worker for the sport in Sussex; and Councillor E A Tester. vice-president of the club and an old member and official.

Proposing the toast of the club Mr F.L. March who joined it in 1900 paid tribute to the president Mr Percy Bliss who was in hospital. With all his afflictions he was “the man with always a smile on his face”

Mr March recalled the history of the club. Its successes in county championships and the triumph of Mr George Jenkins; who is still a member, when he twice won the Bath Road Memorial 50, competed for by the selected 12 best road cyclists of the year, and represented the country abroad.

Mr J.H.Southerden proposing the toast of the guests said that the club was fortunate in having present so many prominent persons in the world of sport.

Responding, Mr Joy said that in the past the club had had great men in its ranks who had ridden with success under its name, and he mentioned Mr. George Jenkins. “ We should like to see more of your men In the big open events today.” said Mr. Joy. “but to do that you need more competitive events in this area. You have the talent and you have the experienced men to encourage you.”

Mr Harrison said that the Hastings C. and A.C. typified the spirit of the sport to which they all belonged. He wished the club every and appealed for more club men from East Sussex to join the Fellowship of Kent and Sussex Cyclists.

Mr. Best said that It was a great thing to have attained so many years of continuous life as a club, and he suggested that a yearly reunion of the club and the one or two others who were as old would become a great occasion in cycling history.

Paying tribute to Mr Jenkins, Mr Best said that the cyclists were now looking to Hastings to produce another like him.

Mr A. Freeman spoke on behalf of the athletes among the gathering.

Mr K. D. Rome, proposing the toast of the president, wished him a speedy and complete recovery. He was, said Mr Rome, one of the stalwarts of club life, and his assistance had been appreciated by many young members starting racing.

Councillor Tester, who responded for the President, said that it was an honour for the club to have so many distinguished visitors. Cycling was a great sport, and it was one of the few left today where members were not spoon-fed. In road racing especially everything had to be done by the competitors themselves, and that was true sport.

The prizes were presented by Ken Joy. Winner of the club best all rounder competition was J.H. Southerden (for the third time in succession), who has now made the Blackman Trophy his own. Second in the competition was R.F.Powell.

Other prize winners were :-
Cyclists –
10 miles (63in gear) J.H.Southerden:
10 miles P Hughes:
25 miles. P Hughes:
Rye-Hythe-Rye. [Rye Hythe Rye] J H Southerden:
Junior invitation 15 miles, E Jones (Bexhill Wheelers):
Tandem 30 miles, R Eastes [Ron Eastes Trophy] and P Adams:
10 miles’ junior championship
A Moorhouse:
evening 10 miles,P Adams.
30 miles. J H Southerden:
50 miles. J H Southerden
100 miles. J H Southerden:
12 hours. R F Powell:
25 miles. P Adams:
25 miles. J H Southerden.
Hill climb J H Southerden

At the Tunbridge Wells A.C.C.’s track meeting last week Terry Baldwin of the Hastings and St. Leonards Cycling and Athletic Club, rode well in good company and won two of the three open events — the 440 yards and 880 yards handicaps.

On Sunday the club’s 100 miles trial was held In conjunction with the E.S.C.A. event and won by J.Southerden, whose time of 4hr. 47 min. 32sec. gave him fourth place and third handicap in the East Sussex trial. B. Kemp was second 4hr. 49min. 23sec., and R. Downey. 5hr. 49min. 15sec., was third. Fastest was C. Robson (Eastbourne), with a new event record of 4hr. 38mln. 12sec.

Tomorrow, members meet at the King’s Head, Ore. at 5.30 a.m. Tea will be at Brookland

Jack Southerden completed riding 500,000 miles in 1997.