Hastings & St .Leonards Cycling Club Archive

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