Startlist: BEC CC 66th Annual Open Hill Climb

It’s back! A classic in the Hill Climb calendar is the BEC CC Hill Climb which is back for its 66th year near Westerham in Kent with ‘names such as Bithja Jones, Calum Brown, Adam Kenway, and Isaac Mundy

Startlist: BEC CC 66th Annual Open Hill Climb

When: Sunday 10th October
Where: White Lane ‘Titsey’ – near Westerham, Kent
Course: GH/31 — Start in White Lane, Titsey, 40 yards from junction with B269. Proceed uphill in northerly direction to finish at top of hill 75 yards before the junction with B2024, Clark’s Lane. Nearest postcode TN16 2JT

Start: 14:00

Event organizer on behalf of Bec CC and a legend in the sport of cycling, Garry Beckett, writes “The 66th Annual Bec Hill Climb is actually only the 64th edition because in 1987 and 2019 both events were cancelled at the Eleventh Hour, but it is the 66th Year. In 1987 it was cancelled by mother nature & in 2020 it had to be cancelled because of last minute Covid bureaucracy. Anyway, here we are in 2021, all set and ready to go.

As many of our regular supporters will notice though, our 2021 Version of the ‘Carnival on the Hill’ has been greatly trimmed back. Much of our usual set up is not in place so no big result board, no podium stage, no big tea stall, no big prizes, no glossy programme and no trees!

I won’t go into all the reasons as to why we have had to take this action as I’m sure most people have a pretty good idea of some of the impacts that have hit so many of us during the past 18 months. As for the trees, well that was out of even the Bec CC’s control. The Council has had to pursue an aggressive Woodland Management Program due to ‘Ash Dieback’ disease, and as you will see, it has made a huge impact on the geography of the land.

Much of the Ancient Woodland of the Area, has now gone, and that could well mean that there might be an effect on 60+ Years worth of TT times Recorded on this Hill. Times might be faster, or times might be much slower as the course is much more open to the elements such as the wind! I guess we’ll have to wait and see how Mother Nature feels on the day.

To strip our event back to basics for this year, has not been a decision we have taken easily, especially after all the hard work, finance, and support from so many people that has built the race up over the past 10-15 years. But at least, for 2021, we still have an event in some shape & form and bear with us whilst we hit the ‘2021 reset button’ and we hope that the cut backs will not deter you from coming back for the 2022 Edition (9th October at 14.00) when we hope things have returned to normal & we can deliver an even bigger & better ‘Carnival on the Hill’ than we ever had in previous editions.

As for the positives for the 2021 Edition, we have managed to retain a PA System and Eurosport commentator Tony Gibb to make use of it. Tony, who brings his unique way of keeping the crowds entertained with well researched rider info & banter, has become such an integral part of our event that he has generously donated his time for free in order to assist the Bec CC in our shortfalls this year rather than miss being here. Thanks ‘Gibby’…

We have still got a closed road, thanks to Surrey Council who have been overwhelmed with requests for Road Closures on all types of Events in the County, that are trying to quickly reschedule themselves now that Covid Restrictions have been lifted.

We have also once again recruited the Services of two excellent timekeepers in Mick Irons & Richard Blackmore, both of whom manage to stay cool, calm, collected & professional in their roles of what can sometimes be a very stressful job.”

HISTORY OF THE EVENT
The Bec Hill Climb was first run in 1956, organised by Ron Beckett, and was won by Jim Pentecost (pictured below) of the promoting club. The winner’s trophy and the team trophy are both old & recycled – The former from a gardening show and the latter from an ex-pats tennis competition in Egypt in the 30’s. In recent years, we have added medals to the podium for the Winners of the various categories.

Over the years, the event has seen some great individual rides including Don Awcock’s five wins in six years; Steve Marchant’s five wins; and Garry Dodd’s six wins over a sixteen year period. The coveted team trophy has seen multiple wins by many clubs, most notably Nomads Hitchin CC and De Laune CC who jointly hold the record of eight wins.

In recent years, the event has grown into a local classic under the leadership of Garry Beckett and many famous names that have graced the start sheet; probably none more famous than Tour de France winner and multiple Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins, who participated in the 2005 50th edition as a tribute to his “old friend” and founder of the event Ron Beckett who had passed away in the Easter of that year.

2010 saw the arrival of a new claimant to the ‘King of the Hill’ title in 15 year old Germain Burton with a winning time of 1.45.3, where he beat some of the UK’s top Professional riders from the likes of the Rapha Condor & Raleigh Squads. Coming back to defend his title in 2011, Germain again beat a quality field knocking time of off his own PB to end up with 1.45.1

2012 saw a new champion, and a new record. Jack Pullar set the bar very high with 1.42.9, which began a hat trick of wins at the Bec event.

2014 was a spectacular year, when David Millar rode our event in his last season in the professional ranks. A record crowd lined both sides of the hill as far as you could see, and the tea stall sold over 600+ cups of tea!

2019 Calum Brown & his team turned up, resplendent in ‘t’flat Caps’. Calum, with his eye on taking the record, did a gutsy ride for the conditions of the day, but didn’t get the Record. But he did lead his teamates to the overall & team wins.

Will they be able to do it again in 2021 & bring their caps to the podium against a smaller but no less a quality field? Watch this space.

CROWD FUNDING FOR ROAD CLOSURES
In 2015, a change in the ruling of being granted a road closure, and the subsequent new fees, almost saw the event having to be struck from the calendar…but, thanks to those who contributed to our crowd funding appeal in 2015 we were able to cover the cost of the road closure for the last six years. However the remaing funds have now almost run out, so if there’s a generous benefactor out there, please let us know.

START LIST
No. NAME CLUB CAT START time
1 Tony Truepenny- Phillipson Bec CC Senior 14.01
2 Jasper Griffin Kingston Wheelers CC Senior 14.02
3 Thomas Leger Brixton CC Senior 14.03
4 Greg Genna Clapham Chasers Senior 14.04
5 Luke Howells Bigfoot CC Senior 14.05
6 Piers Hazelgrove Adalta CC Senior 14.06
7 Thomas Lehmann CC Hackney Junior 14.07
8 Kathryn Alty Kingston Wheelers CC Senior W 14.08
9 Kevin Austin 34 Nomads CC Vet 14.09
10 Patrick O’Clery Forge London CC Vet 14.1
11 Harriet Hernando Will Houghton Racing Team Senior W 14.11
12 Lucy Benezet Minns Penge CC Juvenile 14.12
13 Ben Neal Sth’Boro & District Wheelers Junior 14.13
14 Ivor Hewitt Oxted CC Vet 14.14
15 Tina Lohr Horsham CC Vet W 14.15
16 Tom Moss Sth’Boro & District Wheelers Senior 14.16
17 Mantas Norieka Lee Valley Youth CC Junior 14.17
18 Alex Hamilton Dulwich Paragon CC Vet 14.18
19 Elliot Howarth Johnson Westmead Team 88 Senior 14.19
20 Dominic Hill Bec CC Vet 14.2
21 Tom Kennett Kingston Wheelers CC Senior 14.21
22 Dylan Green Bigfoot CC Senior 14.22
23 Louise Moriarty Look Mum No Hands Vet W 14.23
24 Jack Morrish Velo Club de Londres Junior 14.24
25 Olly Clements Sth’Boro & District Wheelers Juvenile 14.25
26 Jenna Meth Rapha CC Senior W 14.26
27 Jack Hartrey Kingston Wheelers CC Junior 14.27
28 Chris Hewitt Oxted CC Senior 14.28
29 James Hughes Bec CC Vet 14.29
30 Greg Divall London Fields Triathalon Club Senior 14.3
31 Mark Houlden 34 Nomads CC Vet 14.31
32 Ari Panzer Brixton Cycles Club Senior 14.32
33 David Brock Pure Motion CC Senior 14.33
34 Arran Horton Hub Velo Senior 14.34
35 Rachel Dumbrell CC London Senior W 14.35
36 Alastair Merrill VC 10 Vet 14.36
37 Nick Christian Penge CC Senior 14.37
38 Isaac Mundy Richardsons-Trek RT Senior 14.38
39 James Haworth Team Jewson-MI Racing-PolyPipe- Macann Senior 14.39
40 Todd Oates Kendal CC Senior 14.4
41 Danny York Pearson CC Vet 14.41
42 Vikki Filsell Bella Velo CC Vet W 14.42
43 Peter Adams Tri Surrey Vet 14.43
44 William Collie University of Warwick Senior 14.44
45 Graham Martin Banbury Star CC Vet 14.45
46 Conor Williams Velo Club de Londres Junior 14.46
47 Charlie Openshaw Team Lifting Gear Products-Cycles in Motion Vet 14.47
48 Ryan Oldham Reading CC Senior 14.48
49 Tobin Brett Parlay CC Senior 14.49
50 Keiran Wayne-Cattanach Team Lifting Gear Products-Cycles in Motion Senior 14.5
51 Daniel Fowler Woolwich CC Junior 14.51
52 Jamie Steere Brixton Cycles CC Vet 14.52
53 Finlay Hawker Velo Club de Londres Juvenile 14.53
54 Michelle Williams West Drayton MBC Vet W 14.54
55 Chris Balkham Oxted CC Vet 14.55
56 Callum Stewart East London Velo Senior 14.56
57 Will Lowden CC Sudbury Junior 14.57
58 Richard Applin Rapha CC Senior 14.58
59 Nigel Pepper Addiscombe CC Vet 14.59
60 Ross Fawcett Orwell Velo Senior 15
61 Louis Killworth Welland Valley CC Senior 15.01
62 Neil Phillips Velo Club de Londres Senior 15.02
63 Madeleine Heywood Team Watto Senior W 15.03
64 Eamonn Prendergast Bigfoot CC Vet 15.04
65 Mervyn Tasker Brixton Cycles Club Senior 15.05
66 Samm Parker Rapha CC Vet 15.06
67 Andy Pearson Serpentine Running Club Vet 15.07
68 Alexandre Proy Rapha CC Senior 15.08
69 Paul Russell East London Velo Senior 15.09
70 Nicholas Latimer Team Lifting Gear Products-Cycles in Motion Senior 15.1
71 Lewis Taylor Kingston Wheelers CC Vet 15.11
72 Joe Benians Lewes Wanderers CC Senior 15.12
73 Damien Preece Penge CC Senior 15.13
74 Tim Whitehead Oxted CC Vet 15.14
75 James Hayward Woolwich CC Vet 15.15
76 Tom Taylor Brixton Cycles Club Senior 15.16
77 Andrew Smith Oxted CC Vet 15.17
78 Calvin Cheung Hub Velo Senior 15.18
79 Andy West LFGSS CC Senior 15.19
80 Freddie Jagger Team Lifting Gear Products-Cycles in Motion Senior 15.2
81 Ollie Pennington 1st Chard Wheelers Senior 15.21
82 Ryan Sharp Epsom CC Senior 15.22
83 John Blight Rapha CC Senior 15.23
84 Bithja Jones Pankhurst Cycles Vet W 15.24
85 Richard Cartland HuntBikeWheels.com Vet 15.25
86 James Scrivener Reading CC Senior 15.26
87 Callum Dixon Kingud Factory racing Senior 15.27
88 Adam Kenway Team Brother UK Senior 15.28
89 Thomas Seller Oxted CC Senior 15.29
90 Harvey Weinberger AS Test Team Senior 15.3
91 Jack O’Brien Parlay CC Senior 15.31
92 Calum Brown Team Lifting Gear Products-Cycles in Motion Senior 15.32

… continued after the advert

ROLL OF HONOUR
1956 J. Pentecost / Bec CC 2.01.4
1957 J. Pentecost / Bec CC 2.05.4
1958 M. Robinson / East Grinstead CC 2.11.6
1959 D. Patten / Tunbridge Wells CC 2.03.0
1960 S. Burgess / Kingston Wheelers CC 2.12.4
1961 D. Patten / Tunbridge Wells CC 2.03.0
1962 K. Fuller / De Laune CC 1.59.2
1963 D. Patten / Tunbridge Wells CC 2.12.0
1964 D. Patten / Tunbridge Wells CC 2.06.6
1965 P. Brunt / Glade CC 2.1.0
1966 D. Patten / Tunbridge Wells CC 2.09.0
1967 P. Greenhalgh / Nottingham Arrow CC 2.03.2
1968 P. Greenhalgh / Nottingham Arrow CC 2.00.1
1969 R. Goodfellow / Beacon RC 2.08.4
1970 C. Kearley / Whitewebbs CC 2.05.0
1971 M. Pendleton / Luton Wheelers CC 2.1.8
1972 C. Purdy / Beacon RC 2.05.2
1973 M. Pendleton / Luton Wheelers CC 2.09.0
1974 C. Purdy / Beacon RC 2.09.8
1975 C. Purdy / Beacon RC 2.05.8
1976 D. Awcock / Central Sussex CC 2.06.6
1977 R. Downs / VC Simtich 1.59.4
1978 D. Awcock / Central Sussex CC 2.01.6
1979 D. Awcock / Central Sussex CC 2.01.0
1980 D. Awcock / Central Sussex CC 1.59.0
1981 D. Awcock / Central Sussex CC 2.05.8
1982 S. Marchant / Central Sussex CC 1.59.1
1983 P. Mason / San Fairy Ann CC 1.57.2
1984 S. Marchant / South Eastern RC 1.56.9
1985 S. Marchant / South Eastern RC 2.00.7
1986 C. Lillywhite / VC D’or 1.53.8
1987 Event cancelled (Great Storm)
1988 S. Mitchell / Kingston Phoenix RC 2.09.4
1989 S. Marchant / CC Orpington 1.52.1
1990 S. Marchant / South Eastern RC 1.51.0
1991 G. Dodd / Kingston Phoenix RC 2.01.4
1992 G. Dodd / Kingston Phoenix RC 1.56.0
1993 G. Dodd / Kingston Phoenix RC 1.57.1
1994 G. Dodd / Kingston Phoenix RC 1.58.8
1995 G. Dodd / Kingston Phoenix RC 1.44.4
1996 D. Wiley / VC Londres 1.55.6
1997 J. Henderson / Oxford University CC 1.49.1
1998 M. Goodes / De Laune CC 1.57.02
1999 J. Henderson / Terry Wright Cycles 1.49.9
2000 G. Baker / Anglia Sport 1.53.96
2001 M. Goodes / De Laune CC 1.56.8
2002 M. Goodes / De Laune CC 2.05.86
2003 R. English / Stockport Wheelers 1.58.39
2004 B. Bell / Gemini BC 1.55.0
2005 J. Crawforth / Evans Cycles RT 1.47.53
2006 B. Bell /Gemini BC & G. Dodd /Sigma Sport 1.49.17
2007 D. Fleeman / Blue Sky Cycles RT 1.43.02
2008 D. Lloyd / A.N. Post – Sean Kelly RT 1.46.44
2009 M. Smith / Team Milton Keynes 1.46.08
2010 G. Burton / Team De Ver 1.45.3
2011 G. Burton / Team De Ver 1.45.1
2012 J. Pullar/ Wheelbase.co.uk / MGD 1.42.9
2013 J. Pullar / Madison Genesis 1.46.1
2014 J. Pullar / Starley Primal Pro Cycling 1.49.3
2015 J. Lowden / Neon Velo 1.51.5
2016 J. Lowden / Neon Velo 1.44.6
2017 M. Morris / NFTO Race Club 1.44.9
2018 C. Crabtree / Orwell Velo 1.49.3
2019 Callum Brown B38/Cycles In Motion
2020 Event Cancelled (Covid Restrictions on obtaining Closed Road Licence)

TEAM ROLL OF HONOUR
1956 34 Nomads
1957 Bec C.C
1958 Bromley R.C
1959 De Laune C.C
1960 Norwood Paragon C.C
1961 Charlotteville C.C
1962 De Laune C.C 6.17.4
1963 San Fairy Ann C.C
1964 Nomads Hitchin C.C 6.48.4
1965 Nomads Hitchin C.C
1966 34 Nomads & Bec C.C 6.55.4
1967 Nomads Hitchin C.C
1968 Nomads Hitchin C.C
1969 Nomads Hitchin C.C 6.53.0
1970 Nomads Hitchin C.C
1971 Nomads Hitchin C.C
1972 Luton Wheelers C.C
1973 Nomads Hitchin C.C 6.54.8
1974 Beacon Roads C.C 6.41.8
1975 Beacon Roads C.C 7.05.8
1976 Southborough & District C.C
1977 Bec C.C
1978 Northampton Vindec 6.49.6
1979 San Fairy Ann C.C 6.51.8
1980 Addiscombe C.C
1981 San Fairy Ann C.C 7.11.2
1982 South Eastern R.C 6.26.9
1983 De Laune C.C 6.25.5
1984 San Fairy Ann C.C 6.27.4
1985 Thanet R.C 6.17.4
1986 34 Nomads C.C 6.38.4
1987 Event cancelled (Great Storm)
1988 V.C Elan 7.00.4
1989 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.30.6
1990 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.26.1
1991 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.18.1
1992 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.03.4
1993 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.11.3
1994 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.26.4
1995 Kingston Phoenix R.C 6.15.19
1996 Paddington R.C 6.30.6
1997 Bec C.C 7.16.7
1998 Bec C.C 8.06.2
1999 De Laune C.C 6.15.8
2000 De Laune C.C 6.40.5
2001 De Laune C.C 6.14.1
2002 De Laune C.C (2 Man Team) 4.28.62
2003 De Laune C.C (2 Man Team) 4.19.99
2004 Gemini B.C 6.10.6
2005 Evans Cycles R.T (2 Man Team) 4.53.22
2006 Evans Cycles R.T 6.06.8
2007 Blue Sky Cycles R.T 5.41.63
2008 Alpha R.C – Corley Cycles 5.50.50
2009 Arctic Premier R.T 6.14.18
2010 Team Corley Cycles 5.40.1
2011 Team Corley Cervelo / Alpha R.C 5.41.9
2012 Kingston Wheelers 6.32.0
2013 In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT 6.24.4
2014 Bigfoot CC 6.12.4
2015 Norwood Paragon CC 6.26.8
2016 Rapha Cycling Club 6.17.1
2017 Imperial College CC 6.04.2
2018 Rapha Cycling Club 6.09.8
2019 B38/Cycles In Motion 6.04.2

AWARDS 2021

FASTEST
1st Mr & Mrs R.G.Beckett Trophy + £75 + medal + 2 tickets to Bec Annual luncheon and prize presentation
2nd £50 + medal
3rd £25 + medal
WOMEN
1st £75 + medal
2nd £50 + medal
3rd £25 + medal
JUNIORS
1st £30 + medal
2nd £20 + medal
3rd £10 + medal
JUVENILES
1st £30 + medal
2nd £20 + medal
3rd £10 + medal
VETS
1st £40 + medal
2nd £30 + medal
3rd £20 + medal

FASTEST TEAM OF 3
Bec Open Hill Climb trophy + £100 each + medals + 3 tickets to Bec CC Annual Luncheon and prize presentation (Sponsored by the Beckett Family)
Greatest breaking of event record – £100 sponsored by Bec CC
Current record is 1.42.9 set by Jack Pullar in 2012