Bec CC hold the 52nd running of their classic Hill Climb on October 21.

The event, held on the evil White Lane near Limpsfield, follows on from the
Catford CC Hill Climb in the morning, and invariably sees huge crowds on the hill.

2006 action

Organiser Garry Beckett says; "Last year as you may recall, it absolutely
peed down. The worst weather the event has ever been held in according to some
of the old school. But the crowds that turned out were absolutely amazing.

‘It’s probably fair to say that, although the Bec event might not be as old and
historical as the Catford, or send shudders of fear into riders like some of
the Northern climbs, it is considered by many to be the ‘one to do’.”

Garry continues; “Many people enter or attend, just to soak up the ‘carnival on the climb’ atmosphere
that the event has cultivated. The noise and atmosphere that the enthusiastic
crowd bring to the event is second to none, and I have received quotes from
participants and spectators alike such as " It has far more atmosphere,
than any of the national hill climbs I have ridden in the past 10 years", "
the enthusiasm of the crowd and the general atmosphere of the event are enough
to be the equal, if not better that of many Premier Calendar events"!,
and " To ride into the wall of sound, with its shouts of encouragement,
and the unique sporting cry of ‘up, up, up’ must be like a footballer experiences
when he walks onto the turf of Wembley for the F.A. Cup."

The event has once again been granted official ‘closed road’ status by
the very accomodating people (Trish Bloxham) at Tandridge Council. Last year
they witnessed the event for the first time, and were amazed that an event of
such calibre had been running for 50 years on their turf without them having
known about it.

2005 action

The event is the 52nd edition and will be held on the 21st Oct at 2.00pm.

– Venue: White Lane, near Limpsfield in Surrey, which joins the B269
(the bottom) & the B2024 (the top) It’s known to cyclists as ‘Titsey Lane’ and runs parallel and to the east of Titsey Hill itself.
– The course is 700 yards long, mainly 1 in 6, with a 1 in 4 section
of approx 50 yards.
– The prize list as it stands at the moment amounts to £2195.00
– Broken down as 1st £1,000.00 2nd £100.00 3rd £50.00
– Fastest team of 3 £900.00
– Breaking of record £75.00 set in 1995 by Gary Dodd, Kingston Phoenix
R.C at 1.44.4
– Lantern Rouge £10.00

Additional prize this year of £50.00 to whoever comes 50th, as it’s Garry’s
50th Birthday.

Changes
One important change to the event this year will be the need for participants
to allow 10 minutes min to get to the start line. Such were the crowds, and
number of participants last year, that it became confusing, and messy, with
riders descending White Lane while the event was on. So for safety sake, and
to ensure ‘ascenders’ as much right of passage as possible, the organisers will be sending
competitors the long way around to get to the start line. IMPORTANT ALLOW AT
LEAST 10 Mins, a marquee will be provided at the start line for competitors
to wait in, should they be early, and / or the weather is unkind.

Ron Beckett
Garry writes; "The event was founded by Garry’s father, Ron, in 1956 and
was won for the first 2 years by Jim Pentecost of the Bec (an uncle). Ron as
you know passed away in 2005, and as a tribute to his hard work we have tried
to make this event a ‘memorable one’ but definitely not a Memorial event. So
far we seem to be achieving that, and if the event could reach that unique ‘cult’
status that gets it whispered about within the walls of the many clubrooms up
and down the country, then I will be very happy, as would the ‘old fella’ who
will always be at the top of the hill in spirit."

Contact
Garry Beckett – [email protected]

Links
See links below for results, pictures and other information