Wigmore Cycling Club

What an achievement! 50 continuous years of the Wigmore CC Open Hill Climb

We even escaped the COVID pause!

We were excited to be able to commemorate the 50th running of our annual Hill Climb with you all this year.

Back in 1976 Doug Laidlow set the ball rolling with our inaugural ascent being on Cold Blow Lane. By 1993 traffic on the narrow lane was becoming an issue, hence it was moved to its established and now beloved location of Hollingbourne Hill. Even after moving to Lincolnshire in 2001 Doug continued to organise and make the trip down ensuring our event ran as smoothly as ever. Doug organised and ran a total of 35 hill climbs before handing the reins over to Martin Trice.

Martin continued to run the event with as much enthusiasm as Doug, continuing the tradition of making the awards presentation soon after the event had finished a particular highlight. In 2018 the event was organised by committee, divvying the tasks up, it was not until 2024 before Martin finally relinquished all involvement in the event.

To every rider, past and present, who has tackled the challenging slopes, thank you, to all the past organisers and helpers, another big thank you.

Congratulations to Matthew Brown and Hannah Clough on their winning rides on the golden anniversary of the Wigmore CC open hill climb.

The riders were greeted with another dry day, with a gentle Southerly breeze that felt as if it should result in quicker times than the previous year. In his first year of competing in the Wigmore Hill Climb local Matthew Brown, riding for the University of Nottingham CC, took the victory. Joint second was Charles Langford (Lee Valley Youth CC), winning the junior competition for the second year running, improving from his 7th place of last year and James Hayward, also improving his placing from last year. James not only placed joint 2nd but took the over 40’s prize and, with this event doubling as their club’s hill climb championship, also became their champion.

Also riding the event for her first time Hannah Clough took the women’s victory with a time that has only been beaten by 2 other women. It was an impressive clean sweep for the University of Nottingham CC, as they also took the team win with Barnabas Pickford finishing 7th overall, congratulations.

And congratulations also go to Riley Wastall (4T+ Cyclopark), in his first year of being old enough to ride the event, for taking the youth rider award.

The over 50s category was won by Glenn Hutchison (Rue Morgue CC) on his first attempt at our event, while having taken the over 50s award last year, in his first year in the over 60s category, Keith Walker of the promoting club, took the award for the over 60s.

Our event also doubles as the club hill climb championship for Medway VC, San Fairy Ann CC and West Kent RC, congratulations to Connor Clare, Reuban Davey and 70+ winner Trevor Benton who are their clubs’ respective champions.

As always Wigmore CC extend their thanks to the Boyd family for the use of the farm buildings at the top of Hollingbourne Hill. Perfectly located at the top of the hill the area makes a great HQ for both parking and presenting the rewards, the positive comments received by Wigmore CC will be passed on.

Once again photography was courtesy Mike Savage, please check out his great images, why not purchase a photo as a reminder of the enjoyable pain of climbing Hollingbourne Hill at max effort or a perhaps it’s time to update your Strava profile image?  See here:

https://www.mikesavagephotography.co.uk/event-galleries/2025-events/2526-013/

For our anniversary we tried something different for the catering, provided by Mobilebar Catering of Sittingbourne, many thanks, a wonderful addition to the outdoor results area and feedback was positive.

Finally, a big thank you to all the volunteers who ensured that the event was safe and issue-free.

Apologies to anyone missed.

And, of course, thanks you to all the riders for making the 50th Wigmore CC Hill Climb another success, we look forward to seeing you plus your club mates next year for our 51st open hill climb!

See here for the full results on our website:

Hill Climb  25 results

Beryl Holdstock, 1934-2025

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Beryl Holdstock, age 91.

Beryl was a long time member of Wigmore Cycling Club and a fine cyclist – a former Kent Women’s champion.

Beryl loved to meet up to go riding with cycling friends every Thursday until Covid put a stop to this.

Beryl’s funeral will be held on 26th August, 11am at Bobbing Crematorium.

Flowers are from the family only, but donations can be made to Cancer Research via this link:

https://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/funeral-notices/25-07-2025-beryl-annette-holdstock/

If anyone has any recollections or stories about Beryl, we’d love to hear them, so please get in touch.

Review

Many thanks to all the riders for helping to make the 2025 Bill Philbrook Memorial 25 Mile TT another great success despite the small field.

Due to the roadworks that frequently afflict the Chilham course, the organisers at Wigmore CC chose to relocate the competition to the sporting A20 course, a rolling, wide and, for Kent, relatively quiet road.

On the day a cold northerly morning breeze was a bit of a shock to the system for many riders, especially following a few days of glorious warm weather. The breeze did make the first eight mile undulating outward descent to Ashford fast; however the tough Ashford to Charing legs ensured that only 6 riders beat the hour, making it feel more like a day of survival than setting records.

Congratulations to all the prize winners, Nicholas Fennell (Thanet RC) was, as per his 2023 victory, over three minutes clear of all other riders and in the process broke the existing course record.

Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined Rule5 Aerosmiths) finished second with a strong ride that won him the top vets OAS prize.

James Skulczuk was not far behind on a road bike, riding at 380 watts for an hour is hugely impressive.

No less impressive was 16 year old Charles Langford’s (Lee Valley Youth CC) superb ride to finish fourth and win the junior category.

Finishing first in the female category was Hilary Briggs (Serpentine Running and Triathlon Club).

The promoting club’s trio of riders, Keith Walker, Julien Barton and Phil Appleby won the team prize led by Keith Walker who also won the Bill Philbrook Cup.

Full results are here: https://wigmorecyclingclub.org.uk/2023-2/2025-bill-philbrook-memorial-25-time-trial/

A big thank you go to the Philbrook family who always support the Bill Philbrook Memorial 25 with great enthusiasm, Robert for managing the event organisation and his sisters and nieces not only for the supply of cakes but also covering other roles.

During his career Bill Philbrook made a noteworthy contribution to the British cycling heritage of building bespoke lightweight bicycle frames from his shop in Gillingham.

And of course, thanks also to the timekeepers, marshals and supporters who helped to ensure the event went ahead safely and smoothly.

Thanks also to Mike Savage for providing event photography. Mike was the official event photographer:

https://www.mikesavagephotography.co.uk/event-galleries/2025-events/2526-002/

Please check out his excellent images and you are strongly encouraged to buy a photograph or two in order to show your appreciation!

Don’t forget the Wigmore CC 50th Annual Hill Climb on Sunday 28th September 2025.
Course: QHC/11 Hollingbourne Hill
Enter at www.cyclingtimetrials.org.uk

ROGER TRAVERS, RIP – 6th December 1940 to 25th November 2024

Roger was a life-long cyclist who was a very good time trialist and he was particularly strong at the longer distances – 50 and 100 miles and 12 hours.  No doubt Roger’s ride of 15 miles each way from his home for many years on the Isle of Sheppey to Chatham Dockyard and back and very long rides with his close friend Doug Laidlow helped him to gain his high level of fitness and stamina.

Roger first cycled with the Canning Town Cycling Club, based on Sheppey, before joining the Wigmore CC in 1966.  A few years later, from 1970 onwards, the Wigmore began a remarkable period of success in Kent cycling and further afield around the south east, winning many individual and team awards, with Roger often the leader of the winning team.

Roger also enjoyed many individual successes, particularly over the longer distances.  He was the winner of the San Fairy Ann ’50’ in 1970 (2-04-37), and the Classic Brentwood Road Club ’50’ in Essex in 1975, with a time of well under two hours (1-58-37).

In 1976 Roger won the Kent Cycling Association 100 miles time trial in 1976 with a time of four hours and seventeen minutes (4-17-10).  Roger also completed the Kent Cycling Association 12 Hours time trial on seven occasions and his best distance in this event was 244 miles for fourth place in 1973 (244.645m).

Roger won many Wigmore club trophies over the years.  He was club best-all-rounder four times, 25 miles champion four times, 50 miles champion seven times, 100 miles champion nine times and 12 hours champion five times.

He was also the winner of the annual club events series three times.  He may have been trying to win this series one evening in the 1970s when he was riding an evening club event on Sheppey Way.  Events on this course always carried the risk of having to be abandoned if the Kingsferry lifting bridge went up to allow a ship to pass.  On this occasion Roger approached the bridge at speed and its lights were flashing indicating he had to stop as the bridge was about to go up.  But he carried on anyway and although he was able to ride onto the bridge, by the time he reached the other side he was quite a few feet up in the air!

Roger did some great rides in time trials but he didn’t ever take it too seriously or forget the fun of it all.

After Roger retired from racing in the 1980s he and his partner Jean carried on cycling regularly, but at a more leisurely pace.  They also joined the weekly Wednesday Wobblers Group that meets for lunch at a different pub each week.  The Wigmore CC, the Kent Cycling Association and the Kent Veterans Time Trials Association all owe Roger and Jean a huge debt of gratitude for the very many times each season they marshalled in time trials in Kent, over a period of many years.

We offer our deepest condolences to Jean, and to all family and friends.

Clin Maisey