History
The South Eastern Road Club was formed in 1924 as the racing off-shoot of the south-eastern section of the Cyclist Touring Club (CTC), to facilitate cycle racing for men and women in the south-east of England. A group of would-be racers, lead by Charles "Tom" Cannon, F. W. Evans, J. Slade, H. H. "Chater" Willis, W. F. Holdsworth, G. H. Wilcox and E. Durden got together with around twenty other like-minded cyclists, and the club was born. [6]
1920s & 1930s
The club published its first handbook in 1925 [7] and each year thereafter for its members. The handbooks contained a diary of events, the previous year's award winners, club records and club rules.
The SERC's first president was F. W. Evans [8] (the founder of Evans Cycles), who reigned from 1924 to 1944. Evans was killed in December 1944 [9] , while out cycling. The first general secretary was Tom Cannon, 1924 to 1929. Cannon died [10] while taking part in a club activity in March 1929, aged 31. Memorial trophies to both men were purchased by the club and were awarded every year in club competitions. The club's first handicapper was W. F. Holdsworth, founder of Holdsworth Cycles.
The club's initial focus was on time trialing, where riders raced individually against the clock, over set distances. However, the club recognised the need to cater for other types of event including road racing (massed start) and track racing, the latter being held at the Herne Hill Velodrome in South London.
In 1926, the SERC formed a long standing association with the Eagle Road Club. [11] The "Interclub 50", a 50 mile time trial, became a permanent fixture on the racing calendar.
1940s & 1950s
In 1947, the club adopted orange and black as their official colours. [12] Prior to this, the tradition was for racing cyclists to wear all black. [13] In 1953, green was added. Various styles of club clothing were designed over the years, but orange, green and black remained.
During the 1940s and 1950s, women's cycling competition throughout the country reached a peak, and one of those at the top was club member Joyce E. Brooker. In 1950, Brooker broke the women’s National 25 mile time trial record [14] with a time of 1h 4m 10s, shaving 1m 17s from the previous record. This stood for 5 years. Brooker also came 4th in the women’s British Best All Rounder championship and won over 10 open events that year.
As well as distance events, in 1946, the club held its first Hill Climb Championship [15] on the steep Chalk Pits road near Oxted, Surrey. In later years, it was relocated to the less-challenging Star Hill in Knockholt, to encourage more riders to enter. [16] This event became a permanent fixture on the racing calendar. In 1957, the club held track racing events and track standards/records were established for the first time. [17]
1960s & 1970s
Major achievements occurred in the early 1970s. R. G. (Bob) Donington had joined the club in the latter part of the 1960s and became the dominant rider of the period, smashing almost every club record. In 1971, Donington, together with P. Holland and P. T. Abbott, won the CTC Best All Rounder Team award for the club. In 1972, Donington came 12th in the National 100 mile time trial Championship, and together with R. Corby and P. T. Abbott, secured 2nd place for the club in the National team competition. However, Donington's finest ride was a 7th place in the National 12hr Championship of 1973. [18]
1980s & 1990s
The early 1980s continued where the 1970s had left off. Club records continued to fall at a rapid pace; one 25 mile team record only lasting for two weeks before it was improved again. Richard Hallett gained national coverage when he broke the TT course tricycle record on the Isle of Man.
Steve Marchant, the fastest rider ever to have ridden for the club, gained a silver medal in both the 1984 [19] and the 1985 RTTC National Hill Climb Championships.
In 1990, Marchant, rejoined the club after a few years away and immediately broke three club records. He was placed 4th in the Isle of Man Mountain Time Trial, and recorded good finishing positions during a summer spent racing in Belgium. Marchant was selected to ride for Great Britain in the World Student Games, and achieved 12th place in the road race and gained the bronze medal in the 100km Team Time Trial. [20] To top his season, he won the Catford CC and Bec CC Hill Climbs, the latter with a hill record, and came second, again, in the RTTC National Hill Climb Championship.
Marchant continued to break club records. In 1992 he was awarded a gold medal for the first club rider to beat 4 hours in a 100 mile time trial, [21] with a time of 3h 58m 22s, which was never bettered. In 1997 he broke the club 24 hour record which had stood for 34 years. [22]
In 1998, Clive Willsher competed in the multi-event British Amputees Association Federation Games. [23] Willsher won the overall silver medal, clocking two 3rd places, one 4th, two 5ths and one 6th place. In the European Cup for Disabled Riders, Willsher was placed 11th in the hill climb and 7th in the circuit race. To top his season he also collected three silver medals at the Disabled Riders Track Championships at the Manchester Velodrome. [24]
The only club record to have eluded Steve Marchant was the 10 mile time trial, which had been set by Michael Oliver in 1983. However, in 1999 Marchant bettered it with a ride of 19m 54s, breaking the 30mph barrier for the first time by a club rider. He also broke his own 25 mile record in the same year, [25] which had stood since 1990.
2000 - 2025
Membership of the club steadily declined after 2000 and the club disbanded in 2025, after 101 years. [5]
