Archer Road Club   

The Archer Grand Prix

The background and history of the GP are below the following press release.

Press Release - 2009 GP Cancelled

2 February 2009

The Archer Grand Prix, due to have been held on 19 April, has been cancelled due to the lack of sponsorship.

States Stuart Benstead, who has been an organiser for its 52-year history: “Undoubtedly the recession has been a major factor, but not necessarily the only factor.

“It is particularly galling that arrangements had already been put in place for Thames Valley Police (TVP) to provide a motor-cycle escort team and our relationship with them has been first class.

“Nevertheless, the costs of this escort together with the road closure order would have been easily the biggest proportion of the whole budget. It is understandable that TVP treat all sporting events on the highway in the same way and that is absolutely right and proper.

“It is a huge pity, however, that British Cycling and the road running and horse trial governing bodies have failed to persuade the government to introduce new legislation for alternative self-regulation safety measures for such events. So major charity road runs as well as cycle events have been lost.

“In fact TVP officers have told us that they would welcome such legislation so that they can concentrate on their mainstream duties.

“The cost across the country is colossal and almost 100% of other major cycle races needing a police escort and/or road closure are now drawing their major financial support from Regional Development Authorities (RDA) or local authorities. So there is no wonder that all are situated from Lincoln to the north of England or in Wales and Scotland. The Chilterns base for the Archer GP is unlikely to be perceived as in need of business or tourism support through sports sponsorship.

“I find this almost complete reliance by cycle sport on government controlled funding very worrying indeed, whereas most other sports do have a core commercial sponsor for their domestic programme.

“The international side of cycling is well funded and this is justified by its success. But the domestic side, from where most of the Olympic and World Champions have emerged, is very vulnerable indeed.

“We have approached a considerable range of companies without success including a number within the cycle industry which has perhaps has not been hit so hard by the recession. Some quote the cost of their sponsored teams, which presumably will now have the cost of having to go abroad that weekend for suitable quality racing.

The Archer club will be discussing with the Twickenham CC and the TVP whether the support events for lower category riders can continue, probably on a different course as it was intended to take advantage of the road closure order for the main event. The Archer club has taken over the promotion of a major meeting at the Hillingdon Circuit and will continue with its cyclo cross meeting at the same venue, while Stuart Benstead remains the organiser of the Hillingdon GP, which is a National Criterium Series event, and 24 of the circuit's regular meetings.

END

The Archer Grand Prix is one of Britain's premier one day cycle races - forming a key part of British Cycling's Premier Calendar and its predecessors. The race traditionally takes place in the Spring. It has been run for over fifty years by Stuart Benstead (though Stuart Cook organised the 2006 event). It has, in the past, adopted the name of its main sponsor, including Harp Lager, Pernod and Cycling Weekly.

The first winner, in 1956, was Alfred Howling. Steve Farrell holds the record for most wins with four.

Consistently routed around the roads and lanes of the Chiltern Hills, the most recent route is split into a large and small circuit. The large circuit takes in Whiteleaf Hill and Hughenden Valley while the small finish circuit includes the finish at Winchmore Hill.

The 2007 edition was won by Simon Gaywood riding for the Plowman Craven - Evans Cycles from Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor) and Andy Roche (Pinarello). The 53rd version of the race was scheduled to run in Spring 2008 but was cancelled because of policing issues. The 2009 edition was cancelled because of a lack of sponsorship.

There is a Cycling Weekly interview about the race with Stuart Benstead here.

The Grand Prix support races began in 1957 (Archer Spring RR) and 1960 (Archer Junior RR). Winners have included such notables as Graham Webb, Steve Heffernan, Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, Roger Hammond in their younger days all on their way to world, or Commonwealth championships, and similar professional glories.

Winners