The Victor Berlemont Trophy Race

The Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race was first held in 1951, organised by Southern Velo in honour of Victor Berlemont, the much-loved landlord of the York Minster pub (now The French House) in Soho. Though not a coureur himself, Victor was a key figure in London's cycling scene — his pub was a legendary meeting place for artists, free-thinkers and cyclists.

Victor, a Belgian immigrant, ran the York Minster with charm and in a manner which attracted an unusual clientele. Apart from the famous bohemians, many club cyclists would gather there, sharing tales and debating cycling politics over drinks. There was a rationale behind this: the disruption caused by the 1939-45 war was at least partly responsible for the rise of the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC), a rebel organisation which promoted continental style road racing in the face of strong opposition from the cycling establishment. The generally subversive atmosphere of Soho and Victor’s pub were a perfect match.

 Berlemont senior died in 1953 but the pub continued, in the same style, under his son Gaston Berlemont, who ran the business until his retirement in1989.It was Gaston—himself a member of Southern Velo and Vice-President of the BLRC—who was the prime mover in promoting the race which quickly became a major fixture on the southern racing calendar.

A Roll of Honour

The first edition in 1951 was won by Chris Hooper of Southern Velo.

The race soon opened to riders from other clubs and became part of the BLRC and later British Cycling Federation (BCF) calendars.

Over the years, it attracted many top-level competitors, with notable winners including:

 Brian Wilcher (Army CU) – 1956

 Dave Bedwell – 1960, 1962, 1964

 John Froude (Festival RC) – 1965

 Peter Chisman (Raleigh) – 1966

 Les West (Holdsworth/Campagnolo) – 1969–71

 Gary Crewe (National Road Race Champion) – 1972

 Dave Rayner (East Bradford) – 1992

The race was last run in 1996, but in 2010 it was successfully revived by Doug Collins with support from the Surrey League. Since then, it has regained its place as a prestigious National B-level event.

The Pedal Club is proud to provide both financial and moral support to help secure the future of this historic race.

The 2025 Edition

The Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race returned in 2025 as a 112-mile National B event, designed to offer a challenge on par with National A races.

 Date: Sunday, 24th August 2025

 Circuit: Woodcote/South Stoke, South Oxfordshire

 Start/Finish: Woodcote Village Hall, RG8 0QY

 Promoted by: High Wycombe Cycling Club

 Organiser: Andrew Pearce – andynut52@gmail.com

First run in South Mimms, Herts in 1951 (distance: 96 miles, first prize: £3!), the racemoved to Surrey in the 1970s and found its current home in Woodcote in 2014. With the recent introduction of 20mph limits in nearby Goring, the race now uses the shorter Woodcote–South Stoke Circuit, which still includes the brutal climb from South Stoke to Woodcote.

Prizes include:

 £200 and the Victor Berlemont Trophy for the winner

 Awards for the fastest climbers from South Stoke — but only if they finish!

This is one of the toughest road races in the UK, combining steep climbs, open roads, and the legacy of generations of British cycling.

How to Enter

The Victor Berlemont Trophy Road Race

24th August 2025

On the start line there were seventy brave riders who were prepared to tackle this 185 kilometre (111 miles) marathon - the longest National B race in the calendar. No one could doubt this was going to be a race of attrition.

In past editions of the race on another version of the Woodcote course which included the steep climb of Flint Hill, there have been winning breaks which started early in the day, but on this occasion there was no significant break until the last couple of laps The current version of the course includes the tough Catsbrain Hill which has to be climbed eleven times and, watching from the commissaires car directly behind the bunch, casualties were seen here every lap. Each one losing a few yards, then struggling and failing to get back.

The crosswind was unhelpful on the climb, tending to push the riders into the gutter, but it was mostly beneficial on the main road towards Wallingford where the bunch descended at speeds approaching 50 mph.

The winner was Danylo Riwnyj (Foran CT), who had a good strategy for these circumstances: mark any dangerous looking break, but conserve energy until the closing stages. With two laps to go he went for the final prime, leaving the small number of survivors still in the front group and opening a gap which might have seen him finishing alone, since he was confident enough to go on by himself. However, he was baulked by a car reversing out onto the road and this allowed the two chasers, Cameron Still (Ride Revolution Coaching) and Charlie Genner (BC Private Member) to get up to him just before Woodcote village. The three then worked together, but as they approached the finish Riwnyj proved to be still the strongest, attacking from the front on the final climb with power rather than tactics. He was the clear winner.

 Riwnyj is twenty-six years of age, but only in his third racing season. Until the Covid epidemic he was a footballer, but in lockdown he took to cycling, as a form of non contact exercise, and found a talent he didn't know he possessed. The 2025 season has been his best so far and he is now considering improving his French with a view to racing on the continent next year. Some one who has excellent English and speaks Ukrainian should not find French too challenging!

Among the top ten finishers were two regulars who should be mentioned: Olly Hucks (TAAP Kalas seventh) a former winner of the event who finishes well up every year, and Chris McNamara (Sigma Sport ninth). Chris’s achievement is notable since, at fifty years of age, he is old enough to be father to most of the rest of the field.

Finally we must remember the hard work of the organiser, Andy Pearce, all the volunteers from the High Wycombe CC and GS Henley, plus the Pedal Club, which not only supported the event financially, but also with helpers, including Doug Collins who resurrected this race and has long been a driving force behind its survival.

Top ten finishers:

1. Danylo Rywnyj (Foran CT)

2. C. Still (Ride Revolution Coaching)

3. C. Genner (BC Private Member)

4. G. Dellar (Primera Team Jobs)

5. O. Snodden (Mandene Racing)

6. M. King (Atom 6 Decca Continental Team)

7. O Hucks (TAAP Kalas)

8. J Housley (Primera Team Jobs)

9. C. McNamara (Sigma Sport)

10. J. McKay (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli)
From the 70 starters there were 29 finishers.

Chris Lovibond,

August 2025.

Dear Pedal Club

I would like to thank the Pedal Club for its very generous sponsorship of the Victor Berlemont Road Race this year. Without this support, following the withdrawal of the support of British Cycling, the event wouldn’t have taken place. I know this support also means a great deal to Doug Collins as it does to me as Event Organiser.

Thanks again,

Yours sincerely

Andy Pearce