Archer Grand Prix cycle race

Archer GP

Race details
Date	Late March/Early April
Region	Chilterns, United Kingdom
English name	Archer GP
Discipline	Road race
Competition	BC Premier Calendar
Type	Single day race
Organiser	Archer RC
Race director	Stuart Benstead
History
First edition	1956
Editions	52
First winner	Alfred Howling (GBR)
Most wins	Steve Farrell (GBR) (x4)
Most recent	Simon Gaywood (GBR)

The Archer Grand Prix cycle race was part of the British Cycling Premier Calendar.

History

The Archer Grand Prix was run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club (although Stuart Cook organised the last two events in 2006 and 2007). It was described by British Cycling as a "long running classic".^[1] The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling. 1968 saw the first non-British winner when Jan Krekels of the Netherlands won the race. The race has in the past, adopted the name of its main sponsor, including Harp, Pernod and Cycling Weekly.

Consistently routed around the roads and lanes of the Chiltern Hills, the most recent route was split into a large and small circuit. The large circuit took in Whiteleaf Hill and Hughenden Valley while the small finish circuit included the finish at Winchmoor Hill.

The 2007 edition was won by Simon Gaywood riding for the Plowman Craven Associates team from Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor) and Andy Roche (Pinarello). The 53rd version of the race was scheduled to run in Spring 2008 but had to be cancelled because of policing issues.^[2] The future of the race then became uncertain; it was scheduled to be held again on 19 April 2009,^[3] but sponsorship problems led to a second cancellation.

Winners

1956 Alfred Howling  Great Britain 1957 Tony Hall  Great Britain 1958 Brian Wiltcher  Great Britain 1959 Ron Coe  Great Britain 1960 Billy Holmes  Great Britain 1961 Gilbert Taylor  Great Britain 1962 Albert Hitchen  Great Britain 1963 Mike Shea  Great Britain 1964 Derek Harrison  Great Britain 1965 Les West  Great Britain 1966 Hugh Porter  Great Britain 1967 Dave Rollinson  Great Britain 1968 Jan Krekels  Netherlands 1969 Martyn Roach  Great Britain 1970 Hugo De Haes  Belgium 1971 Richard Jones  Great Britain 1972 Jørgen Emil Hansen  Denmark 1973 Jørgen Emil Hansen  Denmark 1974 Vern Hanaray  New Zealand 1975 Ryszard Szurkowski  Poland 1976 Paul Sherwen  Great Britain 1977 Paul Sherwen  Great Britain 1978 Phil Griffiths  Great Britain 1979 Jørgen Emil Hansen  Denmark 1980 Jeff Williams  Great Britain 1981 Alan Gornall  Great Britain 1982 Steve Joughin  Great Britain

1983 Mark Bell  Great Britain 1984 Mark Walsham  Great Britain 1985 Peter Sanders  Great Britain 1986 Wayne Randle  Great Britain 1987 Steve Farrell  Great Britain 1988 Philip Cassidy  Ireland 1989 Steve Farrell  Great Britain 1990 Steve Farrell  Great Britain 1991 Steve Farrell  Great Britain 1992 Peter Longbottom  Great Britain 1993 David Williams  Great Britain 1994 Paul Curran  Great Britain 1995 Chris Newton  Great Britain 1996 Gary Baker  Great Britain 1997 John Tanner  Great Britain 1998 Jon Clay  Great Britain 1999 Chris Walker  Great Britain 2000 Roger Hammond  Great Britain 2001 Gordon McCauley  New Zealand 2002 Gordon McCauley  New Zealand 2003 David O'Loughlin  Ireland 2004 Julian Winn  Wales 2005 John Tanner  Great Britain 2006 Mariusz Wiesiak  Poland 2007 Simon Gaywood  Great Britain 2008 Not held 2009 Not held

References

1. "2009 Premier Calendar and Circuit Series". British Cycling. 2008-12-04.
2. "=The Big Interview: Stuart Benstead". Cycling Weekly. 2008-12-01.
3. Lionel Birnie (2008-12-01). "British Race Calendar 2009". Cycling Weekly.