The Event - The Races - Entries - The Course

Gallery - Sponsors - Press - History - Contact Us

The Event

A highlight of the Guildford Festival each year, the races are fought out by the country’s top road racers. This is guaranteed to bring a fast and hard-fought main event on Guildford’s notoriously tough course, with its cobbled climb up the High Street and tight, narrow corners out of North Street.  As well as the main event a programme of supporting events is also offered including the ever popular ‘youngsters’ race where many top cyclists of the future get their first opportunity to ride in such a big event. The biggest applause is often saved for the smallest riders!

The 2013 event will take place on Wednesday 10th July 

The Races

As part of the races there are three races throughout the evening as follows:

6.30pm - U16/U14 (Youth A & B) and U12/U10 (Youth C & D) races (we are intending to separate these races)
7pm - 'Local Heroes' Race (3rd Cat Only - Regional B)
7.30pm - Cycleworks UK Womens Criterium E/1/2/3
8pm - Colbornes Elite Criterium (E/1/2 - National B)

Entries

Entries are available online this year via RiderHQ. There is also more information available in the British Cycling calendar and on their website.

Please also note that the Youth and Support Races will be accepting entries on a 'first come, first served' basis but the main (E1/2) race will have the field chosen based on the best riders available. This will be based on 1) Licence category, 2) Recent results, 3) Date of Entry

Please note that we will be separating the Youth A & Youth B riders from the younger categories into a separate race so that the YC/YD/YE race will be shorter and probably held just before the YA/YB race. This not only helps the judges but it is also a lot safer as there can be a big difference in the strength of the YA/YB riders vs the younger ones.

Results

Click here for a report from the 2012 edition of the races and the full results can be found here

The Course

Click this image to see a larger version of the route

Gallery

You can see photo's and even video footage online of previous editions from 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012

Also available to view on Vimeo is Guildford Town Centre Races - The Movie

   

Charlotteville CC Guildford Town Race 2009 from Will Ranoe on Vimeo.

Sponsors

For 2013 we will have the following sponsors on board and we appreciate the input and support that they give to the events, especially our main sponsors Cycleworks UK Ltd and Colbornes.

• Cycleworks
  Joint title sponsor for the event since 2009
  
  Established 18 years ago, Cycleworks has become one of the south’s leading bicycle shops with shops in Guildford, Leatherhard, Haselmere and Petersfield. They will cover all your cycling requirements across Mountain, Road, Commuter and Kids biking.
• The Colbornes Group
  Joint title sponsor for the event
  
  The Colbornes Group is a company with almost 70 years' experience in the motor industry and have since grown into one of the South East's leading motor retailers. The Colbornes Group currently now operates from 7 separate sites and are proud to represent Audi and Volkswagen in Guildford, Walton, Woking, Basingstoke and Camberley
  Joint title sponsor for the event for 2011 and 2012

Other sponsors:

• Guildford Borough Council
  
  Local borough council who have been extremely supportive of the event and its development over the history of the Guildford Town Centre Races. This includes having the races as a key element of the Guildford Summer Festival (further details below)
• More sponsors TBC - if you are interested in having your name here and your companies banners on the course then please contact us. 

Media Partners:

• Surrey Advertiser
  
  Local newspaper for Guildford and the surroundings areas we receive great support from the sports department giving a good coverage of the event both in the week leading up to the race and afterwards publishing reports. 

We would like to thanks all our sponsors for their help and financial support without which we would not have been able to have run this event.  If you are interested in sponsorship opportunities for the event then please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  via email .  This could include banners on the course or sponsoring primes (sprint laps) in any of the races.

This event is part of the Guildford Summer Festival, supported by Guildford Borough Council, with over 100 events for all ages and interests. The festival runs from June to August. To celebrate your summer with style, pick up a brochure from the Tourist Information Centre in Tunsgate or visit www.guildfordsummerfestival.co.uk for full details of events and how to book.

Press

This photograph from club member Dave Faulkner has been selected for the front cover of the August 2010 issue of 'The Guildford Magazine' which is a lifestyle magazine that is distributed to many thousands of homes in the Guildford area.

• Pre-event Press Release - 20th June 2011
• The same press release on the British Cycling website
• Pre-race build up from the Surrey Advertiser
• Article from the Surrey Advertiser in 2011 in the edition following the race with the results - back page and photo spread

History

The Guildford Town Centre Races were first promoted by Charlotteville Cycling Club in 1984 as part of the Guildford Festival. The route was the same as it is today involving the small circuit of North Street, Market Street and a stiff climb of the cobbled High Street which proves to be very demanding on the riders. The first race was attended by a large crowd of nearly 2000 spectators who enjoyed some high spirited racing in the two events, one for 3rd category riders and the other for 1st and 2nd category riders. Prior to the racing, nine members of the Southern Veteran-Cycle Club Ripley Section rode two laps on veteran machines. The oldest was a French Michaux velocipede of about 1868. There were also two high “Ordinaires” of about 1880 and a Singer solid-tyred safety of 1890. So if you think that it looks hard on the riders of today with their aluminium, titanium and carbon frames just think it must have been like on those machines !!!

The Town Centre Races are now the most prestigious of the Charlotteville CC’s many annual promotions and regularly attract a first class field, good sponsorship and many spectators. The inspiration came from Les Smith, Mike Willimott and Stuart Campbell who promoted them for the first ten years. Since 1984 the races have had to be cancelled three times (1995, 1999 & 2000) due to roadworks or builders’ scaffolding encroaching on the road. Over the remaining years the swish of board-hard racing tyres and the characteristic rattle of aluminium racing frames over the granite setts of the High Street, together with the loudspeakers, have created an exciting atmosphere.

Contact Us

If you would like to know more about the Town Centre Races or have a question about entering then please contact Race Organiser  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  via email.