Giles Ree Memorial
The Giles Ree Memorial Race, which has been running since 1984. and was set up in memory of local racing cyclist Giles Ree by his VC Etoile clubmates.
Giles was a promising young rider with a hard man reputation who'd already won many races before his untimely death in 1983.
The race has taken many formats and been held in various locations. The South East Road Race league resurrected the event after a short absence and it was held in Kent for a few years. This year sees Project 51 taking over the reigns and a welcome return to Giles's home county of Sussex.
The race has had many worthy winners over the years, and 2025 will I'm sure be no exception.
The Course
A tough undulating course, with a long 4km climb each lap to the finish line, followed by a tough undulating road over the top, which often has the strong winds being a factor. Then the course turns left onto Eastbourne Road for a super fast descent to East Dean, where the race takes a left past the race HQ and along more undulating roads back to the start of the climb.
STRAVA LINK: Beachy Head Road Race Circuit | 11.5 km Cycling Route on Strava
0.0 Start of full lap
0.6 Proceed north past pub car park exit on left
1.2 Proceed past car park on left
1.5 Road bends to the left
2.3 Turn left on to B2103, Warren Hill
2.5 Proceed past car park on right
3.8 Turn left on to A259 East Dean Road, proceed west
4.1 Road bends to the right
5.5 Enter East Dean Village.
5.7 Turn left on to Gilberts Drive (CAUTION)
6.0 Road on the right
6.4 Series of bends for 600 meters 4.8
7.8 Road bends sharply to the left
7.8 National trust Birling Gap entrance on right
9.5 Car park on the right
10.3 Car park on the right
11.0 Series of bends for 300 meters
11.4 Car park on the left and right
11.7 Complete lap at finish line
2023 Race Report & result
Dan Gardner, Embark Spirit BSS took the South East Men’s Regional Road Race Championships. The race took place over 147 tough and hot km’s around the tough Handcross 9.1 km circuit in West Sussex.
The event also incorporated the Giles Ree Memorial Trophy which dates back to 1984 and has an illustrious roll of honour. Giles was a talented young Sussex roadman for VC Etoile.
The race got off to a relatively cautious start, riders perhaps being weary of the excessive heat. After a couple of laps, the attacks started with the Embark Spirit team, Dan Gardner, Sam Painter, Joe Hill and Irfan Zaman being very animated, along with Ollie Hurdle, Stolen Goat and Jamie Pullen, TAAP Endura.
A couple of laps later a lead group was established with Dan Gardner, Sam Painter, Irfan Zaman, Ollie Hurdle, Jack Cutsforth, Spatzwear, Jamie Pullen, Monte Guerinni, Le Col Race Team, Will Auty, Unattached, Robin Mould & Tobias Dahlhaus, Foran CCC, Isaac Wright, Project 51, Paul Burton, Paceline RT, Barnubus Purbrook, Sigma Sport – Cannondale and Rhys Howells, Richardson Trek DAS.
After a few attacks within the group, Dan Gardner, Ollie Hurdle and Sam Pinter establish a gap which went out to 2.05 with 2 laps to go and 2.37 on the bell lap, despite some concerted chasing and attempts to bridge across from Jamie Pullen, Paul Burton and Tobias Dahlhaus.
Last lap and the pressure was now on the two Embark Spirit BSS riders to take advantage to the numerical odds. Ollie Hurdle took the initiative and attacked. Sam Painter, by now feeling the distance and heat, sacrificed his chance of a win to chase down Ollie Hurdle allowing Dan Gardner to put in the final attack and finish 4 seconds clear on the line.
Sam rolled in 42 seconds later for the Bronze medal and first U23 rider.
Jack Cutsworth finished 4th just ahead of the chasing group, which was led in by Jamie Pullen.
Talented local Junior rider Luke Goodwill, Backstedt Bike Performance JRT came in ahead of the main bunch with experienced vet rider James Bonham, LAKA Pedal Mafia to take the Junior award.