Hailsham Venta 300 BRM

308km cycling event starting from Hailsham, Freedom Leisure Centre. Controls at Buckbarn Services, Chichester Sainsbury, Sutton Scotney, Rogate Village Hall, Pyecombe and Hellingly Services Near Hailsham., plus 2 information controls.

A 308km event starting at and finishing near Hailsham, with commercial controls, 2 infos, and Village Hall feed at 212km plus postal finish. NOTE that this is now a BRM event.

Entry fee covers food at the manned control. No entries on the line.

Starting from the Freedom Leisure Centre, Vicarage Lane, Hailsham, BN27 2AX lower 23hr (not 3hr) carpark.

100th anniversary of the first ACP 300km BRM event. This edition includes a special brevet and there will be a commemorative medal.

There will be a limit of 25 entries for this event since medals will need to be pre-ordered.

Final Welcome Letter, Route sheet and GPX track will be available the week before the event following final checking.

Note that there are no toilets at the start so organise yourself before arrival there!

The ride is based on several well tested stages that are currently followed on various El Supremo Permanents. The main difference is the inclusion of a Village Hall stop at 212km to ensure you all get feed and watered before the final push home.

Stage 1 (58k) Leaving Hailsham towards the North, you quickly join the A22 at the Hellingly / Boship Farm Roundabout. Since not a 3am start I’ve decided that after 4k you turn off toward Ringmer and pass the North of Lewes before travelling West along the bottom of the South Downs passing through Ditching, Hassocks, Hurstpierpoint, Albourne, Shermanbury, Partridge Green and Littleworth, before a short (2.7k) on the A272 to the commercial control at Buckbarn.

Stage 2 (41k) Leaving the control you continue West along the A272 before turning South towards Shipley, Thakeham and Storrington. After Storrington you are at the bottom of the South Down and follow a rolling road to Houghton and the long drag up to the Whiteways roundabout. A downhill stretch on the A29 before turning off back onto country lanes through Slindon, Eartham and Halnaker before joining the A285 for 3k before turning towards Chichester and the commercial control at the Sainsbury Superstore.

Stage 3 (66k) Leaving the control you pass through Chichester before joining the B2178 to Funtington and Aldsworth, after which you turn North to Horndean and Clanfield. Things start to get a little lumpy now while passing Old Winchester Hill towards West Meon before joining the A272 and head towards Winchester. At the junction with the A31 you head North to bypass Winchester, taking in Easton, Martyr Worthy, Abbots Worthy, Kings Worthy and Stoke Charity before arriving in Sutton Scotney to control at the Dever Stores or any other commercial outlets.

Stage 4 (48k) Retracing back to Stoke Charity, you continue through Micheldever and East Stratton. The route then avoids New Alresford by turning towards Northington then taking minor roads to Bighton and Hawkley. After Hawkley you soon have the very steep descent (with a sharp hairpin bend) towards Liss and the first INFO control of the ride. After a climb out of Liss you descend into Rogate and its Village Hall to Control and get feed. Note that the control is the small hall at the back of the building by the playing fields but will be sign posted. Do not use the main hall.

Stage 5 (60k) You continue from the control and join the A272 and continue into Midhurst. I could have routed you over minor lanes to the north or south of the A272, but the ride would have become over distanced, and this is my preferred route whenever doing either the Hailsham Liss 200 or Pulborough Reading 200 Perms. After Midhurst you take country lanes through Selham, Coates, with its final INFO control, Coldwaltham and Greatham before joining the A283. You now stay on the A283 to Storrington, with a slight detour to avoid the Washington RAB, before joining the A283 again to Steyning and Bramber, before turning North to Edburton, Fuking and Poynings before arriving at the commercial control at the Pyecombe Service Station.

Stage 6 (35k) The final stage starts with several climbs to get you over the South Downs. The initial climb is to get you over the A23, then the short sharp climb to Pyecombe Church and then the drag up Clayton Hill. Note that before reaching the bottom of the descent you need to turn off onto Underhill Lane. If you miss this turn, then take the Right on the left Bend and the first right to rejoin the route. Passing the base of Ditching Beacon, you continue on Underhill Lane to Westmeston, before heading through Lewes, Ringmer and Laughton, before joining the A22 and the final commercial control at Hellingly /Boship Farm Roundabout Services.

At the finish, riders should number each receipt obtained from the various controls and send, along with their SIGNED brevet card, to the organiser in the envelope that will be supplied at the start.

RIDERS WISHING FOR THEIR VALIDATED BREVET CARD TO BE RETURNED, SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A STAMPED ADDRESS ENVELOPE.........