The Bert Bartholomew Trophy

The Bert Bartholomew Trophy was given to the DA in 1997 in memory of ‘Bionic Bert’, a popular DA member, for award to the eldest member of the DA who completes the 100 mile reliability ride within 12 hours.  Since then there have been many years when no 100 mile reliability ride has been run, so the trophy has been awarded to the oldest member completing the 50 mile reliability ride within the time limit.  In 2007, however, it reverted to the ‘100’. In 2025, after being out of use for a few years, it was reassigned for award to the oldest club member completing the Danebury 150 Audax ride.

Bert was a prime example of how cyclists can keep mile-eating to a ripe old age:

• In 1983 he completed the ‘Tour of the Hills’ when a month short of 72, came 5th in the Benstead Cup competition and won the Edwards Attendance Cup (which at that time was the Sunday attendance trophy).
• In 1984 he completed the ‘Hampshire and Wiltshire Highways and Byways’ 200km Audax ride (Stonehenge & back) at nearly 73, again came 5th in the Benstead Cup competition and clocked up just over 14000 miles during the year.
• In 1987, when he was 76:  “Riders of the club ‘100’ report that Bert Bartholomew was sighted making swift progress towards the finish with a posse of much younger men struggling to hang on.  We conclude that Bert’s now over his accident - well done!”  (From ‘The West Surrey Cyclist’, Autumn 1987)
• In 1988, at 77, he again completed the ‘100’ and came 7th in the Benstead Cup competition.
• In 1994, at 83, he completed either the ‘100’ or the ‘75’ (Benstead Cup results).

Past Winners 1997 Harold Coleman 1998 Harold Coleman 1999 Rico Signore 2000 Bill Thompson 2001 Roy Banks 2002 Roy Banks 2003 Roy Banks 2004 Roy Banks 2005 Roy Banks 2006 Ron Richardson 2007 Geoff Smith “senior”  2008 Geoff Smith “senior”  2009 Peter Hackman 2010 Geoff Smith “senior”  2011 Don Jones 2012 Bob McLeod 2013 Bob McLeod 2014 Bob McLeod 2015 Mark Heal 2016 Peter Hackman 2017 Peter Hackman 2018 not awarded - no '100' 2019 not awarded - no '100' 2020  ! COVID-19 ! 2021 - 2022 - 2023 - 2024 - 2025 Peter Hackman 2026 Don Gray     . back to Trophies . W. Surrey DA History & Archives home page . Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  23 March 2026.