Hell of the Ashdown


Steve Airey
Le Anh Luong
HOTA Sportive Organiser

The Hell of the Ashdown or ‘HOTA’ as it is often called is an Annual Sportive run in late February by the Club, it's origins started with The Catford Reliability Trial from the 1920s and was renamed after the Club decided to make it a very special event with electronic timing, marshals around the whole circuit, on-line entering, feed stations, sag wagons and so much more it is hard to explain all here . It is a massive event and takes in many of the iconic climbs in and around our area. The event is HQ is based at Charles Darwin School in Biggin Hill and then goes ‘out and back' to the Ashdown Forest. It is arguably the best ‘Sportive’ in the South of England and has received many plaudits from both Riders and Press. The HOTA was one of the pioneers of the this level of promotion - and as such slots for the 1500 available places go very quick! The event has its own bespoke website which can be viewed by clicking here.

As this is such a ‘massive’ event for the club unfortunately members are barred from riding it as ‘all hands to the pump’ are required on the day to help. The event helps pay for all of the other events both sporting and social the club put on, we also make a substantial donation to charity each year, details of which are on the HOTA site