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Sincere thanks. That info, plus a bit of googling last night has shed some light.
So there's a chance that my application for some open events could be turned down if popular, based on the fact I have no PBs? I'm mainly looking to enter 10s like the Dulwich Paragon one here.
Our club has no club events because we're only doing TT as of this year, but I know one guy has Kingston Wheelers as his 1st claim so I'll ask him if I can do some of theirs. Dulwich Paragon also seem to have a lot on, but it's not clear who can turn up to their Harry Must events.
fizzy.bleach-
Only opens on the very fastest of courses tend to fill up.
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So there's a chance that my application for some open events could be turned down if popular, based on the fact I have no PBs?
It's possible, but as @hippy and @umop3pisdn point out, usually only for short distances on fast courses. The times you do in club events count as qualifying times for all open events apart from National Championships. FWIW, in the last couple of years my family has had their entry returned on about 3 occasions, with the following details:
F11/10 closed on 21:36 😲
H10/22 (90 riders) closed on 27 ish
H25/8 closed on 1:08:somethingAs there are no fast courses in London South, you should be fine.
umop3pisdn
gbj_tester
There are basically 2 kinds of events, Type A and Type B. Type A events are listed in the CTT Handbook and on the CTT site, entry is selective based on previous performance (or whatever Special Conditions have been agreed) and they have to be entered in advance on the Standard Entry Form, or via the Internet Entry system where the Event Secretary has arranged for it. Entry is only open to members of Affiliated Clubs or holders of racing licences issued by the relevant national cycling organisation in the case of forrins riding UK events.
Type B events are listed in the relevant District handbook and/or website, usually on the promoting club's website too, and are Entry On the Line, with entries restricted at the discretion of the promoting club; usually that means preference to members of the promoting club. Some, but not all, Type B events are listed as Come & Try It, in which case you don't even have to be a member of an Affiliated Club to ride. You don't have to fill in an entry form, but you do have to complete and sign your part of the signing on sheet.
A few Type B events have to be entered in advance (notably Combine events which are a weird hybrid where the Promoting Club is actually a special purpose vehicle with no racing members), and some very popular ones (e.g. VC10 events on the F11) recommend entry in advance to avoid the disappointment of turning up and finding there are no places left.
So, first look at the club websites and see what they're doing, then have a chat with them and see whether they will let you ride, and if so whether you should ask for a place in advance or just turn up.
Bear in mind that there is more traffic on the Hillingdon circuit than there is on most open road courses :-)