THE SOUTHERN COUNTIES CYCLING UNION WAS HOST TO AN INTERNATIONAL MEETING AT HERNE HILL TRACK IN LONDON YESTERDAY (FRIDAY 27TH).

THE FESTIVAL MEETING WAS THE 67TH HELD BY THE HOST UNION ON A GOOD FRIDAY, ATTRACTING TOP AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL RIDERS FROM ENGLAND AND EUROPE.

RAPHAEL CONSTANT AND JULIEN TYDTGAT OF BELGIUM, DENMARK'S NEILS FREDBORG, AND EAST GERMAN COMPETITORS WARNER OTTO AND JURGEN GESCHKE WERE ALL WELL TO THE FORE IN VARIOUS EVENTS. THE ONE-AND-A-HALF LAP SPRINT, ONE OF THE MAIN EVENTS, RESULTED IN A WIN FOR ENGLISH PROFESSIONAL DAVE NIE OF HOLDSWORTHY. THERE WAS SOME CLOSE AND HARD RIDING IN THE FINAL OF THE ONE-THOUSAND METRES SPRINT. AFTER SEVERAL LEAD CHANGES JURGEAN GENSCHKE OF EAST GERMANY SURGED AHEAD OF THE FIELD TO TAKE THE TITLE AND TROPHY.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY'S RACING PROVED TO BE THE GOLDEN WHEEL 5-MILE POINT-TO-POINT EVENT. THIRTY-SIX AMATEUR RIDERS, REPRESENTING SOME OF THE BEST IN BRITAIN AND EUROPE, SOON SETTLED DOWN TO A BATTLE ROYAL, AND HAD THE CROWD ON ITS TOES. PETER WATSON OF CLIFTON WAS FIRST MAN HOME TO TAKE THE WALLY SMITH MEMORIAL TROPHY.