The world famous Good Friday Meetings took shape in January 1903 when a small group of enthusiasts persuaded their sceptical colleagues of the Southern Counties Cycling Union that the Union should promote a meeting at Herne Hill on the coming Good Friday. A guarantee fund was set up but with the meeting turning out an unqualified success this was not required, in fact a useful profit was made. The track was booked for following year and the almost unbroken series of meetings has continued to the present day.

The 1930's

Within a few years of their commencement capacity crowds were being thrilled and entertained by the top British amateur riders of the day and leading Continental professional sprinters.

In the years up to WW1 three British World Champions, Leon Meredith, Vic Johnson and Bill Bailey, were frequent competitors and together with continental riders like V. Dupre, the pro World Champion, meetings were taking on an international flavour.

SCCU stalwart Joe Stapley managed to keep the series going throughout the 1914-18 war. Disguised as the United Services Sports the meagre entry was confined to members of the Forces. With the return of Peace the standard of racing was soon back to top world-class level. Bill Bailey was still there, but as a pro’ now, and we had another World Champion, H.T. ‘Tiny’ Johnson. The 1920’s saw the four famous Wyld brothers led by Harry and Percy who could see off any combination in a pursuit. Tandem paced races became a feature of programmes and the great Frank Southall proved difficult to beat. One foreign rider popular with the Herne Hill supporters in the 1930’s was the young German Toni Merkens who won a 'Counties trophy outright in the popular 5 miles Point-to-Point.

With Herne Hill was being used for military purposes during the 1939-45 war the meeting was moved to Paddington. 1941 saw the nation with its back to the wall with daily air raids on London and that year became the first blank date on the ‘Counties calender. Then the Government ‘suspended Good Friday’ so the meeting was held on Easter Monday. Although nowhere on the scale of prewar events these wartime meetings maintained the continuity of a great occasion.

Sprint action from 2003

Under the guiding hand of promoter Jim Wallace the 20 years following the war saw the Good Friday meetings, now back at Herne Hill, reach a peak of international prestige.

In 1948 a sponsorship was negotiated with the “News of the World” that enabled Wallace to engage champion amateur sprinters from the principal cycling nations and match them in a ‘Champion of Champions’ sprint. And what a galaxy of World and Olympic Champions were seen in action.

Sadly when this event was first staged in 1948 one of our greatest sprinters Reg Harris, then current World Champion, was seriously injured in a car crash en route to the track. He appeared in later years riding as a professional.

In 1948 Wallace introduced another event, one that gave him particular pleasure. He invited comparatively unknown riders to compete in the ‘White Hope Sprint’ in the belief that they would be the future champions. How right he was as the winners through the years were to prove.

From the 1960’s to 80’s track racing declined in popularity with road racing proving more attractive. Capacity crowds became a thing of the past except on the occasions when top professional roadmen made an appearance at the Meeting. The rise in the number of British professionals and the relaxation of rules allowing pros and amateurs to complete against each other assisted promoters who followed Wallace in their selection of competitors for events.

With the resurgence of interest in track racing, and the advent of sponsorship for individual events during the latter part of the century, the current promoters were once again able to invite World class riders like Michael Hubner, Florian Rousseau, Arnaud Tournant, Graeme Obree and Jason Queally to the Hill to ensure the continuity of this great international meeting.

2003 saw Tour stage winner Stuart O'Grady whipping a 5,000 plus fans into a furore as he did battle with Olympic star Bradley Wiggins & World Champion Bradley McGhee.

Sadly the 2004 event was cancelled because of a clash with a World Cup event being held in Manchester, but after 100 years of action and history.

2005 saw a heady mix of racing featuring the big motors in the pacer's race - 2005 Pictures & reports

Endurance race reports
Sprint race reports
Stayers pics
Neil Rankin's pics
Pics at DernyUk

Report & pictures courtesy of www.londoncyclesport.com & more can be found at the links below

History
Herne Hill history - more
100 years of Good Friday - more
Herne Hill Velodrome Trust - www.HerneHillVelodrome.co.uk

2003
2003 report - more
2003 Pics 1- more
2003 Pics 2 - more
2003 Bikes - more
2003 Paul Wright's pics - more

2002 pictures
Pics 1- more