Sport in brief

3:57pm Monday 7th July 2008

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GYMNASTICS: Hendon Leisure Centre hosted the sixth Barnet Festival of Gymnastics.

The annual event, which saw 300 children take part, brings local primary schools, clubs and groups together, each competing for best boy, best girl and best team/school in their respective age categories.

The Hendon Gymnastics Squad, along with the Childs Hill Display Team, took part in several displays throughout the day, demonstrating their tumbling, turns and general gymnastic skills.

The mayor of Barnet, Cllr John Marshall, attended the day and presented medals to the winning children in the Year 3 category. He said: "I was most impressed with the quality of all who took part. The judges had an almost impossible job determining the winners. The Childs Hill Display Team was out of this world. They perform internationally and are wonderful ambassadors for our borough.

"The whole event was a great advert for the potential of the leisure centre. I hope that it will encourage many more to use its facilities."

If you would like any information about GLL Gym Club or Hendon Gymnastics Squad, please contact Hendon Leisure Centre on 020 8455 0818.

SQUASH: Totteridge squash player Peter Goodman will be taking on one of the sport's greats in a bid to raise money for charity.

He has challenged Dominique Lloyd-Walter, England's number six, to a game at Finchley Manor Squash Club on July 17.

Lloyd Walter is currently ranked 21 in the world.

Goodman will be raising money for the Evelina Children's Hospital Appeal, part of Guy's & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, which provides everything from routine care and minor surgery, to lifesaving treatment, for more than 50,000 children each year.

The Evelina Children's Hospital Appeal supports the hospital by raising money to pay for equipment, furnishings and toys.

Goodman said he was hoping to raise more than £1,000, and is looking for sponsors. If you can help, please call 020 7188 1196.

The game will be played as a curtain-raiser to an exhibition match between Barnet's Alison Waters (current British champion) and Lloyd-Walter.

CYCLING: Experience told in the Finchley Racing Team's 65-mile promotion held on the South Mymms circuit on Sunday.

In conditions more akin to March than July, the race was enlivened by a two-man breakaway from the 55-strong field, which ended when the main bunch caught up with one lap to go. Immediately, Ken Baker of Colchester Rovers, at 48, twice the age of most of the field, attacked alone and held a 12-second gap to the finish, despite gale-force winds and torrential rain showers.

Earlier in the week, Andy Cullinane won a fast circuit race at the Hillingdon purpose-built circuit, catching a four-man breakaway with two laps to go, then attacking with another rider and convincingly winning the sprint.

GOLF: Mill Hill golfer Daniel Brooks, fresh from competing against the very best at the French Open, won the open regional qualifying competition at Old Fold Manor GC with a course-record-equalling 65 (six under par).