Eileen Sheridan (cyclist)

Eileen Sheridan, née Shaw was an English cyclist specialising in time trialling and road record breaking. She was cycling's second woman star, breaking all the WRRA records, including Land's End to John O'Groats, that had previously been set up by Bournemouth's Marguerite Wilson during the late thirties and into WW2. She dominated the scene until Beryl Burton came along. For many years she lived with her family in Church Street, Isleworth.

Amateur career

She began racing in the late 30s, riding for Coventry CC. She won the national time trial championship at 25 miles in 1945 and then took a break to have children. Coming back to racing, she won the women's British Best All-Rounder time trial competition in 1949 and 1950. She also took national championships at 50 and 100 miles in 1950. She broke records at 30 miles (1948: 1h 19m 28s), 50 miles (1949 and 1950: 2h 14m 16s), 100 miles (1950: 4h 37m 53s) and 12 hours (1949: 237.62 miles).

She was awarded the Bidlake Memorial Prize in 1950 "for creating a new high standard in women's cycle racing with an outstanding series of three championships and five record performances on the road in 1950." [http://www.bidlakememorial.org.uk/Recipients.htm>]

Professional career

Hercules Cycle and Motor Company signed her in 1951 for three years to break Road Records Association distance and place-to-place records. Sheridan broke all the women's records by large margins. Some, such as the London-Edinburgh record of 20h 11m 35s, set in 1954, have yet to be beaten.

In 1952 she featured in a documentary film made by Dunlop called "Spinning Wheels: Cycle Sport '50s Style". The film also featured Reg Harris, Ken Joy and Cyril Peacock as well as scenes from the Tour de France. In 1954 she broke the Land's End to John o' Groats record in 2 days, 11 hours and 7 minutes, beating the time held by Marguerite Wilson. The bicycle she used is now on display in Coventry Transport Museum.

In 1955 she featured in an advertisement for Player's cigarettes [ [http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/730381 BFI | Film & TV Database | EILEEN SHERIDAN (1955) ] ] .

External links

* [http://www.cyclingireland.ie/html/site/disciplines/records.jsp?type=road Cycling Ireland - road records] Dublin-Cork still held by Sheridan

Bibliography

*Hilton, T. (2005), "One More Kilometre And We're In The Showers", ISBN 0-00-653228-4
*Woodland, L. (2005), "This Island Race", Mousehold Press, ISBN 1-874739-36-6

References

Wonder Wheels; The Autobiography of Eileen Sheridan.