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amended 9-01-15
Updated 6 November 2024
Blue
Plaque - Eileen Sheridan (18 October 1923 - 12 February 2023)
A Blue plaque was unveiled to
celebrate and honour the life of Coventry-born legend Eileen Sheridan in
October 2024. The plaque is on the wall of the stand at the Butts Park
Arena, which is currently the home of Coventry Rugby Football Club and
Coventry United Football Club. The site was the former Coventry Cycling
Track, which hosted many famous Track Meetings in the 1940's until its
demise in the early 1970's. It was most famous for the Easter Monday Grand
Prix Series, following the Herne Hill Good Friday Meet, attracting
World-Class riders from both Road and Track.
It was at the "Butts" that
Eileen won her first race in 1947. That victory put her on her way to
becoming the country's top woman racing cyclist of her era,
During
her career, she rewrote all 21 British women's road records and in 1954
completed the Land's End to John O'Groats route in two days, 11 hours and
seven minutes.
Because of her height - just
4ft and 11 inches (1.51m) - she was nicknamed the "The Mighty Atom".
Eileen was born in the city in 1923 and joined the Coventry Cycling Club
after developing a passion for the sport. In November 2023, Eileen was named
in the annual "100 Women in Cycling" list by the charity Cycling UK.
The Blue plaque event was
organised by The Coventry Society, and at the unveiling, the Hercules bike
ridden by Eileen in the early 1950's - now at the Coventry Transport Museum
- was brought along as part of the celebration by her Daughter, Louise. The
Coventry Society commented "It was great to see Louise back in Coventry.
Eileen Sheridan was the greatest cyclist in our lifetime and fitting that
she came from here - the home of the modern bicycle. It was fantastic to be
able to celebrate Eileen's life, which is an important part of our history.
The plaque is in a prominent position, near the gates of the Butts Park
Arena and will be seen by thousands of people who come to watch Rugby or
attend other events".
Eileen 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".
A most appropriate
tribute to a very exceptional cyclist. A link to all the Bidlake Prize
winners can be found here:
Winners
Acknowledgement to The
Coventry Observer
Image shows Alex
receiving the Prize from Sheila Hardy.
Alex Dowsett was the recipient
of the Bidlake Memorial Prize in 2021. Due to his professional cycling
commitments this was the first occasion that it could be presented to him.
David Barry, Secretary of the F T
Bidlake Memorial Trust read out Alex's citation to the assembled audience at
the National Championships, also giving a brief history of the Trust. Upon
receiving the Prize from Sheila Hardy, the Prize recipient for 2023, Alex
commented that "It is a great honour to receive this Award, and I am
indebted to the Trust for acknowledging the work, and which I continue to
carry out for my charity "Little Bleeders", to a great round of
applause.
Alex's charity is supported by
The Haemophilia Society, the only UK-wide charity for all those affected by
a genetic bleeding disorder.
In attendance at the
Road Bike Championships were former recipients, Michael Hutchinson
(2005), and Lynne Biddulph (nee Taylor), awarded the Bidlake Special
Prize in 2020).
Ed Clancy OBE, Sheila Hardy, and David Barry
The presentation of the 2023
Bidlake Memorial Prize, awarded to Sheila Hardy, was made at the Yorkshire
Cycling Federation Luncheon held on Sunday 25 February 2024.
"Had
an amazing day today. A few weeks ago I heard that I had been nominated to
receive the 2023 Bidlake Memorial Prize, and as is custom and practice for
this unique honour, I was invited to confirm my acceptance prior to the
award taking place. Obviously I was extremely honoured, surprised and shaken
by this nomination.
I had no idea when it would be presented as it’s usually a surprise and
today, I was really surprised to receive the Bidlake Prize from multi
Olympic and World Track Champion, Ed Clancy OBE, who was the guest of honour at
Yorkshire Cycling Federation, Annual Lunch & Prize Presentation, supported
in this task by David Barry who is The FT Bidlake Memorial Trust Secretary.
An absolute surprise for sure and I am very proud and humbled to join the
elite group of people, from many areas of the cycling world, who have
received it in past years.
Thanks to Ed for his kind words and the congratulations from many of those
present at the lunch. And of course thanks to members of the Trust for this
honour."
3-03-24
|
Sad
to report that Eileen Sheridan passed away on 12
February, 2023 aged 99.
Eileen was awarded the Bidlake
Memorial Prize in 1950 for:
“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”. 13-02-23
|
Cherie Pridham was presented with her
2022 Award at the Derby Velodrome. Cherie was delighted to receive the Plaque in
her home City of Derby. (Cherie with David Barry and Sheila Hardy (Bidlake
Trust)).
Jonathan Shubert received his 2020 Award
at the CTT Champions Lunch, with David Barry and Sheila Hardy. Jonathan regaled
those present with his remarkable exploits when he became the first cyclist to
complete 100 miles in under three hours!
Lynne Biddulph (nee Taylor) was
presented with a “Bidlake Special Award”. The citation read: "For remarkably
setting RRA “Land’s End to John O’Groats” solo records during both 2001 and 2002
and continuing on in 2002 to also take the 1,000 – mile record”.
The image shows Sheila Hardy, Lynne, and
David Barry, with the actual machines rode in her attempt, on display at her
shop, Bridgtown Cycles, in Cannock, UK.
January 2016
Phil Liggett M.B.E. awarded
2015 FT Bidlake Memorial Prize for a lifetime of services to cycling.
December 2014
Matt Bottrill awarded 2014 FT Bidlake Memorial Prize
The prestigious 2014 FT Bidlake Memorial Prize has been awarded to British
cyclist Matt Bottrill in recognition of his outstanding time-trial achievements
throughout the year.
Coalville-based Bottrill won the National 10, 25 and 50
Mile Championships, claimed the RTTC Circuit Championship and National Time
Trial Series, was crowned Champion of Champions and broke three competition
records over the course of the season.
“I'm blown away by being awarded this, it's a massive
honour,” said Bottrill. "It was really unexpected. A lot of people have done a
lot of good results this year."
"I'm over the moon because of what it means," Bottrill
added. "You look down the list of past winners and everyone who is anyone has
received this award: Reg Harris, Chris Boardman and, more recently Brailsford,
Cavendish and Wiggins."
The Bidlake Memorial Prize is one of the oldest awards
in British cycle sport. It was established in memory of Frederick Thomas
Bidlake, the man generally considered to be the father of time-trialling. It is
awarded to the most outstanding performance or contribution to the betterment of
cycling in all spheres.
38-year-old Bottrill, who combines top-level
time-trialling with his day job as a postman, has been a fixture of the British
scene for many years, regularly finishing on the podium in past seasons before
becoming the dominant tester in 2014.
"It's been a dream year; if I'd mapped it out, it
couldn't have gone any better," Bottrill said. "I had to train really hard for
all these races, but it's all gone so fluidly."
"I'd worked a long time for a lot of it. Winning the
National 25 was probably one of the best days of my career. It's been 18 years
in coming, it was massive to finally take that."
Bidlake Memorial Trust Chairman Andy Cook said: “Matt
epitomises the true spirit of the very particular branch of UK time trialling.
This is richly deserved for a true all rounder who displays many of the values
adopted by FT Bidlake and maintains the strong traditions of domestic
time-trialling."
Bottrill’s award reads: “Awarded to Matthew Bottrill
who won the Men's National Championships at 10, 25 and 50 miles, the RTTC
Circuit Championship, breaking three competition records and being crowned
Champion of Champions."
Kimroy Photography
