A few recollections of Beryl. About 1961 I went to the Isle Of Man Cycling week. We were on a training ride round the TTcircuit climbing Snaefell which is a long climb by Uk standards. We caught Beryl and Charley, Beryl had their daughter Denise in a kiddie seat on the back of her bike. My clubmate Bill Bradley ( double British road race champion) spoke to Beryl and she rode next to Bill talking. Charley slipped into the rear of the group. After about a mile Charley got dropped and Beryl had to wait for him! When Denise was about 19 she rode the British road race champs and got in the winning break with her mum. Not surprisingly Denise sat on Beryl and them out sprinted her. Beryl would not acknowledge her own daughter on the podium and I believe she didn't speak to Denise for years. At that stage of her career Beryl must have won more than fifty British championships and seven world titles yet she begrudged her owm daughter her first title. I believe it is called Tough Love, scary eh? Beryls greatest exploit ended in failure. She rode the British 24 hour time trial championship. After about 15 hours she was on course to do 520 miles and was well up on the male champion. Unfortunately she had to pack because of a bad knee generally blamed on the big gears she pushed. She also did 277 miles in a 12 hr time trial again beating the mens champion. Her distance was the UK outright record. Beryl worked for her employer Nim Carline himself a 24 hour champion. I believe she picked rhubarb ! Ray Green Brighton England.
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