A blue plaque has been unveiled to honour cycling pioneer Eileen Sheridan who died last year at the age of 99. Known as the ‘Mighty Atom’ (she was 4ft 11in tall (1.49m) her first club was the Coventry Cycling Club which she joined in 1944. She started racing a year later, winning the national time trial 25 mile championship in the same year in 1hr 8m 38sc. She gave birth to her son, Clive, in April 1946 and started cycling again seven weeks later. Within five months she won a club time trial.

She won the women’s British Best All-Rounder time trial competition in 1949 and 1950. Her ride in the Yorkshire Cycling Federation 12-hour race in September 1949 set a national record with 237.32 miles (381.93 km). Only four men bettered her distance, the winner of the men’s event, Des Robinson, by only six miles (9.6 km). She also took national championships at 50 and 100 miles (80 and 160 km) in 1950. She broke records at 30 miles/48 km (1948: 1h 19m 28s), 50 miles/80 km (1949 and 1950: 2h 14m 16s), 100 miles/160 km (1950: 4h 37m 53s) and 12 hours (1949: 237.62 miles/382.41 km). A long distance specialist, time for 25 miles (40 km) never fell below 1h 5m; she said it took her at least that far to get warmed up.

The plaque, organised by the Coventry Society in conjunction with Coventry Cycling Club can been seen outside the Butts Park Arena which was previously the cycle track where she won her first race in 1947. It was unveiled by her daughter, Louise.

See the BBC report ‘Plaque honouring cycling trail-blazer unveiled’, the Coventry Society and the Coventry City Council Bulletin for more information.

If you are researching or would like to know more about Eileen Sheridan an archive or all things relating to Eileen can be found in the Veteran-Cycle Club online Library. With her daughter Louise’s permission, these are public documents which can be viewed by all.