Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Valerie M. Rushworth |
Born | Valerie M. Rainbow 1939 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England |
Died | March 2023 (aged 83) |
Team information | |
Discipline | Road & Track |
Role | Rider |
Amateur teams | |
1964 | Monckton CC |
1970– | Fallowfield |
2001– | Featherstone RC |
? | Bob Jacksons |
Valerie M. Rushworth (née Rainbow; 1939 – March 2023) was a British road and track racing cyclist.[1]
Rushworth's first sport was running, she was a member of the Wakefield Harriers. She started cycling with Monckton CC.[2]
Rushworth was national road race champion in 1964 and held several records on the track including motor-paced records set in 1964: quarter-mile flying start in 23.5 seconds, half-mile flying start in 46.0 seconds and the mile flying start in 1 minute 34.0 seconds.[3]
Rushworth won 11 British Championships between 1959 and 1966, and went on to represent Great Britain internationally, as a rider and later as coach and team manager.[2]
In 1970 she moved to Featherstone RC.[2]
Rushworth coached Lisa Brambani, who became a national road race champion four consecutive years between 1986 and 1989.[4]
Rushworth was the European masters champion in the 500m TT for women aged 50 plus for four consecutive years between 1997 and 2000.[5]
Rushworth joined Bob Jackson's team in 2001.[2]
Rushworth, who lived in Allerton Bywater, Yorkshire near Wakefield, was coaching advisor for the Women's Cycle Racing Association.[6] She worked as a customer services manager for Waddingtons Games.[2]
Rushworth died in March 2023, at the age of 83.[7]