Eileen Sheridan Resources and References
In March 2026 Coventry CTC Women’s Group organised a ride on International Women’s Day (8th March) to learn about and celebrate the cycling career of Eileen Sheridan. In organising this ride we have drawn upon a large existing archive of information and anecdotes about Eileen. This paper has been prepared to help others dip into the fascinating details of her life and cycling achievements.
Early life and club cyclist
Constance Eileen Shaw was born on 18th October 1923 at Seagrave Road, Coventry. Her father was an engineer at Armstrong Siddeley.
Her earliest love was swimming but that changed after her father bought her a semi-sports bike for her 14th birthday. She wanted to go to art school, but her mother disagreed. She left school at 14 and worked as secretary in a car showroom.
In her spare time she began touring Warwickshire lanes and further afield. It provided a welcome escape from war time concerns.
She met husband Ken Sheridan at Ryton Open Air Swimming Pool. They married in 1942. Ken bought her a second hand Claude Butler for her 21st. In 1944 they joined Coventry CTC and Coventry Cycling Club.
She began racing in 1945, entering competitions at the Butts Velodrome, winning a 25-mile time trial and breaking her club’s record. She rode in the National time-trial championships, where she was crowned the winner.
In 1946, aged 23, she was presented with life membership of the Coventry Cycling Club. Also in 1946, she took a break from the sport to give birth to her son. Returning to the bike just seven weeks later, Eileen began to test her endurance with 50-mile and 100-mile time-trials, and she became national champion for both distances in 1950.
A friendly rivalry existed with local contemporary Edith Atkins, who began racing in 1946.
In 1948, The Bicycle magazine declared that Eileen had ‘rocked the racing world, setting up completely new standards for women’s records’.
She set a new 12-hour competition record of 237 miles in 1949, and won the BBAR (British Best All Rounder) in 1949 and 1950.
In 1950 Eileen turned professional, in contrast to Edith Atkins who remained an amateur.
Only 4ft 11ins tall and weighing 7st 4lbs she was known as ‘The Mighty Atom’.
The Professional Years 1951 – 1954:
Eileen’s life changed when in 1951, aged 28, Hercules, (one of the biggest manufacturers of bicycles in the world) offered her an attractive professional contract. She was well suited, having proven stamina, a determined work ethic and possessing a sunny, outgoing disposition.
Her purpose was to attack long distance solo records, including popular City to City records, for publicity, over a 3 year period. There were 21 such record challenges, ranging from 25 miles to 1000 miles (16 of them previously set by Marguerite Wilson from Bournemouth, the world’s first professional cyclist, also employed by Hercules ).
This meant moving to London from Coventry where she could work with Hercules team manager, Frank Southall (a champion time trialist of the inter war era who won Olympic medals in 1928 and 1932).
Her start was delayed by a heavy fall from her bike in Winter 1951. While training she sustained a significant head injury requiring hospitalisation for 6 weeks. She resumed training in 1952, which, under her husband Ken’s direction included weight training alongside Olympic athletes.
Eileen conquered all 21 of the records in 25 attempts. All of the record attempts served as great preparation for tackling the 2 most challenging, The Land’s End – John O’ Groats and the 1000 miles in July, 1954. It is worth noticing that the previous “LEJOG” record of 2 days 18 hours and 4 min was held by Edith Atkins who rode it as a non-professional cyclist in 1953.
Eileen’s End to End and 1000 mile rides were truly herculean efforts. From the start at Lands End, she encountered windy and wet weather conditions. She survived on fruit bars, bananas, chicken, and cold drinks and did not rest until she got to Carlisle at 470 miles where she had less than 2 hours sleep. From there, she endured a very cold night and suffered severe blistering on her hands. She appreciated the support of well wishers and club cyclists supplying her with drinks along the way. The Hercules entourage included an amusing looking support vehicle with a caravan on top, complete with nurse on board and a separate port-a-loo.
Having reached John O’Groats and breaking the record by 12 hrs (held by Edie Atkins 1953, amateur of Coventry Road Club) she managed a couple of hours sleep. At that point Eileen set out to complete the final 130 miles, riding through the cold night while feeling the ffects of sleep deprivation including experiencing hallucinations, before breaking the 1000 mile record.This was the pinnacle of her career as a professional cyclist, after which she retired. She had achieved everything open to her as a female cyclist at the time. Cycling for women did not become an Olympic sport until 1984 !
Eileen’s records include:
London – Birmingham 125 miles 1952
London – York 210 miles 1952,53
London – Liverpool 220 miles 1952
Liverpool – Edinburgh 220 1952
London to Bath return 230 miles 1952
York -Edinburgh 1953
Lands End – London 310 miles 1953
Edinburgh – Glasgow return 90 miles 1953
London – Brighton return 110 miles 1953
12 hour record 250 miles 1953 x2
24 hour record
London – Portsmouth return 150miles 1952 1954
London – Edinburgh 400 miles 1952, 1954 ( Unbroken Record )
London – Oxford return 120miles 1952, 1954
London – Yarmouth 140miles 1954
London – Holyhead 290miles 1954
Lands End – John O’Groats 870 miles 2 days 12 hrs 7 minutes 1954
1000 miles – 73 hrs. 1954 (unbroken until 2002 by Lynne Taylor )
25 miles and 50 miles 1954
Web Resources
ES archive held in the Veteran Cycle Club Library (Use NCA and Public Library Link) Including “Wonder Wheels” manuscript.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Kj9kNLVDQD3g3EayZeKL5EctPJ6Pu2vg
Cycling UK Article 2014
https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/cycling-guide/eileen-sheridan
British Cycling Obituary 2025
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/about/article/20230215-Obituary–Eileen-Sheridan-0
ES’s Record Breaks
ES talking about her career and in particular about the 1954 LEJOG/1000 mile records
https://youtu.be/KpPPNdzh8-Y?si=QcFi-JhxRw-1z524
