A Sligo woman has set a new Irish record in the 24-hour cycling time trials in England.
Sandra Deery took part in the Mersey Roads 24 Hour cycle last month where she clocked up almost 400 miles.
This was her second time to compete after falling just short of the required distance in 2014.
“I did it last year and there is no record in the discipline, but Cycling Ireland told me I had to do at least 384 miles before they would consider it. I didn’t make that target last year, but I decided to go back and do it again this year and I got 394 miles so it will be an Irish Ladies’ record for the 24-hour time trial,” she explained.
“It is an organised event every year called ‘Mersey Roads’ which has taken place for the last 90 years. Each rider heads off at minute intervals and you go on fixed curcuits which form the basis of the race at different times of the day.”
What makes this feat all the more impressive for the Ballisodare native, who is currently stationed in Ballina as a member of the Gardai, is the fact that she had just returned from a long sporting absence just two years ago.
“This was my biggest win yet, I was involved in cycling as a teenager and I done alright then, but I have only gotten back into it in the last couple of years and this was the one I had been working towards, there was a lot of training involved in it but that was main aim and thankfully I got it.
“I started off in the triathlon club when I got back in the sport, then I joined the cycling club. I raced for the Garda Cycling Club as well, but I also race locally with Bottecchia Racing Club where I have done a lot of my training for this.”
After her recent success, Sandra has no plans to return to the UK for any challenges in the near future, opting to cycle locally instead.
“I am still recovering from the 24-hour race. I will be looking at doing shorter time trials over shorter distances and competing locally, but I have no plans to race in England next year.”
