Edna Sayers

Edna Sayers (1912–1996) was an Australian cyclist who held records for long distance cycling, most notably the fastest time from Goulburn to Sydney.[1]

Edna Sayers
Personal information
Born1912
Died1996 (aged 83–84)
Team information
DisciplineRoad & track
RoleRider
Rider typeEndurance
Professional team
Malvern Star

Sayers was born in 1912, the eldest of 6 children of Alfred George and Elizabeth Mary Sayers.[2] Sayers mother died in October 1927,[3] and she took on responsibility for her siblings. Sayers started cycling and in 1932, aged 20, Sayers was the first woman to record a win at the Canterbury velodrome.[4][5] While the match was billed as the "Ladies interstate challenge", the Victorian Elsa Barbour decided not to compete as neither Sayers nor the other NSW cyclists were members of a registered club.[6] Sayers trained with the Earlwood cycling club and was subsequently a member of the Canterbury-Earlwood Women's Cycling Club.

Women were not permitted to compete in races such as the Goulburn to Sydney. The race however was held on public roads and in 1932 Lilian Thorpe set a time for the then course from Goulburn to Enfield of 9 hours 52 minutes.[7] In 1933 Sayers tackled the course on the same day as the men, setting off half an hour prior to the male professionals, lowering the record to 7 hours 41 minutes and 5 seconds.[8] Sayers continued to attack the record, with a strong tailwind helping to lower her record to 6 hours 11 minutes and 30 seconds in 1935.[9] In 1936 as part of her record-breaking ride from Canberra to Sydney, Sayers set a new record for Goulburn to the Sydney GPO of 7 hours 43 minutes and 8 seconds. Sayers time for the 192 miles (309 km) from Canberra to Sydney was 11 hours, 0 minutes and 8 seconds.[10]

Another popular cycling record route was Bathurst to Sydney and in 1936 Sayers established the women's record of 8 hours 38 minutes and 50.5 seconds for the 134.5 miles (216.5 km).[11]

Sayers worked at a woollen mill in Marrickville and continued to live in Earlwood until the 1970s when she moved to Budgewoi. Sayers continued to be involved in cycling, establishing a women's cycling club there.[2] A cycleway and pedestrian bridge over Saltwater creek, Longjetty, was named after Sayers in 1982.[12] Sayers died in 1996.[2]

References
  1. "Edna Sayers Sporting Champion Plaque". wiki.jeremymacpherson.net. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  2. "Edna Sayers". City of Canterbury. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  3. "Family Notices". The Sydney Morning Herald. 4 October 1927. p. 10. Retrieved 11 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. "Canterbury Velodrome (1928-1937)". City of Canterbury. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
  5. The board track velodrome was located at Charles St Canterbury, not the current "Canterbury velodrome" at Bayview Ave, Earlwood.[4]
  6. "Rogers had night out. Keen racing at velodrome opening". The Referee. 9 November 1932. p. 24. Retrieved 11 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Girl Cyclist". The Northern Star. Lismore, NSW. 2 May 1932. p. 5. Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Edna Sayers too swift for most men". The Truth. Sydney. 17 September 1933. p. 26. Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "In "The Goulburn" Opperman's record broken". The Sporting Globe. Melbourne. 25 September 1935. p. 11. Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. "Home News". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 September 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Women's record. Miss Edna Sayers". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 August 1936. p. 15. Retrieved 12 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Edna Sayers Bridge plaque, Longjetty, 1982". City of Canterbury. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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