Like all the best, I started my dance training with the YMCA – it was 1994. Michael King (of whom more later) did the same. You name it, I taught it. Spinning, step, aerobics the lot! I even taught aqua-aerobics to great acclaim! My favourite class was always the dance because I love choregraphing routines.
Returning to Cumbria in 1996 I challenged dad to a cycle ride. With my uncle joining us, we took off into the country lanes around Greystoke. Realising – as I sat in behind them – that my fitness was better, I took off on my lonesome with dad questioning whether I could even find my way home. Dropping down into Lazonby with the wind blowing in my face I was bitten (by the cycle bug) and a family tradition!
My first event – a hill climb – was a triumph. I skipped up with complete inhibition. This being October and the last event of the cycling season I had the winter months to train ahead. On an icy road, cycling alongside dad, I fell off (note to reader: do not touch your brakes on ice) and with a broken arm found myself in need of rehabilitation. Nothing quite worked. I felt frustrated and disillusioned. I felt there had to be a way to help myself.
Reading a health periodical I found Pilates. A small paragraph that explained this – at the time unheard of – technique. It made complete sense. Curiously when I mentioned this to my husband (everyone has a first!) he knew all about Pilates being Danish. Unbeknown to me Pilates had a following in Denmark!
There was only one person (or two if I am accurate) to go to and that was Michael King and Malcolm Moore. It was 1999 when I enrolled with their ‘Pilates Institute’ in the City of London and have never looked back.
I practice daily and now fix all my needs myself. Every cycle injury is managed conservatively through the Pilates method.
Back to the cycling time trials. I have 3 National Championship wins to my name. I love all aspects of time trialling. All distances. Flats and hills and every distance. All of it. I am still time-trialling to this day and in the 2025/26 season collected the Border City Wheelers Ladies trophy for the 20th year.
My Championship wins are in endurance.
Being celebrated for the Cycling Time Trials national championship titles I was approached by CN Media to become their lifestyle and health columnist. For ten years I wrote monthly columns and, as they are fact checked, I have a thirst for knowledge with a good scattering of scepticism if it is not science backed.
