Orla Hendron on her way to the world pursuit masters title in Manchester; she says women can look to her to gauge how they can compete internationally (Photo: Paul Atkinson)
Orla Hendron was the toast of the Irish masters track squad at the World Championships in Manchester when she returned home with a gold and two silvers; her highest ever haul at a major meeting.
The Orwell Wheelers rider got her campaign off to the best possible start with a gold in the 2km pursuit and despite a hectic schedule she would take silver in both the points and scratch races.
Racing in the 50 to 54 years category has proven a seamless transition from 45 to 49 years group for Hendron. And while confident before the October championships, she admitted to surprising herself with her performances.
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“I was confident I could do well,” she said.
With fellow Irish medal winner from Manchester and national champion Susie Mitchell; both have been very successful at home and abroad in recent years.
“I targeted the 2km pursuit because in a bunch race anything can happen, no matter how fit you are. The races in that category are shorter than 45-49 so I worked a lot on my speed.
"In the 2km pursuit I was doing good times in training and I knew I’d go well if I kept it together. Sometimes it’s hard to know how you’re going but to get a gold and follow it up with two silvers was brilliant.”
She said the stars aligned for her with the programme of races she was confronted with.
“It suited me down to the ground. After the pursuit I had the scratch race and then the 500 TT.
Hendron has always been one to throw herself into all forms of racing; seen here in recent cyclocross action (Photo: Sean Rowe)
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"Then I had a rest and the points and the sprints so I was just doing sprints really and I felt good.
"In a way, getting the early gold took the pressure off me and I was able to enjoy the racing a bit more. It allowed me to be more relaxed.”
Hendron said the medals were very important to her because she’s aware of the role she has in women’s cycling in Ireland as a coach, mentor and adviser.
“I work a lot to get people involved in the sport, especially the girls and it’s important for me that they see if they can put the work in, they can win," she said.
"I think I do inspire them. I see them every week and they’re racing with me, they can see a standard that they’ve to get beyond if they want to be competitive at an international level and that’s so important.
Hendron in road race action in the colours of the Irish Veterans' Cycling Association (Photo: Brendan Culleton)
“But it wouldn’t have been possible only for the work of the likes of my coach Paddy Doran who has mentored me for years, and without my husband Dave (Tansey).
"Mark Kiely gave me a hand the last few weeks coming into the season; he does a lot of work on the track and he honed my speed and my cadence.
"Hugh Byrne too, and all the lads in Sundrive have been great, and the track commission that enable us to race on Wednesdays.
"Mary Hunter helped me with my strength and conditioning this year and also helped out with some of the junior camps I ran in the early part of this year so this is as much for them as it is me.”
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