Val Rushworth

Valerie M. Rushworth (née Rainbow; 1939 – March 2023) was a British road and track racing cyclist.^[1]

Val Rushworth

Personal information
Full name	Valerie M. Rushworth
Born	Valerie M. Rainbow 1939 (1939) Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
Died	March 2023 (aged 83)
Team information
Discipline	Road & Track
Role	Rider
Amateur teams
1964	Monckton CC
1970–	Fallowfield
2001–	Featherstone RC
?	Bob Jacksons

Biography

Rushworth's first sport was running, she was a member of the Wakefield Harriers. She started cycling with Monckton CC.^[2]

Rushworth was national road race champion in 1964 and held several records on the track including motor-paced records set in 1964: quarter-mile flying start in 23.5 seconds, half-mile flying start in 46.0 seconds and the mile flying start in 1 minute 34.0 seconds.^[3]

Rushworth won 11 British Championships between 1959 and 1966, and went on to represent Great Britain internationally, as a rider and later as coach and team manager.^[2]

In 1970 she moved to Featherstone RC.^[2]

Rushworth coached Lisa Brambani, who became a national road race champion four consecutive years between 1986 and 1989.^[4]

Rushworth was the European masters champion in the 500m TT for women aged 50 plus for four consecutive years between 1997 and 2000.^[5]

Rushworth joined Bob Jackson's team in 2001.^[2]

Rushworth, who lived in Allerton Bywater, Yorkshire near Wakefield, was coaching advisor for the Women's Cycle Racing Association.^[6] She worked as a customer services manager for Waddingtons Games.^[2]

Rushworth died in March 2023, at the age of 83.^[7]

Palmarès

1964

1st British National Road Race Championships

1973

3rd Sprint, British National Track Championships

1997

1st 500m TT, European Masters Track Championships (50+)

1998

1st 500m TT, European Masters Track Championships (50+)

1999

1st 500m TT, European Masters Track Championships (50+)

2000

1st 500m TT, European Masters Track Championships (50+)

2004

3rd 500m TT, European Masters Track Championships (50+)