Pat Hawkins

Eleanor Patricia Hawkins (22 May 1921 – 13 February 1991), better known as Pat Hawkins, was an Australian endurance cyclist from Victoria Park, Perth. In 1940, aged 18 and only 12 months into her cycling career, she set world records for "1,000 miles" and "Seven days". She also set the Australian records for distance travelled in one, two, three, four, five, six and seven days, plus surpassing the Australian professional men's record.

In February 1942, aged 20 years old, she claimed the world record for "Distance covered in a year" with a ride of , but one week later her claim was disallowed due to "irregularities in the log sheets".

One thousand miles On 13 March 1940 Hawkins set the "World 1,000-mile record" in Perth, having ridden the distance in 4 days, 8 hours and 7 minutes, cutting 9 hours 53 minutes off the record set by Valda Unthank of Hastings, Victoria.

Hawkins was comprehensively sponsored and equipped for the attempt, and said in her valedictory speech in the Sunday Times "... I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my many thousands of well wishers who encouraged me in my efforts to clinch the record. My special thanks are due to Mr Herb. Elliott for his herculean organising efforts, to my trainer Jack Foy, to 'Canada Motors' for supplying a Pontiac car to follow me, to Sister McPherson for her wonderful massage, to Philips radio for their faultless equipment, [her support car had been equipped with one of the world's first car radios] to Peters Ice Cream, to Leggatts Tyres, to Cadburys Chocolate, to the B.S.A. company, and of course to Bruce Small Pty. Ltd. for my Malvern Star cycle and their unsparing efforts to ensure success."

Dénouement One week after Hawkins completed her ride, the officials refused to recognise the record due to "irregularities in the log sheets".

Australia did not appear to dwell on the loss of the record, nor even mention it; only a couple of newspapers appear to have referred to it: a single paragraph in the Army News of Darwin while The Cairns Post stated that "A signed statement admitting the irregularities has been handed to the committee and sponsors of the effort by Miss Hawkins."

Personal life Hawkins was born in North Fremantle, Western Australia in May 1921. She married William James Kelly in 1941 and died in Perth in February 1991 at the age of 69.