Valda Unthank

Valda Emily Unthank (née Garnham, 1909 – 21 June 1987) was an Australian cyclist who held numerous records for long distance cycling, mostly set during 1938-39, most notably the women's seven day record.[1]

Valda Emily Unthank
Personal information
NicknameParalysing Pedaller
BornEmily Garnham
1909
Lilliput, Bogong, Victoria, Australia
Died21 June 1987 (aged 78)
Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia
Team information
DisciplineRoad & track
RoleRider
Rider typeEndurance
Professional team
Malvern Star
Major wins
  • 1938 record Adelaide to Melbourne, 475 miles (764 km) in 33 hours 43 minutes
  • 1939 7 day record of 1,438.5 miles (2,315.0 km)
Valda Unthank having ice cream with Hubert Opperman. Advertisement for Peters Ice Cream
Valda Unthank dining with Ossie Nicholson. Advertising promotion for Metropolitan Gas Company

Valda was born in 1909 as "Emily Garnham" at Lilliput, Victoria to William and Edith Garnham (née Blackburne).[2] In 1933[3] she married John Leslie Roberts "Jack" Unthank, a Councillor at the Victorian League of Wheelmen.[4][5] Little is known of her early years until her first reported cycling record in 1935, covering the 89 miles (143 km) from Prahran to Wonthaggi in 5 hours 5 mins.[6]

What first established Unthank's reputation though was the ride in October 1938 from Adelaide to Melbourne covering 475 miles (764 km) in 33 hours 43 minutes.[7] Unthank was sponsored by Austral bikes,[8] a brand within the Malvern Star group,[9] and the rides were organised by Jack O'Donohue, publicity manager for Bruce Small Ltd.[10]

This was followed shortly after by riding from Launceston to Burnie & return on 14 November 1938, setting the 12 hour Australian women's record of 198.4 miles (319.3 km) and rode on to set the 200 miles (320 km) Australian women's record in 12h 8 min.[11]

In March 1939 Unthank set a NSW hour record of 20.317 miles (32.697 km).[12] In June Unthank traveled to Queensland where she set a new 12 hour record of 205 miles (330 km)[13] before returning to Victoria to set the 25 miles (40 km) record in 51 min 40 sec.[14]

1939 culminated in riding 1,438.5 miles (2,315.0 km) over seven days for what was claimed as a women's world record,[1] bettering the 1,107 miles (1,782 km) set by Joyce Barry in September 1938.[15] Unthank was supported by another Malvern Star rider, Ossie Nicholson, who had set the world endurance record for distance in a calendar year in 1933,[16] and 1937,[17] as well as the Australian men's seven day record of 1,507.5 miles (2,426.1 km) in 1938.[18] The seven day record was also sponsored by the Metropolitan Gas Company who supplied a "modern gas kitchen" to cook all Unthank's meals.[1] Unthank also appeared in an advertisement for Peters Icecream ("The health food of a nation") along with Hubert Opperman.[19] Unthank's seven day record was eclipsed in March 1940 by the next Malvern Star woman rider, Pat Hawkins who rode 1,546.8 miles (2,489.3 km).[20]

World War II saw Unthank retire,[21] although she returned for events competing on bicycle rollers to raise money for the Red Cross.[22]

Unthank died in June 1987 at the age of 78.[2][23]

References
  1. "World's cycling amazon". Sporting Globe. 29 November 1939. p. 12. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Event registration numbers 6151 (1909) & 16102 (1987)". Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  3. "Event registration number 3005 (1933)". Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  4. Cobcroft, R. "Australia's long distance record breaking cyclist Valda Unthank". veloaficionado.com. Archived from the original on 9 April 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  5. "Woman's Wonder Ride". The Referee. 6 January 1938. p. 21. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Women's sports". The Argus (Melbourne). 10 August 1935. p. 28. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Ride from Adelaide Mrs. Unthank Record". The Argus (Melbourne). 22 October 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Valda Unthank smashes all Adelaide- Melbourne road records on her BSA Austral cycle". The Argus (Melbourne). 22 October 1938. p. 14. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "Australian Bicycle Manufacturer's Articles: Austral". Canberra Bicycle Museum. Archived from the original on 4 October 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  10. "Man behind: Jack O'Donoghue's organising". Sporting Globe. 22 November 1939. p. 10. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. "Records shattered by woman cyclist". The Examiner. 15 November 1938. p. 11. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Mrs Unthank again". The Argus (Melbourne). 27 March 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. "Pedals & Personalities". The Referee. 8 June 1939. p. 20. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. "25-Mile Record By Valda Unthank". Sporting Globe. 28 June 1939. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. "World Record To Joyce Barry". Sporting Globe. 13 September 1939. p. 13. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. "Ossie for Aussie". The Referee. Sydney: National Library of Australia. 7 January 1937. p. 20. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  17. "Cycling". The Sydney Morning Herald. National Library of Australia. 18 January 1938. p. 16. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  18. "Nicholson averages 215 miles a day for week". The Referee. 16 June 1938. p. 20. Retrieved 2 November 2017a – via National Library of Australi.
  19. "The choice of champions. For maintaining strength and stamina". Sporting Globe. 13 December 1939. p. 13. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. "Pat Hawkins' amazing week's ride: World's records smashed on her "Malvern Star"". Sunday Times (Perth). Australia. 17 March 1940. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. "Valda Unthank Retiring". Sporting Globe. 3 July 1940. p. 11. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. "Valda Unthank's 12 Hours Roller Record". Sporting Globe. 25 June 1941. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. Ancestry: Valda Emily Unthank in the Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009
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