Valda Unthank Explained

Valda Emily Unthank
Nickname:Paralysing Pedaller
Birth Date:1909
Birth Name:Emily Garnham
Birth Place:Lilliput, Bogong, Victoria, Australia
Death Date:21 June 1987 (aged 78)
Death Place:Wonthaggi, Victoria, Australia
Discipline:Road & track
Role:Rider
Ridertype:Endurance
Proteam1:Malvern Star
Majorwins:
  • 1938 record Adelaide to Melbourne, 475miles in 33 hours 43 minutes
  • 1939 7 day record of 1438.5miles

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.

Valda was born in 1909 as "Emily Garnham" at Lilliput, Victoria to William and Edith Garnham (née Blackburne).[1] In 1933[2] she married John Leslie Roberts "Jack" Unthank, a Councillor at the Victorian League of Wheelmen.[3] [4] Little is known of her early years until her first reported cycling record in 1935, covering the 89miles from Prahran to Wonthaggi in 5 hours 5 mins.[5]

What first established Unthank's reputation though was the ride in October 1938 from Adelaide to Melbourne covering 475miles in 33 hours 43 minutes.[6] Unthank was sponsored by Austral bikes,[7] a brand within the Malvern Star group,[8] and the rides were organised by Jack O'Donohue, publicity manager for Bruce Small Ltd.[9]

This was followed shortly after by riding from Launceston to Burnie and return on 14 November 1938, setting the 12 hour Australian women's record of 198.4miles and rode on to set the 200miles Australian women's record in 12h 8 min.[10]

In March 1939 Unthank set a New South Wales hour record of 20.317miles.[11] In June Unthank traveled to Queensland where she set a new 12 hour record of 205miles[12] before returning to Victoria to set the 25miles record in 51 min 40 sec.[13]

1939 culminated in riding 1438.5miles over seven days for what was claimed as a women's world record,[14] bettering the 1107miles 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 1507.5miles 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.[14] Unthank also appeared in an advertisement for Peters Ice Cream ("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 1546.8miles.[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.[1] [23]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Event registration numbers 6151 (1909) & 16102 (1987) . Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria . 2 November 2017.
  2. Web site: Event registration number 3005 (1933) . Births Deaths & Marriages Victoria . 1 March 2018.
  3. Web site: Australia's long distance record breaking cyclist Valda Unthank . Cobcroft, R . veloaficionado.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20160409103148/http://www.veloaficionado.com/blog/australias-long-distance-record-breaking-cyclist-valda-unthank . 9 April 2016 . live . 2 November 2017 . dmy-all .
  4. News: Woman's Wonder Ride . . 6 January 1938 . 21 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  5. News: Women's sports . . 10 August 1935 . 28 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  6. News: Ride from Adelaide Mrs. Unthank Record . . 22 October 1938 . 14 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  7. News: Valda Unthank smashes all Adelaide- Melbourne road records on her BSA Austral cycle . . 22 October 1938 . 14 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  8. Web site: Australian Bicycle Manufacturer's Articles: Austral . Canberra Bicycle Museum . https://web.archive.org/web/20091004101517/http://canberrabicyclemuseum.com.au/Aust%20manuf%20articles.htm#Austral . 4 October 2009 . dead . 2 November 2017.
  9. News: Man behind: Jack O'Donoghue's organising . . 22 November 1939 . 10 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  10. News: Records shattered by woman cyclist . . 15 November 1938 . 11 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  11. News: Mrs Unthank again . . 27 March 1939 . 16 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  12. News: Pedals & Personalities . . 8 June 1939 . 20 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  13. News: 25-Mile Record By Valda Unthank . . 28 June 1939 . 9 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  14. News: World's cycling amazon . . 29 November 1939 . 12 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  15. News: World Record To Joyce Barry . . 13 September 1939 . 13 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  16. News: Ossie for Aussie . The Referee. Sydney . 7 January 1937 . 20 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  17. News: Cycling. . . 18 January 1938 . 16 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  18. News: Nicholson averages 215 miles a day for week . . 16 June 1938 . 20 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  19. News: The choice of champions. For maintaining strength and stamina . . 13 December 1939 . 13 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  20. News: Pat Hawkins' amazing week's ride: World's records smashed on her "Malvern Star" . National Library of Australia . . Australia . 17 March 1940 . 2 November 2017.
  21. News: Valda Unthank Retiring . . 3 July 1940 . 11 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  22. News: Valda Unthank's 12 Hours Roller Record . . 25 June 1941 . 9 . National Library of Australia . 2 November 2017.
  23. https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=61315&h=709254&tid=&pid=&usePUB=true&_phsrc=OzZ6828&_phstart=successSource Ancestry: Valda Emily Unthank in the Victoria, Australia, Wills and Probate Records, 1841-2009

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