When Mhairi learned she had been selected for the Joe Summerlin Award, she was, in her own words, “totally shocked and taken aback.” The recognition touched her deeply, not least because cycling has been woven into her life from the very beginning.

Born Into the Sport

Unlike many who discover cycling later in life, Mhairi never had a moment of motivation to get involved. She was born into it. Her father was a time-trialist, and she attended her first time trial at just one week old. Now 59, she has never stepped away from the sport.

What keeps her engaged after all these years is simple: the people. “The majority of people that are involved in the sport are the loveliest people you can meet and are basically just a big family,” she says. Cycling is not just an activity for her; it is part of her life.

Resilience Through Loss

Thirteen years ago, Mhairi came close to walking away from the sport after her brother, who also competed, was tragically killed on his bike. But her cycling family rallied around her, offering the support she needed to keep going. She also knew how much joy cycling had brought to both her father and her brother, and with her son also competing, she chose to remain part of the community that had shaped her life.

A Lifetime of Volunteering

Mhairi’s involvement in cycling has always extended far beyond participation. She began marshalling at just six years old, often standing with her brother on a quiet country corner directing riders. In her late teens she learned to timekeep, and around the same period she began organising events under the guidance of her father. Forty years later, she is still timekeeping and organising with the same dedication.

Although Cycling Time Trials has only been active in Scotland for a relatively short time, as the region was traditionally under the Scottish Cycling Union, Mhairi has already been part of several standout moments. She has timekept at major CTT National Championships held in Scotland, including the CTT Team Time Trial Championship in 2021, the National 25 Championship in 2023, and the National 10 Championship. Yet she insists that she finds joy in every event she supports, whether it is a midweek club time trial or a national championship.

Inspired by Legends and by Family

Over the years, several iconic figures have inspired her: Beryl Burton, Graeme Obree, and Chris Hoy among them. But her greatest inspiration has always been her father. After losing one of his lungs at age 29, he was told that even walking would be difficult. He refused to accept those limitations, continued cycling, and went on competing until he was 81. He remained on his bike until the age of 88.

He also instilled in Mhairi a principle she has lived by ever since: if you get something out of something, you must put something back in. Her decades of volunteering stand as a testament to that belief.

A Humbling Honour

Receiving the Joe Summerlin Award has left Mhairi “truly humbled and honoured.” For someone who has given so much to the sport across a lifetime shaped by family, community, resilience, and service, the award reflects not only her contributions but the spirit with which she has made them.