Olga Kevelos
Encyclopedia
Olga Kevelos was a British
Motorcycle trials
and enduro
rider who was the only woman to win two gold medals at the International Six-Day Trial
.
Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, she was educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls
. Kevelos was one of the women who during the Second World War
were recruited from 1943 to 1945 to work narrowboat
s on the Grand Union Canal
between Birmingham and London. The women wore badges with the initials "I.W." for "Inland Waterways". As a result, male narrowboatmen gave them the pejorative nickname "Idle Women". After the Second World War Kevelos moved to King's Sutton
in Northamptonshire
where for many years she was landlady of The Three Tuns public house
.
In 1949 Kevelos won the first of her two gold medals, riding a 500cc Norton Manx
in the International Six-Day Trials in Wales. She was to ride with varying degrees of success in every Scottish Six Days Trial
until she finally retired from the sport in 1970, and in every International Six-Day Trial until 1966. During her competition career she secured support from almost every major British motorcycle manufacturer, and from the Italian and Czech manufacturers Parilla and Jawa
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Motorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials
Motorcycle trials, also termed observed trials, is a non-speed event on specialized motorcycles. The sport is most popular in the United Kingdom and Spain, though there are participants around the globe....
and enduro
Enduro
Enduro is a form of motorcycle sport run on courses that are predominantly off-road. Enduro consists of many different obstacles and challenges...
rider who was the only woman to win two gold medals at the International Six-Day Trial
International Six Days Enduro
The International Six Days Enduro is the oldest 'off road' motorcycle event on the FIM Calendar.The ISDE was first held in 1913 at Carlisle, England. It has occurred annually, apart from interruptions due to World War I and World War II, at various locations throughout the world. The early...
.
Born in Edgbaston, Birmingham, she was educated at King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls
King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent secondary school in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. It is part of the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham and occupies the same site as, and is twinned with, King Edward's School...
. Kevelos was one of the women who during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
were recruited from 1943 to 1945 to work narrowboat
Narrowboat
A narrowboat or narrow boat is a boat of a distinctive design, made to fit the narrow canals of Great Britain.In the context of British Inland Waterways, "narrow boat" refers to the original working boats built in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries for carrying goods on the narrow canals...
s on the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
between Birmingham and London. The women wore badges with the initials "I.W." for "Inland Waterways". As a result, male narrowboatmen gave them the pejorative nickname "Idle Women". After the Second World War Kevelos moved to King's Sutton
King's Sutton
King's Sutton is a village and civil parish in South Northamptonshire, England in the valley of the River Cherwell. The village is about south-east of Banbury, Oxfordshire...
in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
where for many years she was landlady of The Three Tuns public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
.
In 1949 Kevelos won the first of her two gold medals, riding a 500cc Norton Manx
Norton Manx
The Norton Manx or Manx Norton is a British racing motorcycle that was made from 1947 to 1962 by Norton Motors Ltd. A Norton had contested every Isle of Man TT race from the inaugural 1907 event through into the 1970s, a feat unrivalled by any other manufacturer, and the development and honing of...
in the International Six-Day Trials in Wales. She was to ride with varying degrees of success in every Scottish Six Days Trial
Scottish Six Days Trial
The Scottish Six Days Trial is an internationally recognised Motorcycle trials competition, which has been running since 1909 making it the oldest motorcycle trials event in the world...
until she finally retired from the sport in 1970, and in every International Six-Day Trial until 1966. During her competition career she secured support from almost every major British motorcycle manufacturer, and from the Italian and Czech manufacturers Parilla and Jawa
Jawa Motors
Jawa is a motorcycle manufacturer in the Czech republic, formerly Czechoslovakia. The name was created after its founder, Frantisek Janecek, bought the motorcycle division of Wanderer in 1929 , by concatenating the first letters of Janeček and Wanderer...
.