Hawley the two went hand in hand at the weekend.

While in England on work matters, the 38-year-old national team cyclist took time out to compete in a top level event close to the Midlands city of Coventry.

Hawley, who will be representing Bermuda at the World B Championships in China in June, finished 24th among a high class field in the National Championship round of the Women's Cycle Racing Association Series in Pailton.

"It was quite a big race,'' she said. "There were the top women from all over Britain.

"I was actually working and I think I just lucked out. I had to work on the Saturday and I was there for the weekend so I just looked for the race.'' Coming in 24th was no mean feat for the Bermudian who was involved in a sprint finish with the rest of the pack.

The ride was over a 13-loop course totalling more than 120 kilometres and was similar in many ways, said Hawley, to events in Bermuda. About 15 kilometres out three girls broke away and the rest had to try and chase them down -- the climax coming with the sprint to the line.

"I was ecstatic,'' said Hawley. "It was a long race, there were top girls and I was right in there. I did quite a bit of work when the breakaway happened and I did try and chase them down but it is very difficult to do when you are just one person.'' Hawley, Melanie Claude and male riders, Kris Hedges, Geri Mewett, MacInnis Looby, Wayne Scott and Steve Millington, will ride for Bermuda in Quinhuangdoa, near the Chinese city of Beijing, between June 19 and 23.

And Hawley said the race in Coventry was just one stage of a determined build-up to the event.

"Preparations are going great. Melanie and I are going out to the States next weekend to race again,'' she said. "We are going up to Lake Placid in New York to an event called the Cloud Splutter. It is a three-day stage race and I think it is going to be quite neat.

"There will be a time-trial on the first day, I believe a very demanding road race on the second day and a criterium on the third day.'' Hawley said she was very optimistic about the Worlds -- an event at which national coach Greg Hopkins believes Bermuda has serious podium potential.

"For Melanie and I it is a case of sticking to the plan, not getting injured, not getting sick and just being confident in what we can do,'' she said.

"In cycle racing sometimes there is a little bit of luck involved as well, and until we get there and see the terrain and see the competition ...'' Hawley said she believed the layout of the course could be key to how well the team fares.

"I think terrain is going to be a big factor. If it's flat it's a sprinters' race and I think for Mel and I we like a few hills,'' she said.

Hawley recently joined a team in the US as she steps up a gear in her pursuit of glory.

Hawley shines in UK From Page 19 "I belong to this team called Carmichael Training Systems,'' she said. "It is sort of a Masters team. Chris Carmichael, who is the coach for Lance Armstrong (two-time Tour de France winner), has a company selling coaching services and sponsors teams. They are out of the New Jersey, New England area and I hooked up with them last year after getting to know one of the girls there.''