Cyclist Heather Sanderson will look back on the year 2009 with fondness.

For, it was the year that 60-year-old Heather was named world champion in the 60 to 64 age group at the UCI World Masters’ Track Championships at the Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney, Australia.

She took gold medals in the sprint and scratch events and silver medals in the 500m time trial, individual pursuit and points.

Her achievement is all the more remarkable as she only took up competitive riding at the beginning of the year.

“It is great,” said her brother, Michael Lawson, a former British Rallycross champion who lives in Embsay.

“I know just how she feels.”

Heather, who splits her time between Embsay and Perth, Australia, started her quest for glory at the European Masters event in May, but it was at the World Masters Games - a warm-up to the track championships - that she began to shine.

Held in Sydney the event attracted more than 28,000 competitors and Heather came away with two gold medals, three silver and two bronze.

“She has done really well,” said Michael, “Heather has always done quite a bit of riding and, when she is in Embsay, she cycles with the Gargrave Club.

“She thinks nothing of doing 100 kilometres. And, this year, she has regularly travelled three times a week to the velodrome in Manchester to practice.”