Patsy signs autographs

Patsy’s love of desert riding began when she first journeyed through the Sahara with her husband in 1990. Prior to that she worked as a motorbike courier.

Her African rally competition debut however came a full nine years later when in 1999 she became the first British women to successfully complete the Optic 2000 Rallye Tunisie.

After that Patsy’s riding career went from strength to strength. In 2000 she won the British Women’s Enduro Championship title, while in 2001 she won both the European Women’s Enduro Championship and the British Women’s Motocross Championship.

An outstanding rider, Patsy is also that rare phenomenon in motorcycle racing - pretty and vivacious – a feminine exterior over a core of steely determination.

Aged 39, she owns and runs an antiques shop in Heathfield, East Sussex, lives with her husband Clive in a house they built together, and which they share with two dogs, three cats and Humph - her large and extremely ugly pig.