A SUPER-FIT great-grandmother is thought to be the oldest woman to cycle the length of Britain.

Former school teacher Peggy Crome (83), cycled from John O’Groats to Lands End in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance, starting on June 12 and finishing 837 miles and 17 days later.

It is believed that she beat the world record last set by an 82 year-old in 30 days!

Peggy has raised more than £5,200 for Devon Air Ambulance and explained: “My granddaughter (when she was 16 months old) was rescued by Devon Air Ambulance in 1996 and I witnessed a swimmer being rescued by the Air Ambulance at Westward Ho! in 2024.”

Peggy has been taking part in triathlons for 40 years and has represented the Great Britain age-group triathlon team 60 times.

She is a triple International Champion. Peggy took home Gold across the World Triathlon Championships (Wollongong), European Triathlon Championships, and World Aquathlon Championships.

With more than 25 international career gold medals, she holds the record as Great Britain's most successful Age-Group athlete of all time.

Her 2025 season culminated in her being crowned the British Female Age Group Athlete of the Year.

Her journey began in the 1980s when she took up jogging and gave up smoking after a staffroom debate changed everything.

"A colleague (Ian Sneddon of Crediton) was a marathon runner, and he was the only one in the staffroom who didn't fall about laughing when I asked him how long it would take me to train for one," said Peggy.

She quit smoking, started walk-jogging, and thereby started her fitness journey.

Peggy was raised in Chulmleigh, attended Crediton High School, formerly lived at Eggesford and taught locally at the West of England School in Exeter.

You can still sponsor Peggy by visiting the link: https://www.justgiving.com/page/peggy-crome-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL