On March 24 she finished the 101 km Forrest Estate Marlborough Grape Ride in, as she laughingly proclaimed, "under three hours" (2:59:48). A week later, on March 31, she rode the Avanti Rotorua to Taupo Flyer, finishing 5th in the Women Over 45 group.
Dr Gillies rode both of these events on her carbon-fibre frame Giant TCRC1 (see photo), purchased in February at Crank It. She's keen on the bicycle and on Crank It: "It's so much lighter... Excellent.... John's been very helpful"
Although Dr Gillies is a talented and hard working cyclist, like most of the rest of us she had the good sense never to give up her "day job." Indeed, her chosen career has presented her with altogether different challenges.
For example, two weeks after the Taupo Flyer, Dr Gillies flew from her home in Palmerston North to Nepal to spend just over two weeks doing volunteer health care work, teaching surgery and attending a conference of the Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (AOFOG).
Dr Gillies is the New Zealand representative to the AOFOG Council. This is her second such trip to Nepal. She landed in Kathmandu, then flew to Lukla. From Lukla the plan was to walk three days to Kunde hospital, the closest hospital to the Mt. Everest base camp. With the aid of a guide, she will carry all her gear, including an ultrasound scanner.
At Kunde she will do obstetrics and gynaecological work in the hospital, including ultrasound scanning and hysterectomies. As soon as they can walk, Nepalese girls are fitted with a band around their heads. This band is attached to a basket which is used for lifting and carrying. A prolapsed uterus, bladder and bowel are not uncommon among Nepalese women, and the solution is usually a hysterectomy.
The considerable emotional and physical challenges presented by competitive cycling would seem pale by comparison to this sort of work. And it's all volunteer.
Dr Gillies' association with AOFOG took her to Rarotonga last year and to Mongolia in 2005. As in Nepal, her work was focused on women's health issues.
Originally from north Yorkshire, she emigrated to New Zealand in 1985. She met her partner, Ron Clow, also from North Yorkshire, in 1996 when she was back for a year.
When she and Mr Clow take a holiday, they are likely to cycle through Europe. They have toured England, Scotland, Italy and France, including portions of the Tour de France. Lance Armstrong is one of Dr Gillies' heroes.
When not volunteering or holidaying in a distant land, Dr Gillies works at Palmerston North Hospital and has a private practice at Southern Cross.
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