14482/1GAZETTE & HERALD: Two plucky sisters got on their bikes to take part in a gruelling motorcycle race in support of their father, who suffers from heart disease.

Their dad, Pete Taylor, who owns Taylor Racing in Station Hill, Chippenham, was diagnosed with heart disease in 2001.

Suzanna Taylor, 22, from Maiden Lane in Cherhill, and Lucie Taylor, 23, who now lives in Bristol, competed in the Weston Motorcycle Beach Race to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

The women were two of only four females that took part in the three-hour race, on a demanding three-mile track in the dunes at Weston-super-Mare.

Harsh weather for this year's competition meant almost 700 of the 1,000 competitors did not finish the race because of the wet sand.

However, Suzanna, an air hostess for Virgin Atlantic, managed to finish despite getting run over.

She said: "Unfortunately Lucie got run over on her first lap. She's got a huge bruise on her legs but she did well and she's okay.

"I fell off at one of the dunes and some guy ran over me and it really hurts. It was like crying and laughing at the same time. I think I cried twice but I did really enjoy the race.

"Neither of us could move. Your whole body aches. It's really painful but you just keep on going.

"I got stuck in a pothole once and my bike almost disappeared.

"We had marshals at every dune and one eventually came down and I had to pray for him to."

Both Lucie and Suzanna have ridden bikes since they were young.

"I started racing when I was six, until 16 and Lucie did it for a few years. I broke both my wrists when I was 16 so I stopped. I suppose we are biker chicks," Suzanna said.

They used RM85s, a lighter, less powerful bike than most competitors.

However, they still managed to get round the track despite the pain. Suzanna said: "It's really good fun. Every lap I came in and I thought 'can I do it again?' but I am really competitive.

"When we started Lucie was in front of me and she was disappointed she did not finish but she gave it a good shot and that's what matters.

"We did a half marathon a couple of years ago and this year we thought we would do something different.

"I am so glad I finished because lots of people are, like, 'you're a girl'. We loved it. We said we would do it again next year."

Suzanna said they were pleased they were able to raise £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

"We are really pleased because it's a good cause. My mum had a son before my sister and I were born, and he died at four months old through a hole in the heart, but they can cure that now. It's amazing how things are improving.

"It's something so many people suffer from nowadays and young people, through obesity and things like that, are suffering from heart conditions. It's a big issue now."

Mr Taylor said of his daughters: "I am really pleased for them and the fact they have done it for the British Heart Foundation.

"I am really proud of them and they both want to do it next year.

"It's a male dominated event so for Suzanna to keep going was very good."

Mr Taylor explained what happened when he was diagnosed with heart disease: "My family has a record of heart disease problems but mine was clogged arteries.

"It was down to diet, smoking, all those things that were bad for me in the early days.

"Two days before I did a 150-mile off-road and they looked up to me and said, you're not going home until you've had a heart bypass.

"I was in hospital for five weeks."

Mr Taylor said he would love the girls to race next year.

He said: "I think I am too old now but when I see them going round I think I would like to do it. I'll still ride in my own leisure time."

The girls would like to thank Pebley Beach Suzuki, Motofax and Nevis Marketing for sponsoring them.