As one of the most successful female racers in the country Jaymie was a pivotal part of the mountain biking community within the UK and around the world, loved and respected by all she met. Since 2011, through her business Athleat Nutrition, she had been providing the sporting world, including fellow cyclists, with nutritional programmes. More recently she had been acting as The Herald and Sunday Herald's cycling team's expert nutritionist, with her advice published in a series of articles in The Herald Magazine.
Described by those who knew her as "a whirlwind", "fun-loving", and "stunningly beautiful", Jaymie was renowned for her determination in life and in competitive sport. She also had huge personal magnetism, said to be the reason behind both her success in business and the fact that she had so many friends around the world.
Born in Penrith, Cumbria, she was a keen sportswoman from a young age. A friend introduced her to the world of BMX bike riding and Jaymie then discovered her talent for mountain biking, which she took up at around the age of 16. She was one of the first females to compete in the sport, which at the time was still in its fledgling stages in the UK.
In 2000 she moved to Scotland to study Sports Science at Aberdeen University. Throughout her four years there she continued to compete in mountain bike championships, securing more wins, including twice the British Universities Champion, in 2002 and 2003. Her sporting expertise was further acknowledged when Aberdeen University awarded her the Full Blue in 2004, the highest sporting accolade that can be given within the British University system.
At the age of 22 she moved to Innerleithen in the Borders, where many of her close friends in the mountain biking community were based. She wanted to be close to the sporting activities, the wildlife and the lifestyle that she loved.
She earned the nickname The Barbadian Bullet, after successful racing for the Barbados mountain bike team. Her mother was born and raised in Barbados and as a result Jaymie had dual nationality. As more cycling success followed she was able to gain sponsorship from brands such as Trek and Fox Racing Clothing.
In 2006 she graduated with an MSc in Human Nutrition, with Sports Specialisation, from Glasgow University. In early 2011 she set up Athleat Nutrition. She has also worked as the nutrition and relations manager for the Lucozade Sport Science Team. Recently she had also been lecturing on sport nutrition at universities around Scotland.
Aside from mountain biking she was a keen sportswoman whose achievements included running the 2008 London Marathon and climbing Jebel Toubkal in Morocco, the highest peak in North Africa, in 2011. She also attended the north of England Centre of Excellence for Hockey.
In 2012 her life came to a sudden and tragic end when depression took its hold and we lost her. Her love of mountain biking, friendships, music food and art is pivotal to Jayfest's ethos, and it is through the festival that we continue to remember her, her mischievous sense of humour, her passion for good times, and for creating memories to last a lifetime.
