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Shay Elliott Memorial Race

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Shay Elliott Memorial Race
Race details
DateMay
RegionIreland
Local name(s)Shay Elliott Memorial Race
DisciplineRoad race
TypeOne-day race
OrganiserBray Wheelers
History
First edition1958 (1958)
Editions65 (as of 2023)
First winnerRepublic of Ireland John Lackey
Most wins2 times:
Republic of Ireland Vinny Higgins
Republic of Ireland Paul Elliot
Republic of Ireland Joe Smyth
Republic of Ireland Terry Colbert
Republic of Ireland Sean Kelly
Republic of Ireland Alan McCormack
Republic of Ireland John Shortt
Republic of Ireland David O'Loughlin
Republic of Ireland Ronan McLaughlin
Most recentRepublic of Ireland Mark Dowling

The Shay Elliott Memorial race is a one-day road cycling race held in spring in Ireland. It is run in honour of Ireland's first professional cyclist, Seamus Shay Elliott and organised by Bray Wheelers. The race was previously known as the Route de Chill Mhantain ("Wicklow Route"), became the Shay Elliott Trophy in the late sixties, then the Shay Elliott Memorial after his death in 1971. The race is the most prestigious Irish one-day event after the national championships.

History

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In 1958, the first Route de Chill Mhantáin was held, organised by Bray Wheelers, a cycling club from Bray, County Wicklow. It was devised by Joe Loughman, one of the main organisers of the club, who wanted to present a tough race over the Wicklow Mountains.[1] The Route de Chill Mhantáin was the first open massed-start race that Bray Wheelers had organised. The first edition was won by John Lackey.

The race was renamed The Shay Elliott Memorial in later years. The trophy presented each year was won by Elliott himself as a prize for best amateur in France in 1955. Winners of the race include some of the best of Irish cycling, including two-time champion Sean Kelly (who was the only rider to have won the race while still a junior), former professional Peter Crinnion, two time Tour of Ireland winner Pat McQuaid, Peter Doyle (the first rider to win the Tour of Ireland and the Ras Tailteann) and Phil Cassidy (a two-time winner of the Ras Tailteann). In 2002 the race became an international race.

The 2015 edition of the race was won by former Track World Champion Martyn Irvine.[2]

Format

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The open mass-start race begins in Bray, and finishes there too, after taking a loop that goes over the Wicklow Mountains, including the steep ascent of the Old Wicklow Gap, locally known as Croghan, as well as the Glenmalure climb where the Shay Elliott monument lies by the roadside.

Past winners

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Year Country Rider Team
1958  Ireland John Lackey Tailteann CC
1959  Ireland Peter Crinnion Bray Wheelers CC
1960  Ireland Vinny Higgins Obelisk CC
1961  Ireland Paul Elliot Bray Wheelers CC
1962  Ireland Paul Elliot Bray Wheelers
1963  Ireland Vinny Higgins Obelisk CC
1964  Ireland Noel O'Neill Bray Wheelers CC
1965  Ireland Terry Colbert Tailteann CC
1966  Ireland Maurice Foster Cyprus CC
1967  Ireland Hughie Davis Lorraine
1968  Ireland Peter Doyle Bray Wheelers
1969  Ireland Terry Colbert Tailteann
1970  Ireland Joe Smyth Cyprus CC
1971  Ireland Joe Smyth Cyprus CC
1972  Ireland Pat McQuaid Emerald CC
1973  Ireland Peter Doyle Bray Wheelers
1974  Ireland Sean Kelly Carrick Road
1975  Ireland Sean Kelly Carrick Road
1976  Ireland Alan McCormack Eagle
1977  Ireland Mick Nulty Tailteann
1978  Ireland Billy Kerr Ballymena
1979  Ireland Peter Morton Les Jeunes
1980  Ireland Alan McCormack Eagle
1981  Ireland Martin Earley Les Jeunes
1982  Ireland Philip Cassidy Team Tirolia
1983  Ireland Raphael Kimmage Tara
1984  Ireland John Shortt Lusk
1985  Ireland Frank Relf Les Jeunes
1986  Ireland John Shortt Lusk team
1987  Ireland Anthony O'Gorman Clonmel
1988  Ireland Paul McCormack Eagle
1989  Ireland Paul McQuaid Emerald
1990  Ireland Darach McQuaid Emerald
1991  Ireland Colm Maye Rapparee
1992  Ireland Robert Power Waterford
1993  Ireland Kevin Kimmage Navan
1994  Ireland Mark Kane Northern
1995  Ireland Richard McCauley Bray Wheelers
1996  Ireland David McCann Phoenix
1997  Ireland Ciaran Power Comeragh
1998  Ireland Michael O'Donnell Bray Wheelers
1999  Ireland Brian Kenneally Carrick
2000  Ireland Stephen O'Sullivan Team Clarke
2001  Ireland David Peelo Irish Road Club
2002  Great Britain Mark Lovatt Compensation Group RT
2003  Italy Alessandro Guerra Endura Sport.com-Principia
2004  Ireland David O'Loughlin Team Total Cycling
2005  Great Britain Kevin Dawson Planet X
2006  Isle of Man Andrew Roche Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn–M Donnelly–Sean Kelly
2007  Great Britain Malcolm Elliot Pinarello
2008  Ireland David O'Loughlin Pezula Racing
2009  Great Britain Matt Cronshaw Rapha Condor
2010  Namibia Dan Craven Rapha Condor
2011  Ireland Timmy Barry The Edge CC
2012  Ireland Philip Lavery Node 4-Giordana Racing
2013  Ireland Conor Murphy Eurocycles-Eurobaby
2014  Ireland Damien Shaw Aquablue
2015  Ireland Martyn Irvine Madison Genesis
2016  Ireland Marc Potts Neon Velo
2017  Ireland Darnell Moore Caldwell Omagh
2018  Ireland Ronan McLaughlin Viner-Caremark-Pactimo
2019  Ireland Ronan McLaughlin Viner-Caremark-Pactimo
2021  Ireland Matthew Teggart VC Villefranche Beaujolais
2022  Ireland Dean Harvey Spellman-Dublin Port
2023  Ireland Conn McDunphy Lucan CRC
2024  Ireland Mark Dowling All Human/Vélo Revolution

Note - No race took place in 2020 due to the COVID 19 Pandemic

References

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  1. ^ "Shay Elliott Trophy". Bray Wheelers. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 24 September 2007.
  2. ^ "2015 results of all races at Shay Elliott Memorial Classic". Sticky Bottle. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
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