Shay Elliott Memorial Race

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Shay Elliot Memorial Race

Race details
Date	April
Region	Ireland
Local name(s)	Shay Elliot Memorial Race
Discipline	Road race
Type	Stage race
Organiser	Bray Wheelers
History
First edition	1958
Editions	51 (as of 2008)
First winner	John Lackey
Most wins	2 times: Vinny Higgins Paul Elliot Joe Smyth Terry Colbert Seán Kelly Alan McCormack John Shortt David O'Loughlin
Most recent	David O'Loughlin

The Shay Elliot Memorial race is a one day race held in April. It is run in honour of former Irish professional cyclist Seamus Shay Elliot. The race was previously known as the Route de Chill Mhantain. It became the Shay Elliott Trophy in the late sixties, then the Shay Elliott Memorial after his untimely death in 1971. The race is the most prestigious Irish one-day event after the national championships.

Contents 1 History 2 References 3 Past winners 4 External links

[edit] History

In 1958, the first Route de Chill Mhantáin was held, it was organised by Bray Wheelers a Irish cycling club from Bray, Co. Wicklow. It was devised by Joe Loughman one of the main organisers of the club who wanted to make a tough race over the Wicklow Mountains.^[1] The race begins and finishes in Bray 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 there is the Shay Elliott monument. 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 re-named ‘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 the best of Irish cycling including two time champion Seán 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 2007 edition was won by Malcolm Elliot.^[2] The latest edition of the race, 2008, was won by David O'Loughlin.^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] Past winners

Rider Team 1958 John Lackey Tailteann CC 1959 Peter Crinnion Bray Wheelers CC 1960 Vinny Higgins Obelisk CC 1961 Paul Elliot Bray Wheelers CC 1962 Paul Elliot Bray Wheelers 1963 Vinny Higgins Obelisk CC 1964 Noel O’Neill Bray Wheelers CC 1965 Terry Colbert Tailteann CC 1966 Maurice Foster Cyprus CC 1967 Hughie Davis Lorraine 1968 Peter Doyle Bray Wheelers 1969 Terry Colbert Tailteann 1970 Joe Smyth Cyprus 1971 Joe Smyth Cyprus 1972 Pat McQuaid Emerald 1973 Peter Doyle Bray Wheelers 1974 Seán Kelly Carrick Road 1975 Seán Kelly Carrick Road 1976 Alan McCormack Eagle 1977 Mick Nulty Tailteann 1978 Billy Kerr Ballymena 1979 Peter Morton Les Jeunes 1980 Alan McCormack Eagle 1981 Martin Earley Les Jeunes 1982 Philip Cassidy Team Tirolia 1983 Raphael Kimmage Tara 1984 John Shortt Lusk 1985 Frank Relf Les Jeunes 1986 John Shortt Lusk team 1987 Anthony O’Gorman Clonmel 1988 Paul McCormack Eagle 1989 Paul McQuaid Emerald 1990 Daragh McQuaid Emerald 1991 Colm Maye Rapparee 1992 Robert Power Waterford 1993 Kevin Kimmage Navan 1994 Mark Kane Northern 1995 Richard McCauley Bray Wheelers 1996 David McCann Phoenix 1997 Ciaran Power Comeragh 1998 Michael O’Donnell Bray Wheelers 1999 Brian Kinneally Carrick 2000 Stephen O’Sullivan Team Clarke 2001 David Peelo Irish Road Club 2002 Mark Lovatt Compensation Group RT 2003 Alessandro Guerra Endura Sport.com-Principia 2004 David O'Loughlin Team Total Cycling 2005 Kevin Dawson Planet X 2006 Andrew Roche Murphy and Gunn/Newlyn Group 2007 Malcolm Elliot Pinarello 2008 David O'Loughlin Pezula Racing

[edit] External links

• Official Website of the organisers of the Shay Elliot Memorial –Bray Wheelers