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 winner Flag of Ireland.svg John Lackey
Most wins2 times:
Flag of Ireland.svg Vinny Higgins
Flag of Ireland.svg Paul Elliot
Flag of Ireland.svg Joe Smyth
Flag of Ireland.svg Terry Colbert
Flag of Ireland.svg Sean Kelly
Flag of Ireland.svg Alan McCormack
Flag of Ireland.svg John Shortt
Flag of Ireland.svg David O'Loughlin
Flag of Ireland.svg Ronan McLaughlin
Most recent Flag of Ireland.svg 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.

Contents

History

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

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

YearCountryRiderTeam
1958Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland John LackeyTailteann CC
1959Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Peter CrinnionBray Wheelers CC
1960Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Vinny HigginsObelisk CC
1961Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Paul ElliotBray Wheelers CC
1962Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Paul ElliotBray Wheelers
1963Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Vinny HigginsObelisk CC
1964Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Noel O'NeillBray Wheelers CC
1965Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Terry ColbertTailteann CC
1966Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Maurice FosterCyprus CC
1967Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Hughie DavisLorraine
1968Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Peter DoyleBray Wheelers
1969Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Terry ColbertTailteann
1970Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Joe Smyth Cyprus CC
1971Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Joe Smyth Cyprus CC
1972Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Pat McQuaid Emerald CC
1973Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Peter DoyleBray Wheelers
1974Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Sean Kelly Carrick Road
1975Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Sean Kelly Carrick Road
1976Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Alan McCormackEagle
1977Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Mick NultyTailteann
1978Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Billy KerrBallymena
1979Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Peter MortonLes Jeunes
1980Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Alan McCormackEagle
1981Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Martin Earley Les Jeunes
1982Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Philip CassidyTeam Tirolia
1983Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Raphael KimmageTara
1984Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland John ShorttLusk
1985Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Frank RelfLes Jeunes
1986Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland John ShorttLusk team
1987Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Anthony O'GormanClonmel
1988Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Paul McCormackEagle
1989Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Paul McQuaid Emerald
1990Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Darach McQuaid Emerald
1991Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Colm MayeRapparee
1992Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Robert PowerWaterford
1993Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Kevin KimmageNavan
1994Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Mark KaneNorthern
1995Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Richard McCauleyBray Wheelers
1996Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland David McCann Phoenix
1997Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Ciaran Power Comeragh
1998Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Michael O'DonnellBray Wheelers
1999Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Brian KenneallyCarrick
2000Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Stephen O'SullivanTeam Clarke
2001Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland David PeeloIrish Road Club
2002Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Mark LovattCompensation Group RT
2003Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Alessandro GuerraEndura Sport.com-Principia
2004Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland David O'Loughlin Team Total Cycling
2005Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Kevin DawsonPlanet X
2006Flag of the Isle of Man.svg  Isle of Man Andrew Roche Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn–M Donnelly–Sean Kelly
2007Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Malcolm Elliot Pinarello
2008Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland David O'Loughlin Pezula Racing
2009Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain Matt Cronshaw Rapha Condor
2010Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Dan Craven Rapha Condor
2011Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Timmy BarryThe Edge CC
2012Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Philip Lavery Node 4-Giordana Racing
2013Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Conor MurphyEurocycles-Eurobaby
2014Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Damien ShawAquablue
2015Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Martyn Irvine Madison Genesis
2016Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Marc PottsNeon Velo
2017Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Darnell MooreCaldwell Omagh
2018Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Ronan McLaughlinViner-Caremark-Pactimo
2019Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Ronan McLaughlinViner-Caremark-Pactimo
2021Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Matthew TeggartVC Villefranche Beaujolais
2022Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Dean HarveySpellman-Dublin Port
2023Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Conn McDunphyLucan CRC
2024Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland Mark DowlingAll Human/Vélo Revolution

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

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References

  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.