Shay Elliott Memorial Race

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.

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

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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