Shay Elliott Memorial Race

Infobox Cycling race
name = Shay Elliot Memorial Race


date = April
region = Ireland
english =
localnames = Shay Elliot Memorial Race
nickname =
discipline = Road race
competition =
type = Stage race
organiser = Bray Wheelers
director =
first = 1958
number = 51 (as of 2008)
last =
firstwinner = flagicon|IRL John Lackey
mostwins = "2 times:"
flagicon|IRL Vinny Higgins
flagicon|IRL Paul Elliot
flagicon|IRL Joe Smyth
flagicon|IRL Terry Colbert
flagicon|IRL Seán Kelly
flagicon|IRL Alan McCormack
flagicon|IRL John Shortt
flagicon|IRL David O'Loughlin
mostrecent = flagicon|IRL David O'LoughlinThe 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.

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. [cite web|url= http://www.braywheelers.com/history.htm#THE%20SHAY%20ELLIOT%20TROPHY |title=Shay Elliot Trophy|publisher=Bray Wheelers|accessdate=2007-09-24] 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. [cite web|url= http://www.cyclingnews.com/road.php?id=road/2007/apr07/shayelliot07|title=Age no barrier for Elliot|publisher=cyclingnews.com|accessdate=2007-09-24] The latest edition of the race, 2008, was won by David O'Loughlin. [cite web|url= http://www.irishcycling.com/publish/news/art_2960.shtml|title=O'Loughlin wins Shay Elliot Memorial|publisher=Irishcycling.com|accessdate=2008-04-20]

References

Past winners

Cycling pw rider|year=2006|name=Andrew Roche|nat=IRL|natvar=|team= Murphy & Gunn-Newlyn-M.Donnelly-Sean Kelly
teamnat=IRL|teamnatvar=

External links

* [http://www.braywheelers.com/ Official Website of the organisers of the Shay Elliot Memorial –Bray Wheelers]