David O'Loughlin (centre) is one of a very small group of riders to win the Shay Elliott Memorial twice; seen here climbing to victory in the mist of 2008 with runner-up Pete Williams to his left and third placed man Paul Griffin to his right (Photo: Stephen McMahon)
The best junior and A3 riders in the country will be put to the test in April when they are afforded the opportunity to ride their own Shay Elliott Memorial race.
To date, the famed fixture has taken the form of just one senior event that includes some of the biggest and most iconic climbs in the country, making it perhaps the most prestigious race on the domestic calendar.
Won by the late John Lackey the first time it was held in 1958 while Shay Elliott was still alive, it became a memorial event after the tragic death of Ireland’s first Tour de France yellow jersey wearer in 1971.
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Since Lackey’s triumph, the winners’ list has become a collection of many of the great names of Irish cycling.
The trophy features the names of those from the early years such as Peter Crinnion, Peter Doyle, Sean Kelly, Pat McQuaid, Alan and Paul McCormack, Peter Morton and Billy Kerr, with others like Philip Lavery, Conor Murphy, Tim Barry, Mick O’Donnell, Stephen O’Sullivan, David O’Loughlin and David McCann have taken it in more recent years.
And while the main event for A1 and A2 riders will still be the big draw again this year, the inclusion of an A3-Junior race will give one of Irish cycling’s biggest days a fantastic boost.
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The new race will be a shortened version of its bigger brother. But running at 85km and featuring the climb of Glenmalure, it will be a huge draw for the best juniors in the country seeking to maintain their places on Irish teams for later in the summer or for emerging teenagers to stake their claim for a place in a world or European championship team.
The event will also provide an invaluable opportunity to A3 riders to sample a race they normally would not dream of riding.
Bray Wheelers has announced the move today after receiving confirmation from Cycling Ireland their proposal to hold an A3-Junior version had been approved.
The inclusion of the second race will most likely increase interest in the A1-A2 main event, with clubs who have few A1 or A2 riders more likely to travel to Wicklow now that their A3s and juniors are being accommodated.
The two events will take place on Saturday, April 26th; the weekend after the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan. It is usually held on a Sunday in May just before the An Post Rás but the promoting club has decided to break with the traditional date this year to try something new.
Conor Murphy (left) and Thomas Martin complete an impressive 1-2 for Eurocycles in last year's race (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)
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