Damien Shaw takes Shay Elliott Memorial but Eddie Dunbar puts in ride of his life

Damien Shaw has this afternoon added his name to the roll of winners of one of the biggest one-day races in the country, the Shay Elliott Memorial (Photo: www.blackumbrella.ie)

By Brian Canty

Damien Shaw has taken arguably the biggest one-day victory of his career, storming home in fine style this afternoon to add his name to the illustrious list of those who have won the Shay Elliott Memorial.

The Mullingar man may have had just seconds to spare over talented junior Eddie Dunbar (O’Leary’s Stone Kanturk CC) but he won the race from the front with some trademark aggressive riding.

Shaw and Dunbar went clear from the break of 12 that had been whittled down from an original escape of around 16 riders following a very lively start to the race.

In that break of 12 were Shaw’s teammates Robin Kelly and Dylan Foley while runner-up at the Kerry Group Rás Mumhan Paddy Clarke, Marc Potts (Omagh Wheelers) and Greg Swinand (UCD CC) were also present.

But Shaw and the irrepressible Dunbar pushed on with intent on a very wet and breezy day; the bunch behind beginning to split with a number of chasing groups getting organised, apparently not intent on throwing in the towel.

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However, none got back on terms with the flying leaders who pulled out a gap of two minutes of those closest to them.

Shaw adds his name the a previous winners’ list that includes the likes pf Sean Kelly, Pat McQuaid, Alan McCormack, Billy Kerr, Martin Earley, Robert Power, David O’Loughlin and Ciaran Power as well as Philip Lavery, Timmy Barry and Connor Murphy more recently.

The race broke from tradition this year and was held on a Saturday in late April rather than a Sunday in early May.

The decision to move the event to an earlier date was taken by host club Bray Wheelers and rubberstamped by Cycling Ireland. The club felt it was wise to “try something different” for the forthcoming season in an effort to get more people down to race.

Bray Wheelers chairman, John Spain also said there were other extenuating circumstances behind the change, such as a clogged racing calendar and the Giro d’Italia starting in Belfast on May 9th.

Last year’s race only attracted around 100 riders, despite the time, money and effort that went into organising the race but that number was up this year.