Club Retro

This is the history of the Newry Wheelers Cycling Club

Formed in 1951, the club has grown to be one of the top cycling clubs in Ireland, promoting many top events and producing many Irish Champions. The following section detail the history of the Newry Wheelers as reported in the local press. Despite our club having celebrated it's 50th Anniversary with a big shindig in 2002, all the evidence points to the fact that the club was in fact started in 1951! Glad to see we're keeping up the usual consistency, then.

1951
In September 1951 an 11 mile race was held over the Old Warrenpoint Road course, and was won by a young man by the name of Seamus McGreevy in a time of 27 minutes, half a wheel ahead of John Donnelly, and a length ahead of Billy Moore - J Turley coming in 4 lengths adrift.

Later in 1951,in October, the local cyclists formed their own club with 22 members. The first race organised by this new Newry Wheelers Cycling Club was won by W McCann from John Donnelly. Two weeks later, the membership had risen to 28. Ladies were, like now, to be welcomed into the club. On the open racing scene, John Donnelly became the first Wheeler to record a victory when he took first place in a race in Cookstown. He continued his winning ways, taking victory in the league race that week too. A couple of weeks later and the club attained  dizzy heights when clubrooms were obtained in Canal Street, Newry, club membership passed the 30 mark, and rollers were available for winter practice.

A novel approach taken by the club was to introduce a race for those cyclists who had not won a prize before.
A 10 mile road race was won by W McCann in a time of 27.30, with B Hughes at 28.00 and P Quinn at 1/2 a wheel. Accurate timing as usual!

1952
In March 1952 Billy Moore won the novice section of the 10 mile Moira time trial.
In May 1952, a 32 mile open race was to be organised by the Newry Wheelers CC and was to be held over a circuit from Newry - Hilltown - Kilcoo - Rathfriland. The best Newry rider was Seamus McGreevy in 4th place. The prize was presented by P McKenna from Bessbrook, who was a previous 25 mile record holder. Seamus continued his good form throughout 1952 fininshing 6th in a race in Monaghan despite crashing along with team mate Billy Moore.

1953

In April 1953, Tony Carley won the novice prize in a race in Dundalk. On the open race from Newry - Kilcoo circuit, Wheelers entries were John Donnelly, Seamus McGreevy, John Donnelly and a young Brian Monaghan.
In the open race on the Hilltown circuit, Brian Monaghan won from Seamus, with Sean O'Hare 5th.
Seamus McGreevy won the League. 

1954
Brian Monaghan won a race in Cookstown - Seamus was second.
A new event was organised for 1954 when the Tour of the Mournes was conceived. The course was to be over three laps of a Newry - Warrenpoint - Rostrevor - Hilltown - Mayobridge - Newry circuit. There was to be a race from Dublin to Newry on the Saturday. 60 entries were received. Prize money was to be £50.00. the winner got a new bike, and the KOH got a portable radio! There were prizes for the first rider through each town. The race was stopped two miles from the finish by the RUC due to the fact that the cyclists had disturbed the crowds on their way to church. Questions about the TOM were raised in the House of Commons, when the Unionist politicians, enraged at the Tricolour used to start the race, demanded to know if people coming up from Eire, breaking the Sabbath, and interfering with church going crowds could be forcibly stopped.

In September 1954, Dermot Monaghan won the Steenson Cup in Dungannon and the Tour de Tyrone.
Patsy Gallagher won the League.

1955
The Tour of the Mournes finished this year, with Seamus in 3rd, Dermot 4th, Michael Mooney 5th and Brian 6th.
In August, the Ras came to Newry for the second year in a row.
Dermot Monaghan won the League.

1956
A new race was conceived - the 208 mile Tour of Ulster from Newry - Bundoran and back over 2 days.
In April, Dermot won a race at Derrymacash. Disaster befell Seamus McGreevy, when he fell and broke his collarbone.
The wheelers did well in the Tour of Donegal - taking 4th 5th 6th and 7th places.
Micky Campbell won the Tour of Armagh, Brian was 3rd.
Brian Monaghan won the League.

1957
Micky Campbell won an Ras Uladh in April. Willie White became Ulster Road Race Champion in August. The Wheelers won the team prize too.
Patsy Gallagher won the Harold Holt Cup from Willie White and Brian Monaghan
Raymond Gorman won the League.

1958
Riders for the 58 season included Harry McEvoy, Jim Traynor, Finton McGreevy, Ronnie Smyth, Peter Goldrick, Willie White and Dan Mathers. Juniors - Joe Fallone, Bobby & Eamon White, Aidan Traynor, Hughie Gorman, Billy Sheridan, Charlie Murphy, Francis Kearns, Paul Murray, Ray McKinley, Dennis Maguire & Sean O'Hare.
In Derrymacash, Dermot was 2nd, brother Brian 7th.
A team was entered for a race in Belfast - Brian & Dermot Monaghan, Harry McEvoy, Willie White, Jim Traynor and Raymond Gorman.
In the Tour of Ulster, Brian and Dermot took 3rd and 8th.
Brian won the Ulster 50 mile chamionship and the Meath Grand Prix.
Eamon White won the Junior League.

1959
On his 16th birthday, Eamon White won the Ulster Junior title, and along with Charlie Murphy and Billy White took the team prize too.
Sean O'Hare won a junior race at Newry. The Ulster 25 mile championships were held at Newry

1960's
The early 1960's were a period of decline for the Newry club. The racing stalwarts, the Monaghan Brothers moved to Leeds to race, and others fell away gradually or moved away altogether. Organisation of the jewel in the Wheeler's crown, the Tour of the Mournes, passed to the Glen CC in Belfast. Even so, a few keen individuals managed to keep up interest in cycling in the local area. Eventually, Brian Monaghan returned, and took the Wheelers to new heights. By the end of the decade, Brian was to bring much success to the club, and do much to encourage others. The Newry Wheelers promoted many of the usual races, the race over the Newry - Kilcoo - Rathfriland - Hilltown - Newry circuit at the start of the season, the Tour of the Mournes and over the decade, various leagues.

However, the decline in the club's numbers in the early 60's meant that the organisation of the Tour of the Mournes passed to the Belfast club, Glen CC in '64.

Throughout the mid 60's men like Jimmy Traynor kept the club alive, always looking for new members, advertising new races and encouraging the youngsters. Local lads who rode in the league races in the early 60's included Danny Byrne, Hughie McKeown , Gerry Short, Joe Fallone, Sean O'Hare, Tom McKevitt, Vincent McAllister, and Gerry McAnuff. The Monaghan brothers had by now moved away to Leeds to work, and continued their racing there.

Newry played host to many big open races throughout the 60's. In 1962, Newry was the venue for the 100k massed start Ulster Championships. In July 1963 a "continental - style" time trial took place over two laps of the TOM course. The traditional British time trial of out - and - back on the same course was abandoned for this event, quite a departure for cycling in the 60's. The 50 mile Ulster Championships were held in Newry in 1963.

In 1966, the first stage of the Tour of Ulster was staged in Newry. Six Wheelers rode the event in '66, Dermot and Brian Monaghan, Gerry and Martin McLaughlin, Jim Traynor and Noel Murphy.  Brian was 4th on the opening stage, and won the stage into Buncrana at an average speed of 27mph!  The Council wrote to Brian to congratulate him on his many achievements. Later in the month, Brian and Jimmy Traynor rode the Ras for the Monaghan County Team. Brian was 8th overall.  In August the 25mile Time Trial Championships were held in Newry. Still local cycling was encouraged by Jim Traynor, now acting as club secretary. New riders included Michael Tinnelly, Paddy Grimes, Niall Murphy, Martin White, Anthony Trundle, Pat Dunbar, K Dolan and P Courtney.

The 68 season was among the best of the decade for the Newry Wheelers. Brian Monaghan took three victories and a host of placings. Michael Tinnelly had a win and five top five placings. Jimmy Traynor had three wins and a couple of top fives. In the Newry Civic Week Race, Brian took victory in front of his home crowd.  The Ras Tailteann came to Newry for the first time since 1956, with a strong Continental contingent. Traynor and Monaghan were joined on the Ras by that year's youngest entrant Michael Tinnelly. Brian finished 13th overall - the Czechoslovakian team took the first 6 places! In the 25 mile TT Championships, Brian was second, Jim Traynor was 5th, and Newry Wheelers team 1st overall. On the local league scene, Joe Fallone and Pat Dunbar tied in the last event of the year.

Brian Monaghan opened his 1969 account with a string of top five finishes, winning at Lisburn. His team mates S O'Hare and Michael Tinnelly also rode well with many top five placings. With Brian Monaghan's excellent form, he was chosen to ride for the NCA team in France. In a local race, Jim Traynor took victory from Joe Fallone, Pat McManus. Martin Moore, Pat Dunbar and Seamus McCamley. In France, Brian rode in the Grand Prix de L'Humanite with the NCA team. His form was electric - he took 2nd on the first stage, and won the second to hold the race leaders jersey. However, the luck of the Irish did not apply in France, when a crash on the final stage and mechanical difficulties within sight of the finish meant that Brian had to retire while leading. Such tough luck!

Tour of the Mournes riders in '69 included  O'Hare, Fallone Dunbar and Traynor. For the '69 Ras, four Wheelers lined up - Monaghan, Fallone, Traynor and Tinnelly. Michael Tinnelly took bronze in the U-18 Championships. For the winter season, the club tried out new training schedules involving running and cross training - an idea that was picked up by studying the techniques of the riders from France and Belgium, and were to influence the next decade.

1970's
The 1970's began with great successes for the Newry Wheelers. The club became one of the first sponsored clubs in Ireland when Goss Brothers joined forces with the Wheelers. "Goss for Renault" was emblazoned on the front of the jersies.

Winning continued, with Brian Monaghan beginning the decade as he left off, winning the Tour of Tyrone and the Ras Sligo. Sean O'Hare and Michael Tinnelly were top 5 riders in these races too! Indeed in the 1970 Tour of Ulster, young Tinnelly won stage two, Brian Monaghan had 3 top six placings and finished 5th overall.

In August 1970, the club had perhaps its best and most unusual victory. Michael Tinnelly at 17 became the only rider ever to win the Ulster Junior and Senior titles on the same day! In the senior race, Brian Monaghan was second, and Sean O'Hare third. Joe Fallone at ninth completed the rout for the Wheelers, who also took the team prize. Team prize winning continued into September 1970, when the club won the Bracken Cup in Dundalk.

In 1971, club newcomer Thomas Mackey won at Armagh, the club won a competitor paced race at Newry, and Sean O'Hare won the Maguire Cup in Coalisland. A race at Newry had the following Wheelers in its numbers; Brian Monaghan, Michael Tinnelly, Sean O'Hare, Thomas Mackey, Jim Traynor, Joe Fallone, Seamus McCamley, Oscar McVittie, Peadar McKeown and Joe Lonergan.

In July 1971, Sean O'Hare won the Ulster Council 50k race.