1953 Tour of Ireland

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1953 An Tostal 4 Day Tour of Ireland

Credit: Race Documents

AnTostal_stamp From Wikipedia - “The Tour of Ireland was a cycling stage race that was run in Ireland between 1953 and 1984 It was organised originally by the Cumann Rothaíochta na hÉireann (CRE) which was later renamed the Federation of Irish Cyclists In 1953 the Irish Government initiated An Tóstal, a cultural festival, and asked all Irish sporting bodies to participate As part of this the CRE ran a four day Tour of Ireland With sponsorship from An Tostal, Aspro and Hercules cycles, the event was known as the Tostal Tour and was a big success throughout most of the country, although it was said to have “had a hard time in the NCA heartlands of Kerry”. There is little or no information about the race available on the internet and no book has been written about the event. In the inaugural edition Seamus Elliott wore the leaders jersey and finished second overall ...... the leader’s jersey was purple” [Note: this claim for Shay Elliott is not supported by the official results]

The details here come from a copy of the official start / results sheets kindly provided by Ray Green. A PDF copy of the Start Sheet is available - contact info at tour-racing.co.uk

First Stage: Dublin - Wexford
Distance 90 miles Thursday April 16th, 1953

More about this race on Alf Buttler’s Blog>>

LEADING PLACES
1 J Perks (Birmingharn) 3 hrs 33 mins 25 secs
2 B Haskell (London NCU) 3 hrs 33 mins 26 secs
3 B Robinson (London NCU) 3 hrs 33 mins 48 secs
4 J Kennedy (Glasgow SCU) 3 hrs 33 mins 49 secs
5 D Quinn (Dublin Wheelers) 3 hrs 33 mins 50 secs: -
6 L Durlacher (Birmingham) 3 hrs 33 mins 51 secs
7 P Janes (Birmingham) 3 hrs 33 mins 52 secs
- J McQuaid (Dublin) 3 hrs 33 mins 52 secs
- J J McCormack (Dublin) 3 hrs 33 mins 52 secs
- C O'Rourke (Dublin) 3 hrs 33 mins 52 secs

No Stage Time Bonus First Day Nett Times

RETIRALS
49 S Byrne (IRC)
56 J D'Art (Phoenix RC)
60 J Barnes (Emerald)
63 G Grilly (Round Tower)
83 P Prescott (Beacon Rds)
87 P Dowling (City of Dublin)
92 G Kinsella (Shamrock CC)
93 M French (Wexford CYMS)
95 W Fairhurst (Army CU)
97 P Nice (Army CU)
101 D Gribben (Glasgow Wh)

PRIME WINNERS
BRAY - J Perks (Birmingham)
WICKLOW - D Wellman (London)
ARKLOW - B Haskell (London)
GOREY - E G Thompson (Derby)
ENNISCORTHY - L Durlacher (Birmingham)

Second Stage: Wexford - Cork
Distance 128 miles Friday April 17th, 1953

LEADING PLACES
1 B T Thorpe (Derby) 5 hrs 38 mins 50 secs
2 A V Islay (London : NCU) 5 hrs 39 mins 23 secs
3 G Horn (Manchester CC) 5 hrs 41 mins 20 secs
4 P Boyd (Birkenhead CC) 5 hrs 41 mins 35 secs
5 L N Barker (Derby) 5 hrs 41 mins 50 secs
6 J Kennedy (Glasgow SCU) 5 hrs 42 mins 20 secs
7 B Haskell (London NCU) 5 hrs 4Z mins 22 secs
8 S Allington (Birkenhead CC) 5 hrs 42 mins 26 secs
9 S Elliott (Dublin Whs) 5 hrs 42 mins 27 secs
10 J Perks (Birmingham) 5 hrs 42mins 35 secs

Stage Time Bonus
1st, One Minute
2nd, Half-Minute
3rd, Quarter-Minute
Nett Times, after deduction of Bonus

RETIRALS
35 J Brierly (Glasgow SCU,)
38 T Nolan (Dublin Wheelers)
41 E Nolan (Dublin Wheelers)
62 T T Carberry (Emerald CRC)
66 T Kilcoyne (Round Tower CC)
75 J Murray (Manchester Wheelers)

PRIME WINNERS
WATERFORD - J Kennedy (Glasgow SCU)
CLONMEL - J Kennedy (Glasgow SCU)
MITCHELSTOWN - Andrew Walker (Glasgow SCU)
FERMOY - B J Thorpe (Derby)

KING of the MOUNTAINS PRIME
Kilworth Pass
1 A V Islay
2 G Horn
3 L N Barker

Third Stage: Cork - Limerick
Distance 124 miles Saturday April 18th, 1953

LEADING PLACES
1 P Boyd (Birkenhead CC) 5 hrs 48 mins 4 secs
2 A Walker (Glasgow SCU) 5 hrs 48 mins 36 secs
3 R Bowes (Birmingham) 5 hrs 48 mins 53 secs
4 E G Thompson (Glasgow SCU) 5 hrs 49 mins 8 secs
5 B Haskell (London NCU) 5 hrs 49 mins 10 secs
- J Perks (Bti!rmingham) 5 hrs 49 mins 10 secs
- E Little (Victoria) 5 hrs 49 mins 10 secs
- R Lockwood (RAFCA) 5 hrs 49 mins 10 secs
9 J J McCormack (Dublin) 5 hrs 49 mins 11 secs
10 M J Byrne (Loraine Club) 5 hrs 49 mins 57 secs
- J Perry (Army CU) 5 hrs 49 mins ins 57 secs

Stage Time Bonus
1st, One Minute
2nd, Half-Minute
3rd, Quarter-Minute
Winner of King of the Mountains title, Half-Minute
Nett Times, after deduction of Bonus

RETIRALS
64 P Hand (Round Tower CC):

PRIME WINNERS
KILLARNEY - S Elliott (Dublin Whs)
CASTLEISLAND - D Addie (Glasgow SCU)
NEWCASTLE WEST - W Long (Dublin Whs)

KING of the MOUNTAINS PRIME
Derrynasaggart Mountains
1 S Elliott (Dublin Whs)
2 D Addie (Glasgow SCU)
3 W Long (Dublin Whs)
After the second King of the Mountain Prime,
two riders being equal on points, the title went
to the-rider with the best finishing position
on the third stage
S Elliott (Dublin Regional Team)

Fourth Stage Limerick - Dublin
Distance 126 miles Sunday, April 19th, 1953

Mayor Bradshaw, Limerick City, presents “An Tostal” Race leaders jersey to B Haskell (London NCU) at start of Limerick-Dublin stage [The Leaders Jersey is thought to have been purple]

LEADING PLACES
1 J Nevin (Victoria) 6 hrs 0 min 6 secs
2 B C Pusey (London NCU) 6 hrs 0 min 36 secs
3 C O'Rourke (Dublin) 6 hrs. 0 min 52 secs
4 P Boyd (Birkenhead CC) 6 hrs 1 min 8 secs
5 D Addie (Glasgow SCU) 6 hrs 1 min 9 secs
- A. Walker (Glasgow SCU) 6 hrs 1 min 9 secs
7 C Charlton (Birmingham) 6 hrs 1 min 10 secs
- E C Gerrard (London NCU) 6 hrs 1 min 10 secs
- L Willmott (London NCU) 6 hrs 1 min 10 secs
10 L Hitch (RAFCA) 6 hrs 1 min 59 secs

Stage Time Bonus
1st, One Minute
2nd, Half-Minute
3rd, Quarter-Minute
Nett Times, after deduction of Bonus

RETIRALS
26 D Wellman (NCU London)

PRIME WINNERS
BIRR - B J Thorpe (Derby)
TULLAMORE - J Perry (Army CU)
EDENDERRY - E G Thompson (Derby)
KILCOCK - C O'Rourke (Dublin).

Final General Classification -

Pos	Rider	Time	Pos	Rider	Time
1	B Haskell	21 hrs 7 mins 28 secs	35	L Millar	21 hrs 22 mins 47 secs
2	J Perks	21 hrs 7 mins 40 secs	36	B J Thorpe	21 hrs 23 mins 28 secs
3	A Walker	21 hrs 8 mins 3 secs	37	D J Keeler	21 hrs 24 mins 1 sec
4	C O'Rourke	21 hrs 9 mins 38 secs	38	M Dunne	21 hrs 24 mins 33 secs
5	B Robinson	21 hrs 9 mins 50 secs	39	G Donoghue	21 hrs 24 mins 41 secs
6	J Kennedy	21 hrs 10 mins 10 secs	40	B Dawson	21 hrs 24 mins 48 secs
7	L N Barker	21 hrs 10 mins 46 secs	41	T Kenna	21 hrs 25 mins 5 secs
8	J J McCormack	21 hrs 11 mins 48 secs	42	G Horn	21 hrs 25 mins 58 Secs
9	L Lockwood	21 hrs 11 mins 55 secs	43	Martin	21 hrs 26 mins 40 secs
10	S Elliott	21 hrs 12 mins 20 secs	44	J Kane	21 hrs 26 mins 41 secs
11	H Cox	21 hrs 12 mins 40 secs	45	F J McCormack	21 hrs 28 mins 59 secs
12	B C Pusey	21 hrs 13 mins 2 secs		L Durlacher
13	J Nevin	21 hrs 13 mins 23 secs	47	D Lindon	21 hrs 29 mins 0 sec
14	P Boyd	21 hrs 13 mins 42 secs	48	D Duffield	21 hrs 29 mins 37 secs
	E Little		49	E Blair	21 hrs 30 mins 31 secs
16	A V Islay	21 hrs 14 mins 31 secs	50	J Pilling	21 hrs 30 mins 4? secs
17	J Ryan	21 hrs 14 mins 33 secs	51	G Geldard	21 hrs 31 mins 28 secs
	C Enright		52	P Nolan	21 hrs 32 mins 16 secs
19	G T Wilkes	21 hrs 14 mins 43 secs	53	R Cunningham	21 hrs 32 mins 57 secs
	S H Woods		54	G Davidson	21 hrs 35 mins 6 secs
	J Davidson		55	S Allington	21 hrs 35 mins 57 secs
22	S Gargan	21 hrs 14 mins 59 secs	56	D Quinn	21 hrs 36 mins 20 secs
23	R Bowes	21 hrs 16 mins 24 secs	57	D Frame	21 hrs 36 mins 50 secs
24	J McQuaid	21 hrs 16 mins 26 secs	58	S W Henshaw	21 hrs 37 mins 4 secs
25	E G Thompson	21 hrs 16 mins 44 secs	59	D Ford	21 hrs 38 mins 13 secs
26	D Addie	21 hrs 17 mins 7 secs	60	J Nanning	21 hrs 41 mins 52 secs
27	L Hitch	21 hrs 17 mins 10 secs	61	W Long	21 hrs 42 mins 59 secs
28	J Perry	21 hrs 19 mins 32 secs	62	W McAteer	21 hrs 44 mins 1 sec
29	J Hay	21 hrs 20 mins 34 secs	63	J O'Connor	21 hrs 45 mins 20 secs
30	M J Byrne	21 hrs 20 mins 38 secs	64	G Fitzsimmons	21 hrs 46 mins 22 secs
31	A H Buttler	21 hrs 21 mins 22 secs	65	C Charlton	21 hrs 46 mins 28 secs
32	V Byrne	21 hrs 22 mins 18 secs	66	R P Comerford	21 hrs 46 mins 48 secs
33	E C Gerrard	21 hrs 22 mins 19 secs	67	F Cooper	21 hrs 47 mins 18 secs
	L Willmott

Final Teams Results -

Pos	Regional Teams	Pos	Club Teams
1	NCU, London	1	RAF CA
2	Dublin	2	Birkenhead CC
3	Scottish CU	3	Vegetarian CC
4	Birmingham	4	Dublin Wheelers
5	Victoria (Australia)	5	Irish Road Club
6	Derby	6	Loraine Club
7	Edinburgh	7	Emerald CRC

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1953 An Tostal 4 Day Tour of Ireland Credit: Race Documents

1953 An Tostal 4 Day Tour of Ireland

1953 An Tostal 4 Day Tour of Ireland

Credit: Race Documents