Slieve Gullion Wheelers

Sean Kelly

He’s up there among the giants of Irish sport! Yes, Sean Kelly has tasted success like no other Irishman and for five years was rated the best in the world back in 1984 to 1989.

Tonight in Dublin he’ll receive yet another award, the ‘2007 Texaco Sportstars Hall of Fame Award.’

“ When you see all that Sean has put into Irish Cycling both during his career and now developing riders he thoroughly deserves this honour “ said Union Cyliste Internationale President, Pat McQuaid from his office in Agile, Switzerland this afternoon.

It comes also on the 50th edition of the Texaco Sportstars Awards which has been a feature in the sporting calendar.

Rumour has it that Sean has added another trophy cabinet as year in year out, he is invited to grace many platforms around the world and accept awards that is fitting of thi genuine gentleman.

The man from Carrick-on-Suir graced the pelotons of Europe with panache for 18 years and brought great distinction both to the nation and the sport of cycling.

It was back in 1972 when he won the National Junior Championship of Ireland in Garristown Co. Dublin that his friend and mentor from the town, Tony Ryan, ‘lads you have seen greatness to the day.’ Little did the group realise that Kelly indeed was set to lead cycling into the halcyon days which since his retirement in 1994 have lost the gloss.

Sean Kelly one of the most successful cyclists of all time and 4 times winner of the green jersey in the Tour De France sends you all good wishes and hopes that you enjoy his company when he attends the club’s annual dinner dance and presentation of awards on Saturday 10th November 2007. Check out his wesite www.seankelly.com

Slieve Gullion Wheelers Annual Presentation Night
On the evening of Saturday 10^th November SGWs held their annual dinner and presentation evening, this year in the Silverbridge Resource Centre. This annual event was made special by the attendance of internationally renowned Irish cyclist Sean Kelly who made many of the presentations on the night.
Sean had travelled from his home in Carrick-on-Suir on the previous evening and stayed in the Cross Square Hotel in Crossmaglen as a guest of the club for the weekend. Very quickly Sean was recognised by some of the locals as he enjoyed some refreshment after his journey, one of whom described him as ‘my hero’ as he gave him a hardy handshake. Cameras appeared and Sean accommodated his supporters by posing for photographs.
Sean Kelly’s professional cycling career began in 1977 and stretched over almost eighteen years during which time he won a total of 193 professional races, a number only surpassed by Eddie Merckx. He carried away the green points jersey in the Tour De France four times and won The Tour of Spain outright in 1988. Sean remained a giant on the international circuit for many years before retiring from professional racing in 1994. Today, Sean continues to be involved in the Irish professional racing scene but takes time out to become involved at a very local level.
It was at the behest of Club member and sponsor Sean Hearty of Hearty Transport and HeartryOils that Sean Kelly agreed to attend the club’s presentation evening.
Earlier, on Saturday morning Sean Kelly had led out a group of over eighty local cyclists completing a short tour of the South Armagh area with donations from the participants going towards one of the club’s nominated charities, the Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin. Sean Hearty himself cycled on many overseas tours in South Africa, America and Argentina for this charity.At the finish in Crossmaglen Square Sean was heard to say that there ‘was no shortage of hills’ in the area.
Saturday evening saw club members and guests enjoy dinner, refreshments and live music as well as the presentations to the nominated members. Club Chairperson Kevin Kenny opened the awards part of the evening by recalling some of the many tours and cycles in which club members had participated. These included the clubs own three charity cycles, as well as Cooperation Ireland’s 200mile Border Trek, The Wicklow 200km, and several had taken part in The Kellogg’s Tour of Ireland. Club PRO Danny Mc Sherry had also cycled in Italy as part of a Blazing Saddles tour in aid of visually impaired people.
Kevin Kenny then called upon Sean Kelly to make the presentation to the proud recipients. Awards winners this year were Glenda Meehan as Best Newcomer, Sean Morgan as Best Fund Raiser, Most Improved Cyclist went to Emma Fitzgerald, Best Cyclist went to Danny McSherry and Club Person of the Year Award went to Kevin Kenny himself. The Minnie Clarke Cup for best input to the WATCH Club went to Pat Mc Elroy. Andrew Fitzgerald was in Columbia with the Irish Paralympics squad and in his absence received loud acclaim for his achievements
Sean Kelly himself was presented with a club jersey by Mrs Rosaleen Hearty, wife of club sponsor Sean Hearty, while Seamus Mc Elroy, former club chairman, presented Sean with a framed photograph of Camlough lake which Sean had cycled past earlier in the day.
This year three charities nominated by the club members each received a cheque for £1,000 towards their cause. The lucky charities were Newry Gateway Club, Clic Sargent Children’s Cancer and Christian Blind Mission which helps the partially sighted in Africa.
The Chairperson also thanked local individual and businesses who had assisted the club in its work during the course of the year. The evening continued with live music and a chance for some of the older members to have a ‘craic’ with Sean Kelly recalling some of his and their cycling adventures. Sean thanked the club officials for inviting him to South Armagh and having such a memorable weekend.