CYCLING | Cuchulainn Cycling Club to host the 75th annual Trader’s Cup on Sunday

Action will get underway at new race HQ at DkIT Sport

Jim Curran, winner of the first Trader’s Cup in 1943

The 75th annual Trader’s Cup Road Race, hosted by Cuchulainn Cycling Club, takes place this Sunday from the new race headquarters of DkIT Sport.

Originally promoted by local traders as a means of promoting their businesses, the race is a classic of the Irish calendar and has covered many of the roads around Dundalk.

First run in 1942, the race covered 25 miles, starting on the old Dublin Road, going out to beyond Dunleer and back.

The name ‘Traders Cup’ came from the fact that it was sponsored by local traders, as a way to boost sales in the town. The perpetual cup put up for the first race is still given out to the winner every year to this day.

The inaugural winner was Dundalk’s Jim Curran, at the time riding for Cuchulainn Cycling Club. Jim also came back in 1943 to successfully defend his title.

For the next 29 years the race came and went, being held 14 times, but since 1970 the race has been held every year, bar two exceptions in 2000 and 2002. A serious accident involving a cyclist and a car did see the race abandoned in 2006.

The last Cuchulainn rider to win the race was Karl Dolan in 1991 but in 2014, Dundalk man Bryan McCrystal, riding for Aqua Blue at the time, was a dominant winner. His sister, Eve, won the women’s race in the same year.

Bryan McCrystal receives the Traders Cup from Gerard Neary in 2014

The event comprises of three separate races. Race one is a handicap race with three groups (A1, A2 and A3) across 72km with cash prizes for the first six, first A1, first A2, first A3 and first junior.

Race two is for women across 47km with cash prizes for the first three finishers if the field is under 25 riders or the first six finishers if the field is over 25 riders. Race three, A4, across 72km has cash prizes for the first six finishers.

Sign on takes place at DkIT Sport from 8.30am-9.45am with the race starting at 10am. Post-race showers and refreshments are available and the entry fee is €15. For more information, contact Gerard Neary on 0860876642.

Before you go…

If you found this article helpful, click the💚 or 👏 button below or share the article on Facebook so your friends can benefit from it too.