The Tour of the North, a short History
The Tour of the North started back in 1955 the brainchild of the Northern Cycling Club, including names such as the late Stanley Martin and John Snodden, with the inimitable Billy Reilly named as honorary event organiser.
The first event, indeed the first few years of the event saw it take the form of a 2-day, and in the inaugural Tour of the North there were 45 finishers, led by Englands Stan Brittain. Brittain won the first 3 Tours of the North, the only man with a hat-trick in the event. He went on to be one of Britans finest stage race riders, competing in the Tour de France. Indeed Brittain was to hand at the press launch of the 2000 event, with many stories to tell from the mid 50s.
Although Brittain won the first event, Northern Ireland narrowly missed out on a `home` win, with East Tyrone`s Tommy Talbot the runner up. Talbot went on to be one of Irelands top riders, competing at Commonwealth, Olympic and World Championships.
Overall Top 10 from the 1955 Tour of the North (11-12 April)
1
Stan Brittain Phoenix CC Liverpool 8 hrs 39min 55sec
Stan Brittain Phoenix CC Liverpool 8 hrs 39min 55sec2Tommy Talbot East Tyrone CC 8.40.06
Tommy Talbot East Tyrone CC 8.40.063JJ McCormack Eagle CC Dublin 8.40.52
JJ McCormack Eagle CC Dublin 8.40.524P Bowles Army Cycling Union 8.40.56
P Bowles Army Cycling Union 8.40.565H Shannon Maryland Wheelers 8.41.03
H Shannon Maryland Wheelers 8.41.036Tommy Burns Windsor CC 8.44.07
Tommy Burns Windsor CC 8.44.077D Twedell Army Cycling Union 8.44.43
D Twedell Army Cycling Union 8.44.438Tommy Allingham East Tyrone CC 8.44.48
Tommy Allingham East Tyrone CC 8.44.489John LackeyTailteann Road Club 8.48.30
John LackeyTailteann Road Club 8.48.3010 V Byrne Dublin Wheelers 8.50.05
Dublin Wheelers 8.50.05In 1956 Talbot was again the top Northern Ireland finisher, this time back in 8th place, as news of this top event had spread around the minland, and more riders had come over to try their hand at stage racing.
The 2 days stages were, 1 Belfast-Portrush via Larne, Shanes Hill, Ballymena, Ahoghill, Portglenone, Kilrea, Ballymoney, Coleraine and Portstewart.
Day 2 was Portrush-Belfast via Coleraine, Garvagh, Maghera, Tobermore, Magherafelt, Cookstown, Portadown, Lurgan, Banbridge, Dromore, Hillsborough and Lisburn.
Incidentally, the prizes were £3-£2 & £1 for the first 3 on each stage and £10 or first overall. The Team prize was £4 10shillings, and the King of the Hills winner pocketed a princley £2.
1956 top placings
1Stan BrittainPhoenix CC Liverpool 8.38.03
Stan BrittainPhoenix CC Liverpool 8.38.032Ray Booty Ericson RCC 8.39.05
Ray Booty Ericson RCC 8.39.053 Alan Jackson Army CU 8.41.46
Alan Jackson Army CU 8.41.464H ReynoldsSolihull CC 8.47.00
H ReynoldsSolihull CC 8.47.005F ClementsWrekin CC 8.51.29
F ClementsWrekin CC 8.51.296I JamesSolihull CC 8.57.02
I JamesSolihull CC 8.57.02