Sir, - I am sure that Irish cycling enthusiasts enjoyed Roisin Ingle's article (The Irish Times, July 10th) in which she recalled the exploits of the inimitable Shay Elliot, whom she described as "the pioneer of international cycling".
While acknowledging Elliot's achievements, let us remember the exploits of an Irish cyclist who won a world cycling championship in the last century. I refer to none other than the legendary "Balbriggan Flyer", Harry Reynolds, who defeated the best cyclists in the world while winning the Amateur World One-Mile Championship in Copenhagen, Denmark, in August 1896. In doing so, he defeated the reigning Olympic champion, Paul Masson.
His sensational victory was greeted with euphoria at home and huge crowds turned out at Kingstown to welcome him home.
As an amateur, beginning with the local Wanderer's Club in 1892, Reynolds made an immediate impression. In 1895, he won the Irish five-mile and 50-mile championships as well as the gold medal in the Surrey 100-Guinea Cup.
Overlooked for selection to the Irish Olympic team in 1896, he was chosen by the Irish Cyclists' Association to compete in the World Amateur Championships of the same year and in the final of the one-mile event, defeated Schrader, a Dane and Guillamet, a Frenchman. It is said that, while being presented with his gold medal by the King of Denmark, Reynolds insisted on the Union Jack being replaced with a green flag and on God save the Queen giving way to an Irish tune!
Turning professional, he toured Australia, New Zealand and won many races at home and abroad in a distinguished career. Famed for his prodigious strength, it is related that he once cycled backwards up Bearnageera Hill, between Balbriggan and Skerries, for a bet!
This extraordinary athlete passed away on July 16th, 1940, and is interred in Balrothery graveyard, just south of his beloved Balbriggan. - Yours, etc., Jim Walsh,
Balbriggan, Fingal, Co Dublin.