Formed in 1930, the Kilkenny Cycling Club has a long and treasured history with many State, National and even World Champions among our members.

Kilkenny Club Formed (By “Pacer”)
“Amateur cyclists living at Kilkenny have made a successful attempt to foster the sport there. Although the club has been in existence only a few weeks nearly 30 members have been enrolled. A track formerly used for training purposes has been improved, and is in suitable condition for racing. The club will apply to the South Australian Amateur Cycling Association for affiliation. Until this is granted, races will be conducted on Sunday mornings.” (The News – 14 November 1930)

Kilkenny Club
“Members are displaying enthusiasm in the newly formed Kilkenny Amateur Cycling Club. There are more than 30 members in the club already, and meetings are held on Sunday mornings on the Challa Gardens Oval. It is intended later to hold fixtures on Saturday afternoons. Several prominent amateur riders have joined the club of which Mr. W. Blythman is chairman, and Mr. N. Davoran secretary.” (The Register News Pictorial – 14 November 1930)

Our First Race Meeting was first held on 16th November 1930 as reported the The Advertiser…

Kilkenny Amateur Club (By Wheelman)
“At the opening meeting of the Kilkenny Amateur Cycling Club results were:- Half-mile Handicap – W. Gelbert, 1; F. Holt, 2; H. Blythman, 3. Two-mile Scratch Race:- C. Meatheringham, 1; J Martin, 2; T. McLoughlin. 3. A general meeting will be held at the residence of Mr. W. Blythman, 37 Raneleigh Street on Tuesday. All Interested in the club are invited to attend.” (The Advertiser – 21 November 1930)

Hanson Reserve at Woodville Gardens has always been our home and it has gone through a number of facelifts (not always beneficial!) over it’s time…

Woodville Track Reconditioning (By Wheelman)
“It has been decided to recondition the Kilkenny Club’s track at Woodville Park Oval during the road racing season. With that object in view, Mr R. Douglas, a St. John Ambulance officer, who is also a member of the Kilkenny Club, organised a successful dance in the Railway Institute Hall, at which there was a record attendance. The track fund was considerably increased as a result.” (The Advertiser – 29 April 1938)

and we were the first club to have a floodlit track for night racing…

Cycling – Track At Kilkenny To Be Floodlit (By SPOKE)
“New floodlighting equipment at the Kilkenny Amateur Cycling Club’s bitumen track at Hanson Reserve win be tested under racing conditions tonight. Kilkenny is the first amateur metropolitan club to have its track floodlit. The 440-yard circuit has a 500 candlepower light every 10 yards. Kilkenny will apply to the Amateur Cycling Association of SA to race on Thursday Nights from next Thursday. Port Adelaide and the newly formed Amateur Women’s Club will be invited to take part. The three clubs will race on Hanson Reserve at 3.10 pm on Sunday” (The Advertiser – 30January 1953)

We will be searching through our archives, race records and photographs and adding as much information here as we can find.

If you have any old photographs, stories to tell or know any of the history of the club, please contact us at history@kilkennycc.org.au. We’d love to get copies of anything you might have and be happy to add your contribution to this page.

Reg Blythman (second from the right) one of our first Club Presidents

1961 SA Southcott Cup winning team
Bob Baird (back right) and Lyle Baird (front right)