The Hillas Trophy was originally called the Greenock Cup and was award for a one off yacht race on the Clyde, Scotland in 1853. On that occasion the winner was Major Robert William Goodwin Hillas of Skreen, Co Sligo, in his yacht “The Irish Lily”. The following letter to the Field on Saturday, July 23 1853 gives a flavour of proceedings of the day:
Sir, Allow me to offer your a few remarks relative to the Royal Northern Regatta, which took place at Greenock on the 7th and 8th inst., and which, if you think worth recording, I should feel obliged by your insertion in "The Field"...
Second Day - 8th July.
The great race this day was the Greenock Cup, combined with the first in the programme, and teh following were the conditions and entries:-
In 1975 Stella & Christopher L’Estrange presented the Trophy to Gus Henry on behalf of Sligo Yacht Club. The Trophy has since been known as the Hillas Trophy and has became the premier event in the Sligo Yacht Clubs GP 14 calendar.
In 2005 The Guinness Trophy & the Alba Trophy were added to the event and these Trophies are competed for by the Silver and Bronze Fleets respectively.
The Hillas is normally raced on the first Sunday of September over three races with one discard, followed by an evenings entertainment in the club house.
Year | Winner | Crew |
2008
| | |
| 2007 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 2006 | Paddy O'Connor | Tania McHale |
| 2005 | Tim Corcoran | Brendan Brogan |
| 2004 | Paddy O'Connor | Tania McHale |
| 2003 | Colm O'Flaherty
| Michael Caheny
|
| 2002 | Tim Corcoran | Brendan Brogan |
| 2001 | Paddy O'Connor | Tania McHale |
| 2000 | Tim Corcoran
| Brendan Brogan
|
| 1999 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 1998 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 1997 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 1996 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 1995 | Colm O'Flaherty
| |
| 1994 | Niall Henry | Ossian Geraghty |
| 1993 | Gus Henry | |
| 1992 | Gus Henry | |
| 1991 | Frank Armstrong
| Kathy Gillen
|
| 1990 | Gus Henry | |
| 1989 | Conal Henry
| |
| 1988 | Gus Henry | |
| 1987 | Gus Henry | |
| 1986 | Gus Henry | |
| 1985 | Niall Henry | |
| 1984 | Gus Henry | |
| 1983 | Gus Henry | |
| 1982 | Gus Henry | |
| 1981 | Gus Henry | |
| 1980 | Gus Henry | |
| 1979 | Gus Henry | |
| 1978 | Gus Henry | |
| 1977 | Gus Henry | |
| 1976 | Gus Henry | |
| 1975 | Gus Henry | |
