The Pinhard Prize
Introduction
This award is in memory of Fred Pinhard, who founded the Club in 1924 and remained as Club Secretary from 1924 until his death in 1948. The trophy itself was originally "The Motorcycle" Trophy won outright by the Sunbeam MCC in the 1947 MCC Inter Club Team Trial and is substantial in size being over a foot high and two gallon capacity. The Pinhard Prize was first presented in 1950, and 2009 was the 60th year.
The list of previous winners includes many of the best riders since 1950 including John Surtees, several of the Lampkins and a host of others who have gone on to be national and international household names (see below for all previous winners).
The Pinhard Prize is awarded annually to the young motorcyclist (under 21 years) from an ACU affiliated club, who is adjudged to have made the most meritorious achievement in motorcycle sport in the preceding year. This can be from any discipline and can include organisational prowess. The winner is selected following consideration of all applications by five independent judges.
Click on the year below, to see that years winner.
2011 - Jack Sheppard
This year’s winner is Jack Sheppard, who at the tender age of 18 is World Youth Champion and European Junior Champion.
On being told of his success, Jack said “I am delighted and honoured to be chosen to receive this award. Last year was very tough for me, as I was suffering with a bone condition in my wrist, but with the support of the Jitsie and the Beta team I not only managed to finish the season, but achieve our goals of becoming World Youth and European Junior Champion.” “It is a real honour to now have my name on the trophy alongside great names in motorsport such as John Surtees, Doug Lampkin and so many more including a good friend of mine Jack Challoner who was last year’s winner. I would also like to thank all the people who nominated me, and the people who voted for me. Thanks to everyone who made it possible.”
It says much that he won the Championship despite his injury. Jack faced stiff competition and voting was extremely close. Joint Runners-up were fellow Trials competitor Emma Bristow and Danny Kent from Road Racing.
Jack’s entry was from his club Ipswich MCC and the judges were impressed to hear that Jack still finds time to help in marking out and marshalling at club trials.
The Pinhard is one of the UK’s most prestigious awards, the giant 3-gallon cup having been presented since 1950 to the best Under-21 year old sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction. Unfortunately, for some reason, it seems to have fallen from popularity over recent years. I remember when “Oi were a lad” in the days of Surtees, Hailwood and co that we looked forward with tremendous interest to finding out who was this year’s winner. It’s important to raise the profile of the Pinhard because it’s synonymous with the name of Sunbeam MCC and is good for the club’s reputation. Anyone can propose an entrant, so don’t be shy if you know a likely lass or lad. One of this year’s entrants was proposed by a Sunbeam club member. Don’t forget they can be from any branch of the sport and could well be an administrator rather than an active competitor.
Previous winners are a list of motorcycling greats over the last 60 years who have excelled in all spheres of the sport including Mike Hailwood, Jeff Smith, Brian Martin, Roy Peplow, Dan Shorey, Scott Ellis, Alexz Wigg and a host of others who have gone on to be national and international household names.
Presentation of the Trophy will be at the ACU Awards Dinner on 28th January and we always get top billing in the list of prizes. Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club. Judges were editors of leading motorcycle periodicals, General Secretary of the ACU together with Chris Mawer and Ian McGill from Sunbeam MCC.
One thing that has particularly struck me is the fact that we have a World Champion and hardly anybody knows. I watched the BBC Sports Personality show. They listed Darts and Snooker players, sporting journalists and a host of non-achievers. There’s a special award for overcoming adversity yet here we have a young man with tremendous potential who beat the world despite a debilitating wrist condition and he doesn’t even get a mention. - Tony Lloyd
2010 - Jack Challoner
The Sunbeam MCC is delighted to announce that Jack Challoner has been adjudged the winner of The Pinhard Trophy for 2010.
This is one of the UK’s most prestigious awards having been presented since 1950 to the best Under-21 year old sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction.
On being told of his success, Jack said “Its an absolute honour to receive such a prestigious award, there are some big names on the Pinhard Trophy and none without outstanding achievements so to be up there with them is absolutely fantastic.”
Previous winners are a list of motorcycling greats over the last 60 years who have excelled in all spheres of the sport including John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Jeff Smith, Brian Martin, Roy Peplow, Dan Shorey, Scott Ellis, Alexz Wigg and a host of others who have gone on to be national and international household names.
Jack faced stiff competition from representatives of all branches of motorcycle sport and we salute their efforts. First Runner-up was Jack Sheppard, also from Trials.
Other entrants came from Road Racing and Enduro, also one young lady who has made a niche as a lobbyist for motorcycle sport.
Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club.
Judges were editors of leading motorcycle periodicals, General Secretary of the ACU and officials from Sunbeam MCC.
2009 - Bradley Smith
The Sunbeam MCC is delighted to announce that Bradley Smith has been adjudged the winner of The Pinhard Trophy for 2009.
This is one of the UK’s most prestigious awards having been presented since 1950 to the best Under-21 year old sporting motorcyclist competing under ACU or SACU jurisdiction.
On being told of his success, Bradley said "That's awesome news and just looking at the previous winners makes me realise how important the Pinhard Trophy is in the history of British Motor Cycle racing. For my name to go on the trophy alongside some the greats in all forms of racing is a great honour which I really appreciate."
Previous winners are a list of motorcycling greats over the last 60 years who have excelled in all spheres of the sport including John Surtees, Mike Hailwood, Jeff Smith, Brian Martin, Roy Peplow, Dan Shorey, Scott Ellis, Alexz Wigg and a host of others who have gone on to be national and international household names.
Bradley is already heavily involved in preparation for next season otherwise the huge 2 gallon cup would have been presented at the ACU Awards ceremony in January. It is now planned to make the presentation at Silverstone during the British round of MotoGP on 6th June 2010.
Bradley faced stiff competition from representatives of all branches of motorcycle sport and we salute their efforts. First Runner-up was Jack Challoner from Trials, 2nd Runner-up was Josh Waterman from MotoCross
Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club.
Judges were editors of leading motorcycle periodicals, General Secretary of the ACU and officials from Sunbeam MCC.
2008 - Scott Redding
The Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Ltd is pleased to announce that the 2008 winner of this Annual Award for the most Meritorious Performance in Motorcycle Sport by an under 21 year old is Scott Redding.
Scott Redding started racing Mini Motos in 2002, making a name for himself as a focused and very quick young rider. He progressed up to the 80cc Metrakit ‘Calypso Cup’ in 2005, where he won all six rounds of the series.
In 2006 Scott tested for the Red Bull sponsored MotoGP Academy Cup series along with over 270 other British hopefuls. His talent was quickly identified and, along with 4 other Brits he was offered a ride. However he had a mixed season with only one podium finish at the last round in Jerez.
For 2007 he signed for his current team BLU:sens Aprilia riding in the Spanish CEV 125cc championship finishing second overall to Stefan Bradl with a difference of eight points, taking a second place at round four and winning at the final rounds of five, six and seven.
Redding left the CEV championship for 2008, being entered by team BLU:sens Aprilia in the 125cc Grand Prix World championship. Redding made a sensational start at the opening round of Qatar, by being the youngest ever rider in the 125cc class to qualify on the front row of the grid, in fourth place. He went on to take fifth place in the race setting the lap record for the 125cc class of 2’05.635 in the process. He was also on the front row in Spain.
On 22 June 2008 Redding became the youngest ever Grand Prix winner, aged 15 years and 170 days, when he won the 2008 British 125cc Grand Prix at Donington Park. Redding took the lead with six laps remaining after pressuring Andrea Lannone into pushing hard and going off at Craner Curves.
Redding held off Frenchman Mike Di Meglio and Spaniard Marc Marquez to win in only his eighth 125cc outing. He became the first British winner of a 125cc race since Chas Mortimer won the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix and the first British winner of a British motorcycle Grand Prix in the 125cc class since 1973, when Tommy Robb won at the 1973 Isle of Man TT, which was then the British round of the world championship.
A £50 cheque accompanies the huge 2 gallon cup together with a retention replica cup. Sunbeam MCC awards the trophy in memory of Frederick William Pinhard who died in 1948 whilst serving as Secretary of the Club.
2007 - Tommy Searle
Tommy Searle is the winner of this year’s Prize. MX ace Tommy (18) from Goudhurst, Kent, rides the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team and beat off stiff opposition from no fewer than 12 official candidates for the huge Pinhard Trophy, including Bradley Smith, who rode a factory Repsol Honda in the 125 MotoGP category.
Tommy has had a fabulous season, in only his second year on the MXGP World Championship circuit Tommy finished a fine runner-up in MX2 to the experienced Italian ace Tony Cairoli, Tommy also won his first GP moto in Sweden in July, and followed this up with a brilliant first overall MXGP in front of his home fans at Donnington in August. On top of this, he also finished runner-up in the British MX2 Championship to American Mike Brown and was a star member of Britain’s MX des Nations team that finished fifth at Budds Creek in America.
Bradley Smith finished runner-up, but it was a pair of trials riders who finished joint third in Michael Brown and Jack Challoner. Brown won the World Junior Cup while Challoner took the European Championship.
It is hoped that the magnificent Pinhard Trophy will be presented at the ACU awards dinner on Saturday January 26th 2008.
All previous winners (2006 - 1950)
List of all previous winners from the Pinhard Prize's inception. (2006 - 1950)
| Year | Name | Discipline |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Alex Wigg | Trials |
| 2005 | Paul Chatham | Trials |
| 2004 | Donna Fox | Trials (Ladies) |
| 2003 | Jamie Clarke | ACU Admin s/e centre |
| 2002 | Tom Sugar | Trials |
| 2001 | Ben Wilson | Road Race |
| 2000 | J R Walker | Trials |
| 1999 | Malcolm Crosswaite | Trials |
| 1998 | Carl Nunn | Motorcross |
| 1997 | Sam Connor | Trials |
| 1996 | Graham Jarvis | Trials |
| 1995 | Malcolm Baybutt | Grass Track |
| 1994 | Paul Hurry | Grass Track |
| 1993 | Doug Lampkin | Trials |
| 1992 | John Higgs | Motorcross |
| 1991 | Steve Colley | Trials |
| 1990 | Jamie Dobb | Motorcross |
| 1989 | Jason Lawer | Trials |
| 1988 | Bill Braybrook | Trials |
| 1987 | Paul Edmonson | Motorcross |
| 1986 | Ian McConnachie | Road Race |
| 1985 | Kurt Nicoll | Motorcross |
| 1984 | Steve Saunders | Trials |
| 1983 | S Patrickson | Road Race |
| 1982 | Dave Thorpe | Trials |
| 1981 | V J Lampkin | Trials |
| 1980 | Gary Padgett | Road Race |
| 1979 | M A Lee | Speedway |
| 1978 | Gordon W Phillip | Enduro |
| 1977 | John Reynolds | Motorcross |
| 1976 | Neil Hudson | Road Race |
| 1975 | Graham Noyce | Motorcross |
| 1974 | Clive Smith | ? |
| 1973 | Rob M Shepherd | Trials |
| 1972 | Colin Baybutt | Grass Track |
| 1971 | H M Lampkin | Trials |
| 1970 | C Pusey | Grass Track |
| 1969 | Michael L Dawes | Organiser |
| 1968 | Malcolm Rathmell | Trials |
| 1967 | Tony Milton | Road Race |
| 1966 | Gordon Farley | Trials |
| 1965 | Dave Baybutt | Grass Track |
| 1964 | Dereck J Adsett | Trials |
| 1963 | Mick Andrews | Trials |
| 1962 | Malcolm Davis | Trials |
| 1961 | Scott Ellis | Trials |
| 1960 | Colin Hutchinson | Organiser Thirsk Club |
| 1959 | Dan Shorey | Road Race |
| 1958 | Mike Hailwood | Road Race |
| 1957 | Roy Peplow | Trials |
| 1956 | Arthur Lampkin | Trials |
| 1955 | Jeff Smith | Motorcross |
| 1954 | John Surtees | Road Race |
| 1953 | W H Martin | Trials |
| 1952 | Maureen Towler | Trials |
| 1951 | Peter L Hodgson | ? |
| 1950 | J R Milner | Trials |
