Another year has finished with the Annual SMCA Awards and Dinner Dance. Good to see everyone dressed up and not a speck of mud in sight! Thanks go to Etienne Bax and Jan Visscher who came over from Holland to join us at the evening and to present the awards.
Following pre-dinner drinks and meal the first presentation of the night went to Stuart Brown and Josh Chamberlain as recipients of the Al Tricker Trophies for the best international team for 2012. This was followed by the top ten places in the
British Clubman’s Championship:
10th Stephen Parr & Josh Haynes
9th Wayne Delves & Darren Elcocks
8th Scott Williams & Simon Rogers
7th Dave Millard & Paul Bishop
6th Ross Bowers & Guy Eastman
5th Seemond Stephens & Mike Curnow
4th Arthur Walton & James Georges
3rd Steve & Chris Pannell
Runner up Nick Bowers & Pete Batt
British Clubmans Champions Luke Peters & Marc Cooper
Next up was the British Sidecar Championship:
3RD Daniel & Joe Millard
Runners up Richard Jenkins & Dan Chamberlain
British Sidecar Champions Stuart Brown & Josh Chamberlain
With this being Stuart’s 10th title he received a well deserved standing ovation.
The new SMCA Championship for 2012 was sponsored by Wizard Wash, who provided the trophies for the two winners. The SMCA Championship Driver was won by Ross Bowers and Championship Passenger by Craig Parmenter. Brett Wilkinson and Craig Parmenter were the winners of the South Eastern Centre Championship which were awarded on behalf of the Twickenham Club.
Then the awards voted for by the SMCA Committee were announced starting with Driver of the Year which this year went to Richard Jenkins. Under 21 Driver, awarded and chosen by Paul Pelling and Sue Kemp, was Brett Wilkinson. Newcomer Driver was picked up by Joe Gingell.
It was then the turn of the passengers and Dan Chamberlain was named as Passenger of the Year. Under 21 Passenger was awarded to Guy Eastman. Newcomer Passenger deservedly went to the young Josh Haynes.
Most Improved this year was undeniably Luke Peters. Dug Woods was chosen as the receiver of the Services to Sidecarcross Trophy.
Finally a special award, the SMCA Medal, was commissioned to be presented to Ian ‘Shed’ Sheppard. Shed has done a lot this year to raise funds for the SMCA’s two chosen charities, the Air Ambulances of Thames Valley and Chilterns and Dorset and Somerset. This must have been the first time Shed has ever been rendered speechless!
The evening continued with a raffle, dancing and of course refilling of glasses.
A big THANK YOU goes to Jen Mitchell who organised the event with her trusted helpers and in particular Shed & Fiona Sheppard and Eric & Nicky Maguire.
Roll on next season with hopefully less rain!
Report and photo
Ann Reynolds