The Sunbeam MCC is delighted to announce that Tom Woolley has been adjudged the winner of The Pinhard Trophy for 2012.
Tom is Runner-Up in the 2012 FIM World Flat Track Cup.
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.
On being told of his success, Tom said "I discovered I had been awarded the Pinhard Trophy on Christmas day, it was the best present ever. I feel honoured and very lucky to even be considered, let alone to win such a prestigious award and join a list of previous winners of such distinction.
My racing success is a result of help from a lot of people behind the scenes, non more than from the late Joe Hughes from Joe Hughes International, who along with son Morgan has made a lot of things happen for me, so I would like to dedicate this award to Joe. I would also like to thank Pidcock Honda for providing my machinery and Joker Machine in Los Angeles for all their help in America"
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. Last year’s winner was Jack Sheppard from Trials.
Presentation of the Trophy will be at the ACU Awards Dinner on 26th January. In the true tradition of the sport, Tom is very much a self-starter, travelling alone to America to compete in two rounds of the Championship and was the only Brit to appear on the Podium at every round. Tom faced stiff competition for the Trophy and voting was extremely close. Entries come from all disciplines:- Trials, Road Racing, MotoX and even Admin. It’s good to see that more and more Ladies are being put forward.
Tom is a member of Burton & District Sporting MCC. When the club lost its training track in 2006, Tom was instrumental in getting Government funding for a new facility, even though he was only just in his teens. Tom now gets involved in coaching.
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.
PINHARD PRIZE
MASTER LIST OF WINNERS FROM INCEPTION (1950) TO DATE
1950 – JR (Roger) Milner Trials. Two-stroke Schoolboy champion Yorkshire Centre
1951 – PL (Peter) Hodgson Middlesbrough
1952 – Maureen Towler, Trials London Ladies Club
1953 – WH (Bill) Martin Trials works James Rider. West of England
1954 – John Surtees Road Racing BMCRC
1955 – Jeff Smith Motocross and Trials works BSA rider Birmingham
1956 – Arthur Lampkin Motocross and Trials. Bradford
1957 – Roy Peplow, Trials West Bromwich
1958 – SMB (Mike) Hailwood Road Racing. Ixion Club Oxford.
1959 – Dan Shorey Road Racing. NOBAC Banbury
1960 – Colin Hutchinson Organiser Thirsk Club
1961 – Scott Ellis Trials. Redditch
1962 – Malcolm Davis. Trials. Cheltenham
1963 – Mick Andrews. Trials Pathfinders MCC
1964 – DJ (Derek) Adsett Trials. Witley Surrey MCC
1965 – Dave Baybutt Grass-track. Lancashire
1966 – Gordon Farley Trials Sunbeam MCC
1967 – Tommy Milton Organiser Melville MCC
1968 – Malcolm Rathmell Trials
1969 – Mike L Dawes Midland Club Organiser
1970 – Chris Pusey Grass-track. Lancashire
1971 – HM (Martin) Lampkin Trials European and Multi UK Champion
1972 – Colin Baybutt Grass Track Wigan Auto Club
1973 – RM (Rob) Shepherd Trials Wetherby Yorkshire.
1974 – Clive Smith Trials. Ribble Valley
1975 – Graham Noyce Motocross. Winchester MCC
1976 – Neil Hudson Motocross. North Somerset.
1977 – John Reynolds Trials Wetherby, Yorkshire
1978 – GW (Gordon) Phillip Grass Track and Enduro, Scots Champion. Forfar.
1979 – Michael Lee Speedway
1980 – Gary Padgett Road Racing. Batley MCC
1981 – VJ (John) Lampkin Trials. Bradford & DMC
1982 – Dave Thorpe Motocross. Salop MCC
1983 – Steve Patrickson Road Racing 80cc. Batley MCC
1984 – Steve Saunders Trials. Cheltenham
1985 – Kurt Nicoll Motocross. Cambridge
1986 – Ian McConnachie Road Racing
1987 – Paul Edmondson Enduro. Salop MCC
1988 – Wayne Braybrook Trials. Bradford & DMC
1989 – Jason Lawer Trials. Camborne Redruth MCC
1990 – James Dobb Motocross. Salop MC
1991 – Steve Colley Trials. Southampton & DMCC
1992 – Jason Higgs Motocross. Waterlooville MCC
1993 – Doug Lampkin Trials. Bradford & DMC
1994 – PW (Paul) Hurry Grass-track. Maidstone MCC
1995 – Malcolm Baybutt Grass-track. Wirral 100 MCC
1996 – Graham Jarvis Trials. Folkestone MCC
1997 – Sam Connor Trials
1998 – Carl Nunn Motocross
1999 – Martin Crosswaite Trials
2000 – JR (Jonathan) Walker. Trials. Cumbria.
2001 – Ben Wilson Road Racing
2002 – Tom Sagar Trials
2003 – Jamie Clarke Organiser. Kent. Sidcup & DMCC
2004 – Donna Fox Trials
2005 – Paul Chatham Trials and ISDE Medallist. Scots Enduro Champion
2006 – Alexz Wigg Trials
2007 – Tommy Searle Motocross
2008 – Scott Redding Road Racing
2009 – Bradley Smith (Road Racing – Runner-up World 125cc Champs)
2010 – Jack Challoner World Junior Trials Champion
2011 - Jack Sheppard World Youth Trials Champion