A Night of Appreciation and Awards for Competitors in the AGA Ulster Motorcycle Trials Championship 2023/24
Main picture: Ollie Gilmour, Harry Marshall and Adam Marshall accepting their respective bronze, silver and gold awards in youth C of the AGA Ulster Championship. Photo by Earl Boyd.
The Auld House in Moneyreagh was the setting for the AGA 2023/24 Ulster Trials Championship Awards evening last Saturday, 17th August. Riders and their families and friends joined the NI Trials Committee, members of the MRA & MCUI (Ulster Centre), and sponsors for a sociable evening of awards and auctions, a buffet, ballot and some banter. It is clear the trial competitors enjoy each other’s company on and off the bikes as chatter and laughter filled the event with plenty of support and cheering for each of the award winners.
The John Hagan & Son and OHA Motorsports C, D & E youth classes saw Harry McMillen, Harry Annette, and Ollie Gilmour all take gold medals for first-place positions, with Kyle Hewitt winning the youth B class. He was closely followed by Crossnacreevy’s Ben Allen, who took 2nd place in the Ulster youth B class and 1st place in the Irish Championship youth B class. Mason Crawford won the J Hagan & Son/OHA Motorsports Youth A Championship, with Carnlough rider Shane Abram coming in 2nd; he also won 2nd place in the Irish Championship youth A classes. Shannon Smyth walked away with bronze for 3rd place in the Youth A Class and gold for 1st place in the Irish Championship.
Roy Neill hosted the awards section of the event, with MCUI (ulster Centre) President Eddie Johnston presenting the youth awards to some very deserving and delighted young ambassadors for the sport in Northern Ireland. MRA Chairman Lawrence Spence took over from Mr. Johnson to present the adult AGA Ulster Championship awards.
In the adult classes, Ballygowan’s George Smyth took 1st place in the HTM Motorcycles Sportsman Classics Class and 2nd place in the Irish Championship Sportsman Class. David Lemon won 1st place in the HTM Motorcycle Sportsman Class, with Belfast Rider Michael Adams taking 1st place in the Irish Championship Sportsman Class.
Winner of the Irish Championship Clubman Class and delighted to receive his award was Bangor-based trials rider Philip McClurg. It was Dromara’s Desi Leckey who came in first place in the AGA Ulster Championship Leadmines Motorcycles Clubman class, Desi also placed 2nd to Philip in the Irish Championship.
The Leadmines Motorcycles Clubman Classic Class saw Bangor’s Andy Ellis take the win overall, with Stephen Murphy a close second and Terence McKee in third.
The AGA Ulster Championship Inchaquire Industries semi-expert class was won by Banbridge rider Philip Hanlon taking the gold, with Jamie Chambers taking home silver and John Miller the bronze.
Northern Irish rider Adam Dodds took 3rd place in the Irish Championship semi-expert class.
Stuart Hanlon took two wins in the SJ Trials expert class and the Irish Championship expert class. Robert McCrory came in 2nd place in the SJ Trials expert class and 3rd in the Irish Championship expert class. Andrew McCrory was hot on his heels for Bronze 3rd place position in the Ulster but took home 2nd position in the Irish Championship Experts classes.
Another of the Banbridge Hanlons took top of the roster in the OHA Motorsport expert elite class, with Josh Hanlon winning both the AGA Ulster championship and Irish Championship. Bangor’s Stuart McClurg took 2nd place in both of the Championships expert elite classes, and Jonny Lunney came in 3rd place in the OHA Motorsport expert elite class of the AGA Ulster Championship.
A special Rockhopper award was presented to young Oliver Seaton for his Rockhopping skills putting a smile firmly on his face.
NI Trials committee Chairman Norman Watt was delighted to announce confirmation that the sponsors from the 2023/24 season will continue their sponsorship in the 2024/25 season. He thanked them for their ongoing support at a time when business is difficult for so many. Inchaquire Industries proprietor Clive Braithwaite was keen to thank the organizers and the riders for their efforts and commitment to the sport of trials riding in all of Ireland. Mr. Braithwaite was presented with an award and great thanks to his company as we head into the AGA Ulster Championship 2024/25.
Throughout the Season, the 23/24 AGA Ulster Motorcycle Trials Championships have been largely dominated by riders from Northern Ireland. In the youth and adult categories, they continue to achieve greatness across the board in the sport year after year. The Northern Irish Motorcycle Trials community are proud to have 2 of our top riders, Josh Hanlon and Stuart McClurg, on Team Ireland for the FIM World Trophy des Nations Trials Event 2024. The 3rd team member will be Ireland’s Sean Doyle, completing the all-Ireland team with local man Andrew Perry at the helm managerially for a second year.
We look forward to the upcoming season of trials riding, which kicks off with Round One on September 14th and the Bann Cup hosted by the Banbridge Club at Finnis. Whatever the weather may throw at them, our hardcore riders will turn up, tune up, and get themselves out among the elements, at their happiest rock hopping through local rivers and turning mountains into molehills with their agility, skill, and mastery of the machine.
The NI trials association wishes to thank all their members, riders, volunteers, and observers for their involvement in the AGA Ulster Championship 23/24. Great gratitude goes out to the event sponsors and to the landowners. Wishing all the riders a safe, successful season in 2024/25.
As Team Ireland set off to represent us all, they have our support and good luck in the Trophy des Nations. Photography By Earl Boyd.
