PR30 - MAGHERAFELT IS CLUB OF THE YEAR
Magherafelt & District Motor Club have won the national Alexander Forbes MSA Club of the Year Award. Club officials will be presented with their awards at the Motor Sports Association ‘Night of Champions’ on Friday 18 January, when the winning club shares centre stage with the winners of every British motor sport championship. The award winners are as follows:
Overall winner: Magherafelt & District Motor Club
The first time the award has gone to Northern Ireland. Magherafelt capitalised on the disruption to motor sport caused by Foot & Mouth Disease by organising a rally car push, which benefited the Mid-Ulster Hospital by a splendid £10,000. The club has a clear recruitment policy and strong links with the local community. It plans to use the cash award from this competition to develop a six-mile asphalt rally stage complete with spectator-friendly areas. Second overall: Series 3 Land Rover Owners Club
With a wide range of social and family activities supplementing its off road events, membership of over 1,200 grew during a difficult year. They undertook community activities (such as delivering ‘meals on wheels’ in bad weather and providing Land Rovers to assist in flooded areas), organised a run in September to mark the 30th anniversary of the Series 3 Land Rover, and made a donation to Greenpeace, which celebrated its own 30th birthday at the same time. Third overall: Ross & District Motor Sports Club
Having identified three strands for its future strategy as development, communications and information technology, this club (with a rising membership) drew up job descriptions for its various officials to underpin its training and recruitment. Being one of the few clubs in the UK to have their own clubhouse, an I.T. suite was installed for the members. The club also have good community links with other local clubs and organisations. Highly Commended: North Devon Motor Club
Third overall in 1999 and winners last year, their application this year was again highly meritorious, with ongoing initiatives arising from their development plan moving forward during the year, despite their being based in one of the areas most affected by Foot & Mouth Disease. Highly Commended: East Ayrshire Car Club
Owners and operators of the newly re-built Kames Motorsport Complex, currently used for sprints and autotests (and the local community firework display), future plans will extend the appeal to rally enthusiasts. The club has developed a ‘buddy’ system to train and develop marshals. Some 40 entries were received, representing a range of clubs throughout the UK. The judging panel were very impressed by the steps taken by many clubs to counter the particular difficulties encountered this year, especially by rally and off-road clubs, and the time taken to plan ahead for a full resumption of active motor sport in 2002. Past overall winners: Knutsford & District Motor Club (1993), Aberdeen & District Motor Club (1994), Ilkley & District Motor Club (1995 & 1999), Port Talbot Motor Club (1996), Torbay Motor Club (1997), Woolbridge Motor Club (1998), North Devon Motor Club (2000). ends.
10 December 2001
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