After the annual ANICC awards evening was cancelled in January, due to the covid situation, each motorsport discipline was to arrange their own smaller awards evening to celebrate the 2021 championship competitors’ success.
Both Hillclimb and Sprint championships share some competitors, so it was decided to run a joint awards evening in Armagh City Hotel on Saturday 18th June.
With 80+ people attending, this was a great chance for them to have a social evening out to have a bit of fun and a meal together while celebrating their individual successes for the previous year’s motorsport.
This also was a great chance to catch up with the sponsor of the Hillclimb Championship, John Rice from Jem Oils, distributor for Millers Oils in Northern Ireland. John has been a sponsor of the Northern Ireland Hillclimb Championship for many years and has great interest in the events here.
The 2021 overall championship win went to Graham Thompson, John Donnelly finished in 2nd and Richard McGimpsey in 3rd. The Hillclimb Leaders award was won by Dara Fay.
Modified Saloon Category was won by Daniel Campbell, Philip Cardy won the Roadgoing Saloon Category, and David Hawthorne was the Specialist Category Winner.
Every year, between the Sprint and Hillclimb championships, there is an award given for the best newcomer, this is decided by both championship coordinators and the speed committee. For 2021, this was awarded to Amy Hawthorne. As soon as Amy could drive, she was out competing, and a very deserving winner. Well Done.
Wilson Carson, Chairman of ANICC commented, “It was fantastic to see the 2021 Adair Tyres Sprint Championship and Millar’s Oil Hillclimb Championship return to their full capacity!
“Both championships are a credit to their co-ordinaries David Evans and Alan Cassells, as year on year they continue to attract new talent as well as enticing many competitors to return to competition or even try a different motorsport discipline.”
Wilson continued, “A massive thanks to Adair Tyres and Millar’s Oil for their continued sponsorship and the great support they give to the championships. Without the hard work and dedication of the clubs and many, many volunteers who come out to assist in the running of events it would be impossible for ANICC to run such successful championships!
“They are the backbone of our sport and we are indebted to them for their willingness and enthusiasm to support events week in and week out. Congratulations to all those receiving awards and best of luck for the remainder of the 2022 season”
Words: ALAN CASSELLS #5 | Photos: GRAHAM BAALHAM-CURRY
[Images must not be used in any way without prior written consent of the photographer]
