Who will win the Pinhard?
By John Dickinson on 17th Oct 07
WITH nominations for the 2007 Pinhard Trophy, an award which rewards young endeavour, now being sought, Editor JD takes a look back at some of the well-known previous Pinhard winners...
THIS week in T+MX you will find that the main news story on page 3 concerns nominations for the prestigious Pinhard Trophy, a huge two-gallon silver cup, or jug, which is presented annually to the ‘best' Under 21 year-old in UK motorcycling.
This award has, over the years, been presented to some of motorcycle sport's greatest-ever exponents and it proves that the good people who have spotted the talent and also the judging panel who made the final choice, have been pretty much on the button down the last 50 years. You can check this out for yourselves, and you should, by turning back to the list of Pinhard winners (since 1950) which we have printed in full this week on page 3.
It is fair to say that, for various reasons, the Pinhard hasn't received the publicity that it deserves over the last few years, especially last year when the talented trials rider Alexz Wigg won, which is why we have promoted the event strongly this year.
Back when the award was first instigated, I imagine that the job of picking a winner may have been slightly different. There was no such thing as Youth events back then when, in theory at least, a rider had to be 16-years-old in order to be able to compete, the legal age at which one could ride a motorcycle on the road. I say ‘in theory' with tongue in cheek as we know that there were those who slid under the radar... These days of course, some riders have had a career and ‘retired' before they reach the age of 21. Times change, but I don't feel that this devalues the Pinhard in any way, it just makes things a bit more difficult for the judges.
Jeff Smith was the winner back in 1955 when he was a factory trials rider. JV Smith went on to win two World MX championships - 1964/ '65 on BSA and remains one of the sport's most famous names.
Scan down the list and you are sure to find some of your own favourites, some that cause you to pause and reflect for a moment, and there may even be some names you have never heard of. This doesn't make them any less worthy a Pinhard winner.
John Surtees and Mike Hailwood are simply two of the biggest names ever to grace motor sport. Surtees the only man to win World titles in MotoGP (as it is now) and Formula 1, Hailwood arguably the greatest motorcycle road racer ever.
And what a list of motocross and trials talent. World MX Champs Graham Noyce and Neil Hudson won in consecutive years, David Thorpe just a few seasons later followed by Kurt Nicoll and Jamie Dobb. Trials has a plethora of winners including Mick Andrews, Malcolm Rathmell, Rob Shepherd, John Reynolds Steve Saunders and Dougie Lampkin.
Those serial over-achievers, the Lampkin family have no fewer than four Pinhard recipients down the years: Arthur back in 1956, his brother Martin in 1971, Arthur's son John in 1981 and Martin's son Dougie in 1993. I reckon we are overdue a Lampkin winner... and how did Alan miss out in the 1960s??? I can only imagine the ribbing Sid gets when the Pinhard is mentioned and they get down to discussing what year they all won...!
Paul Edmondson, Fast Eddy himself, took the prize back in 1987 - I bet Paul can't believe where the last 20 years have gone?
Over the last ten years or so you can see that trials has won on the majority of occasions. Carl Nunn was the last big MX name in 1998 while one Ben Wilson was road racing's sole winner in 2001. Jamie Clarke proved that you do not have to be a big name in active sport when he was chosen in 2003 for his contribution to the organising side of things for the Sidcup club while in 2004 it was good to see the girls get in there with Donna Fox. The only other previous lady winner was Maureen Towler back in 1952.
It's interesting that 2002 recipient Tom Sagar, who won the Pinhard for his trials achievements, has since gone on to win a European Championship as an enduro rider, proof if needed that talent is talent and it will show whatever discipline of the sport it is turned to.
Of course, a few moments thought reveals that there are plenty of ‘big' names who never lifted the trophy but the fact is, the list of Pinhard Prize winners is a more than useful snapshot of motorcycle sport down the years.
I wonder who'll win this year...???