Carrick on Suir Motor Club Nomination for the Ivan Webb Memorial Award

Ann Fitzgerald

Reading through the thirty seven year history of this prestigious award, one striking statistic leaps from the page, Nuala Ni Bhriain being the only woman to have been honoured.

That is about to change this year as the Carrick on Suir Motor Club candidate for the 2012 Ivan Webb Memorial Award is Ann Fitzgerald. It's time to step into the 21st century and recognise the vital role that women have played and continue to play in our sport, and none more so than Ann Fitzgerald.

In 2012 Ann celebrated her 41st year as Carrick MC Club secretary; yes that's correct 41 years. In what has now become a lifetime devoted to the club and sport she loves, Ann started in the usual way marshalling on events but when the post of club secretary became available she was drafted in and has remained in situ now for over four decades.

Along with the day to day running of the Carrick MC, Ann has fulfilled many other duties within the club and on a national level, they include:

(1) 30 years as Ravens Rock Rally Event Secretary.

(2) 30 years as Willie Loughman Forest Rally Event Secretary.

(3) Carrick MC, COC Single Stage Rally, Clerk of the Course.

(4) 3 years as Ravens Rock Rally, Clerk of the Course.

(5) In charge of results for the National Tarmac Rally Championship

(6) In charge of Prizegiving for the National Rally Championship.

(7) 24 years as Registrar for the South East Stages Rally Championship.

(8) Timing operator on Tarmac Internationals i.e. Rally of the Lakes and the Donegal International Rally.

(9) Radio operator on Tarmac Internationals i.e. Rally of the Lakes and the Donegal International Rally.

At a recent function held in her honour, Ann described taking the helm as COC for the Ravens Rock Rally as her greatest achievement but for the Carrick on Suir Motor Club members it's the legacy that Ann has accumulated over a lifetime dedicated to the club and may I say, Irish Motorsport.  

Carrick on Suir Motor Club

Nomination for the 2012 J.C. Millard Memorial Award

Seamus Anderson

During the now long forgotten Celtic Tiger years there was an influx of big names and big cars to our international and clubman events in Ireland. That once roaring beast has since left our shores the big names and the big cars have vanished. What is left is the true 'Clubman' or 'Clubwoman' as both terms have the same definition. A clubman or club woman is a person that is there competing and working for their respective club year in year out. It doesn't matter if it's an 'Autotest' event on a cold January morning or an 'Autocross' on a wet March Sunday, that person is there, lining out because of their love the sport!

For the Carrick on Suir Motor Club there is no better member in this respect today than our current Competitors Club Champion, Seamus Anderson and that is why the Carrick on Suir Motor Club have chosen him as our nomination for the 2012 J.C. Millard Memorial Award.

Seamus embodies all that is great about our sport at club level. Competing in club events throughout the year, being on hand to help with the organisation of events and also being available to help other club members as they prepare.

As of today 1-11-2012 we are only four days away from our final event of the season and Seamus is perched at the top of the standings with a nine point advantage and looks odds on to take his seventh title in a row.