SHANNON Smyth, a rising star in the world of off-road motorcycling, has been awarded £500 through the Mary Peters Trust and Hughes Insurance bursary. Now in its fourth year, the partnership acknowledges the talent and dedication of young athletes from across Northern Ireland and will see a total of £5000 awarded to 10 athletes.
Shannon (17), from North Belfast, has already made an impressive impact in the local motorcycling scene. Competing in trials at the Youth A level – equivalent to Semi-Expert level – her recent achievements include securing a second place finish at the Irish Championship and third at the Ulster Championship.
Shannon draws inspiration from her family’s support and her father’s past achievements as an ex-Grade A rider representing Ireland in the Trials des Nations.
She said: “My dad and grandad both rode trials, and we often bond as a family over our shared love for bikes. Despite facing challenges throughout my sporting journey, including breaking my collarbone, my goal is to continuously improve and challenge myself by competing alongside male riders.
“The bursary gives me a chance to share my journey and hopefully inspire younger riders, especially girls, in a sport mostly dominated by males. Being a role model is important to me because I know how it feels to have someone to look up to and strive to be like.
“I aim to keep pushing myself, narrowing the gap between my current scores and those achieved by adult semi-experts, and eventually rise to the top. With this support from the Mary Peters Trust and Hughes Insurance, I can keep my bike in good shape and keep competing at a high level, moving one step closer towards achieving my goals.”
As Lady Mary Peters highlights, the bursary marks a milestone in Shannon’s career and underscores the importance of nurturing young talent in Northern Ireland, particularly those in male-dominated sports.
The Olympic pentathlon Gold medallist said: “Supporting athletes like Shannon is at the heart of what we do at the Mary Peters Trust. We are committed to helping them make further strides in their sporting careers and reach their full potential.
“With limited female riders on the circuit here in Northern Ireland, what Shannon has achieved at such a young age is testament to her resilience and this bursary will provide her with support to continue her journey in off-road motorcycling. Together with Hughes Insurance, we hope to continue paving the way for aspiring athletes and ensure they have a strong community backing every step of the way.”
Hughes Insurance has committed £20,000 over four years to the bursary programme as part of its Action for Impact initiative – designed to deliver on its Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) agenda in 2024 and beyond.
Emma Haughian, Senior Marketing Manager at Hughes Insurance said: “Our partnership with Mary Peters Trust demonstrates our commitment to the local community and making positive social impact. Through initiatives like the bursary programme, we are investing in both the future of young athletes like Shannon and the overall well-being of our young people, fostering inclusivity and diversity in sports. Directing resources towards our ESG strategy continues to be a top priority for us and reinforces our dedication to staff, customers, and people.”
Remaining bursary recipients will be announced throughout 2024. To keep up to date with the selection, follow Hughes Insurance on social media, @hughesinsuranceni.
For more information on Hughes Insurance visit hughesinsurance.co.uk and for more on the Mary Peters Trust, visit marypeterstrust.org
Shannon with Lady Mary and Emma Haughian of Hughes Insurance
