A new female category has been added to the prestigious annual Adelaide Irish Motorbike Awards.
The Female Trailblazer of the Year accolade will be presented for the first time at the biggest prizegiving night in UK and Irish motorcycling at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Shaw’s Bridge on Friday, January 17.
Pippa Laverty, wife of former World Superbike rider Eugene who was appointed as the first Ambassador for ACU (Auto Cycle Union) Women in 2024, joined the event’s regular judging panel to help select the nominees for the inaugural award, which will be presented to ‘individuals, teams, or organisations that have made significant contributions to the promotion and advancement of women in motorcycling’.
Tandragee 100 Clerk of the Course Anne Forsythe is among the nominees for the new award.
Anne’s leadership was instrumental in securing the return of the popular road race in June 2025 after an absence of three years.
Schoolgirl Sophie Ferguson is another contender after the talented 12-year-old was crowned 2024 British Girls D-Class Trials Champion.
Teenager Holly Denis makes the cut after the 14-year-old won the 2024 Ladies Enduro Pro Ride Champion at just 14-years-old to mark her out as a rising prospect in Enduro, while seven-year-old Macy Edgar is on the list after becoming Ulster and Irish Quad champion last year, signalling a bright future in quad racing.
A host of big names are set to attend the gala bash when the coveted Joey Dunlop trophy will be presented to the winner of the headline award, the 2024 Irish Motorcyclist of the Year.
British Superbike rider Glenn Irwin has won the main award for the past two years but faces strong opposition from Ballymoney’s Michael Dunlop, who set a new record of 29 Isle of Man TT victories last year, surpassing his uncle Joey’s tally of 26 wins, which had stood since 2000.
Irwin – who finished third in the British Superbike Championship last year and set a record of 11 Superbike wins in a row at the North West 200 – is confirmed among the special guests at the event along with six-time World Superbike champion Jonathan Rea and Eugene Laverty, who finished as the title runner-up in the 2013 series.
The evening will be hosted by Stephen Watson and Keith Huewen.
Judge: Pippa Laverty and husband Eugene
