Melissa Kennedy wins Walter Rusk Memorial Cup for 'most improved road racer' at MCUI awards

By The Newsroom
Published 12th Jan 2020, 19:19 BST
Melissa Kennedy received the Walter Rusk Memorial Cup for most improved road racer in 2019. Melissa is pictured with finace Gary Dunlop, who won the Moto3 Championship last year. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.Melissa Kennedy received the Walter Rusk Memorial Cup for most improved road racer in 2019. Melissa is pictured with finace Gary Dunlop, who won the Moto3 Championship last year. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.
Melissa Kennedy received the Walter Rusk Memorial Cup for most improved road racer in 2019. Melissa is pictured with finace Gary Dunlop, who won the Moto3 Championship last year. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.
Fermanagh’s Melissa Kennedy received the Walter Rusk Memorial Cup for most improved road racer at the annual MCUI Ulster Centre awards night.

Held at the La Mon Hotel on Friday evening, a host of leading Northern Ireland racers attended the prize ceremony as their achievements in 2019 were honoured.

Kennedy, from Enniskillen, made history when she became the first female winner of an Irish National road race at the East Coast Festival at Killalane last September.

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She narrowly edged out Paul Robinson protégé Sam Grief by four tenths of a second, while her fiancé, Gary Dunlop, joined her on the rostrum as he finished in third place.

Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips and Ulster Supersport champion Jason Lynn with the USBK grid girls at the MCUI Ulster Centre awards night at the La Mon Hotel. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips and Ulster Supersport champion Jason Lynn with the USBK grid girls at the MCUI Ulster Centre awards night at the La Mon Hotel. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.
Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips and Ulster Supersport champion Jason Lynn with the USBK grid girls at the MCUI Ulster Centre awards night at the La Mon Hotel. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.

The result was enough to give Melissa second place in the Irish Championship, with Dunlop clinching the title overall by 28 points.

Speaking to the News Letter at the time, she described her maiden roads success as ‘surreal’.

Kennedy said: “Maria Costello congratulated me and I got messages from Carolynn Sells and Suzi Perry. It’s just been overwhelming to have people like Maria and especially Carolynn messaging me – it really means something to me.”

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Lisburn’s Carl Phillips, who dominated the Ulster Superbike Championship, and runaway Supersport champion Jason Lynn were also in attendance as they received their respective cups.

Teenage prospect Gary Scott recieved the David Wood Scholarship and Cup from Lee Wood. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.Teenage prospect Gary Scott recieved the David Wood Scholarship and Cup from Lee Wood. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.
Teenage prospect Gary Scott recieved the David Wood Scholarship and Cup from Lee Wood. Picture: Maurice Montgomery.

Ryan Fenton was presented with the Sam Kidd Trophy for Best Newcomer to Road Racing by MCUI Ulster Centre chairman John McClure.

There was also a special recognition for young prospect Gary Scott, who was presented with the David Wood Scholarship and Cup by Lee Wood.

Previous winners of the accolade include Lee Johnston, who won his maiden race at the Isle of Man TT in the Supersport class last year, plus Richard Kerr, Kia McGreevy, Eugene McManus and Scott Swann.

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