Prince Michael Award of Merit presented to Northern
Ireland's Colin Rossborough
Colin Rossborough, who has dedicated over 30 years to motor
sport in Northern Ireland and has led the way in the improvements
to the Rescue service offered at events, was presented with
the Motor Sports Association's Prince Michael Award of Merit
last week, at the Royal Automobile Club in London. Mr Rossborough
received his award from Graham Stoker, Chairman of the MSA
Motor Sports Council.
The Prince Michael Award of Merit is the Motor Sports Association's
most prestigious individual award. Although the Motor Sports
Council (the sporting commission of the Motor Sports Association)
has the power to make this award annually to a maximum of
two recipients, it is only given out when 'a meritorious service
to British motor sport' is judged to have been served.
Colin Rossborough has been awarded the 2007 HRH Prince Michael
Award of Merit for his devotion to motor sport over many years.
In the late 1980s Colin held a MSA Rally Licence and competed
in Navigation Rallies, however he started in motor sport as
an organiser and his interest remained there progressing more
and more into training and then to Rescue. He qualified as
an MSA Training Instructor in 1992 and became heavily involved
in Rescue in 1997, becoming a Unit Chief in 1998. In 1993
he joined the MSA Rescue Panel, lending his expertise for
the benefit of the whole sport, and in this role he conducted
Rescue assessments for the MSA throughout the UK.
Colin's primary impact has however been on the Northern Ireland
motor sport scene, although he has had the occasional foray
to officiate at events in Scotland. In Northern Ireland he
has instigated and assisted in the set up of several Rescue
Crews and Rescue Vehicles, he has trained almost everyone
involved in Rescue in this jurisdiction and is a tireless
advocate of this branch of the sport.
It is fitting that Colin's dedication, effort and perseverance
throughout his life to, and on behalf of motor sport is now
being recognised by the Prince Michael Award of Merit, as
he has recently retired and plans to emigrate to Canada to
live with his family.
On receiving the award, Mr Rossborough said:
"To be honoured in the company of all these important
people is extraordinary for me and I am truly humbled. I never
got into the sport to gain recognition; I've had many years
of fantastic enjoyment and fun and to receive such a prestigious
award is a huge surprise. It will be strange to leave behind
all the great friends I've made in the last 30 years and I
would like to thank everyone for all their support and encouragement
throughout my motor sport career."
Colin Rossborough was nominated for the award by retiring
Council member and former chairman of ANICC, Robert Harkness,
who said:
"Energetic, motivated and tireless are words often used
optimistically in job specifications but in Colin's case they
really do describe his approach to motorsport since I first
met him and he has had a major impact on motor sport activity
in Northern Ireland.
"During my years as Chairman of the Association of Northern
Ireland Car Clubs, where Colin was a delegate, I could count
on two types of input from Colin. At 'Dates Meetings' he gave
constant and frequent reminders to clubs of the limited Rescue
resources that would be available on any given date - and
this was maybe eighteen months in the future. At almost every
'full' meeting Colin managed to find something about Rescue
to bring up under 'Any Other Business' - frequently to achieve
little other than make sure that 'Rescue' was kept to the
fore, and that was his intention.
"Many people could be said to have devoted a lifetime
to motor sport as competitors or organisers. Few people have
done so in what might be termed the ancillary support elements
that generally go pretty well un-noticed and unrecognised.
Colin Rossborough has done exactly this for Training and Rescue
and is a very worthy recipient of the Prince Michael Award
of Merit."
Note: The terms of the Prince Michael Award
of Merit are well defined and strictly adhered to in considering
nominations. The qualification of 'meritorious service' encompasses
the following definitions: distinguished services or significant
contribution to British motor sport; outstanding achieving
in British motor sports; a conspicuous or exemplary act of
bravery or courage or heroism while competing in or officiating
at a British motor sport event. People ineligible to receive
this award are: current members of the Motor Sports Council;
directors and staff of the Royal Automobile Club; directors
and staff of the Motor Sports Association; those who earn
or who have earned their living principally through motor
sports.
The previous winners of the Prince Michael Award
of Merit are:
1991 Jack Romain
1992 Tony Bird
1993 Peter Cooper & Tony Fletcher
1994 John Felix & George Hall
1995 Brian Molyneux
1996 Tom Dooley & Dick Newsum
1997 Alec Rivers-Fletcher & Donald Grieve
1998 Michael Fenwick & Keith Douglas
2000 Bob Rae
2002 Tony Reynolds
2004 Ken Walker
2007 Colin Rossborough
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