The TT Supporters’ Club is delighted to announce that Julie Canipa is the recipient of the Susan Jenness Trophy for 2018.

Succeeding Estelle Leblond and Melanie Farnier – hard acts to follow – Julie receives this prestigious award for her consistent high-speed performances around the Mountain Course as passenger to Greg Lambert. Now approaching lap speeds of 110mph, the pair set off as one of the highest starters after the seeded crews in the 2018 races to finish in 10th position on their Honda GLR at an average of 107.368mph in the first race. Sadly, mechanical gremlins beset the pair in the second outing for the class.

Julie, a resident of Port Soderick, just south of Douglas on the Isle of Man, was a late starter to the sport of sidecar racing… in fact she was one of the nominees for the 2017 Veteran Sportsperson of the Year on the island. Commencing her TT career alongside driver, Doug Chandler in 2015, securing a 37th position, she teamed up with Greg Lambert in 2017, a year which rendered her best IoM finish, that of 8th at average race speed in excess of 108mph. Julie’s CV is ever expanding as she is the fastest female passenger around the twisty Oliver’s Mount circuit, has, along with Greg, had podium success at the pre-TT Classic and has raced competitively in New Zealand.

The Susan Jenness Trophy is presented to, in the eyes of the TTSC Executive Committee, the female competitor considered to have made the most meritorious performance at that year’s TT. The trophy commemorates club member, Susan Jenness who lost her life some years ago whilst marshalling an off-road event in the UK

So…congratulations to Julie who will be formally presented with the trophy, hopefully by Susan’s husband, Mick, in a ceremony, covered live by Radio TT at the Grandstand during this year’s TT Festival.

Also ‘up for grabs’ at this year’s event will be the TT Supporter’s Club Trophy presented to the rider having the best overall performance across the two Supersport races. Dean Harrison is currently in possession of the coveted trophy – a silver tray on its plinth – after securing a win on his Kawasaki ZX-6R in the second race for this class last year, following on from his second position behind Michael Dunlop in the first. As to who will be awarded the trophy this year is anyone’s guess – Harrison, Dunlop, Hickman, Hutchinson, Anstey, Hillier, Cummins…

It is not just the ‘front liners’ who will benefit from the efforts of the TT Supporters’ Club this year, as all competitors will be handed a ‘cash gift’ as a contribution to their out of pocket expenses when they sign-on for this year’s meeting. Fans can find out more information about the TTSC, an organisation which has assisted competitors since its inception in the early 1970s, by visiting the website:- http://www.ttsupporters.com or by following us on twitter.

Graham Bean

Photographs = Julie Canipa, along with driver Greg Lambert, in action at last year’s TT.