Murray cruises to valuable prize

Motor sport Awards: For the second successive year Dubliner Eoin Murray was awarded the Young Driver of the Year prize, worth…

Motor sport Awards: For the second successive year Dubliner Eoin Murray was awarded the Young Driver of the Year prize, worth 32,000, and the Dunlop Sexton Trophy at yesterday's Alfa Romeo- sponsored awards for excellence in Irish motorsport function in the Conrad Hotel, Dublin.

Murray competed in the Alfa Romeo European Challenge, scoring two wins and setting two lap records. Runners-up were Emmet Queenan and Paddy Hogan. Eamon McElvaney (Monaghan) won the Billy Coleman award and a support package worth 32,000 for Young Rally Driver of the Year.

McElvaney scored five class wins plus overall high placings in Limerick, Monaghan, Sligo and Mayo. Peter Wilson and Brendan Murphy were runners-up.

Murphy gave his 4,000 prize- money to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin.

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The Barney and David Manley Trophy for outstanding achievement in international motor sport was awarded to Kildare driver John O'Hara, who is in contention to win the Asian Formula Three championship on Sunday in the Philippines.

Alec Poole was presented with the Hall of Fame award. The Dublin-born driver was an outstanding saloon and sports car driver. He won the British Saloon Championship in '69 and was second on the '68 London- Sydney marathon with Paddy Hopkirk, the guest of honour.

AWARDS LIST: Craig Breen (Junior Kart champion); Aaron Coby (Irish Kart champion); Niall Maguire (National Rally champion); Eoin Murray (Young Racing Driver of the Year); Eamon McElvaney (Young Rally Driver of the Year); John O'Hara (International Driver of the Year); Alec Poole (Hall of Fame Award).