At the annual Royal Irish Automobile Club (RIAC) Friends of the Archive Christmas Lunch on 2nd December 2025, there was a surprise announcement that one of the attendees, Paul Robinson, had been awarded the Reynolds Trophy for his contribution to motorsport history. The Reynolds Trophy commemorates the late Dudley Reynolds, who as well as being a distinguished competitor in events such as the Monte Carlo Rally and Circuit of Ireland, later became Chairman of the RIAC. The winner of the Trophy holds the cup (illustrated above) for the year and keeps a commemorative medal in perpetuity (both sides of the medal are also illustrated).
Paul Robinson began his series of books on the motoring history of Northern Ireland in 2023 with Cultra - Motoring with Panache: The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Motor Club Meet and Hill Climbs 1905 to 1911, followed by From Ballybannon Hill to Magilligan Strand, a history of events stages by the Ulster Automobile Sports Club (later the Ulster Automobile Club), The County Down Trophy Races 1934 to 1936 and this year's Craigantlet Hill Climb 1925 to 1947. All of these books have been self-published, supported by advice and financial assistance from the Michael Sedgwick Memorial Trust (MSMT), including Paul's attending the MSMT Self-Publishing Workshop held in September 2023 at the British Motor Museum at Gaydon. In his thanks the author said that none of these books would have been possible without the help of the MSMT.
The MSMT are delighted to have been able to support these books which fully fulfil the Trust's brief to assist the production of books comprising new research on motoring history not available elsewhere, where the books would otherwise not have been published.
