We are thrilled to congratulate an outstanding South Australian official, Trish Channell, on her appointment to the Motorcycling Australia National Officials Committee! If you’ve spent any time in the sport, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Trish or witnessed her exceptional work. Trust us when we say she has done it all—from officiating SA Championships to working at national events like the ASBK, and even travelling overseas to follow her passion as a regular flag marshal in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK).
The National Officials Committee plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of the National Officials Accreditation Scheme. It provides expert guidance and professional advice on operational, structural, accreditation, assessment, and appointment matters, fostering a robust and effective framework for officials. Additionally, the committee mediates disputes within this framework, promoting fairness and consistency across all levels of officiating.
Speaking about her journey as an official and the chance to be part of the National Officials Committee, Trish said “Being selected as a member of the National Officials Committee has been an honour as well as a steep learning curve! Having participated for many years across numerous disciplines (Road Racing, MX, SX, Speedway and MiniGP) at local, state, national and international events I see this role as an opportunity to lift the profiles and skills of all officials and to let them know that anything is achievable.
My introduction to marshalling began in 2002 as a flag marshal at Go-Karts and local road racing events before progressing to waving flags at Phillip Island for WSBK and MotoGP. An opportunity arose to be a Starter at Mallala (and subsequently Mac Park, Tailem Bend and more recently, Gillman for Junior Speedway) which was to be a role I have undertaken for the past 20 years. I was also fortunate enough to be involved at a national level for what was then the Swann Superbikes/Formula Extreme series working on the grid. From those beginnings, I gained the relevant experience to move into the Assistant Pit Lane Manager position for WSBK and MotoGP events at Phillip Island, as well as ASBK. From there followed opportunities to work internationally – MotoGP in Austin (twice), Assen (twice) and WSBK in Misano, as well as MotoAmerica in Atlanta and several events for MiniGP in Adelaide, Italy, and Melbourne respectively. During the intervening time, I have also gained accreditation as a Starter, Referee, Clerk of Course and Track Inspector.
The path to work locally, nationally and internationally is open to anyone who has the passion to follow their dreams. From a national perspective, one of the first responsibilities of the committee is to enable all officials to have access to training resources and to ensure that officials consequently have the skills and experience to make confident decisions.”
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With her vast experience and dedication to the sport, Trish is the perfect fit for this esteemed committee. Her appointment is a testament to her hard work and passion, and we’re confident she will bring invaluable expertise to the role. Congratulations, Trish!
Interested in becoming an official in the sport of motorcycling? Visit the Motorcycling SA Officials Page for more information and details about upcoming seminars.
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