Shannon loves the trails and tribulations of off-road bikes and aims to emulate her dad and Granda.
Off-road motorcycling is in the blood for 19-year-old Shannon Smyth.
Her granda Jim Smyth competed in Trials Motorbikes and passed on his love of the sport to Shannon’s dad Barry, who is an ex-Grade A rider and has represented Ireland in the Trials des Nations.
“My family are the biggest part of my success. Their constant support, encouragement, and motivation push me to achieve my goals, and I would not be where I am today without them.
“I’ve had the privilege of winning the Jimmy Smyth Memorial Cup, a truly special achievement in honour of my Granda Jim. It was a very meaningful moment and one I will always treasure.”
Shannon started out on her motorsport journey when she was only four joining her brother Dylan who was already competing in trials.
“Actually, I was doing Irish dancing at the time, but mum reckoned it was much easier for me to follow the same path as Dylan and then the whole family could be together.
“My Dad is one of my biggest inspirations. He rode when he was younger and achieved many great things in the sport. His experience, passion, and support as my main coach and ‘minder’ have played a huge part in my journey as a rider.
“A funny memory that we can both look back at now and laugh at, is when during a competition at Slieve Croob I attempted a big rock step and attacked it resulting in a crash that sent both myself and my dad flying.
“My Dad ended up doing backwards rolls down the hill and joked, ‘I didn’t know I was a gymnast.’ Thankfully we were both okay after the initial shock.
“Alongside my dad Barry, my mum Laura and brother Dylan also play a huge role helping me develop and improve. They are at the heart of my sporting journey, and their dedication and belief have been the key to everything I’ve achieved so far.
“My number one supporter though
is my one-year-old niece, Autumn. Every weekend, she comes out in her pram to cheer me on, no matter what the weather brings — sunshine, rain, or wind.”
Shannon is now a qualified hairstylist working at Urban Hair Company in Glengormley and balances work with gym training on weekdays and dedicates her weekends to motorbikes.
“My clients and our salon owner Janice are fantastic and know that weekends are taken up with riding bikes but Monday to Friday I’m there to cut hair and look after customers. I’m so thankful for their support and encouragement.”
Shannon mostly trains at Dunmore Off Road Activity Centre in Ballynahinch which extends across 186 acres of challenging terrain. “It’s a mixture of rocks, hills, and waterfalls, and creates the perfect environment to hone my skills and prepare me for competitions. Like my family and my sponsors, the team at Dunmore have also played a big part in my journey, supporting and helping me progress in the sport.”
In 2021 Shannon finished the season securing first place in the Youth B Championship and that was despite suffering a broken collarbone, split lips and a broken nose.
During the 2022/2023 season Shannon achieved further success by finishing 1st in the Irish Championship and 2nd in the Ulster Championship. She was also selected that year to represent Team Ireland at the Trials Des Nations in Spain.
“It was a huge honour and one of the proudest moments of my career. Unfortunately, in May 2023 my dad suffered a heart attack, and I made the decision to stay at home to support him during his recovery which was absolutely the right choice – family comes first.”
At that time Shannon received the Davy McBride Memorial Cup for her achievements competing in Youth A – a very special recognition of her progress in and commitment to the sport.
“In 2024, I was privileged to be interviewed by BBC NI’s Stephen Watson allowing me to share my story and passion for motorcycle trials. I also received a special Hughes Insurance bursary from the Mary Peters Trust and had the wonderful experience of taking part in a photo shoot with Lady Mary and other athletes at the Mary Peters Track.”
Shannon has secured other funding awards from the Mary Peters Trust and says Mary P has truly inspired her to become a professional athlete:
“I always remember Mary’s words, ‘The silver medal is no good to me – it has to be gold or nothing,’ and those words motivate me to always aim higher.
“The Mary Peters Trust and its CEO Gillian Hetherington have provided incredible support and opportunities that have helped me progress in my sporting journey in what is mostly a male-dominated sport. It’s an honour to have my name associated with Mary’s sporting legacy.”
In 2025 Shannon was nominated for ‘Kawasaki Young Rider of the Year’ at the Irish Motorbike Awards and later that same year on her 18th birthday on 26th July 2025 she entered her first British Two-Day Championship and finished 7th in the Women’s Trial 2 category, competing against some of the strongest riders in the class.
In April 2026 Shannon was a finalist in this year’s Sportswomen of the Year category in the high-profile Local Women Sports Awards and celebrated at the awards ceremony in the Europa Hotel with mum Laura.
Looking forward to the future Shannon’s key goals are; to compete in ‘Semi Expert’ in Ireland; to challenge the top men’s riders; to take part in the ‘Scottish Six Days’ and to compete in rounds of the British Championships and the Worlds.
This season has been more challenging than previous years for Shannon as her dad underwent hip replacement surgery.
“As dad understands my riding style best and knows how I perform on the bike, we had to take eight weeks away from competing while he recovered. I used the time positively to build up my confidence and fitness in the gym.
“We have recently returned to competition, getting back on the pegs and competing in club events in the ‘Semi Expert’ grade class where I’m up against mainly male competitors – and I’m loving it.
“I’m excited to see what the 2027 season brings.”
