Historical Notes on Club Competition Trophies
Many of the club
trophies have been redesignated over
the years for various reasons. The lists
of names above give the winners of the particular
class of competition rather than the names shown
on each trophy.
In particular, the “A”, “B” and “C” Class trophies
have a common linkage in that they were all
purchased by the club in 1913 and stored in the
vaults of Barclays Bank, Altrincham, from 1939 until
1976, when it was discovered that the A Class trophy was
missing, and with it the only record of prior winners.
In consequence, the old B and C Class trophies were promoted,
and the winner of the A Class event now holds what was originally
the B Class trophy, while B Class winners hold the original
C Class trophy.
The trophies still carry the names of their
original holders so that each carries part of the
engraved record of two competitions. For the
sake of historical record, the winners of the Class are
listed on the various winners pages. Inspection of the
trophies will show the curious at which point the transfer
was made.
A Class Club Championship Open
B Class
C Class - The Allen Bowl was
presented to the club as a replacement C Class
trophy in 1979 by Mr. Christopher Hudson (then President,
and member 1973 to date), and drew on his wife’s maiden
name for its title. From all the above it can
be deduced that the names of the C Class winners prior
to 1979 will be found on the trophy now held by winners of
the B Class.
D Class
The E Class cup was presented
to the club in 1991 to allow players of all
abilities to enjoy competitive croquet.
The Silver Box, a silver
cigarette box, was given for handicap play by
Miss N. Ford-Smith in 1930, a member from 1913 to 1967
(the longest serving member). She was elected a
member of the club committee from 1915 to 1949, during which time
she was the secretary of the club from 1919 to 1946.
The Gladys Johnson Cup,
for handicap doubles, was presented to the
club in 1966 by the family of Miss Gladys Johnson as a
memorial after her death, together with a legacy of £40.
Miss Johnson had been a member of the club from 1914
until her death in 1966. It was originally competed
for as a doubles prize during an American Tournament and
it became the club handicap doubles trophy in 1971.
The Short Croquet Tankard was presented
by the club to officially recognise the development of
the small lawn game.
The Fotiadi Novices Silver
Challenge Bowl was given by Mrs. Alexandra
Fotiadi, who was a member from 1939 until her death in 1990.
President of the club from 1972 to 1981, she was for
many years one of the best women players in the country.
Her generosity to the club over the years in donating
cash sums for various projects, provided the springboard
for its re-generation in the late 1970s. The term
“Novices” has changed over the years, ranging as high
as handicap 10, but since the 1990’s covering only newcomers
in their first season.
The Wild Trophies were
given for club competitions in 1989 by
Mr. Colin Wild, who has been a member since 1983.
They were among many won by Mr. Wild in his days as a
competitive car rally and racing driver “before the
war”.
The Faulkener Cup was purchased
for the winner of the Championship of the North of England from
a gift by Mrs. Faulkener in memory of her late husband Ronald (member
1963-78). At his best he had been selected to play in the Surrey
Cup (now the Spencer-Ell trophy) and was the last winner of the old
Northern Championship in 1956 before its revival at Bowdon in 1971.
The Tollemache Plate was
purchased in 1982 for the 'winner' of the plate (3rd place) in the
Northern Championships. Its name commemorates our link with Lord
Tollemache who had been a member from 1920-40. A famous croquet player
in his day, he entertained royalty to croquet at his home in Peckforton
Castle and wrote a substantial treatise on the style and tactics of
the game.
The Pidcock Mallets were made by Prof. Alan
Pidcock (member since 1990), maker of the popular Manor House mallets,
and presented for Handicap Doubles in the Northern Championship
week.
The Millenium Candlesticks were given in
2000/01 by the Honorary Club Secretary Mr. Martin Granger Brown (member
1969-73 and and since 1981) as a trophy for the Northern Open Doubles,
the only Club competition he had ever won!
The Peterson Cup was given
by Mrs. Heather Peterson (1984-97) as a challenge trophy for the
June Advanced weekend.
The Reed Cup was given in
1922 by Mr. and Mrs. H A Reed (members 1914-29) for the Open A Class
singles in the Club's main tournament. Between 1981-90 this
splendid trophy marked the handicap singles at the Northern week
and from 1992 the May handicap weekend.
The Lines Trophies were
given in 2002 by Mrs. Ailsa Lines for the new Club 14-point competitions
inaugurated in that year. A member since 1993 and a past winner
of the CA Ladies' Steel and Barlow Bowls, Mrs. Lines became the highest
ranked UK player in 2002.
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