THE SANDERS CUP

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 90, 11 January 1924, Page 7

THE SANDERS CUP

THE FORTHCOMING CONTEST. During the present month the Australasian championship in the 14ft. one design sailing boats is to be competed for on the Wellington Harbour. This series of racing will bo between the Murihiku (representing Southland), Juno (Otago), Linnet (Lyttelton), Konina (Hawke’s Bay), Peggy (Wellington), Rona, present holder (Auckland). The race is for the muchcoveted Sanders Memorial Cup. . The cup was presented by Messrs. Walker and Hall, of Auckland, and is called tho Sanders Memorial Challenge Cup, being dedicated to the memory of New Zealand’s naval hero, tho late Lieut.Conimander W. E. Sanders, V.C., D. 5.0.. R.N.R. A feature of this trophy—and one that gives character to it, is the message engraved upon the silver panels surrounding tho oak plinth, upon which the cup stands. On the first panel is a message from His Majesty the King, which reads as follows :—

Buckingham Palace, September 13, 1917. ‘lt is a matter of sincere regret to me that the death of LieutenantCommander William E. Sanders, V.C., D. 5.0., R.N.R., deprived me of the pride of personally conferring upon him the Victoria Cross, the grandest of all rewards for valour and devotion to duty.—George R. 1.” On the second panel is a message to yachesmen from His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, who was the Admiral of tho Fleet to which Sanders, V.C., played so gallant a part. Admiral Jellicoe says : 1 “Government House, “Auckland. “He was a fine seaman, and a great leader who imbued his ship’s company with the magnificent spirit of discipline and courageous self-sacrifice which even his defeated enemy testified with admiration and respect. He set an example which will appeal to New Zealand yachtsmen for all time. “(Sgd.) Jollicoe, “Admiral of the Fleet.” On the third panel is a message from the Lords of the Admiralty, in which Their Lordships say: “The Admiralty, “London.

“The Prize was sunk on August 14 in the Atlantic, on a dark and stormy night, and her gallant Commander, Lieutenant-Commander W. E. Saunders, who in a short five months had been awarded the V.C. and the D.S.O. in command of her, went down beneath Ths Atlantic wave, leaving his name to be inscribed imperishablv on the same Roll of NavalJHistory where stand the names of Blake, Nelson, and Riou. “From the Lords of the Admiralty.” TROPHY FOR OTAGO REPRESENTATIVE. Br Telegraph—Press Association Dunedin, January 10. A. silver cup presented by Mr. C. W. Sundstrum as a permanent record of Otago’s representative 14-footers in the Sanders Cup contests was handed to Mr. F. B. Francis and tho crew of the June at a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association. Tho cup wil' be held by tho skipper of tho June for the next twelve months, and engraved with the name of tho boat and the crew which represent Otago each year.