SPORTING TROPHIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 104, 1 April 1926, Page 8

SPORTING TROPHIES.

There are at present on view in the windows of Messrs 0 Connor and Tydeman, in the toquarc, two particularly fine sporting trophies, one being tlio A wap uli i Gold Cup and the other tlio Me V illy tihield.

The former, winch has been manufactured by the firm at the request of the Manawatu Racing Club, is of neat, plain design which enhances rather than detracts from its beauty. (Standing on an ebony base, the cup itself measures 7i inches in height, while, the lip has a spread of nvo inches, the Handles at either side extending a further inches. Made of i«cc. gold, the cup is almost devoid of engraving save the titling which reads: —•Manawatu Racing Club, Awapuni Gold Cup, If miles, W.F.A., Autumn Meeting, 21 April, 1926.” Its value, which is placed at lOOgns., is very evident to even the layman. “Each year, the club presents the winning owner of tile important Gold Cup race with a trophy of this nature and, despite the severity of the design, the Racing Club has made a practico of retaining the one style which has been faitnfuily carried out by the manufacturers in whose window it now rests.

The Me V illy Shield, is, however, a tropiiy of much greater age, having been offered by the donor to the \\ ellington Amateur Atnletic Centre in 19i3 for competition at the annual country clubs’ championship, which will this year be held m Ralmerston North. A largo shield in silver occupies the centre ot tlie wooden base, Having engraved on it a representation of atnletes in action, ■ wniio surrounding the centrepiece are a number of miniature shields, on which the winning clubs of past years have been inscribed. A perusal of the shields discloses that tlie Wairarapa Club has been prominent in the past, the name ot that club figuring tiiereon for the years 1013, 1914, 1916, 1920 and 1922. Other holders have been: 'Wanganui, 1915; Palmerston North Y.M.C.A., 1921; Masterton, 1923, 1924 and 1920. No competition for the trophy was conducted during the war years, IJl<1919. Masterton, the present holders, who have in their ranks New Zealand’s wonder distance runner Rose, is expected to again play a prominent role on, Saturday.