History of our Trophy Cups

​The Provenance of Cups, Shields and Trophies
There are currently well over twenty trophies competed for each season. These can be broadly split into six categories: men, ladies, mixed/open, inter-club, in-house team and short- mat competitions.
There have been two hotspots in trophy history. First, during the Second World War, four cups were presented in as many years to stimulate competitive bowling when there were no County competitions and fewer matches against other clubs. Secondly, on the formation of the ladies section, four cups were presented in 1966 for the first year of official competitions for the ladies.

Men

• Catling Cup

Presented by G. W Catling in 1921 to be awarded to the winner of the men’s singles championship, it was originally known as the challenge cup. George Carling joined the Committee at the second meeting of the Club in March 1912 and thereafter often acted as chairman. He was a butcher and provisions dealer operating from 63 High Street. He died in 1926 aged 59.

• Rose Cup

Presented by F. Rose in 1941 to be awarded to the winner of the men’s handicap competition which had been up and running since 1930. Not a lot is now known about Mr Rose. He was a vice- president of the Club from 1942 to 1945 and provided a number of prizes for competitions during the war years. It was reported in 1946 that he had left the district.

• Shackman Cup

Presented by A. Shackman in 1942 and played for as a (drawn) Club pairs competition from 1944- 1962. A pairs competition dated from 1929 but before 1944 there was no cup. Thereafter it was changed to a Novices singles competition to be played for by those who have not previously won a singles competition. Albert Shackman was a member of the family business D. Shackman + Sons which made rings, fine jewellery and measuring instruments. The business moved to Chesham in 1940 and operated from premises in Waterside from 1943 until it closed in 1981.

• Bert Dunton Memorial Cup

Presented by the Dunton family in 1981 and competed for as a two wood singles competition over 21 ends. Bert Dunton died in 1980 aged 70 having been a member of the Club for over 30 years. He had spent his working life in the production of Chesham bricks at sites in Bellingdon, Cholesbury and Ley Hill.

• King Cup

Presented by S. King in 1943 to stimulate competitive bowling at a time when there were no county competitions and matches against other clubs were restricted. Information about Mr King cannot now be traced. The Club could not immediately find a permanent use for this cup and it was not until the 1946 season that it was dedicated to the men’s triples competition. The winners invariably represent the Club in the LSC triples competition the following season.

• Championship Pairs Cup

The competition was first played for in 1944 following the donation of cup(s) by Club members Askew and Lucas with each competitor choosing his partner. It was changed to drawn pairs in 1988 but reverted to ‘championship’ pairs in 1996. The winners represent the Club in the LSC Pairs competition the following season.
 
Ladies

• The Higgs Cup

Presented by R. C. Higgs in 1966, the first year of official competitions for the ladies to be awarded to the ladies singles champion in a game up to 21 shots. Ron Higgs joined in the Club in April 1946 and became an English Indoor International in 1965 and Outdoor International in 1966.

• The Sparks Cup

Presented by Tom Sparks in 1966 to be awarded to the winners of the ladies drawn pairs competition each game to consist of 21 ends. Tom Sparks was the husband of Phil Sparks who was chairwoman of the ladies section between 1967 and 1972 and ladies captain in 1970 and 1971.

• The Beckley Cup

Presented in 1966 by Mr and Mrs Alick Beckley to be awarded to the winner of the ladies two wood competition, each game to consist of 21 ends.

• The Tilbury Cup

Presented by Mr and Mrs Tilbury in 1966, on their leaving the Club in 1966 to move to Redhill. It was intended to be played for as a novices or handicap competition however as the rules only permitted three ladies competitions at the time, the cup became a trophy for the runner- up in the ladies singles competition for the Higgs Cup.

• The Wendy trophy

Presented to the Club in 1981 by Mr and Mrs S. Clamp for competition by nominated pairs, but changed first to a singles competition (best of three sets in 1985 and with effect from the 1997 season to a ladies handicap competition. The trophy was named after the donors’ granddaughter.

• Maisie Sawyer Trophy

A women’s drawn triples competition where each played uses only two woods over 18 ends. Maisie who died in 1990 had been a prominent member of the ladies section since its formation. The competition dates from 1991 and was presented by her husband Maurice Sawyer in her memory. In the 1970s and 1980s Maurice and Maisie were respective treasurers of the men's and ladies section.
 
Mixed/ Open

• The David Sills Trophy

Presented by the then Club President to commemorate the formation of the mixed Club in 2000, to be awarded to the winner of the match between the men’s champion and the ladies’ champion.

• Cyril Perkins Veterans Cup

Presented in 1994 by a long standing member who had been a fervent supporter of “vets” bowls, soon after becoming a veteran himself. The format is a singles competition now open to all members who have reached the age of 65 by 30th April in the year of competition. Games must normally be played on weekday afternoons after 1st July.

• Neems Silver Fern Cup

A singles competition restricted to members with playing experience of five years or less. It was presented by Harley and Marlene Neems in 2008 prior to their return to New Zealand after five years at the Club. The Neems returned to the UK a year later for another three year spell.

• John Coles Cup

Presented by Mrs Coles in memory of her husband John in 1973. It was originally a two wood -15up- singles competition but in 1976 became a normal first to 21 singles competition at the request of Mrs Coles. The format was again changed in 1988 to the best of three sets –seven shots to win a set, with the final the best of five sets. It became a mixed competition in 2001.

• Town Cup

Formerly known as the Chesham Bowls Singles Challenge Cup, it was presented in 1932 by W. J. Mash. He joined the Club in 1926 and was a local farmer and market gardener. The cup was to be competed for by bowlers of all of the Chesham clubs. It has been known as the Town Cup since 1939. Over the years it has had a chequered history. It started life as a men’s singles competition, but in 1992 was changed to a mixed fours competition and in 1999 to an open pairs competition. The only stipulation is that the final shall be played on the Club’s green on finals day. Each time the format has changed the consent of the Mash family has been obtained.

• Pearce Cup

Presented by Mrs and Mrs Frank Pearce in 1967 to be awarded to the winners of a mixed pairs competition. Mrs Dorrie Pearce was the first secretary of the ladies section between 1965 and 1968 and Frank Pearce had been a member of the Club for a number of years.

• John Queripel Cup

John Queripel joined the Club at the end of the 1988 season and died in July 1993. He packed a lot of bowling into that time and also became assistant secretary. In 1994, in his memory, his wife Jean presented the John Queripel Cup which was played for annually against his former club Huntingdon, over two legs, an outdoor match at Chesham and an indoor match at Huntingdon until 2001. Since 2002, the cup has been awarded to the winners of the annual 3- 2- 1 tournament held on August bank holiday Monday, a competition which John had been instrumental in setting up in 1992.

Inter- club

• Tosh Clarke Cup: Chesham vs. Herts BC

Presented by W. A. Clarke in 1948 to foster interest in the annual match between the two clubs. According to his arbituary W. A. (Tosh) Clarke was one of Chesham’s most colourful post- war characters who latterly lived in Chartridge Lane. He had joined the army at the age of 15, when already six feet tall. He later became a star soccer player, dairyman, butcher and bus driver. He joined the Club in 1945 and was captain three times, sadly dying in office in 1959 aged 60 years. For some years the cup was decided over one fixture, but is currently contested by six rinks of men based on the aggregate of home and away legs.
Present score: Exact score unknown but Herts believed to be ahead.

• Chesham Challenge Cup: Chesham vs. Marlow BC

Presented by H. Askew in 1958. Harry Askew had been a member of the Club since 1935 and was the proprietor of the Carlton Press. The cup recognised the keen rivalry between two of the strongest clubs in the 1950s. It was originally played over four rinks, home and away, but is now played over two legs of six mixed rinks. 
Present score: Best estimate Marlow ahead by six wins.

• Jubilee Cup: Chesham vs. Princes Risborough

Presented by C. H. Heistercamp in 1962 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Club. It was originally played as a fours competition between Chesham rinks and rinks from six other clubs, with the individual rink with the best score taking the Cup. In 1977, at Mr Heistercamp’s suggestion, it was changed to the aggregate winners of the two six rink men’s fixtures with Princes Risborough.
Present score: Best estimate Princes Risborough ahead by 21 to 14 wins.

• Benevolent Cup: Chesham vs. High Wycombe BC

Originally presented by C. H. Heistercamp in 1955 and competed for on the Club’s Benevolent Fund day as an American Tournament Singles competition by Club members and players from neighbouring clubs. By the 1980s this competition had slipped into disuse but from 1990 the Cup was resurrected as a home and away fixture with High Wycombe (6 rinks men).
Present score: Probably 11 wins each.
 
In- house team

• Ladmen Trophy/Cup

The annual Gents vs. Ladies match has been a regular feature in the fixture list for over 20 years. A trophy donated for this match in 1993 by the then ladies’ and men’s captains, Shirley Gardiner and Randell Clement, was subsequently named “THE LADMEN CUP”.
Present score: Men 16 Ladies 3 wins.

• John Rees Memorial Trophy

The annual end of season Captain vs. President match, played usually across 8 or 9 rinks was started in 1967 superseding the Old’uns versus the Young’uns match. In May 1987, Captain Ken Kenny disclosed that shortly before the death of member John Rees that month, he had passed to Ken a sum of money for personal expenses during the 75th Anniversary year. Ken decided that the money would best be used to purchase a trophy known as the John Rees Memorial Trophy to be played for annually at the Captain vs. President match.
Present Score: Captain 11 President 14 wins.

Short- mat

• Drawn pairs Cup

The cup was originally acquired as a replacement for the Pearce cup (see above), when the latter was mislaid. After the Pearce cup was traced, the replacement was dedicated the short- mat drawn pairs in 2008 to encourage short- mat play in the revamped pavilion.

• Melcross Cup

Presented for the 2009/10 short- mat season by Club members Bernard and Beryl Meldrum to be awarded to the winner of the open singles competition.