Bittersweet romance behind trophies
The 145-year-old trophy of a South Canterbury athletics champion has found its way back to Timaru in what is thought to be the final chapter in a love story without a happy ending.
The trophy, dating back to 1872, is one in a lineup of rare original trophies, which include a pair of candlesticks, an inkwell and an elephant tusk cup, handed back to the South Canterbury Amateur Athletics Club, which was established in 1871.
The trophies have been donated by Opotiki man John English.
The 91-year-old decided the best place for them was Timaru, after inheriting them from his grandmother. The trophies were won by Englishman Pat Morrison, who competed with plenty of success in both South Canterbury and national athletics.
English believes his grandmother was likely engaged to Morrison but said the pair never married. Instead, Morrison left for Australia to seek his fortune and was never heard of again, leaving the impressive collection behind.
English contacted the club through Jenny Ryan, who was president of the club at the time, making the offer.
The collection was then picked up by Jan Lord, when she was in Hamilton for the national athletic championships last month.
English remembered around 50 trophies being on display at his grandmother’s house but said they had been whittled away over time, Lord said.
‘‘He suggested some may have been sold off when they needed money but fortunately ours were still there.’’
Ryan said the club was delighted to receive them.
‘‘There is such a variety of pieces, from an inkwell through to what we believe is an elephant’s tusk.’’
Lord said the club already had a couple of trophies dating back to the early years of the club, which was the first to be formed in New Zealand.
Two of the trophies were still presented today; the Westenra Cup (for the senior 100m champion) and the ‘Hammer Throwers’ Cup’.
The most interesting trophy returned was the Godby’s Challenge Cup, (the tusk), first awarded in 1882 and won by Morrison in 1888, 1889 and 1890.
Lord understood the three victories meant Morrison would have been allowed to keep the cup.
The talented Morrison also won New Zealand titles in the half mile and two mile races in 1887 and 1888.
Two years later he added the mile and three mile titles, as well as Australasian titles over the same distance, as part of the New Zealand team which travelled to New South Wales.