Club Tournament Trophies

Over the hundred and something years of its life, the Sussex County Croquet Club has had an impressive collection of trophies for their competition programme.  Many have long since been disposed of.  The following is a fairly complete list of trophies and their history. Any information on winners has been taken from The History of Croquet, [Col.] D. M. C. Prichard, London: Cassell, 1981 (now out of print) or separate research by Ray Hall, whose input is gratefully acknowledged..

This is work in progress.  If anyone has details to add please contact the Webmaster.

Photos by John Low or Ray Hall

The Abbey Challenge Cup Abbey_Challenge_temp.jpg Open, AC class singles advanced play, Summer tournament, presented in 1927 by WH Abbey.
The Bush Cup 0001_Bush_Cup.png AC Club competition, presented in 1988 by Mrs Mary Bush
The Chairman's CupChairmansCup.jpg GC club competition. Presented in 2017 by Mrs Chrissy Isaacs
The Chandler ShieldChandlerShield-sml.jpg Awarded annually to the Most Improved Player in Association Croquet
The Daldy Cup (Internal Competition) 0003_Daldy_Internal.png AC Club competition. Originally presented in 1927 by Rev A F Whillan, it was won outright in 1936 by Miss M J Daldy and re-presented by her to the Club.
The Daldy Cup (Open Competition) 0002_Daldyopen.png Open, AC C class singles advanced play, Summer tournament.Originally for the CA All England Handicap, won by Miss Daldy in 1935 and presented to the Club in 1976
The Dawson Challenge CupDawsonChallengeCup.png Presented in August 1909 by Mrs RA Dawson it was last won in 1925 or 26 and was in the possession of Mr Andy Lambert who kindly donated it back to the Club. It is now used for the GC Supervets club competition.

The D'Esterre Rose BowlDesterreBowl1.jpg

AC Club competition, presented by Mrs CR D'Esterre in 1936 The D'Esterre Bowl, hallmarked London 1935 :Presented by Mrs C R D'Esterre 1936

Charles Robert D'Esterre was born in London about 1876 but initially known as Charles Roberts: he probably changed his name after an inheritance but this has not surfaced at present. He trained as an engineer and, in 1902, applied for two patents with Charles Rolls for engine improvements. However, his real interest was astronomy, particularly astronomical photography and he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1895. After his parents died he gave up engineering, and bought Tatsfield Cottage, Tatsfield, Surrey. He fitted up a major observatory about 1915 at which point he was on the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society. The War interrupted this work and he served with the Royal Army Service Corps, and later in Cologne with the army of occupation, but did not attain to high rank. When he returned to Surrey his sight had deteriorated and he dismantled the observatory and disposed of the equipment.

In 1905 he married Katherine Cecilia Doyle, in Wandsworth. She was born in Hertfordshire in 1879, the only daughter of Capt B W Doyle, sometime British consul in Brazil. Initially they lived in Tatsfield Cottage, but after Charles had given up astronomy they moved to the Brighton & Hove area and are recorded there by 1929.

Perhaps both joined SCCC (more research needed) since there seems no other reason for donating a hallmarked trophy. They did not appear in the 1939 census so may have been abroad at the time. Charles died in Devon in 1943 at Ottery St Mary after a short illness, at which point Katherine was noted as ?of Montpelier Hotel, Budleigh Salterton?. Katherine died in Hove in 1967. It is notable that the trophy was competed throughout the 1939-46 period. (Thanks to Ray and Irene Hall for research)

The Douglas Jones Cup Douglas_Jones_Cup.png

Presented in 1956 by Lady Douglas-Jones in memory of her husband. In 2008 was briefly used as a trophy (runner-up) in the Moore Cup competition. Now used for C level GC tournament.

Crawford Douglas Douglas-Jones was born 4 November 1874, the eldest surviving son of Col Douglas Forde Douglas-Jones, RA. He entered the Colonial Service in 1898 in what was then Rhodesia, where he served until 1924. He then moved to British Honduras as Colonial Secretary and then similarly to British Guiana in 1926, retiring from the Colonial Service in 1935. He was knighted in the 1934 birthday honours.

He had married Maud Mary Johnson in 1905. After returning from South America they lived in Hindhead and, later, in Hurstpierpoint. Who's Who listed his main recreation as croquet, from which it seems likely that he had been a member of SCCC – research TBD. In their later years they were in Halifax where Sir Crawford died in March 1956, and Lady Maud in 1967.

(research by Ray Hall)

The Franc Cup Franc_Cup.png

Originally an AC competition trophy and then a ladies club competition trophy, it was presented in 1927 by Mrs H Franc. Generally known as Mrs H Franc, Jessie Dobson Crouchley was born? ? in 1876.

After she married Henry Franc, in Altrincham in 1896, they lived in Didsbury, which had a sports club where she learned to play croquet. Henry, 12 years older, was a businessman and when he died in Sidmouth in 1925 his will shared a large sum between his widow and his business affairs.

Mrs Franc competed in tournaments, notably winning the Ladies Field Cup, an invitation event, in 1922 and 1923 . She was selected for the antipodean tour team of 1927 but was not well enough to travel. She had moved from Manchester and though reported to have been a formidable and dashing player down to the outbreak of war, her health limited her tournament appearances. She was staying in Worthing on the night of the 1939 census so we don't know when she moved to Kings Gardens, Hove, though she presumably joined SCCC at that time. This may have been as early as 1920 when she presented the Southwick Cup?  to the Club, to be awarded for a Ladies event. When it was part of the Autumn tournament in 1949 it was won by Miss Elphinstone-Stone, who repeated the feat in 1952 winning the final against Mrs Franc herself.

What we now know as the Franc Cup was presented in 1927 and has been used for a variety of competitions as evidenced by the list of winners on our website. During the 1950s Mrs Franc was the Club's most generous benefactor: she provided funds for the sliding windows for the pavilion in 1955, canteen redecoration and a new bar counter in 1956 and the ladies' dressing room decoration in 1957. She was a Trustee of the Club until her death in July 1958 when a legacy of £250 provided the most elegant of enclosed shelters near court 5 giving views all around the ground. Sadly the 1987 storm demolished it and also the unique weathervane on its roof which depicted Maurice Reckitt in action. Sources: genealogy sites; Croquet 1958; Bryan Teague History on Club website (Thanks to Ray Hall for the research and text)

The Freddy Reynold One Ball Cup 0004_Freddy_Reynold_Cup.png Club competition presented in 1995 by past Club Chairman Mr F Reynold KC
The Fryer Challenge Cup 0005_Fryer_Cup.png Club AC competition, presented in 1937 by Mrs Jar Fryer
The Golf Croquet Cup Club GC competition, presented in 1996 by Mrs Enid Ross
The Golf Croquet Diana Brothers Drawn Pairs Cup Club GC competition
The Golf Croquet Doubles 0006_GC_Doubles.png Club GC competition
The Golf Croquet Improvers Trophy GC_Improvers_Trophy.png Club GC competition
The Hamilton Memorial Trophy Hamilton_trophy_temp.jpg For Sussex Open Golf Croquet Championship, presented in 2009 by Mark Hamilton in memory of his mother.
The Hazel Parker Salver Parker_0559.jpg (photo: Bruce Carr)

Club AC competition.

This silver trophy is hallmarked 1929, inscribed on the reverse as given to H C Davey in 1936; it was given to the club in 1988 by Miss Hazel Parker; winners' names are inscribed on the obverse. Henry Charles Davey was the dapper figure in the trademark trilby hat, with feather, depicted in the Crowther-Smith caricature which hangs in canteen. He was born in Dalston, London in 1876, and followed his father into stockbroking. There is no immediate record of a military career. He started croquet in 1903 and became club secretary successively of Epsom, Lewes and finally SCCC.

 Davey started managing tournaments and developed a detailed knowledge of the laws which he deployed on the CA council from 1922 to 1948. After illness and surgery he became our Vice-President and resumed playing with some success. There is more in Bryan Teague's history of the club: see the history section of the website.

He probably took up residence in Hove on moving to SCCC in 1930 at that time. When he died in 1959 in his flat on Third Avenue Hove, his executors were Coutts Bank and Hazel Doreen Parker, who were required to consult his lawyers, Adams of Lewes and Gray's Inn London. Five legacies totalled £2250 plus £6,000 direct to Hazel Parker with all his personal chattels, and the whole of the substantial remainder went to protective trusts for the benefit of Hazel Parker during her life.

Hazel Doreen Parker was born in 1898 in Cuckfield and by 1939 was living in Hove, and until 1959 occupied a variety of addresses in Hove. She is recorded as playing for Southwick against Compton and, in match reports at Southwick, with a handicap of 5½, and won the D'Esterre cup in 1961. Her solicitor was Adams of Lewes; when her will was drawn in 1986 she was living at 54 St Julian's Lane, Kingston, close to the Club. She left small legacies to two nieces and her residuary legatee was a niece in Seaford. She died in February 1989 in a nursing home in Seaford and may have been contemplating disposal of chattels when she donated the salver in 1988. (Research and text: Ray Hall)

The High Bisque SalverHighBisqueTrophy-sml.jpg Open, AC beginners competition, presented by Miss Patricia Shine
The Howard Austin Cups HowardAustinCups-sml.jpg Open, AC handicap doubles, presented by W Howard Austin One cup now used for GC B level summer competition
The Maurice Reckitt Bowl Reckitt_trophy_temp.jpg Open, AC advanced B class, presented by MB Reckitt in 1934
The Millenium Shield Millenium_Trophy.png Club AC competition
The Monteith Challenge Bowl 0007_Monteith_Bowl.png Open, AC handicap (then a GC competition in 2022 and now out of use), presented in 1931 by Mr & Mrs GC Braithwaite.
The Moore Cup Moore_Cup.png

Club AC competition. Previously this was the Bryan Challenge Cup (1904) and, as was the custom at the time, was won outright in 1927 by Mis EDB Simeon who then re-presented it as the Simeon Challenge Cup. It was again won outright in 1975 by W E Moore and re-presented by him to the Club.

Our Archivist Ray Hall comments:

Presented in 1904 as a Challenge Cup, by Miss Bryan - presumably Mona Violet Bryan. This reveals one of the few errors in the very readable history by John Eardley Simpson. Though she was aged 19 at the time, her father (Major George Bryan, d. 1910) was probably a member and the purchaser of this splendid trophy; at the very least he is listed as playing in the 1906 tournament. Despite an outstanding career in the 1920s which included winning the equivalent of the President's Cup in 1924, 25 &28,  Mona Bryan won this cup only in 1924 & 28. Between those dates her contemporary, Ella Simeon, won three times, 1925-27, and claimed the privilege of renaming as the Simeon Cup.  

The next triple winner, in 1947-9, was Mrs GFH Elvey. She was the wife of the CA chairman, Handel Elvey and, presumably, not a member of SCCC. The next outright  winner was Leslie Kirk-Greene who dominated tournaments at Southwick and Compton but refused many invitations to play in the President's Cup. He won the Simeon Cup in consecutive years 1952-6; 1958-60; and 1962-5 without claiming the Cup. The last club member to win, in the consecutive years 1973, 4, 5,  was Bill (W E) Moore who presented it as a Perpetual Cup.

The New Challenge Cup 0009_New_Challenge_Cup.png Club AC competition, presented in 1987 by Mrs Hyacinth Coombs
The Patricia Shine Salvers shine_Salver_RFH06548.png Club AC doubles competition
The QuaichQuaich.png Club competition Presented to the Club in 2001 by Bill Arliss for golf croquet singles competition.
The W.G.B. Scott Memorial Cup Open, AC advanced B/C class, presented in 1975 by Isobel Scott
The Southwick Cup Previously known as the Franc Cup, of which the Club has a second trophy by the same name. Now used for C level GC club competition.
The Southwick Open Salver Southwick_Salver.jpg Open AC competition. Purchased in 1982, partly with funds raised by selling Mrs Dives' inkstand (see above)
The Sussex Vase Sussex_Vase.png Presented by W Howard Austin in 1977. Originally a Ladies open AC trophy for higher handicaps. Defunct from 2003 to 2016. Then awarded as the Challenge Cup for Golf Croquet in the May open tournament.1
The Sussex Gold Challenge Cup 0010_Sussex_Gold_Cup.png Club AC competition, presented by ER Harrison in 1922. The Club's most valuable trophy.
The following trophies are of historical interest but no longer held by the Club or no longer in use
The Abbey Salvers Defunct since 1983 Presented by Capt JR Abbey.
The Bryan Challenge Cup Now the Moore Cup. Presented in 1904.
The Castell Soda Syphons Soda_Syphons.png Open, AC alternate strokes doubles competition, donated in 2008 by Paul Castell for this tournament. In 2017, as the open ASD tournament was no longer running, the trophies were used for a local ASD day open event.
The Davies And Dives Prizes Defunct since 1939.Silver Inkstand presented in 1927 by Miss Dives & Silver Bowl presented by Miss Davies.
The Fox Cup Defunct since 1938.Presented by Mrs WA Fox
The Hansard Challenge Trophy Defunct since 1939
The Harvey's Trophy Defunct since 2004,Presented by Harvey's and donated to the Club by Fernando de Anserena
The Jellicorse Challenge Cup Jellicorse_Cup.png Presented in 1926 by Major H Jellicorse. Formerly an AC trophy, then defunct from 2002 to 2016. Then awarded for the Golf Croquet level play Summer Tournament until 2021. Currently out of use.
The John Solomon Cup Solomon_cup_temp.jpg Open, AC advanced A class, used for the Autumn Weekend Tournament until its demise. Now out of use.
The King Challenge Cup Defunct since 2000
The Longden Cup Defunct since 1983,Presented in 1920 by Miss Maud Longden
The Martletts Shield Defunct since 2000
The Moore Cup Runner Up Now defunct, was for most of its life the Douglas Jones Cup.
The Naylor Cup Defunct since 1975, Very short-lived cup, presented in 1973 by Mrs WA Naylor
The Ron Whetstone Cup Ron_Whetstone_Cup.png Defunct since 1999 Presented in 1976 by Ron Whetstone.In 1984 an additional cup, a replica of the original cup, was bought for doubles.
The Ross Cup Ross_base.png Defunct since 1947.Presented in 1935 by Mrs Ross' daughter, curiously the Club has retained the stand but not, it seems, the cup!
The Simeon Challenge Cup Was Bryan Challenge Cup; now Moore Cup
The Sussex County Challenge Cup Defunct since 1938, one of the oldest club cups, being first contested in 1900.
The Sussex Salver Sussex Salver.png Defunct since 2004
The Teasdale Salver Defunct since 1939, Another short-lived trophy it was presented in 1936 by Mrs RK Teasdale
The Williams Challenge Cup Defunct since 1939. Appears only to have been contested in 1939


Last update : 17/11/2023 09:38
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