Trophy Cup, Wellington Anniversary Day Regatta (Benson Cup)

Maker
Edward Barnard & Sons
Production date
1858
 Description
Sterling silver trophy cup, Wellington Anniversary Day Regatta, January 1869.
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Object Detail

Maker
Production place
London/England
Collecting unit
Decorative Arts
Production role
Silversmith/goldsmith/Maker
Provenance details
Captain Benson donated the cup (and prize money) for the winner of a yacht race for boats under 15 tons, at the Wellington Anniversary Day Regatta in January 1869. It was won by the Emily Clark, owned by John Plimmer of Wellington. The following year, the cup was re-presented for the same race, being easily won (with a length of more than 2 miles ahead of the previous year’s winner Emily Clark) by the Day Brothers of Sumner in Red Jacket.
These are significant examples of English and very probably NZ silver sporting trophies. The Nelson Cup is a spectacular example of high Victorian design by one of the foremost London gold and silversmith firms; further research is required to establish the maker of the 1868 Wellington Anniversary Regatta, but it is very likely to be a local (Wellington silversmith, previously unrecorded). Additionally (Peoples of Waitaha/Canterbury) they represent a link with Canterbury’s early yachting history and one of its most famous yachts – Red Jacket was built by the Day Brothers (Joseph and Alfred) at Sumner ca 1865-8 as an open boat in clinker with a square stern, but was soon altered with the addition of a deck and an elliptical stern as shown in the photo. Red Jacket was 25 feet long overall, was 22 feet on the waterline, had a 6 foot beam and drew 4’ 9 inches. “She was fitted with a sliding lead weight which was hauled to windward by block and tackle…She was brought to Wellington in 1874 by a Mr Tabuteau and, after going ashore at Kaiwarra, in 1876, was bought and refurbished by George Martin, Will Renner and Fred Gannaway…Red Jacket was broken up in the ‘90s” (“The Pet”, Harold Kidd, 1991, Bearings, Vol 3, No. 4, pp. 9-10). Joseph Day was a very well-known early Canterbury identity, being the Pilot at Sumner for many years.
Measurements
Measurement (HxWxD): whole: 230 x 190 x 100mm
Associated person
Associated person notes


as prize
in original race 1869
Associated event
Wellington Anniversary Day Regatta
Associated event notes
1870
Associated notes
In January 1869 Captain Benson of Wellington donated prize money and this trophy for the winner of a yacht race “for boats under 15 tons”. It was won by "Emily Clark", owned by John Plimmer of Wellington. The following year, Plimmer re-presented the cup for the same event. "Red Jacket" won the event easily, coming in more than three kilometres ahead of "Emily Clark" which had been entered for a second time. "Red Jacket" was built by the Day Brothers (Joseph and Alfred) at Sumner ca 1865-8 as an open boat in clinker with a square stern, but was soon altered with the addition of a deck and an elliptical stern as shown in the photo. "Red Jacket" was 25 feet long overall, was 22 feet on the waterline, had a 6 foot beam and drew 4’ 9 inches. “She was fitted with a sliding lead weight which was hauled to windward by block and tackle…She was brought to Wellington in 1874 by a Mr Tabuteau and, after going ashore at Kaiwarra, in 1876, was bought and refurbished by George Martin, Will Renner and Fred Gannaway…Red Jacket was broken up in the ‘90s” (“The Pet”, Harold Kidd, 1991, Bearings, Vol 3, No. 4, pp. 9-10). Joseph Day was a very well-known early Canterbury identity, being the Pilot at Sumner for many years.
Current rights
Creative Commons - CC BY-NC
Current rights code
Creative Commons - CC BY-NC
View License Details
Other Id
568
10514
Accession number
2005.187.3
Marks and Inscriptions
Marks/Inscriptions: “Presented by Captain Benson. Won by Cutter “Emily Clark” 1869. Presented by the owners of “Emily Clark”. Won by Cutter Red Jacket 1870.”; Type of mark: Inscription; Method: Engraved
Marks/Inscriptions: Hallmarks for Edward Barnard & Sons, London; Type of mark: Hallmarks; Method: Stamped

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