By 1926 the Burnham Week Regatta was so well regarded by the Town Council that it was decided to present an imposing silver cup, the cost of which was raised by public subscription. The first winner in 1927 was Neith, owned by Sidney Houghton and the trophy has been presented every year since then with the exception of the Second World War years.
The Idea is Floated...
At a meeting of the Burnham-on-Crouch Urban District Council on 28th September 1926, the Chairman, Mr EW Sadler, suggested that the Council raise funds for the purchase of a challenge cup to be competed for in Burnham Week. A committee consisting of CC Booth, JA Cole, GJ Cranfield, EW Sadler and E Dilliway, all of whose names are still well known in the Town today, was appointed to oversee the project.
Raising Funds
The trophy was to be known as the Town Cup and the committee set about raising funds. The Chamber of Trade promised support and by December the funds had reached £30. Contributions of 2 Guineas (£2.10) came from the boatyards, breweries, and foundry works. Prominent townspeople donated a Guinea each and the Chamber of Trade contributed the equivalent of £28.78, the proceeds from a social and dance evening. By February 1927 the fund had reached £72. 7s.7d.
Selecting a Design
The Town Cup Committee was authorised to select a suitable design. Mr NS Gilbert, a local jeweller, designed the solid silver rose bowl weighing 91 ounces with a plinth containing 24 silver plaques. As it was to be a perpetual trophy, it was decided that a miniature of the cup, cost not to exceed £5, would be presented to the owner of the winning yacht as well as a prize of 3 Guineas to be shared between the crew.
The Rules and a Tradition
It was agreed that the trophy competition would be limited to vessels over 15 tons, Class 'A', and that the first race would take place on Tuesday 6th September 1927. When the Chairman of the Council presented the trophy to the first winner, a tradition was born. The cup was filled with champagne and taken to each club along the waterfront in celebration. The tradition is maintained to this day.
The Town Cup after WWII
The yachtsmen concentrated on the right priorities immediately after the war and Burnham Week with the Town Cup was running again in 1946, the same sum of £5 to be shared between the crew. By 1953 the prize money to be distributed between the crew was raised to £7.10s. and owners of eligible boats were particularly encouraged to take part in the race. "The winning Cruiser of the Town Cup is requested to fly a large white distinguishing flag under the burgee" was an attempt to announce the winning boat to the townspeople, walking along the riverbank.
The Rules Change
Considerable changes in the rules were made by 1961. The miniature replica was no longer presented and the prize money for the crew was discontinued. There were now modest cash prizes for the finishers in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place and the race was open to all those in Class A and Class B1 with the proviso that they needed to have competed in at least two earlier races in the Week. By 1970 the requirement for eligibility was to have competed in at least three races. In the post-war years very large yachts with paid crew were replaced by smaller vessels, manned by amateur yachtsmen and the Cup was now presented to Class 1 yachts, as defined by the Burnham Week Joint Clubs' Committee.
And the Winner is...
A popular winner in 1972 was the then Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Edward Heath MP, in Morning Cloud.
To the Present Day
The tradition of the Town Cup being presented as a trophy for the larger racing yachts continues to this day with the presentation being made by the Town Mayor.
A Distinguished List
To look down the list of Town Cup winners is to review a collection of well-known names and personalities in the history of the sport of yacht racing. Houghton and Sabin, the earliest winners, gave their names to trophies that are woven into the fabric of Burnham Week. More recent winners, Richard Matthews with both Oystercatcher and Crusader, Kit Hobday and Independent Bear, the late David Geaves and his Fiona Vll, Philip Tolhurst and Warlord Vl and the Herrings with Backlash, create a Roll Call of Honour that anyone associated with the sport will recognise.