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Trophy returns

19/ 8/2004

LOST treasures have come home to Manchester Golf Club, from the other side of the world, after more than 100 years.

The original Captain's Cup, plus the Macalister Cup, and old photographs from the club which was founded in 1882 are now safely resting in the trophy cabinet at Hopwood.

They were discovered by Graham Walters, a collector of golf memorabilia, on an Internet auction site. They were being offered for sale by an antiques dealer from Chorley who had acquired them from a dealer in New Zealand.

Graham bought the items for his own collection then contacted Manchester past captains Danny Stone and Eddie Thompson about his find. They and current captain Paul Rocca invited the Leyland Golf Club member for a round of golf at Hopwood.

Discussion during the round centred on purchase of the items and Graham agreed to sell them to Manchester Golf Club for the price he had paid for them.

The Captain's Cup, made in Birmingham in 1893, was won by Harry Smith in 1896. It his believed he was entitled to keep the cup and that it was taken to New Zealand by his ancestors after World War Two.

The Macalister Cup is inscribed "The Manchester Golf Club 1907, presented by the relatives of the late John Macalister Esq, captain of this club 1882-92, 1897-1899."

The photographs and etchings of the founder members of the club are in a copy of The Illustrated and Dramatic News from 23 September 1893.

The Captain's Cup will now be awarded annually to the winner of the captain's final.