The Sanders Memorial Cup is a

trophy A trophy is a tangible, durable reminder of a specific achievement, and serves as a recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics. In many sports medals (or, in ...

for senior interprovincial challenge sailing competitions in New Zealand. It was first sailed for in 1921, when it was won by the yacht ''Heather'', which represented the Otago province. The Sanders Memorial Cup is the oldest sailing trophy still competed for in New Zealand.

History

In early 1921, the Otago Yacht and Motorboat Association challenged its Auckland counterpart to a challenge over a series of races to be conducted in X-class yachts. Walker & Hall, a jewelry firm, donated a 50-guinea cup as a trophy, which was to be named the Sanders Memorial Cup. This was in memory of

Lieutenant Commander Lieutenant commander (also hyphenated lieutenant-commander and abbreviated Lt Cdr, LtCdr. or LCDR) is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander. The corresponding rank i ...

William Sanders, from Takapuna, who served in the First World War with the

Royal Naval Reserve The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...

and was a posthumous recipient of the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...

. The cup stands on an oak plinth and includes three silver panels; these recited tributes to Sanders from

King George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. Born during the reign of his grandmother Que ...

, Lord John Jellicoe, the

Governor-General of New Zealand The governor-general of New Zealand ( mi, te kāwana tianara o Aotearoa) is the viceregal representative of the monarch of New Zealand, currently King Charles III. As the King is concurrently the monarch of 14 other Commonwealth realms and li ...

, and the Lords of the Admiralty. The inaugural challenge for the Sanders Memorial Cup was won by ''Heather'', sailed by George Wiseman representing

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

, against ''Iron Duke'', representing

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

and sailed by Jellicoe, in a series of five races on Waitematā Harbour over the Easter period of 1921. For several years, the winners received miniatures of the cup from Walker & Hall although this practice ceased during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

. However, Wiseman, the skipper of the first yacht to win the cup, did not receive one for the 1921 victory, the miniature instead going to W. McCulloch, the original captain of the ''Heather'' who sailed her in the first two races of the series. Notable winners of the Sanders Memorial Cup include Albert Willetts (three times) and

Hugh Poole Hugh David Poole (6 September 1924 – 3 June 2012) was a New Zealand sailor. He competed in the Soling at the 1976 Summer Olympics Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ent ...

(five times). Since 1971, the cup has been sailed for by Javelin-class yachts. It is the oldest sailing trophy still competed for in New Zealand. AU Javelin Dinghy

Notes

{{reflist Sailing competitions in New Zealand Sailing competitions Recurring sporting events established in 1921