Newspaper Article 1964 – Prized rowing cup comes to HB for first time

Prized rowing cup comes to HB for first time

A 77-year-old sporting trophy, which has travelled over most of New Zealand has arrived in Hawke’s Bay for the first time. It is the Edward Pearce Cup, awarded to the winner of the Wellington provincial senior singles scull event.

This year it was won by the Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club’s representative A. (Tony) Bone, Hastings.

The cup must rank as one of the most honoured in the country for it bears the names of many famous New Zealand oarsmen, some of whom gained world honours.

Included in this category are engraved the names of Darcy Hadfield, Paddy Webb, Pat Abbott, J.C. Schneider, D.W. Crabbe and J.R. Hill. All held the cup for varying periods since it was first competed for and won by W. Copeland, of the Star Club, Wellington.

Over the years, too, the cup has had temporary homes in most rowing centres from Auckland and the Waitemata, the Waikato, Tauranga, Wanganui to Wellington, and in the South Island from Picton and Blenheim to Akaroa and Dunedin.

The cup is a handsome solid – silver one weighing 3lb. It stands eight inches high and is 1½ inches across at the rim. It will be on display at the Rowing Regatta on the Ngaruroro River, Clive, tomorrow.