The County awards trophies for swimming; open water and masters swimming; water polo and synchronised swimming. Some of our trophies awarded for swimming championships can be seen on display in the large cabinet in the foyer of the 50 metre pool at Millfield School. By the time the Centenary Celebrations are in full swing there will be 66 perpetual trophies awarded for swimming during the year. The possibility of Championships in coming years for 800m Freestyle for Men and Boys, 1500m Freestyle for Women and Girls along with 50m events may see the number of trophies rise dramatically!

Some of the oldest trophies retained by the County were originally awarded for diving, which was last seen in Somerset at Yeovil in 1987. In addition trophies donated to the County from Bath Dolphins Womens S.C. were first awarded within that club in the early 1900’s. These trophies have been re-designated to swimming and other disciplines within the sport to retain history they record whilst continuing to award them to new Champions during the next century. Indeed, the oldest of the former diving trophies is number 30 donated by A.E. Meyer in 1928 for Women’s Firmboard Diving now used for the Inter-Club Top Team Trophy. Look out for this at the Inter-Club event to be held on 24^th November 2002 at Hutton Moor, Weston-super-Mare. The oldest trophy awarded for swimming retained by the County is that awarded for the Girls 800m Freestyle Championship, number 58. Originally awarded in 1904, it was donated by the Duchess of Beaufort and is engraved, "To be held by the Champion Swimming Team from the Girl’s Schools of Bath". The oldest trophy awarded for swimming originally donated to the County is that awarded for the Womens 100m Freestyle Championship, number 21. First awarded in 1911, it was donated by Doctor Meade-King, a swimming enthusiast from Taunton who donated a number of trophies to the sport in schools at that time.

The names of our Champions have been faithfully engraved on our trophies over many years. Some have gone onto represent their countries. Over 50 years ago S.C.A.S.A. Champion Molly Reed (nee Tancock) competed for England. Great Britain Olympians Helen Bewley, Mark Foster, Paul Howe, Caroline Foot, Edward Sinclair, Jo Fargus, Neil Harper, Nick Shackell and Suki Brownsden are just a few of the more familiar names who have lifted a Somerset County trophy during the past 20 years. During the 1970’s Joanne Atkinson and Olympic Gold Medallist, Duncan Goodhew, were also Somerset County Champions.

This brief introduction would be incomplete without a word of thanks to our trophy donors throughout the years. As you browse through the following pages detailing the swimming trophies you will note that the trophy numbers do not run consecutively towards the final pages. This is due to re-designation during recent months. Details of Championships that do not have a trophy at present can be found in the index for those of you who may like to mark your association with Somerset Swimming! Trophies awarded for disciplines other than swimming are presently being updated with new sponsors contributions being gratefully received and added to the list of County assets.

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"The Trophy Cabinet - Other Disciplines"

The Somerset Amateur Swimming Association Centenary Celebrations were held during 2002. Some of you may recall our intention to produce a further trophy record for the other disciplines of synchronized swimming, open water swimming, water polo and masters swimming. Well here, at last, are a few notes and details of County Trophies that relate to these other areas of our sport.

Some of the oldest trophies retained by the County were originally awarded for diving, which was last seen in Somerset at Yeovil in 1987. Some of these trophies have been re-designated to ensure that our history continues through the other disciplines. Alderman W.E. Maynard was our County President in 1932. It follows that the diving trophies that have been re-designated come from that era. The Senior Water Polo League Trophy was also donated by Alderman Maynard and is a very impressive shield.

We have also referred in this record to medals and badges used over the years by members of the Association and at County Championships. It is hoped that, with time, a permanent record of Somerset ASA utilising some of these items and, perhaps, one of our oldest trophies might form part of a display at the Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury where a number of County archives are retained. The nine minute books of County ASA meetings from 1901 until 2002 are retained as part of the Somerset County Archive and Record Service, Obridge Road, Taunton TA2 7PU and can be viewed by quoting reference M/885 A\CAV.

Whilst the picture below also appears within the full detail of this trophy record it is reproduced in memory of R.A.E. Blackburn, a Life Member of SASA, who donated it to the County for use at Open Water Championships from 2002. Sadly Reg is no longer able to present the trophy himself, however this magnificent trophy will remain as a fitting tribute for years to come.

Somerset County 1500m Open Water Champion

Somerset County A.S.A. Trophy Controllers 2007

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