"Presented by Robert Hirst for the best Duckwing Modern Game Bantam"

This is quite an amazing story:

On 23rd of January 2006 Francis Bassom telephoned but I was out. She rang again to inform me there was a cup relating to Modern Game on Ebay and the auction was ending in an hour.

I was lucky to buy this Cup back for the Club. It is hallmarked 1904 and in perfect condition. We have two other Robert Hirst cups; the Hirst Rose Bowl for best modern and the Hirst Cup for best opposite sex so when did we "lose" this one?

The answer is as far as I can ascertain is before my time with the Club. It was not with us when I first listed the trophies in the late 80's

We got these old cups from the Bradford Club when it closed in 1959 so I can only assume we got this one also but someone won it and forgot to return it sometime after 1959.

The dealer who sold it on Ebay informed me he bought it in the Portabello Road but knew nothing more.

However, what an amazing stroke of luck to get this cup back. Thank you to Francis for such a quick reaction and findning it.

One cup we did lose in my time is the Bartle Cup for best Birchen, a little smaller than this cup but someone won it in the late 80's and it was never returned. I have informed this dealer just in case he comes across it.