Giving the Ladies Trophy Some TLC
When the Ladies Trophy came into my possession this summer, it seemed like a good opportunity to give it a little TLC and get it ready for the future.
The trophy has a great history, with winners recorded back to 1986, but after many years there was simply no room left for the next generation of names. A little research also uncovered a few gaps in the roll of honour – some during the Covid years, some when there weren’t enough participants, and for a few years the Ladies Perpetual Trophy was an alternative ‘fruit bowl’ before the Ladies Trophy returned in the early 2020s.
Past winners include:
| J Perry | J Marsden |
| J Richardson | L Patterson |
| A Linsdale | E Fisher |
| A Fenner | R Croker |
| C Martin | C Bunning |
| S Dunk |
So, with the help of my keen young crew (who took on designing and sanding duties!), the refurbishment became a real family project. My husband sourced a lovely piece of oak with a natural ‘wavy’ design, which has given the trophy a new, much weightier base and, importantly, plenty of space for future lady winners.
It’s been great to give something with so much club history a new lease of life and members are always welcome to pitch in; it’s one of the ways this club has such a great community. But the best way to look after the trophy is, of course, to see it being competed for!
With the Ladies of the Lake initiative providing such a great opportunity for training, development and confidence on the water, hopefully we can encourage even more ladies to get involved and have their names added to the trophy from 2027 onwards.
Ladies – whether you’re new to racing, haven’t raced for a while, or simply fancy giving it a go, the aim is to see more ladies on the start line and enjoying being part of the fleet. It’s not all about winning the trophy – it’s about getting out on the water, having fun, learning from each other and enjoying some friendly competition along the way.
The Ladies of the Lake initiative is a great way to build skills and confidence, and hopefully we can support more ladies in making that step into racing in 2027. If you’d like a bit of encouragement, someone to talk through racing with, or a helping hand getting started, please do get in touch with the Ladies of the Lake team or find me at the club – it would be fantastic to see more competitors and future names for the trophy!
Sarah Dunk