Summary

Australia Victoria Melbourne
Bowling Championship 1873 (AD)
Mint: not recorded
Awarded to: Aitken, William
Other Details: The gold prize medal of the West Melbourne Bowling Club for their first Bowling Championship in 1873. The medal was made in gold and enamelled in red and blue, although most of the enamelling has been lost. It was won by William Aitken. Samuel Amess, a Scottish immigrant and President of the Builders and Contractors Association, won the Presidents Cup at the West Melbourne Bowling Club the following year. Bowling in Australia had been established in Melbourne in 1864, with the formation of the Melbourne Bowling Club. The sport rapidly became organised, and in 1873, the year this medal was presented, the first Grand Bowling Tournament was played between six Melbourne clubs. This tournament became and annual event and after the formation of the Victorian Bowling Association became the V.B.A. President's Trophy.

Obverse Description

At centre cut out monogram WMBC (once enameled in red and blue); around engraved, FIRST CHAMPION BOWLING TROPHY + 1873 +

Reverse Description

Engraved around monogram, Won by West Melbourne Bowling Club + WILLIAM AITKEN +

Edge Description

loop and chain ring at top

Significance

Samual Amess, a Scottish immigrant and President of the Builders and Contractors Association, won the Presidents Cup at the West Melbourne Bowling Club the following year. -Garry Baker Genealogist
web site http://www.isisol.com.au/gbaker/AmessPage.htm. -D. Tout-Smith 31/12/2003.

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