King's Cup Regatta program
Date1971
Object number00036451
NameProgram
MediumInk on paper
DimensionsOverall: 185 x 250 mm, 4 mm, 0.08 kg
ClassificationsEphemera
Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from George Neilson
DescriptionProgram for the King's Cup Regatta for Australian Amateur Rowing and Sculling Championships in 1971. The competition was held on the Canning River, Perth in Western Australia. On the program's cover is an image of men's an eight-oared crew and the dates 23 and 24 April 1971. It includes event listings, brief histories of the King's Cup and interstate rowing, some photographs of state representatives of four-oared and eight-oared teams, and a map of the course.HistoryThe King's Cup has been used as the trophy for the Australian Eight Oared Championship since 1920. In 1919 the Royal Henley Peace Regatta was held in England to celebrate the end of WWI. The regatta was open to members of the allied forces, the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) was represented by two crews. The AIF No 1 crew won the eight oared race and was awarded the King's Cup. The Australian War Museum claimed the trophy from the crew and refused requests for it to become the annual interstate rowing prize. After rowers petitioned King George V, a Royal Command was issued to the Australian governor-general by Winston Churchill, British Secretary to the Colonies, to return the cup to the nation's oarsmen.
The military symbolism of the original King's Cup race in 1919 was maintained into the 1950s with the presentation of medals to race competitors.SignificanceThis program is significant in documenting the history of the King's Cup which has been used as the trophy for the Australian Men's Eight Oared Championship since 1920.
21 February 1939
13 February 1940
11 February 1941
23 February 1937
