Thorp (or Thorpe) Trophy

[Paul Dupré]

Hi Guys,

The SCCA (Surrey) has just decided to bring back the Thorp Trophy. It's a rapid play 4-player team tournament held on a Saturday for clubs in Surrey.

However, we appear to have lost the trophy. Has anyone seen it lately?

As you all know Martin Cath died in 2023, and he was curator of the trophies for many years. South Norwood according to the website were also the last club to win it and Martin was our President and probably captain of that team in 2003-04.

We have until 22nd March 2025 to find it or buy another one.

There's also a dispute over the name of the trophy, as when Ashtead won in 1994 they called it the Thorpe Trophy, which seems reasonable as the SCCA President during the 1950s and 1960s was Mr. A. Thorpe. He was also involved with the Southern Counties Chess Union and possibly Bognor Chess Congress.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

I'm pretty sure "A Thorpe" was Albert Thorpe (23rd Feb. 1892 - 29th Dec. 1975) as there's an obituary for him in the March 1976 SCCA Bulletin (downloadable from https://sccu-chess.com/index.php/en/bulletin).

[Paul Dupré]

All I have found today was that he played in the Wernick Cup in 1932 and was a member of Clapham Common at that time.

[Paul Dupré]

All I have found today was that he played in the Wernick Cup in 1932 and was a member of Clapham Common at that time.

Which makes sense as he died at 1 Badminton Road, Balham, next to Clapham Common.

[Paul Dupré]

At the latest Finance and League Composition Meetings of the Surrey County Chess Association held on Tuesday 20 August a mystery shield appeared at the front and on inspection it was the Thorpe Trophy.

So, now I'm going to ask that it's name be changed to Thorpe Shield.

Anyway, mystery solved cash for new trophy still in bank account. Everyone's happy, me especially as all my research pointed to THORPE with an "E". And with South Norwood having held the "trophy" for 21 years (last won in 2003/04 season) it's now found a new home for a 3rd time with Kingston, who last won (jointly with Cobham) in the 1994/95 season.

Ashtead still hold the record with 5 wins.