This is the first trophy to appear in this new regular feature for our magazine. It stands 10 3/8 inches (26.5 cm) high on its wooden plinth and is awarded “For Best Red Mouse” at the Annual Cup Show.

The Middleton Cup (Photograph by S Goss)

Although only plated, rather than solid silver, it is undoubtedly one of the most impressive of our NMC trophies. It is decorated with acanthus leaves and flowerheads, with scrolling lattice and vacant cartouches and a beaded rim, stem and base.

As there are no hallmarks, precise dating is difficult without referring to the NMC archives to see when it was first awarded, but it appears to date no later than 1925. Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of who donated it. Can anyone help in that respect?