1927
Following the death of WK Taunton who had been Hon Secretary and treasurer for many years An appeal was launched for donations to provide a WK Taunton Memorial Trophy, to be offered once a year for the best Mastiff either sex, once in the North and Once in the South alternately, all monies raised to be spent on the trophy, a special committee was formed to select designs silversmiths etc. A design being decided upon at a price of £105 and a member present offering to make up the difference. There was at this time some dispute about the funds for this trophy and mention of legal action.
1928
The first time the W K Taunton Memorial Gold Cup was presented was at Crufts the judge being Mr Hunter Johnston and it was won by Mr G. Cook's Ch. Cleveland Premier
From Members subscriptions a similar cup which is smaller was purchased for best opposite sex, these two trophies being awarded annually at the club Ch Championship show for members resident in the UK or Irish republic
Mr Oliver presented the club with the Hellingly Brindle cup " This cup is bought with money paid over through the High Court after the settling of the case over the Taunton Memorial Trophy . The work was done by Mr Oliver on condition he charged no fees. Therefore £29 odd was left after paying out of pocket expenses, to which he added and bought this cup.
Mr E. Hanbury was a founder member and took a very active part in the Club serving on the Committee for many years, acting as Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary at different times. He judged frequently and was the breeder of many famous Mastiffs, the best known being Rajah, Prince and Wolsey, a son of Rajah.
In 1973 Mrs How gave a cup for the Breeder of the Mastiff of the Year to be known as the Wolsey cup. This cup was won in 1876 by Mr E. Hanbury's famous dog 'Wolsey' at Birmingham National . The cup is inscribed 'Old Calabur Biscuit Silver Cup' presented by Messers WP Barr & Co, for the best mastiff in all classes at the Birmingham National 1876. Mrs How saw this cup at a sale of silver and bought it and presented it to the club.
To be awarded to the breeder of the dog or bitch winning the most challenge certificates during the year, in the event of a tie to the breeder of the animal made Best of Breed at Ch shows most often during the year.
This dog was found wandering in London during the bombing and though the kennel club accepted him as a true mastiff his owners and papers were all lost.. He was taken in by a Miss Fawell on the south coast, who presented in his memory the Templecombe Taurus Trophy in 1984 to be awarded annually at Bournemouth Ch Show. Unfortunately there are no longer CC's on offer at this show. A very interesting article was written about him by Graham Hicks, in a club newsletter in the 80's. Hopefully Graham will one day submit it for republication
Two forty guinea cups are mentioned in the minutes, presumably purchased by members donations. By 1899 the cups were filled up with engraving so 2 black plinths one for each cup with plate for further engraving these shall not exceed 17/6 each!
In 1893 the Irish Challenge Cup was introduced, for Irish owned dogs. In 1910 this cup was renamed The County Challenge Cup to be presented to the best mastiff not under 1 nor over 3 years of age, exhibited by a resident in the county in which the show is held. This trophy is won at Bath Ch Show for BOB
It was announced at the AGM in 1969 that two collars were to be presented as memorials. The Norah Dickin Award for The Mastiff of the Year, to the dog gaining the greatest number of Challenge Certificates during the year, a similar collar for The Mastiff Bitch of the Year as a memorial to the Late Mr Fred Bowles.
Show's Trophies
Crufts: Doreen and Gordon Edwards Trophy, Scherboom Memorial Trophy
Birmingham: RH Thomas Memorial
Scotland: Embleton Cup
Bath: County Cup
Blackpool: Ch Bulger Cup
Windsor: 20 Guinea cup
SWKA: Presidents Cup
Working Breeds: CH Fatima Cup
East of England: Kisumu Cup
Leeds: 40 Guinea Cup
WKC: 30 Guinea Cup
SKC: Prixcan Trophy
Darlington: Ch Prixcan Drusus Cup
Midland Counties: Woodbrook Bowl
Driffield: Ch Master Beowulf
W&PBAS: Centenury Cup
LKA: Ch Volvo of Ileden Cup
O.E.M.C Awards
Mastiff Bitch of the Year: Fred Bowles Collar
Mastiff Dog of the Year: Norah Dicken Collar
Breeder of Mastiff of the Year: Wolsey Cup
BIS at Club Show: WK Taunton Memorial cup
BOS at Club Show: O.E.M.C. Gold Cup
Best Puppy: O.E.M.C. Puppy Cup
Limit Bitch: Jubilee Cup
Limit Dog: Blackrock Trophy
Reserve CC Bitch: Hellingly Cup - Missing Not Returned
Reserve CC Dog: Oliver Cup
Best Puppy in Show: 40 Guinea cup
Best Opposite Sex Puppy in Show: OEMC Puppy Cup
Best Veteran in Show: Cardinal Cup
With all our trophies they are only available to dogs of whom all the owners are fully paid up members with voting rights of the OEMC residing in this country.
Awards At the Club Open Show (Current Members of the Club)
For Best Puppy: The Withybush Puppy Cup
For Best Brindle Dog: The Ch Withybush Aethelred Trophy
For Best Brindle Bitch: The Lady Turk Trophy
For Best Fawn Dog: The Uther Penarvon Trophy
For Best Fawn Bitch: Ch Ursula Trophy
Full details of these awards can be obtained from the current Cup Steward