Improving meat production In 1905, the English firm Thomas Borthwick & Son set up operations in Australia. Borthwick was a major meat exporter and ran freezing works as well as having its own cattle stations in Australia. From the early 19th century, Borthwick encouraged the production of quality beef by awarding prizes at agricultural shows throughout Australia. In the early 1950s the Australian Meat Board and The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) also took steps to encourage beef producers. Perpetual Trophy For the Coronation Show in 1953, Borthwick introduced a perpetual trophy. The Borthwick Trophy was awarded to the Fat Cattle Champion with the winner being judged from the best team of three steers under three years old. The winning team was the one that gained the highest aggregate score from both the live and carcase judging. Initially, the relevant winning Breed Society retained the trophy for a year and returned it for the following Royal Melbourne Show but the Borthwick Trophy is now displayed at the Melbourne Royal offices on the Melbourne Showgrounds. (Mandy Bede) The competition is now known as the competition between teams of three purebred steers in the Beef Carcase competition. There can be one team per beef cattle breed in the competition.Large silver cup with three handles, each flat at the top and then curving around the outside of the cup and rejoining before the cup's stem.THE BORTHWICK TROPHY. / PRESENTED TO / THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA / BY / THOMAS BORTHWICK & SONS (A/ASIA) LTD, / FOR / ANNUAL COMPETITION BETWEEN TEAMS OF / FAT STEERS, / REPRESETNING BEEF CATTLE BREEDS / AT / THE MELBOURNE ROYAL SHOW / [various winning breeds]cattle, beef carcase, melbourne royal beef carcase competition, beef, perpetual, perpetual trophy, borthwick, prize, blue ribbon competition

The Marshwood Challenge Trophy was first awarded in 1974. This valuable trophy was donated by Major Maurice Charles Cox and his wife Betty, who were devoted to the Shetland Pony. Why is it called Marshwood? The Coxes both worked to maintain high standards of the Shetland breed. They did this in Great Britain by starting The Marshwood Stud in 1922. They also both took on the role of president of the Shetland Pony Major Stud Book Society and started a scheme to use only the best stallions for breeding. Major Cox and Australia The Coxes promoted the Shetland pony elsewhere too. Major Cox judged Shetland ponies at shows in Australia, Sweden and France. He probably last judged in Australia at the Sydney Easter Show in 1981. By this time Major Cox must have been in his late 70s as he was a reserve cavalry man in 1918. The silver-footed salver trophy was made in Scotland in 1916. It is possible that Major Cox brought it with him to Australia when he was judging Shetland ponies at the Royal Melbourne Show in the 1970s. The Marshwood Challenge Cup was awarded for the best Shetland pony at the show. Major Cox drew on his experiences examining Shetlands all around the world when he wrote The Shetland Pony (first published in 1965). (Mandy Bede)Silver tray on four feet. The 14-sided silver tray has wavy edges giving a floral appearance.Marshwood Perpetual Challenge Trophy / Presented to the / Royal Melbourne Show / by / Mr & Mrs Maurice Cox / 1974 / for the best / Shetland Pony /horses, pony, shetland pony, melbourne royal show, horses in action, melbourne royal horses in action competition, blue ribbon competitions, marshwood, cox, major maurice charles cox, betty cox

The Garryowen Perpetual Trophy is awarded annually to the winner of one of the most prestigious equestrienne events in Australia, the Garryowen Equestrienne Turnout. The competition is named after three-time Royal Melbourne Show champion saddle horse, GARRYOWEN, whose owner Violet Murrell died tragically whilst trying to save GARRYOWEN from a stable fire in 1934. A Heroine of Racing Mrs Violet Murrell of Melbourne, was a heroine who died trying to save her horses when the racing stables burned. The reason for her rescue attempt was twofold; she was both trying to retrieve an asset and was rescuing an animal from its agony. The heart of the racing world in Melbourne went out to Murrell and trainers, jockeys, and stable-boys came in crowds to her funeral. 'In the racing stables, in truth, the horse and the man are part of each other; and Mrs Murrell's name, with the manner of her death, will live as a tradition in the fraternity of men and horses to which she belonged'. (Sun, Sydney, Sunday 1 April 1934, p. 4) Began with a fire This trophy began as a tribute to a brave woman who risked and lost her life trying to rescue her horses and dog from a fire in 1934. It has become the premier turnout event for horsewomen in Australia. The idea came from a gathering at the Police Depot in St Kilda Road Melbourne, where friends of Violet discussed how to remember her and her beloved horse GARRYOWEN. The event was first staged at the 1934 Royal Melbourne Show. The public, through the Sporting globe newspaper, contributed to the cost of buying the 12 inch bronze statuette which is a perpetual trophy. The winner is also presented with a blue sash fastened with a small photograph of Mrs Murrell riding GARRYOWEN. Jockey, jumper, show ring rider Violet Murrell was 29 years old when she died. She had a career as a flat-race jockey riding and winning against men. She was also a successful jumps jockey. (Mandy Bede)A bronze horse statuette mounted on a slab of marble and a wooden base with metal plates.trophy, horses in action, horses, melbourne royal horses in action competition, prizes, turnout, blue ribbon competitions, murrell, violet murrell, garryowen, garryowen perpetual trophy, garryowen equestrienne turnout