| Everyone likes to win a trophy; they're great to | | | | valiant sportsman to display clearly what the trophy |
| show off with, to take pride in and just generally | | | | has been won for. So, you will see pedestals with |
| good news. Trophies are used in a wide range of | | | | golfers in mid-swing or footballers in mid-kick, all |
| sports and events to mark achievement and victory | | | | portraying energy and vitality. Some trophies use |
| and to reward excellence and hard work in the field. | | | | national symbols to reflect where the trophy was |
| We've all seen athletes, footballers, racing drivers, | | | | won and to indicate that the event took place at a |
| tennis players and many others proudly holding their | | | | high level of competition. Others may depict an |
| trophy aloft above their heads to signify their defeat | | | | obvious symbol of the sport or activity such as a |
| over their opponents. | | | | boxing glove mounted in a stand or a football boot |
| Of course, today the defeats take place on the | | | | balancing on its toe. Shields are another common |
| sports field or the racing track or other event arena | | | | form of trophy and, here, the military heritage can be |
| but originally the defeat was much more brutal and | | | | seen clearly. The range of trophies available today is |
| took place on the battlefield. The term 'trophy' | | | | quite staggering. |
| originates from a Greek word for 'change' and this | | | | The materials used in trophies serve to symbolise the |
| referred to the type of change that happened when | | | | rarity and prestige of the occasion. As such, trophies |
| one army defeated another and their lands and other | | | | are very often made from gold and silver, or at least |
| possessions were taken by the victors. These lands | | | | gold and silver finishes. The golden cup or the silver |
| and possessions were the original trophies and they | | | | cup being raised above the victor's head is an image |
| were won at a high price. | | | | that we're all familiar with. Many modern trophies, |
| The concept of the trophy quickly transferred over | | | | however, are made in more contemporary designs |
| onto the sports field though and winners at the | | | | using materials such as crystal, glass and acrylic. |
| ancient Olympic Games were awarded garlands and | | | | A final point about the trophy is that of the |
| wreaths to denote their success. Later, cups and | | | | engraving. There's no point winning a trophy is no |
| chalices were used and, of course, we still use this | | | | one knows what it's for and, more importantly, who |
| symbol in many events today - the World Cup in | | | | won it. So most trophies will bear some form of |
| football, the Ryder Cup in golf and the Davis cup in | | | | plaque that is engraved with the name of the winner |
| tennis. | | | | and maybe last year's winner too as well as |
| Many other symbols are used today to create | | | | engravings of the event where the trophy was won. |
| trophies. Often the trophy will bear a depiction of the | | | | |