The Oldest Sports Trophies in the World
The Oldest Sports Trophies in the World - From 1559 to 1887
Sports today give out millions of dollars in prize money, but the tradition of awards is nothing new…
The earliest sports trophies are more than just awards. They stand for tradition, respect and the first organised contests.
Some of the trophies on our list are older than modern leagues and even the professional period. These trophies changed the way people competed, and they stand for both iconic wins and cultural legacy.
Let’s take a closer look at the history of early awards that are still respected to this day.
The Carlisle Bells: Racing Back to 1559
The Carlisle Bells are one of the oldest sports trophies in the world. They date back to 1559 and were given to horse racing champions in Carlisle, a Scottish border city.
The survival of the original Carlisle Bells to this day shows just how important competition has always been to English sport, even before the advent of modern race tracks.
Racing in those days was not a professional sport, but it was a measure of local prestige, and races were often sponsored by kings and nobles. Today, the Carlisle Bells are stored in the Carlisle Guildhall Museum. They are relics of sport and British cultural history.
The Scorton Silver Arrow: Archery’s Timeless Award
The Scorton Silver Arrow is one of the oldest sporting trophies in the world. This trophy, first awarded in 1673 and founded by the Ancient Society of Archers, was associated with powerful English traditions of archery.
The competition continues even today, and the winning archer is declared the Captain of the Arrow.
Although archery is no longer a key element of military battle, prizes like the Silver Arrow allow traditions to continue and provide an example of one of the oldest forms of competition in England.
America’s Cup: Sailing’s Global Crown
Heading into the 19th century, the America’s Cup is the oldest trophy in international sport. First awarded in 1851, it’s named after the schooner America, which defeated the British fleet around the Isle of Wight.
The America’s Cup isn’t just about sailing - it’s about prestige and technology. Now, teams spend hundreds of millions of dollars on sophisticated boats, yet the prize is the exact same piece of silver that was first awarded more than 170 years ago.
The America’s Cup remains a symbol of supremacy in one of the world’s most technical water sports. It’s also one of the most expensive sports in the world!
The FA Cup: Football’s Oldest Trophy
The history of sports trophies would not be complete without the FA Cup. It’s the oldest national football competition in the world, first held in 1871-72. The first FA Cup final took place at the Kennington Oval in London, and it was won by the Wanderers.
Read more soccer articles on our football blog - profiles, interviews and iconic stories!
The trophy itself has been redesigned several times over the years, but its symbolism remains. All clubs in England, amateur and professional, can compete in the FA Cup.
It’s not just an award but a living part of soccer history. More than 700 teams will play in the renewed version of the tournament, all of them hoping to win this historic award.
The Calcutta Cup: Rugby’s Fiercest Rivalry
The Calcutta Cup is awarded to the winner of the match between England and Scotland played as part of the Six Nations. First awarded in 1879, it has become the focus of one of the most intense rivalries in world rugby.
The Cup was first created in India by melting down remaining silver rupees. That same trophy is still awarded 140 years later, showing the important role of history and tradition in the modern game.
The Ashes: Cricket’s Tiny But Mighty Trophy
The Ashes is one of the oldest sporting competitions in the world. The series started in 1882, following the defeat of England by Australia at the Oval in London. An article mocking the team stated that English cricket was dead, and its bones were going to Australia.
Not long afterwards, a party of Melbourne women gave England captain Ivo Bligh an urn, which symbolised the ashes of English cricket. This urn sparked the beginning of the Ashes tournament - and it is still awarded each year to the winning team.
The urn itself is only a couple of inches high, but it has become one of the most famous sports trophies in the world. England vs Australia matches continue to attract millions of viewers, which explains why even the tiniest of trophies can leave the biggest legacy.
Wimbledon Trophies: Tennis Traditions Since 1877
In 1877, Spencer Gore won the first-ever Wimbledon Men’s Singles competition. He was awarded the Gentlemen’s Singles trophy, which is still given out today. Female Wimbledon champions are awarded the Venus Rosewater Dish, which was first awarded in 1886.
Wimbledon’s trophies bridge Victorian England and the modern professionalism era. In 2023, for example, the record prize money available at Wimbledon was £56.5 million, but the winners still received traditional trophies, too.
This combination of tradition and innovation makes Wimbledon a leading example of how one of the oldest sporting events in the world is still developing.
Looking for more? Check out our article for the highest-paying sports in the world!
What Are the Oldest Sports Trophies in the World?
These awards are not just trophies. They are time machines, linking centuries of tradition to athletes of the modern game. From Wimbledon to the America’s Cup, it’s clear that the history of these sports plays a key role in their futures.
These trophies remind us that players, teams and technologies might change, but it is the desire to win that connects them all.
