An Important Silver Racing Trophy: The 1922 Grand National Trophy Centrepiece, won by Hugh...

An Important Silver Racing Trophy: The 1922 Grand National Trophy Centrepiece, won by Hugh Kershaw’s ‘Music Hall’, by Elkington & Co, Birmingham 1921, the circular shallow half-lobed bowl with laurel leaf border, mounted with three scallop shell-capped handles, above cast laurel leaf sprays, the tri-form stem modelled as three female figures of Winged Victory, each holding aloft a laurel wreath, on triangular base with canted corners, and chased acanthus leaf and scroll border, raised on mahogany shaped circular socle, applied with central oval silver plaque inscribed ‘GRAND NATIONAL 1922 WON BY MR HUGH KERSHAW’S ‘MUSIC HALL’ (AGED) 11st 8lbs. MARCH 24. 1922. RIDDEN BY L.B.Rees.’ , the socle mounted with three silver winged horseshoe motifs, trophy cup height 46cm, total height including socle 61cm. together with CECIL WILSON (BRITISH, 20th century) ‘Music Hall’ and rider, Lewis B Rees, signed and dated ‘Cecil Wilson 1922’ (lower left), oil on canvas, gilt frame, dimensions : canvas 127.5 x 101.5cm framed: 144.5 x 118.5cm D**** G**** (20th century) ‘Grand National Steeple Chase 1922’ depicting the finish line, with ‘DRIFTER’ running second to the victor ‘MUSIC HALL’, signed and dated ‘D G 1922’, watercolour, gilt frame, dimensions: 35 x 25.5cm framed: 43.5 x 33.5cm The Racing Silks worn by the winning jockey Lewis B. Rees, numbered 4, framed and glazed, dimensions: (framed) 104 x 79cm A horseshoe, framed and glazed, bearing plaque: ‘MR HUGH KERSHAW’S ’MUSIC HALL’ WINNER OF GRAND NATIONAL MARCH 24th 1922’, dimensions: 23.5 x 23.5cm To view Pathé News clip of the race, see: https://www.britishpathe.com/video/grand-national-aka-the-worlds-greatest-race £20,000-£25,000 --- The Grand National: “the ultimate test of horse and rider” Part of British culture, and considered to be the world’s greatest Steeplechase, the Grand National is held annually at Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, and was first run at Aintree in 1839. Racing over an official distance of 4 miles and 2.5 furlongs (4 miles 514 yards), the horses jump 30 fences over two laps, the course featuring much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks. With fences such as Becher’s Brook,The Chair and the Canal Turn, combined with the distance of the event, the race has been aptly described as “the ultimate test of horse and rider”.* Today the most valuable jump race in Europe, the prize fund totals £1,000,000. The 1922 Grand National was the 81st renewal of the world famous race, and took place on 24 March. The race was attended by Prince Albert, the Duke of York and Prince Henry. The Edinburgh Evening News reported the weather to be “unfortunately far from favourable, it was very dull overhead and a slight drizzling rain was falling when the crowds began to gather”. The Daily Herald recalled “a keen wind that searched through the thickest coat”. The going was recorded as ‘good’. The race commenced at 3 o’clock, with a field of 32 horses, the favourite to win being Southampton. After two false starts, and in the time of 9 minutes 55 4/5 seconds, the race was won by the nine-year old Music Hall, at odds of 100/9 and ridden by Lewis Rees. Drifter finished in second place, beaten by 12 lengths, and Taffytus in third. Sergeant Murphy and A Double Escape were remounted after falling, and finished fourth and fifth respectively. The favourite Southampton had fallen at the first fence, as had Shaun Spadah, ridden by the winning jockey’s brother Fred Rees, who had won the Grand National on the same horse the previous year. There were only five finishers from the field of 32 horses. Most did not complete the first circuit, with many having been obstructed by Sergeant Murphy in an accident at the Canal Turn. There were also two equine fatalities, The Inca II at Becher’s Brook and Awbeg at the Canal Turn. It was the second consecutive year with a small number of finishers, following the 1921 race when only four horses had completed the course. The winner, Music Hall, was trained by Owen Anthony for owner Hugh Kershaw. ‘Music Hall’ Music Hall was bred in 1913 by Mrs F. St. J. Blacker at Castle Martin, Newbridge, in County Kildare. Mrs Blacker hunted him with the Kildare hounds in 1918-1919 and in the spring he was sold as a hunter or possible point-to-pointer to Mrs Stokes of Market Harborough. Hunted the following season in Leicestershire, he showed speed and jumping ability and was put into training, winning a Novices’ Steeplechase at Birmingham. In 1920, he continued to show great promise and success, and was purchased by Hugh Kershaw. Sidelined for a year with a leg injury following a race at Nottingham, he was put in training with Owen Anthony and brought back to win the Hurst Park steeplechase, followed two weeks later by the Grand National win, carrying 11st-8lb. After his triumphant success, Music Hall was soon to be shipped to France and ran in the Prix Saint Sauver (2-3/4 miles) and was placed third in the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. He ran in the Grand National again in both 1924 and 1925. His dam was Molly, purchased by Mrs Blacker from her breeder R. Donaldson, a former farmer from Kellysgrove, Co, Galway. Music Hall was her first foal. His sire, was Cliftonhall, bred in Yorkshire, and son of Galloping Lad. Hugh Kershaw Hugh Kershaw was a Worcestershire landowner. He purchased Music Hall in 1920, after a very successful year for Music Hall, having won seven major races including the Scottish Grand National. Kershaw collected the winner’s prize money of £5,000 for the triumphant win at Aintree’s Grand National in 1922. Kershaw raced Music Hall in both the 1924 and 1925 Grand Nationals.