I came across this magnificent trophy in a small display cabinet tucked away in Beaulieu House in England, the home of Lord Montague famed for his large collection of interesting old cars which is open to the public. The note of explanation below the trophy reads: “The Montague Trophy 1903 – commissioned by my father and awarded to the French team at the 1903 Gordon Bennett Race. The figure, which was designed by Charles Sykes, is thought to be modeled on Eleanor Thornton”. That is a lot of fascinating history all in a very small cabinet!
I wonder if this could be the original “Gordon Bennett” whose name is spoken when someone gets a surprise. I’d love to spend at least a day touring the Beaulieu collection of cars. If only they had a play room for dumping the kids in – I could sneak off and leave the wife playing with the little one’s.
Thanks for a fascinating look at a trophy that tells us a lot about the early-days fascination of motoring and racing. It led me on to find out more about Charles Sykes, and I found that he’s best known for a fairly similar image: the “Flying Lady” hood ornament of Rolls Royce, also modeled on Eleanor Thornton. Not only that, but the Montagu family’s Rolls Royces, apparently, carry their own version of the little statue, with the Lady’s finger to her lips…