7 team cups are contested every year in the Bury & District Table Tennis League. 2 Competitions are contested, on a handicap basis, by all of the teams in the league. The other 5 cups are contested by each individual division.
MacDonald Cup
During an inter-league game in the 1937/8 season between Bury and Bolton, the league president (Sam Taylor) received a cup from Mr F MacDonald (Chairman of the League) which was to be played for on a knock-out basis each year. Initially a handicapping system was to be used but not the same figures as used in the league system. The first custodians of the trophy were Derby Club of Division One who beat Heap Bridge of Division Two in the final. The League records don’t show when the Cup was played for by just division teams but certainly by the early 1960’s this was the case. The competition varied from being handicapped and not handicapped but in 2010 the new individual handicap competition was introduced across all 5 divisions with the Macdonald Cup remaining the name for the division 1 competition.
Dwyer Cup
The Cup was named after Bernard Dwyer but which club he was linked to is not know and records don’t show for what reason was the cup presented to the League. The Cup was first played for in 1965 and Prestwich TC won it for the first time. Historically the Cup is for a handicapped competition for all teams in the League.
Sponsors Cup
Played for the first time in the 2009/10. The League Committee decided to run a subsidiary competition for the first round losers of the Dwyer Cup to ensure teams knocked out in the first round at least had one more cup fixture rather than blank weeks.
Poytress Cup
The Cup was first played for in 1993 but was called the Chairman’s Cup after the then Chairman Brian Poytress. In 1998 the League was stunned by the death of Brian. He was 69. Brian had been chairman since 1980 and Vice Chairman since 1970. He was still a playing member of Seedfield Methodists. David, Brian’s Son presented a new Cup to the League which was named in his father’s memory. From 1999 to 2009 the competition was handicapped for divisions 2 to 5. In 2010 the individual handicaps were introduced and division 2 became the Poytress Cup.
Pressman Cup
Ellis Pressman would be known by everyone who played him by his ‘long trousers and jumper’ and was always smiling. Ellis started playing in the Manchester League in the 1950’s and joined the Bury League for Prestwich Hospital, Prestwich TTC and Maccabi. Ellis died on the 14th June 2009.
Hilton Cup
Sam Hilton was a long time player in the League and most would know Sam from Tottington Methodists. Sam was runner up in the Men’s Doubles Championship in1959 partnering Irving Cordwell. Sam was also runner up in the Men’s Singles Championship of 1969 losing to 3 time Champion Terry Bickerdike and continued playing until the early 2000’s. Sam died on 9th April 2007.
Lomax Cup
League President for 10 years George Lomax died on 2nd September 2008. George had a long association with ELPM as Secretary of the club and in the boom time of the League in the late 70’s and into the 80’s ELPM had over 20 teams playing. George was instrumental in bringing many juniors into the League and had close ties with Cliff Booth who ran the Monday and Friday night coaching at Elton Youth Club. Nancy his wife presented a cup to the League and the Committee thought it fitting that the individual handicapped competition for division 5 should be named after George because of his close links with junior players.
