The Recognition Minute

A trophy is a trophy when… April 24 2017, 0 Comments

What makes a good trophy?  It is a sign of achievement.  It is a means of communication.  It is also a work of art.  It may even be central to your brand.  Both traditional and non-traditional trophies share these aspects in common.   What makes them different is style.  And what makes them good - it's up to you!

Traditional trophies are typically in the form of a cup or a chalice, usually silver of gold in colour if not in substance and stand proud on a base.  The base may be reserved for insignia, names of winners, dates, possibly quotes and other engraving.  It gives a platform on which the trophy can stand, a sort of ‘red carpet’ or it's special shoe.

It is important that a trophy has height.  Height speaks of a big win, a great achievement.  It is more visible.  Like all good trophies, it boasts about the winner and certifies success.  This is not only true for traditional trophies but for any custom-made award as well.

Some organisations choose to break with tradition and design their trophies using contemporary materials such as acrylics, crystal or aluminium.  This allows for many different shapes and sizes, to break with tradition and stand out in a crowd.  The corporate brand can be included in the shape or colours of the trophy, making it all the more unique.

To be different, one can have a pair of shoes bronzed and mounted with a plaque describing the purpose of the trophy.   In keeping with a South African theme, animal statuettes can be beautifully incorporated, representing values such as strength, dexterity, ingenuity or speed.  Or, how about a sports emblem such as a cricket ball or boxing glove?

Whatever your need, if it is in the line of trophies, there is something available for you.  If not already made, you can have it designed and made with our help.    Have a look at a few examples here: https://www.prestigeawards.co.za/collections/types?q=Trophies%20-%20Customised

 

 

 

 


Who Recognised St Patrick? March 17 2017, 0 Comments

Well, today is a Green day if you live in Ireland.  17 March - a day to remember St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland.  He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland in c400 AD and for ridding Ireland from all it's snakes.

Legend has it that St. Patrick used the shamrock, a plant with three leaves to teach about the Christian Holy Trinity.  This rather intriguing yet simple little plant is now the symbol of St. Patrick's day.

The absence of snakes in Ireland gave rise to the legend that St. Patrick chased them into the sea after they attacked him during a 40-day fast he was undertaking.  Was he the early snake whisperer or did he have special powers that banished these serpents for good?  It doesn't matter.  What might matter more is that he is still remembered today, 1500 years later.  Now that is recognition!

St. Patrick was never awarded a medal or a trophy for his work.  He didn't boast any obvious academic achievements and may have lived a very non-competitive life, yet he has been immortalized with green shamrocks, and usually with lots of Guinness as well.

There are no medals or even certificates for being a saint today.  In fact, awarding trophies is not likely at all, as the recognition of saints usually happens many years after their death.  It is widely believed that St. Patrick died on this day, which is why the 17th of March was chosen for this annual celebration.

If you are celebrating excellent academic or sporting success, or top-class business performance in the corporate world, Prestige Awards has the trophy, the medal and the certificate for you.  Many classical and traditional options are available for view.  For a really special occasion, we will help you design something unique, to be remembered for the next 1500 years.

Contact us via the website or email: sales@prestigeawards.co.za

HAPPY SAINT PATRICK'S DAY ALL!

 

 

 

 

 


With a Ball and a Stick March 01 2017, 0 Comments

 

Watching a game of field hockey is an exercise in itself. Spectators have to keep their eyes on a fast-moving plastic of fiberglass composite ball, which is hit and flicked across the field at high speed.  The players always seem to be on the move.  It is fast.

Typically in South Africa, Hockey is considered a winter sport, usually played outdoors on grass or turf. Two teams of eleven players each compete, their aim: to get the ball past the opposing goalkeeper.

The ball is propelled by hitting it with a wooden or fiber stick which is curved and flattened at one end.  The goalie also carries a stick, which may be shaped slightly differently to give it more surface area.  As in soccer, the goalie is the only one who may touch the ball with other parts of his body other than the stick.

The history of field hockey can be traced back to early civilizations but the modern game was developed in the British Isles circa 1860, with the first formal hockey club formed in 1861.

Field Hockey is now the second biggest team sport, world-wide, played by men and women, in over 100 countries.   Hockey is played by many sports clubs and offered widely in schools, who play competitively for trophies and cups.

Socially, hockey is a sport that is played by men and women of all ages, as long as they can wield a stick! The trophy and the medal my not be the object of the game when played merely for fun but the game is usually just as fast.

At Prestige Awards, we carry a range of trophies that help add spirit to any hockey game.   Traditional silver cups, which can be customised for the occasions and miniature statuettes for male and female players for the whole team.  http://www.prestigeawards.co.za/products/hockey-player-female-miniature-award

A special trophy made from resin and hard wood may be an option for a floating trophy. The trophy is molded according to a three-dimensional design then cast in resin.  The resin is given an antique gold look, which brings with it a sense of tradition.  http://www.prestigeawards.co.za/products/hockey-goal-resin-trophy

Something more modern perhaps?  We have trophies that are constructed from aluminium and mounted on a smart wooden base. These trophies were designed by Prestige Awards and are unique in their class.  These trophies are also customisable to reflect the name of a club or event.  We are open to discussing your design and bringing it to life in our factory.  http://www.prestigeawards.co.za/products/hockey-m-ring-floating-trophy-t0425

Enjoy your game of hockey!

 

 


Origins of Cricket January 11 2017, 0 Comments

Cricket originated in England during the late 16th century and became its national sport 200 years later.  International cricket matches began in 1844 and 34 years later, test cricket was recognized, albeit retrospectively.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the game of cricket spread and became a competitive sport that traversed language and culture.  Today it’s the second most popular spectator sport in the world!  However, its rise to popularity in the USA has been resisted by zealous supporters of baseball, one of the favoured summer sports in that country.

What would a game be without rules?  How would one know who would lift the cup?  The basic rules of cricket seem to have been understood from the beginning but being a game for gamblers, firm terms were needed to avoid arguments off the field.  Formal written codes of practice and the Articles of Agreement were drawn up, purportedly by the second Duke of Richmond and one other.   In 1744, the Laws of Cricket were recorded for the first time and some 30 years later the 'lbw' law and bat width was finalized.

Cricket continued quite uneventfully, interrupted only by major wars, owing to the lack of players and funding but curiously, on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo, British soldiers played a cricket match in the Bois de la Cambre park in Brussels, to be called later La Pelouse des Anglais,  The Englishmen’s Lawn.

Bowling of the ball as we know it today was not always in fashion. 'Round arm bowling' as it is known gathered pace in the 1820s, causing concern among traditionalists and rule-makers.  What would cricket be like today if Dale Steyn delivered under-arm balls to Adam Gilchrist!  In 1889 the four ball over was replaced by a five ball over and then, by 1900, the current six ball over was introduced, which remained except for a short period of experimental eight ball over games, ending with the break out of the Second World War in 1939.

One of the most significant crises to hit international cricket was the suspension of South Africa from international competition in 1970, which lasted until 1993 when the South African Government’s apartheid policies began crumbling.  It was then that South Africa was restored to international competition and regained its glory. 

Test cricket is not for everyone.  In the 1960s, English country teams started playing one-innings games which grew in popularity and in 1969, a limited overs national league was created.  Limited overs cricket was further enhanced by television, high-speed camera’s allowing for ultra-slow motion replays and review, and digital technology.  Cricket analysis was no longer dependent on sharp eyes and experience eye but evolved with the availability of more exact analytics, which has lead to the introduction of the third umpire.

Today, most schools play cricket and enjoy the input of coaches and umpires who have been seasoned by a heritage of over 300 years.  Not only do the scholars play for coveted team trophies but for equally important awards such as ‘bowler of the year’, ‘best fielder’ and ‘most improved player of the season’.  Supporters are also awarded tokens of appreciation in the form of shields and medals, which adds to the spirit of this wonderful game.  Long live cricket!


Old Nickel December 09 2016, 0 Comments

Nickel is an ideal material with which to plate trophies as it produces a clean, silvery, reflective surface that is resistant to scratching.