Rugby
Charles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe
The fourth Governor General of New Zealand, from 1930 to 1935. Bledisloe
Lord Bledisloe received rare praise for his ceremonial and moral leadership during a difficult time not only for New Zealand, but for the whole world, as the economic depression of the early 1930s took hold. Bledisloe insisted on a 30 % pay cut along with the rest of the public service. He was extremely well liked and respected.
Bledisloe was also a freemanson, and was Grand Master of the New Zealand Grand Lodge. Lord Bledisloe was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and invested a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem on appointment as Governor-General of New Zealand.
During his governorship, he bought the site where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 and dedicated it as a national memorial and reserve, which was gazetted in 1934.
Lord Bledisloe promoted various causes and events by the presentation of trophies, the most famous of these being the Bledisloe Cup, the trophy for an ongoing rugby union competition between New Zealand and Australia. The Cup was first awarded in 1931, and is contested for annually between the two nations.
The cup was designed by Nelson Isaac and sent to England where it was crafted by Walker and Hall in London.
Lord Bledisloe was also invited to become President of Lydney Rugby Football Club Upon its formation in 1888, He held this position for 70 years until his death and was succeeded as by his eldest son, Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst. Lord Bledisloe was born 21 Sept 1867, died 3 July 1958 aged 90 in Lydney, England. Bledisloe Cup Statistics( accurate as of 19 Oct 2016)
Titles won: Australia – 12 New Zealand – 44 Longest time held by Australia: 5 years( 1998 – 2002)( 5 Titles) Longest time held by New Zealand: 28 years( 1951 – 1978)( 12 Titles) Most titles in a row by New Zealand:( 2003 – 2016)( 14 Titles)
The MAG Vung Tau 51