Cup Fever Trivia Quiz

Answer: America's Cup

The Cup was named after the first yacht to win it. The "America" was dispatched by the New York Yachting Club to race against the Britons in 1851 around the Isle of Wight. The United States held on to the Cup for a staggering 132 years, until 1983 when Australia took the Cup down under. In 2003 Switzerland brought the Cup to Europe for the first time.

Answer: Ryder Cup

It all started when in 1926 a merchant called Samuel Ryder organized a competition between British and American golfers at Wentworth. One of Britain's team members suggested to make this a regular event, and so it happened from the next year on. In 1973 Great Britain was joined by Irish players, in 1979 the Ryder Cup became a match between the United States and Europe.

Answer: Stanley Cup

The Stanley Cup dates back to 1893 when Lord Stanley of Preston introduced a reward for the best amateur hockeyteam in Canada. He never saw a championship game though, or attended the first presentation of the Stanley Cup, as he returned to England in 1893. So he didn't know that the first winner of the Stanley Cup was the Montreal Amateur Athletic Association.

Answer: FA Cup

Winning the FA Cup means more to most teams than winning the title, it is said. The FA Cup has a history that dates back to 1872, a year after FA Honorary Secretary Charles Alcock suggested the idea. The first FA Cup was won by Wanderers who beat Royal Engineers at Kennington Oval.

In 1923 the Cup final went to Wembley for the first time. An incredible crowd of around 200,000 (unofficial) saw Bolton Wanderers beat West Ham United.

Answer: Davis Cup

Davis was the name of a Harvard Student who had taken part in a match between American and British tennis players in 1899. He set up a format for an annual competition between the two sides. As time progressed more countries took part in what was called the International Lawn Tennis Challenge Trophy. After Davis died in 1945 this competition was renamed the Davis Cup in his honor.

Answer: Melbourne Cup

Officially the first Melbourne Cup was held in 1861, although there had been some races in Melbourne for the previous 23 years. The first winner of the Melbourne Cup was Archer, who became a legend by winning again the next year. In 1866, Melbourne Cup day became a public holiday in the Melbourne Metropolitan area.

Answer: Venice Cup

The Venice Cup goes way back to 1974, when the United States and Italy (the latter being the best of Europe at that time) played a challenge match in Venice. The Venice Cup is held every two years parallel to the Bermuda Bowl, which is the World Championship Bridge for men's bridge.

Answer: Mosconi Cup

The Mosconi Cup started in 1993, after Willie Mosconi had died. This American had captured 14 titles between 1941 and 1957 and had won a magnificent 527 matches in a row.

Answer: Thomas Cup

Officially it is called the International Badminton Championship Challenge, and is called after Sir George Alan Thomas, who was a former IBF President. The Thomas Cup was played for the first time in 1948 in Preston, England. The Uber Cup is for women, what the Thomas Cup is for men.

It was called after Betty Uber, who was a former badminton champion. The Henry Cup does not exist as far as I know and the Winston Cup was the name of the trophy in Nascar racing.

Answer: Calcutta Cup

In 1877 a former member of Calcutta Football Club offered some money for a Challenge Cup, which was to be played annually. The goal was the encouragement of Rugby Football and a memento of Calcutta FC which had only existed for four years. The suggestion was accepted. From 1878 on the England and Scotland representative teams would meet every year for a trophy that was named after the Calcutta Football Club.

The Calcutta Cup is now played within the Six Nations Rugby Tournament, the other teams being Ireland, Wales, France and Italy.