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Arrest over theft of gold trophy that honours 'gamest loser' in sport

GLASGOW LIFE An 18-carat gold trophy, which was stolen last year, photographed against a white backdropGLASGOW LIFE
The 18-carat gold trophy vanished last year

A 71-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft of a historic gold trophy from Glasgow's Riverside Museum.

The Lipton Cup was presented to the businessman, philanthropist and yachting enthusiast Sir Thomas Lipton in 1930 in recognition of his sportsmanship but was stolen in October last year.

Police Scotland did not publicise the robbery until April over fears the trophy, said to be worth nearly £500,000, would be destroyed.

The force confirmed the man was arrested on Thursday and later released without charge.

Officers said inquiries about the theft - which has been flagged to Interpol as a stolen artefact - were continuing.

Getty Images Riverside Museum - a modern steel and glass building which resembles waves - next to a traditional sailing ship Getty Images
The Riverside Museum is one of Glasgow's most popular tourist attractions

The 18-carat gold cup was presented to Glaswegian merchant Sir Thomas Lipton in New York in December 1930, following his fifth and final unsuccessful attempt to win the America's Cup - the premier international prize in yacht racing.

While the America's Cup eluded him, a public appeal launched to fund an alternative trophy for a man whose humour and good grace in defeat had seen him dubbed the "world's most cheerful loser."

Thousands of Americans contributed. Donors included future US president Franklin D Roosevelt and miners from Utah who supplied 25kg of silver which was used by Tiffany's to construct the trophy's base.

The two-handled cup itself was made of solid gold, decorated with shamrocks in recognition of the names of his yachts, with the inscription "To the Gamest Loser in the World of Sport".

Lipton was 82 at the time, and he died the following year after which the trophy was donated to his home city of Glasgow.

The theft occurred overnight between 22 and 23 October last year, and there were no signs of the building having been broken into.

The missing cup - valued at £490,000 - was only noticed following cleaning on the morning of 23 October.

It is described as gold with two handles and a detachable domed lid, set on top of a silver square plinth base. It has an enamelled red, white and blue shield and gold ropework.

Police have urged anyone with information about the theft to come forward.