Large Trophies for Major Sporting Events: Choosing the Right Championship Award

Large Trophies for Major Sporting Events: Choosing the Right Championship Award

For a major sporting event, the right championship award should look important on stage, reflect the significance of the achievement and provide enough space for meaningful personalisation. Large trophies for major sporting events can include prestige cups, traditional sports trophies, custom-made designs and perpetual awards.

The best choice is not automatically the tallest trophy available. It is the award that suits the competition, presentation setting, recipient and intended future use.

Before ordering, decide whether the trophy will be kept by the winner or returned each season, who will receive it, where it will be presented and what information needs to appear on it. These decisions will help you select the right proportions, base, materials and personalisation.

Burswood Trophies supplies sporting awards from its showroom at Unit 5, 285 Great Eastern Highway, Burswood WA 6100. Perth customers can compare options in person and collect their orders, while customers elsewhere can arrange Australia-wide delivery.

What Makes a Trophy Suitable for a Major Championship?

A championship trophy needs more than physical size. It should create a clear focal point during the presentation while still feeling connected to the sport and achievement.

A suitable major-event award generally has:

• Enough visual presence for a stage, podium or team photograph

• A stable base suited to the trophy’s height and weight

• A design appropriate for the competition’s level and character

• Room for the event name, award title and winner’s details

• Finishes and colours that complement the organisation or event

• A practical plan for transport, display and storage

Proportions are just as important as height. A tall trophy on a narrow base may look less substantial than a slightly shorter cup with a well-balanced body, prominent handles and a solid base. Consider the complete silhouette rather than relying on height alone.

Choose the Type of Championship Award First

Prestige or Championship Cups

A large cup is a widely recognised symbol of sporting victory. It works particularly well for grand finals, overall champions and major team competitions.

Handles, a lid or a multi-tiered base can give a cup greater presentation impact while maintaining a traditional appearance. Gold, silver and contrasting finishes can also help distinguish different levels of achievement.

Start by comparing the complete cups range and the more formal prestige cups. Consider how the award will look when lifted by the winner as well as when displayed in a clubhouse, school or office.

Sport-Specific Trophies

A sport-specific trophy can make the purpose of the award immediately clear. Figures, sporting equipment and themed components can suit events where organisers want the award to reflect the game rather than use a traditional cup.

The trophies collection includes options across numerous sports. A coordinated award family may also be useful when an event requires one major championship trophy plus smaller awards for runners-up, best player, coaches or divisional winners.

Perpetual Championship Trophies

For an annual competition, a perpetual trophy can record the event’s history over multiple seasons. The trophy generally remains with the club, school or organising body, with each winner added over time.

When reviewing perpetual trophies, look beyond the first engraving plate. Consider:

• How many future winners need to be recorded

• How and where new names will be added

• Who will be responsible for storing the trophy

• Whether the trophy will be displayed throughout the year

• Whether each winner will also receive a smaller keepsake trophy or medal

Allowing for future engraving from the beginning helps prevent the award from running out of usable space after only a few seasons.

Custom-Manufactured Awards

A custom award may be appropriate when the championship has an established identity, distinctive branding or presentation requirements that cannot be met by a standard design.

Burswood Trophies can manufacture trophies when required, and its engraving and personalisation work is completed in-house.

A useful custom trophy brief should explain:

• The sport and type of event

• Who will receive the award

• The preferred style or overall appearance

• The organisation’s colours and branding

• The required wording

• Whether a logo needs to be included

• How and where the trophy will be presented

• The intended presentation date

Reference images can help communicate the preferred style. However, the finished award should still be designed around practical engraving, handling and display requirements.

Match the Trophy Size to the Presentation

The presentation setting affects how large a trophy needs to feel. An award presented in a clubroom at close range has different visual requirements from one displayed on a wide stage in front of a large audience.

Before selecting the size, consider the following factors.

Viewing Distance

Will guests see the trophy from the back of a hall, grandstand or outdoor presentation area? A larger cup or award with a strong silhouette may be easier to recognise from a distance.

The Recipient

Will one athlete carry the trophy, or will an entire team gather around and lift it? A team championship award may need greater visual presence, but it should still be practical to handle safely.

Event Photography

Will the trophy remain visible against uniforms, sponsor walls and a busy stage backdrop? Reflective finishes, contrasting colours and a well-proportioned shape can help the award stand out in presentation photographs.

Transport

Consider how organisers will safely transport the award to the venue and whether the recipient can reasonably take it away. A very large trophy may need careful packing, additional support or an agreed storage plan.

Long-Term Display

Think about where the trophy will be displayed after the event. Check whether there is enough room in the clubhouse, school reception area, office or trophy cabinet.

If possible, compare shortlisted awards side by side rather than judging their size from isolated product photographs. Burswood Trophies’ physical showroom allows Perth organisers to inspect the scale, finish, stability and engraving space of different awards before making a decision.

Plan the Engraving Before Confirming the Trophy

Personalisation should be considered during trophy selection rather than added as an afterthought. A large trophy may appear to offer plenty of room, but handles, decorative components and base proportions can limit the practical engraving area.

Decide which details are essential. These may include:

• Competition or championship name

• Division, grade or age group

• Award title

• Winning team or athlete

• Year or event date

• Club, association or event logo

Keep the information hierarchy clear. The championship name and award title should generally be easier to identify than secondary details.

If the wording is long, it may be better to divide it across an engraved plate and another personalised element rather than reducing everything to text that is difficult to read.

Burswood Trophies completes laser engraving, dye sublimation, glass etching, hand engraving and full-colour glass printing in-house. The most appropriate method will depend on the trophy’s material, the supplied artwork and the intended finish.

Instead of choosing a personalisation process in isolation, ask which option will reproduce the required details most effectively on the award you are considering.

Always proofread names, grades, dates and sponsor details carefully before approving the order. For team or multi-division events, provide the information in a consistent format so omissions and mismatched wording are easier to identify.

Create a Coordinated Sporting Awards Set

A major sporting event rarely requires only one trophy. The championship award may be presented alongside runner-up trophies, medals, individual honours or recognition for coaches, officials and volunteers.

Plan the complete award list before ordering. The largest trophy can serve as the visual centrepiece, while related awards repeat its colours, shapes or materials at a smaller scale. This creates a coordinated presentation without making every award identical.

A practical awards hierarchy might include:

• One large championship trophy or cup

• A runner-up award in a related but clearly smaller design

• Individual player or participant trophies

• Medals for members of the winning team

• Separate awards for best player, best on ground or another defined achievement

• Recognition for coaches, officials or volunteers where appropriate

The number and type of awards should follow the event’s actual structure. Avoid adding unnecessary categories simply to fill the presentation program.

Common Mistakes When Ordering Large Sporting Trophies

Selecting the Trophy by Height Alone

Height is only one part of presentation impact. Shape, width, base size, material and finish all influence how substantial an award appears.

Forgetting About Future Winners

A perpetual trophy needs enough room for future engraving. An award that works for the first season may become impractical if the available plates fill too quickly.

Overloading the Design

Multiple logos, long messages and too many decorative elements can compete for attention. Prioritise the championship identity and the achievement being recognised.

Leaving Important Decisions Too Late

Custom manufacturing, detailed personalisation and approval of multiple award categories all require decisions from organisers. Begin by confirming the event date, award list and required wording before discussing the most appropriate options.

Ignoring the Trophy Handover

Consider who will bring the trophy to the stage, who will present it and how the winner will hold it. A simple rehearsal can prevent an awkward handover, particularly with a tall cup or substantial perpetual award.

Ordering the Main Trophy Separately From Other Awards

Selecting the championship trophy before considering the remaining awards can result in mismatched styles or an unclear hierarchy. Planning the full range together makes it easier to create a consistent presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should a championship trophy be perpetual?

Choose a perpetual trophy when you want to preserve the competition’s history and add a new winner each season. If the winner should keep the award permanently, select a presentation trophy or provide a smaller keepsake alongside the perpetual award.

Is a large cup better than a sport-specific trophy?

Neither option is automatically better. A cup provides a traditional championship appearance, while a sport-specific trophy creates a stronger visual connection to the game. The event’s identity and presentation style should guide the decision.

What information should be engraved on a major sports trophy?

Include the event or competition name, award title, division if relevant, winner and year. Add a logo when it can be reproduced clearly without overcrowding the design.

Can a championship trophy be custom-made?

Yes. Burswood Trophies can manufacture trophies when required. Discuss the concept, branding, wording, quantity and presentation date so the team can advise on a suitable approach.

Can Perth customers view large trophies before ordering?

Yes. Customers can visit the Burswood showroom at Unit 5, 285 Great Eastern Highway, Burswood WA 6100 to browse and compare options. Orders can also be delivered Australia-wide.

Choose an Award That Fits the Achievement

The best large trophies for major sporting events balance visual presence with relevance, legible personalisation and practical handling. Begin with the purpose of the award, decide whether it should be a permanent or perpetual trophy, and assess how it will look in the actual presentation setting.

Burswood Trophies has been operating since 2000 and is owned and run by husband-and-wife team Mick and Charmaine Rogers. With more than 30 years of involvement with sporting clubs, the team understands the practical considerations involved in ordering awards for sporting events. More than 90% of the business’s customers are repeat clients, reflecting its emphasis on service and reliability.

For further guidance, read Presentation Cups: How to Choose an Award for a Major Event.

You can also explore the prestige cups, sporting trophies and perpetual awards available online.

For help comparing a standard trophy with a custom championship award, contact Burswood Trophies or visit the showroom in Burswood.