AN Addingham resident is hoping that our readers may be able to help her solve a 91-year-old family mystery

Catherine Chadwick is trying to trace the origin of a silver trophy which has been handed down for generations in her family.

The hallmarked trophy, in the shape of a silver coffee pot, is dated 1914 and was awarded for the Open Sheep Dog Trials and won by a Mr L Ackroyd.

It was originally in the possession of Catherine's great aunt, Mrs Winnifred Robertshaw who passed it down to her sister Alice Hardy, who was Catherine's grandmother.

Alice gave it to Miss Chadwick for safekeeping before she died in August 2004. This prompted Miss Chadwick, 38, to find out how and why the trophy came to be in the care of her great aunt as she was unaware of any family connection.

At the recent Nidderdale Show, investigations were made and 95-year-old Jack Suttill, who still competes at the show in the sheep dog trials, rememberd an Ackroyd running his dogs at Ripley Show in the 1920s.

Miss Chadwick, 38, of Moorside Lane, Addingham Moorside, said: "I have been trying to find out its origin and how come we have got it."

The trail has been getting a bit warmer lately, said Miss Chadwick. "One of my relatives seems to remember a former farm manager at High Royds in Menston, who was called Ackroyd, so he might be related."

If anyone has any more clues to help Miss Chadwick in her investigation they can contact her on 01943 830397.