It was back in 1904 that Harold English Pyman(1876-1917), a local ship-owner in the town of West Hartlepool, who was also a referee famed for being a martinet on the field, presented the trophy for competition among the junior clubs in the Hartlepool and District area.

Pyman went on to become Secretary of the Durham County Referees Society, a post he held until his death in 1917.

Only clubs based within the Hartlepool and District area are eligible to compete for the trophy and this area is defined as being within 8 miles of the Heugh Lighthouse.

Originally it was competed for on a League basis with the Leagues lasting until 1926, when it was suspended by the Durham County RFU due to allegations of payment irregularity over the movement of players!

Since then, the competition has been a knockout competition. It is currently played for by the 1st XVs of clubs at level 9 and below and the 2nd XVs of clubs at level 8 and above.

The competition today is played mainly on Wednesday evenings towards the end of the season. For many years it ran without any formal rules, but the Hartlepool and District Union finally adopted a set of Competition Rules.