The Sassoon Cup was inaugurated in 1927 by the Under-Secretary of State for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon who presented the cup
.....to be competed for by the fighter squadrons of Air Defences....
As reported in "Flight" here:
northolt | 1927 | 0399 | Flight Archive
THE Under-Secretary of State for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, has presented a cup to be competed for by the fighter squadrons of Air Defences. The conditions this year were a race of approximately 100 miles, each of the squadrons being represented by one machine. The machines were handicapped according to type. Each machine was to fly carrying ordinary service equipment but without such accessories as bomb-rack and radio telephony gear. Competitors had to climb at once to 2,000 ft. and were not allowed to fly below that altitude until they dived for the finishing line.
The race was held on May 26 with start and finish at Northolt aerodrome. The weather was perfect with a very light north-east breeze which scarcely filled the "stocking" at Northolt. The course was Northolt, Duxford, Halton, Northolt. Nine squadrons entered machines which are given on page 363 grouped in types.
Sir Philip Sassoon, Air Vice-Marshal Brooke - Popham, Commanding Fighting Area, and numerous senior officers were present.
The Gamecocks started scratch; the Grebes received 1 min. 14 secs the Siskin 2 mins. 57 secs., and the Woodcocks 3 mins. 33 secs. Performance figures of service aircraft are rarely published and members of the public who wish to take an intelligent interest in the equipment of the Royal Air Force do not find it easy to do so. These handicaps will give them some enlightenment; but it should be borne in mind that certain squadrons specialise on night-flying, which affects their racing speed. Pilots who have to go up to meet night raiders find good climb more useful than high speed.
The handicapping proved most successful, despite the fact that all the Gamecocks more than caught their handicap. The three of them came in together with but fractions of seconds separating them. But the next four machines, namely, the Siskin, a Woodcock, and two Grebes were very close behind, and it was certainly a very good finish. The winner was Flying Officer A. H. Montgomery of No. 32 Fighter Squadron from Kenley.
The complete order of finishing was :-
No. 32 [Sqn] Gamecock.
43 Gamecock.
23 Gamecock.
41 Siskin.
3 Woodcock.
25 Grebe.
19 Grebe.
17 Woodcock.
29 Grebe.
Flying-Officer 'Montgomery completed the course in 42 mins. 27 secs, at an average speed of 155 m.p.h. The Siskin made a speed of 142 m.p.h., the first of the Woodcocks 139 m.p.h., and the leading Grebe 136 m.p.h. The winner will give a special demonstration at the Royal Air Force Display on 'July 2 [1927].
The Flight article above contains some splendid photos of the event.