The Wooden Spoon is generally awarded to the person who comes last in a contest. The custom started at Cambridge University in 1811. Each year there were three classes of honours degrees awarded. The first class winners were called Wranglers and were said to have been born with a golden spoon in their mouth. Then came the Senior Optimes (silver spoons) and the finally the Junior Optimes (lead spoons). The graduate who came last in the Junior Optimes was called the "wooden spoon" and the University adopted the ritual of presenting a wooden spoon to this graduate.