British Columbia Championships

British Columbia Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Circuit (1913=69)
Founded1886 (1886)
Abolished1978 (1978)
VenueVictoria Lawn Tennis Club (1887-49)
Victoria Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club (1950-62)
Victoria Racquet Club (1963-78)

The British Columbia Championships[1] also known as the British Columbia Lawn Tennis Championships[2] or the Labatts British Columbia Championships (for sponsorship reasons) was a men's and women's international tennis tournament founded in 1886 as the Victoria Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup.[3] also called the British Columbia Challenge Cup.[4]

It was first played at the Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard, Victoria British Columbia, Canada. The tournament ran as part of ILTF Circuit until 1973. The tournament continued as part of the Satellite Circuit until 1978 when it was discontinued.

History

In 1886 Victoria Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup was played at the naval base of the British Royal Navy in Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard, Esquimalt, Canada. The tournament was then organized by the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club (f. 1884)[5] During the World War I, from 1915 to 1918,[6] the championships were not held. In 1925, 1926, and 1930 the tournament was jointly valid as Canadian International Championships. From 1940 to 1945 the tournament was not held again due to World War II.

In 1973 the event ceased to be a part of the worldwide ILTF Circuit. In 1974 it was downgraded to the Satellite Circuit joining the Western Satellite Circuit. In 1975 it became part of the Pacific Northwest Satellite Tour. In 1976 it was part American Express Western Challenger Circuit. In 1975 the Labatt Brewing Company took over sponsorship the event. In 1977 the tournament was not held. In 1978 in its final year it became part of the Canadian Challenger Circuit then was discontinued.

Venue

The tournament was held at the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club. In 1950 its name was changed to the Victoria Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club.[7] In 1963 the club's name was altered again to the Victoria Racquet Club.[8] The event was played exclusively on grass courts until 1966 when it switched to hard courts.[9]

Finals

Notes 1: Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921),[10] in some tournaments not all.

(CR) Indicates a challenge round was in operation

Men's singles

Included:[11]

Year Champion Runner up Score
British Columbia Challenge Cup
1886 R. H. Handcock Julian Gaisford ?
1887 R. H. Handcock (2) Harvey Coombe 3–0, retd.
British Columbia Lawn Tennis Championships[12]
1888 (CR) John Chawner Williams R. H. Handcock ?
1889 (CR) Charles Longe John Chawner Williams 6–1, 6–0, 6–0
1890 (CR) Charles Longe (2) Harvey Combe 4–6, 6–8, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
1891 (CR) Charles Longe (3) John Fortescue Foulkes 6–8, 6–0, 6–1, 6–3
1892 John Fortescue Foulkes Arthur Longe 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1893 Charles Longe (4) Lancelot Pelly 6–0, 6–1, 6–3
1894 John Fortescue Foulkes (2) Charles Longe 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1895 John Fortescue Foulkes (3) Harvey Combe 2–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1896 John Fortescue Foulkes (4) George Hurd 6–1, 7–5, 6–4
1897 John Fortescue Foulkes (5) George Hurd 6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1898 John Fortescue Foulkes (6) Robert Branks Powell 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1899 (CR) John Fortescue Foulkes (7) Lancelot Pelly 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1900 (CR) John Fortescue Foulkes (8) Robert Powell 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1901 Robert Powell Albert Goward 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1902 (CR) Albert Goward Robert Powell 6–0, 6–1, 6–0
1903 (CR) Robert Powell (2) Albert Goward 7–5, 6–0, 6–3
1904 (CR) Robert Powell (3) Walter Bethel 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 6–1
1905 Capt. Wright Bernie Schwengers 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1906 Joe Tyler Bernie Schwengers 5–7, 6–1, 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1907 (CR) Bernie Schwengers Joe Tyler 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
1908 (CR) Bernie Schwengers (2) Bruce Smith 6–3, 6–1, 6–2
1909 (CR) Joe Tyler (2) Bernie Schwengers 5–7, 6–1, 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1910 (CR) Bernie Schwengers (3) Joe Tyler 6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1911 Joe Tyler (3) Beverly Rhodes 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
1912 (CR) Bill Johnston Joe Tyler 6–0, 7–5, 6–1
1913[13] Joe Tyler (4) Herbert Garrett 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1914 Bernie Schwengers (4) Henry Breck 6–2, 6–1, 6–4
1915–1918: Not held (due to World War I)
1919 Ashley Stuart Milne R. C. Mercer 10–8, 6–1, 6–2
1920 (CR) Phil Neer Ashley Stuart Milne 3–6, 6–2, 11–9, 6–3
1921 Marshall Allen Carl Gardner 6–4, 6–4, 8–6
1922 (HR) Keith Verley Marshall Allen 8–6, 5–7, 7–5, 6–3
1923 Keith Verley (2) John Proctor 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–3
1924 Ray Casey Ed Chandler 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1925 Leroy Rennie Marsh Gordon 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1926 Leon de Turenne Wallace Scott 6–4, 6–3, 6–0
1927 John Risso Bradshaw Harrison 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1928 Bradshaw Harrison Leon de Turenne 6–3, 3–6, 9–7, 6–1
1929 Jerry Bartosh Kurt Berndt 6–3, 6–1, 10–8
1930 Joe Coughlin Henry Prusoff 6–2, 4–6, 8–6, 6–3
1931 Henry Prusoff Laurason Driscoll 10–8, 1–6, 6–0, 7-5
1932 Henry Prusoff (2) John Murio 6:2, 6:3, 6:2
1933 John Murio Charlie Hunt 6–3, 6–2, 6-2
1934 Mel Dranga Wayne Sabin 6–0, 8–6, 6-1
1935 Gene Smith Dick Bennett 8-6, 6–2, 7-5
1936 John Murio (2) Verne Hughes 6–4, 6–1, 6-4
1937 Dick Bennett Morton Ballogh 6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 5–7, 6-2
1938 Mel Dranga (2) Bobby Caruthers 6:3, 2:6, 2:6, 6:2, 6:1
1939 Eddie Amark Tate Coulthard 7–5, 6–4, 6-3
1940–1945: No held (due to World War II)
British Columbia Championships
1946 Bud Gilmore Sam Lee 5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6-1
1947 Arnold Beisser Merwin Miller 6–4, 6–4, 6-1
1948 John Fleitz Jack Lowe 2–6, 6–4, 6–1, 7-5
1949 Jim Kroesen Jack Shoemaker 6–4, 11–13, 7–5, 6-4
1950 Lorne Main Ed Kauder 6–2, 7–5, 6-1
1951 Merwin Miller Paul Willey 7–9, 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 6-3
1952 Jerry DeWitts Fred Fisher 7–5, 6–2, 6-0
1953 Jim Demas Stanley Hack 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6-0
1954 Seth Petersen Jim Demas 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 8-6
1955 Harry Buttimer Joe Woolfson 6–4, 4–6, 6-1
1956 Paul Willey Bill Rose 6–2, 6–0, 6-3
1957 Merwin Miller (2) Gordon Davis 6–4, 6–3, 6-2
1958 Jim Watson Bill Rose 4–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7-5
1959 Bill Hoogs Jr. Dale Rohland 6–1, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6-2
1960 Bobby Delgado Forrest Stewart 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 6-2
1961 Yoshi Minegishi Paul Welles 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6-3
1962 Dave Sanderlin Chuck Rambeau 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6-4
1963 Jerry Cromwell Bob Sherman 6–4, 3–6, 6-4
1964 Jaime Subirats Steve Tidbal 6–3, 6-3
1965 Dick Leach Jack Neer 7–5, 7-5
1966 Bob Puddiecombe Don McCormick 6–2, 6–4, 12-10
1967 Tom Muench Doug Verdieck 1–6, 6–4, 6-0
1968 Jim Parker Bill Tym 11–9, 8-6
Open era
1969 Pierce Kelley Craig Hardy 6–3, 6-2
1970 Steve Cornell Mike Mullan 6–2, 6-2
1971[14] Avery Rush Manuel Castenada 6–4, 7-5
1972 Chip Fisher Peter Campbell 6–3, 6-2
1973 João Soares Bill Hoover 6–1, 6-4
1974 Chip Fisher (2) Jerry Van Linge 4–6, 7–5, 7-6
Labatts British Columbia Championships
1975 Dave Kanter Stan Pasarell 7–6, 6-3
1976 Paul McNamee Dick Bohrnstedt 7–6, 6-3
1977: Event not held
1978 Bill Lloyd Bruce Kleege 6–2, 6-1

References

  1. ^ "HISTORY: TENNIS IN VICTORIA IN THE EARLY DAYS". clubspark.ca. Oak Bay Tennis Club. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Mrs Williamson Wins Net Crown". Eureka Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California: Newspaper Archives. 4 August 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ Kendrick, Martyn; Canada (Association), Tennis (1990). Advantage Canada : a Tennis Centenary. Toronto: Tennis Canada. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-9691122-4-2.
  4. ^ Historical Committee, USTA/PNW (20 February 2013). "History of Tennis in the Pacific Northwest" (PDF). irvingtonclub.com/. Irvington Club. p. 4. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ Kendrick (1990)
  6. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  7. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  8. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  9. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  10. ^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Tournament – British Columbia Championship". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ^ Historical Committee, USTA/PNW (20 February 2013). "History of Tennis in the Pacific Northwest" (PDF). irvingtonclub.com/. Irvington Club. p. 4.
  13. ^ "Financial Conditions". Victoria Daily British Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia.: Newspaper Archives. 11 November 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Sports Shorts". Austin Daily Texan. Austin, Texas: Newspaper Archives. 10 August 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 14 April 2023.