Suffolk Championships

Suffolk Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameSaxmundham Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (1883-93)
Suffolk Championships (1894–1968)
TourPre-Open era tour (1883-1968)
Founded1883 f. 1893
Abolished1968
Editions85
LocationSaxmundham
SurfaceGrass

The Suffolk Championships[1] was an open international tennis tournament for both men and women held at Saxmundham, Suffolk, England founded in 1883 as the Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament. In 1893 it was elevated to a county-level event and renamed as the Suffolk County Championships.[2] The championships ran until 1968 when it ceased to be part of ILTC worldwide tennis circuit.

History

On 12 August 1883 an annual open Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament was established at Hurts Hall Park, Saxmundham, Suffolk, England that ran until 1893.[3] that was a featured event on the Men's 1883 Tennis Tour. The winner of the first men's singles title was William Bolding Monement who defeated J.M. Wilkinson in straight sets.[4]

Also in August 1883 an annual Framlingham Tennis Tournament was also established by the Framlingham LTC, and played on the Hurts Hill Courts, Hurts Hill Park, Saxmundham, Suffolk, England that ran until 1914. It was not staged throughout World War One. It resumed in 1919 and that event also carried the title of Suffolk Championships for that year, and in 1922. The Framlingham event continued to be held at Hurts Hall Park, Saxmundham until 1936, when it was moved to the tennis courts of the Framlingham College Grounds at Framlingham (a distance of 17 miles) until the start of World War Two.

In 1884 the Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament women's singles event was won by Miss M. Marriott who beat Miss G. Rant in two straight sets. In 1893 the event was renamed the Suffolk Championships,[5] the first official winners of the men's single title was Mr Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith,[6] and the women's singles tile Miss Alice Simpson Pickering.

From 1915 the championships being organised and staged by the Saxmundham LTC were not held until 1920 due to World War One. From 1923 until the out break of World War Two in 1939 championships continued to be held in Saxmundham. After World War Two the Framlingham LTC took over responsibility for organising the Suffolk Championships at Framlingham College until 1983. The Framlingham Open Lawn Tennis Tournament a distinct event was staged alongside this event until 1981.[7] The event is still played today under its original name, but is no longer a senior tour level event.

In the men's singles event Herbert Roper Barrett was the most successful player he won 17 titles,[8] out of 18 finals between 1898 and 1921 which remains today an all time record for most finals at a single tennis tournament.[9]

Finals

Men's singles

Incomplete roll included:[10][11]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883 William Bolding Monement M. Wilkinson 6-1, 6-1
1884 Francis William Monement Maurice Welldon 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
1885 Charles Richard Longe Herbert Davy Longe 6-1, 6-0
1886 William Herbert Cohen Oswald Milne 7-5, 7-5
1887 Benjamin Arthur Cohen George K. Barnabas Norman 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
1888 George K. Barnabas Norman A. Hewetson 6-1, 6-4
1889 Lionel James Easton John David Wallich 6-4, 5-6, 6-3
1890 Charles Gladstone Allen Roy Allen 7-5, ret.
1891 Charles Gladstone Allen Roy Allen w.o.
1892 Mr. G. Williams Charles Gladstone Allen ?
Suffolk County Championships
1893 Mr. G. Williams Roy Allen 6-4, 6-1, 10-8
1894 Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith Robert Baldock Scott 6-2, 6-2, 6-5
1895 Roy Allen Sydney Howard Smith 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, ret.
1896 Roy Allen (2) Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith 6-0, 6-2
1897 Laurie Doherty Jack Ridding 6-3, 8-6, 4-6, 6-1
1898 Herbert Roper Barrett Charles Percy Dixon 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
1899 Herbert Roper Barrett (2) Charles Percy Dixon 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
1900 Charles Percy Dixon Roy Allen 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
1901 Charles Percy Dixon (2) Charles O. S. Hatton 6-1, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
1902 Herbert Roper Barrett (3) Charles Percy Dixon 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
1903 Roy Allen (3) Herbert Roper Barrett 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
1904 Herbert Roper Barrett (4) Roy Allen 6-4, 6-4
1905 Herbert Roper Barrett (5) Roy Allen 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
1906 Herbert Roper Barrett (6) C.E. Hunter 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
1907 Herbert Roper Barrett (7) Alfred Beamish 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
1908 Herbert Roper Barrett (8) Frank Roe 6-1, 6-0
1909 Herbert Roper Barrett (9) Charles S. Gordon-Smith[12] 6-1, 6-1, 6-1
1910 Herbert Roper Barrett (10) Oswald Charles Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
1914/1918 Not held (due to World War One)
Suffolk Championships
1919 Herbert Roper Barrett (11) Frank Herbert Jarvis 6-2, 6-2
1920 Herbert Roper Barrett (12) Hugh Davies 6-0, 6-2
1921 Herbert Roper Barrett (13) Axel Berg Gravem[13] 6-2, 6-1
1922 Randolph Lycett Axel Berg Gravem 6-2, 6-1
1923 Randolph Lycett (2) Michael Drone 6-1, 6-0
1924 Randolph Lycett (3) Donald McNeil Greig 7-5, 7-5
1925 Randolph Lycett (4) Bunny Austin 6-3, 6-3
1926 Bunny Austin Randolph Lycett 6-2, 9-9 ret.
1927 Randolph Lycett (5) Colonel Penn 6-2, 6-1
1928 Randolph Lycett (6) F.C. Dawnay 8-6, 6-2
1929 Norman Horace Latchford[14] P.H. Sidney 6-4, 6-2
1930 Norman Horace Latchford (2) M. Barrington 6-3, 6-4
1931 Norman Horace Latchford (3) Victor Alexander Cazalet 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
1932 Jimmy Redall Brian Finnigan 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
1933 Jimmy Redall (2) Charles Edgar Hare 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1934 Jimmy Redall (2) Cecil H. Elkington-Betts 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1935 Charles Edgar Hare Jimmy Redall 13-11, 6-1
1936 Murray Deloford E.A. Pearce 6-2, 6-1
1937 Choy Wai-Chuen Harold A. Hare[15] 6-1, 9-7
1938 Jack Piercy John T. Bouverie Leader 6-3, 6-0
1939 Gordon Fitt John T. Bouverie Leader 6-0, 6-4
1940/1946 Not held (due to world war one)
1947 Gordon Fitt (2) Raymond Victor Fontes 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
1948 C.M. Rudland A.H. Boar 6-2, 6-2
1949 Percy Rosberg Teddy Bostock 6-3, 7-5
1950 V. Schmidt Bo Andersson[16] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
1951 Freddie Beer L.E. Ahlberg 9-7, 12-10
1952 L. Garfoe Robert (Bobby) Nicholl[17] 2-6, 8-6, 6-3
Open era
1968 J.S. Wootton Dick Knight 6-3, 9-11, 6-3

Women's singles

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883 Georgina Rant Laura Davy 6-0, 6-2
1884 May Marriott Georgina Rant 6-1, 6-1
1885 Georgina Rant (2) Edith Austin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
1886 Georgina Rant(3) A. Forster 6-4, 6-5
1887 Kate Barkley Edith Austin 6-2, 6-4
1888 Miss Norman Edith Austin 6-1, 6-2
1889 Winifred Kersey Helen Kersey 6-1. 6-5
1890 Edith Coleridge Cole Alice Parr 6-4, 6-2
1891 Winifred Kersey (2) Miss Carter 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Suffolk County Championships
1893 Elsie Lane Henrietta Horncastle 6-3, 6-1
1894 Alice Simpson Pickering Alice Parr 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
1895 Elsie Lane Alice Simpson Pickering 6-2, 7-5
1896 Henrietta Horncastle Henrica Ridding 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
1897 Mrs Horace White Constance Bloxsome 6-4, 6-4
1898 Henrietta Horncastle Miss Bush 1-6, 8-6, 7-5
1899 Beryl Tulloch Mrs A. Paine 6-2, retd.
1900 Winifred Longhurst Beryl Tulloch 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
1901 Winifred Longhurst (2) Ruth Dyas Durlacher 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
1902 Connie Wilson Agnes Morton 7-5, 6-3
1903 Connie Wilson (2) Edith Austin Greville 6-4, 6-2
1904 Connie Wilson (3) Alice Greene 6-2, 7-5
1905 Miss Tootell Mrs C.E. Hunter 6-0, 6-3
1906 Agnes Morton Connie Wilson walkover
1907 Agnes Morton (2) E. Boyce 6-0, 6-2
1908 Agnes Morton (3) E. Boyce 6-3, 6-2
1909 Agnes Morton (4) Dorothy Holman 6-1, 6-1
1910 Agnes Morton (5) Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6-1, 6-2
1911 Agnes Morton (6) Daisy Clark Kercheval-Hole 6-1 6-4
1912 Agnes Morton (7) Elizabeth Ryan divided prizes
1913 Agnes Morton (8) Elizabeth Ryan 8-6, 6-0
1914 Agnes Morton (9) Geraldine Ramsey Beamish 6-1, 6-4
1915/1918 Not held (due to world war one)
Suffolk Championships
1919 Phyllis Carr Satterthwaite Dorothy Shepherd 6-4, 6-0
1920 Dorothy Kemmis-Betty Mrs J.E. Vere Elliott 6-1, 7-5
1921 Dorothy Holman E. Tanner 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
1922 Dorothy Holman (2) Ermyntrude Harvey 6-1, 6-1
1923 Dorothy Holman (3) Ermyntrude Harvey 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
1924 Ermyntrude Harvey Joan Ridley 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
1925 Joan Austin Lycett Elieen Bennett 7-5, 8-6
1926 Ermyntrude Harvey (2) Betty Nuthall 6-4, 6-3
1927 Joan Austin Lycett Dorothy Biddle 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
1928 Ermyntrude Harvey (3) Joan Austin Lycett 6-1, 6-3
1929 C. Turner Mrs P. Carthew 10-8, 7-5
1930 Freda Scott Ermyntrude Harvey 6-8, 7-5, 6-2
1931 Freda Scott (2) Ermyntrude Harvey 9-7, 6-3
1932 Freda Scott (3) Dorothy Biddle de Winton 6-0, 6-1
1933 Dorothy Biddle de Winton M. Cleland 6-4, 11-9
1934 Nancy Kidson Freda Scott 6-2, 6-0
1935 Joan Ridley Nancy Kidson Fontes 6-2, 6-1
1936 Nancy Kidson Fontes (2) Nancy Palmer Edwards 10-8, 7-5
1937 Mrs H.J. Edwards J. Rudland 6-2, 7-9, 6-1
1938 Freda Scott Underwood (3) Betty Batt 8-6, 6-3
1940/1945 Not held (due to world war one)
1947 D. Gaskell D. Sutcliffe 6-8, 6-2, 6-4
1948 Jean Nicoll Bostock Wendy Stork 6-1, 6-2
1949 Wendy Stork D. Gaskell 6-4, 6-2
1950 Joan Ross-Dilley Andrea Ross-Dilley 11-9, 9-11, 6-3
1951 Joan Ross-Dilley (2) Andrea Ross-Dilley 8-10, 6-4, 9-7
1952 D E Gaskell Mrs T E Burrows 5-7, 6-1, 11-9
1953 Elaine Watson Gladys Southwell Lines 6-0, 6-4
1954 C. Vincent D. Gaskell 7-5, 6-4
1955 Valerie Pitt Christine Truman 6-1, 0-6, 6-2
1956 Jill Rook Christine Truman 6-4, 7-5
1957 Jill Rook (2) Jean-Nicoll-Bostock 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
1958 Norma Marsh Jean Knight 6-2, 6-3
1959 Joan Stedman Mrs A. Robinson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
1960 Vivienne Cox Honor Durose 6-2, 6-2
1961 Margaret H. O'Donnell Vivienne Cox 6-1, 6-4
1962 Elizabeth Terry[18] B. Nicholson 6-1, 6-1
1963 Robin Blakelock-Lloyd Nell Truman 6-2, 6-2
1964 Nell Truman Janet French [19] 6-2 6-2
1965 Stephanie Percival Janet French 7-5, 6-4
1966 Joan Stedman Penny Hardgrave[20] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Open era
1969 Marjorie Love Sue Minford 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
1970 Shirley Bloomer Brasher Penny Hardgrave 10-8, 6-1
1973 Diane (Di)Riste[21] Mrs L. Fulcher 6-2, 6-2
1974 Marjorie Love (2) Julia Lloyd 6-2, 6-2
1975 Julia Lloyd [22] R. Hassell 3-6 6-1, 6-2
1976 Julia Lloyd Jacqueline Boothman 6-2, 6-2
1977 Jo Sheridan[23] Mrs L. Fulcher 3-6 6-1 6-1
1978 Elizabeth Locke Mrs G. Chambers 6-1, 6-2
1979 J. Lilley A. Loughrey 7-5, 6-3
1980 Christa Pickwick A. Loughrey 6-0, 6-2
1981 Z. Kent J. Lilley 6-0, 7-6
1983 J. Stamper A. Loughrey 6-7, 6-1, 10-8

References

  1. ^ "Most finals played at a single tennis tournament". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Framlingham Tennis Week: The Suffolk championships opened at Framlingham on Monday, being the 57th annual week. Over 150 players signed on for action early in the day. Over 600 matches will have to be settled in the week, at a rate of over 100 a day". Diss Express. Norfolk, England: British Newspaper Archive. 11 August 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Saxmundham". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Saxmundham 1883". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Suffolk Championships". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Suffolk Championships 1894". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ^ "Play held up in Framlingham's annual tennis tournament: Attracting over 200 entries this year rather more than last the old-established Framlingham Lawn Tennis Tournament, which includes the Suffolk Championship singles". Diss Express. Norfolk, England: British Newspaper Archive. 18 August 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Roper Barrett Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Sport Reference LLC. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Most finals played at a single tennis tournament". guinnessworldrecords.com. Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Tournament – Saxmundham". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives.
  11. ^ "Tournament – Suffolk Championships". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. ^ "C.S. Gordon-Smith; Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Axel Gravem : Bio". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Norman Latchford :Overview". ATP Tour. ATP.
  15. ^ "Harold Hare: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. ^ Lawn Tennis Association, United States (1952). "American Lawn Tennis". American Lawn Tennis. 46. New York: Rea Publications: 26.
  17. ^ "Robert Nicoll: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Player Profile: Elizabeth Terry". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Hall of Fame: Janet French". serveandreturnchicago.org. Serve & Return Chicago. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Player Profile: Penelope Hardgrave". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Di Riste". www.eurosport.com. Euro Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Player Profile: Julia Lloyd". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Player Profile: Jo Sheridan". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.