South of England Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameSouth of England Championships
Founded1881 (1881)
Abolished1972 (1972)
Editions82
LocationEastbourne
United Kingdom
VenueDevonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceGrass / outdoors

The South of England Championships, also known as the South of England Open Championships, was an outdoor tennis event held on grass courts at the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club in Eastbourne, United Kingdom from 1881 until 1972.[1][2]

History

The competition at Eastbourne, even from its early beginnings, was considered one of the most prestigious tournaments that attracted large entries and matches even in those days [3] and it was the world's largest tournament in terms of participants at the turn of the twentieth century.

Women's tennis

The first tournament to be staged at Devonshire Park was a women's event in 1881,[4] known as the South of England Championships, and usually held every September. Winners of the lady's singles championships included Dorothea Chambers, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, and Charlotte Cooper Sterry, May Langrishe. The first overseas non British Isles winner was the American Elizabeth Ryan in collecting 3 consecutive titles (1919–21); after World War One she was followed by the South African Irene Peacock in 1923 and Anita Lizana from Chile in 1936.

Following World War Two tennis British winners included Ann Haydon and Shirley Bloomer the Brazilian player Maria Bueno the Australian player Fay Toyne was the last foreign ladies champion before the advent of the open era in 1968 the South of England Championships changed schedule to July until 1969 after the Championships at Wimbledon in 1970 its schedule changed again so that it was held before Wimbledon the South of England Championships continued until 1967.

From 1968 until today the tournament has attracted many different sponsors.

In 1968 it was known as the Rothman's Invitational for sponsorship reasons from 1969 to 1972 it was called the Eastbourne Invitational, the event ceased in 1972.

Men's tennis

The first Men’s events started in 1881 also called the South of England Championships early winners of the men's championship included Wilfred Baddeley, Sydney Howard Smith, Josiah Ritchie, Anthony Wilding, Otto Froitzheim and Ken Rosewall it continued until 1967 before being renamed for sponsorship reasons in 1968 from 1970 to 1973 the men's tournament was known as the Rothmans South of England Open Championships.[5] The men's event also ceased in 1973.

Tennis after 1973

In 1974 the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis club decided on a completely new format tennis tournament and re-branding of tennis at Eastbourne from the outcome of staging the South of England Championships that became known as the Eastbourne International the tournament is still active today.

Past finals

Notes: 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) [6] in some tournaments not all.

* Indicates challenger

Blanche Bingley Hillyard[7] holds the record for the most women's singles titles with 11.

Singles

Ladies' final between Hillyard and Cooper Sterry

Women

Year Champion Runner-up Score Name
1881England Agnes Noon WattsEngland E. Hudson(2-1 sets)South of England Championships
1882England E. HudsonEngland Minnie Congreve6–2, 6–4
1883England M. LeslieEngland Minnie Congreve10–8, 6–4
1884England Frances BurtonEngland Nellie Burton6–2, 6–4
1885 [8]England Blanche BingleyEngland Ada Strapp6–1, 6–0
1886 [8]England Margaret BracewellEngland Blanche Bingley6–1, 6–3
1887England Margaret Bracewell (2) England Blanche Bingley6–4, 6–2
1888England Blanche Bingley (2) England Margaret Bracewell6–1, 6–1
1889Ireland May LangrisheEngland May Jacks6–2, 5–7, 6–1
1890Ireland May Langrishe (2) England Edith Coleridge Cole6–2, 6–3
1891England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (3) Ireland May Langrishe2–6, 7–5, 6–0
1892England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4) United Kingdom Bertha Steedman6–1, 6–4
1893England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (5) England Maud Shackle6–1, 4–6, 15–13
1894United Kingdom Helen JacksonUnited Kingdom Charlotte Cooper6–4, 6–2
1895England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (6) United Kingdom Helen Jackson6–4, 6–1
1896England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (7) England Edith Austin6–3, 4–6, 6–1
1897United Kingdom Charlotte CooperEngland Blanche Bingley Hillyard6–4, 6–0
1898England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (8) United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper7–5, 7–5
1899England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (9) United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper6–2, 6–2
1900England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (10) United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper7–9, 6–3, 6–3
1901United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper (2) England Blanche Bingley Hillyard7–5, 5–7, 6–2
1902United Kingdom Dorothea DouglassEngland Edith Austin Greville6–2, 6–2
1903United Kingdom Connie WilsonUnited Kingdom Dorothea Douglass7–5, 6–2
1904 [9]United Kingdom Dorothea Douglass (2) United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper Sterry6–3, 6–4
1905 [8]England Blanche Bingley Hillyard (11) United Kingdom Agnes Morton7–5, 4–6, 6–3
1906United Kingdom Dorothea Douglass (3) United Kingdom Agnes Morton3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1907United Kingdom Dorothea Douglass Chambers (4) United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper Sterry4–6, 6–3, 7–5
1908United Kingdom Charlotte Cooper Sterry (3) United Kingdom Edith Boucher6–4, 6–2
1909England Dora BoothbyUnited Kingdom Charlotte Cooper Sterry6–3, 6–4
1910United Kingdom Dorothea Douglass Chambers (5) United Kingdom Ethel Thomson Larcombe7–5, 7–5
1911United Kingdom Ethel Thomson LarcombeEngland Dora Boothby7–5, 6–3
1912United Kingdom Ethel Thomson Larcombe (2) United Kingdom Agnes Morton6–1, 6–2
1913United Kingdom Ethel Thomson Larcombe (3) United Kingdom Dorothea Douglass Chambers6–2, 6–4
1914–1918Not held (due to world war one)
1919United States Elizabeth RyanUnited Kingdom Phyllis Satterthwaite6–1, 6–2
1920 [10]United States Elizabeth Ryan (2) England Geraldine Beamish6–2, 4–6, 6–1
1921 [10]United States Elizabeth Ryan (3) South Africa Irene Bowder Peacock6–0, 6–3
1922South Africa Irene Bowder PeacockUnited Kingdom Kathleen McKane6–0, 3–6, 7–5
1923United Kingdom Phoebe HolcroftUnited Kingdom Christine Tyrrell6–3, 6–3
1924United Kingdom Ermyntrude HarveyUnited Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft6–0, 6–8, 6–4
1925United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft Watson (2) United Kingdom Christine Tyrrell2–6, 7–5, 6–3
1926United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft Watson (3) United Kingdom Ermyntrude Harvey6–4, 6–8, 6–2
1927United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft Watson (4) United Kingdom Phyllis Howkins Covell6–2, 6–2
1928United Kingdom Phoebe Holcroft Watson (5) United Kingdom Phyllis Howkins Covell6–1, 6–2
1929United Kingdom Elsie GoldsackIndia Jenny Sandison8–6, 2–6, 6–3
1930England Phyllis MudfordUnited Kingdom Mary Heeley6–2, 7–5
1931United Kingdom Freda JamesEngland Gwen Sterrydivided the title
1932United Kingdom Mary HeeleyUnited Kingdom Florence Ford8–6, 6–2
1933England Phyllis Mudford King (2) United Kingdom Ermyntrude Harvey6–3, 6–1
1934 [11]United Kingdom Dorothy RoundEngland Phyllis Mudford King6–4, 6–1
1935United Kingdom Billie YorkeEngland Susan Noel3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1936 [12]Chile Anita LizanaUnited Kingdom Dorothy Round6–4, 6–2
1937United Kingdom Margaret ScrivenUnited Kingdom Jean Saunders6–1, 6–0
1938England Phyllis Mudford King (3) England Valerie Scott5–7, 6–4, 6–4
1939–1945Not held (due to world war two)
1946United Kingdom Joan CurryUnited Kingdom Betty Clements Hiltondivided the title (rain interruption)
1947United Kingdom Joan Curry (2) United Kingdom Peggy Dawson-Scott6–1, 9–7
1948United Kingdom Jean Walker-SmithUnited Kingdom Gem Hoahing7–5, 6–4
1949United Kingdom Gem HoahingArgentina Mary Terán de Weiss6–4, 6–2
1950United Kingdom Jean Walker-Smith (2) United Kingdom Jean Quertier6–2, 6–2
1951United Kingdom Jean Walker-Smith (3) United Kingdom Angela Mortimer6–2, 6–2
1952United Kingdom Jean Walker-Smith (4) United Kingdom Jean Quertier Rinkel6–3, 6–4
1953United Kingdom Shirley BloomerUnited Kingdom Patricia Harrison7–5, 6–4
1954United Kingdom Shirley Bloomer (2) United Kingdom Patricia Harrison6–8, 7–5, 6–0
1955United Kingdom Anne ShilcockUnited Kingdom Jenny Middleton6–4, 6–2
1956United Kingdom Anne Shilcock (2) United Kingdom Penny Burrell6–1, 6–2
1957United Kingdom Ann HaydonUnited Kingdom Angela Mortimer6–3, 6–4
1958United Kingdom Anne Shilcock (3) United Kingdom Sheila Waters6–0, 6–0
1959United Kingdom Sheila ArmstrongUnited Kingdom Jenny Young6–0, 6–2
1960United Kingdom Rita BentleyUnited Kingdom Lorna Cornell Cawthorn6–4, 6–2
1961United Kingdom Lorna Cornell CawthornDenmark Inge Overgaard3–6, 6–1, 11–9
1962United Kingdom Carole RosserUnited Kingdom Lorna Cornell Cawthorn10–8, 6–2
1963United Kingdom Vivienne DennisUnited Kingdom Heather Allen6–3, 2–6, 7–5
1964Australia Fay ToyneUnited Kingdom Lorna Cornell Cawthorn6–0, 5–7, 6–3
1965United Kingdom Rita Bentley (2) Australia Jill Blackmandivided the title (due to bad weather)
1966United Kingdom Susan TuttUnited Kingdom Anthea Rigby4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1967United Kingdom Lorna Cornell Greville-Collins (2) Australia Margaret Harris6–8, 7–5, 6–1
  Open era  
1968Brazil Maria BuenoAustralia Judy Tegart6–2, 6–4Rothmans Invitational
1969Australia Karen KrantzckeUnited States Betty Ann Grubb6–0, 9–7Eastbourne Invitational
1970United Kingdom Ann Haydon Jones (2) United Kingdom Virginia Wade8–6, 6–1
1971France Françoise DurrAustralia Judy Tegart-Daltondivided the title
1972France Françoise Durr (2) Australia Judy Tegart-Dalton8–6, 6–3
1973Tournament succeeded by Eastbourne International

Men

1890 Men's Singles final between Ziffo and Baldwin
Year Champion Runner-up Score Name
1881 [13]United Kingdom Edgar LubbockUnited Kingdom Robert Braddell6–4, 6–2, 6–0South of England Championships
1882United Kingdom William TaylorUnited Kingdom Teddy Williams8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1883United Kingdom Teddy WilliamsEngland Charles Walder Grinstead6–1, 8–6, 4–6, 7–5
1884United Kingdom Teddy Williams (2) United Kingdom William Taylor ?
1885United Kingdom Ernest LewisUnited Kingdom William Taylor4–6, 7–5, 6–3, 6–3
1886United Kingdom Ernest Lewis (2) United Kingdom Herbert Wilberforce *6–3, 6–4, 6–0
1887United Kingdom Ernest Lewis (3) United Kingdom Herbert Wilberforce *8–6, 7–5, 6–4
1888 [14]United Kingdom Andrew ZiffoUnited Kingdom Harry S. Barlow *4–6, 6–2, 7–5, 6–3
1889United Kingdom Andrew Ziffo (2) United Kingdom Harry Grove *4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 9–7, 6–4
1890United Kingdom Andrew Ziffo (3) United Kingdom James Baldwin *7–9, 6–1, 6–2, 7–5
1891United Kingdom Harry S. BarlowUnited Kingdom Andrew Ziffo *6–3, 7–5, 6–0
1892United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow (2) United Kingdom Wilberforce Eaves *7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1893England Wilfred BaddeleyUnited Kingdom Harry S. Barlow *7–5, 6–0, 6–1
1894England Wilfred Baddeley (2) United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow *6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–1
1895England Wilfred Baddeley (3) England George Hillyard *6–3, 7–9, 7–5, ret.
1896England Wilfred Baddeley (4) United Kingdom Herbert Baddeley *walkover
1897Ireland Joshua PimEngland Lawrence Doherty *3–6, 6–3, 7–5, 6–3
1898England Sydney Howard SmithEngland Lawrence Doherty *6–3, 2–6, 8–6, 7–5
1899England Sydney Howard Smith (2) Ireland Harold Mahony *6–0, 6–3, 6–4
1900England Lawrence DohertyEngland Sydney Howard Smith (2) *6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 6–1
1901England Sydney Howard Smith (3) England Lawrence Doherty *6–3, 7–9, 4–6, 6–4, 1–0, ret.
1902England Sydney Howard Smith (4) United Kingdom Clement Cazalet *6–1, 3–6, 7–5, 6–4
1903England Major RitchieEngland Sydney Howard Smith * ?
1904England Sydney Howard Smith (5) England Major Ritchie *6–0, 6–4, 6–2
1905 [15]Australia Norman BrookesEngland Sydney Howard Smith *8–6, 6–4, 6–2
1906 [14]New Zealand Anthony WildingUnited Kingdom Roderick McNair *6–2, 6–3, 6–2
1907 [14]England George HillyardUnited Kingdom Walter Crawley * ?
1908 [16] New Zealand Anthony Wilding (2) England George Hillyard *walkover
1909Germany Otto FroitzheimGermany Friedrich Wilhelm Rahe6–3, 6–8, 6–4, 7–5
1910 [17]England Gordon LoweEngland Arthur Lowewalkover
1911 [18]United Kingdom Algernon KingscoteAustralia Stanley Doust6–8, 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 6–3
1912 [14]England Arthur LoweAustralia Stanley Doust6–4, 7–9, 6–0, 6–4
1913Republic of Ireland James Cecil ParkeEngland Arthur Lowe6–3, 7–5, 2–6, 6–2
1914–1918Not held (due to world war one)
1919United Kingdom Theodore MavrogordatoKingdom of Romania Nicolae Mișu6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1920 [14]South Africa George DoddUnited Kingdom Alfred Beamish6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1921 [20]South Africa Brian NortonIndia Mohammed Sleem0–6, 6–4, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3
1922South Africa Brian Norton (2) England Gordon Lowe6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3
1923India Cotah RamaswamiEngland Gordon Lowe6–1, 8–6, 10–8
1924India Mohammed SleemEngland Gordon Lowe6–2, 6–1, 6–1
1925United Kingdom Charles KingsleyEngland Gordon Lowe4–6, 6–2, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1926United Kingdom Charles Kingsley (2) United Kingdom Bunny Austinwalkover
1927United Kingdom Bunny AustinWales William Powell6–4, 6–4
1928Japan Yoshiro OtaUnited Kingdom Charles Kingsley3–6, 6–1, 6–0
1929New Zealand Eskel AndrewsUnited Kingdom Keats Lester6–4, 3–6, 6–4
1930 [14]Japan Ryuki MikiUnited Kingdom Charles Kingsley7–5, 6–3
1931Japan Jiro SatoSouth Africa Vernon Kirby6–4, 6–3
1932Republic of Ireland George Lyttleton-RogersIndia Atri Madan Mohan6–8, 6–3, 6–4
1933South Africa Vernon KirbyRepublic of Ireland George Lyttleton-Rogers8–6, 6–2
1934 [11]United Kingdom Nigel SharpeNew Zealand Eskel Andrews6–3, 6–3
1935United Kingdom Robert TinklerUnited Kingdom Clarence Medlycott Jones8–6, 10–8
1936United Kingdom Pat HughesUnited Kingdom Charles Hare2–6, 9–7, 6–1
1937United Kingdom Donald ButlerUnited Kingdom Henry Billington6–3, 6–3
1938United Kingdom Donald Butler (2) United Kingdom Clarence Medlycott Jones6–4, 6–1
1939–1945Not held (due to world war two)
1946United Kingdom Donald Butler (3) Republic of China (1912–1949) Choy Wai-Chuen6–3, 6–4
1947Poland Ignacy TłoczyńskiNew Zealand Jeff Robson6–2, 6–3
1948Poland Czesław SpychałaPoland Ignacy Tłoczyński5–7, 6–4, 8–6
1949Argentina Heraldo WeissUnited Kingdom Donald Butler6–3, 6–2
1950Netherlands Ivo RinkelUnited Kingdom Geoffrey Paish5–7, 7–5, 6–4
1951United Kingdom Geoffrey PaishUnited Kingdom Tony Mottram6–4, 4–6, 6–1
1952United Kingdom Geoffrey Paish (2) United Kingdom Anthony Starte4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1953United Kingdom Geoffrey Paish (3) United Kingdom Robert Lee7–5, 6–0
1954United Kingdom Geoffrey Paish (4) United Kingdom Bobby Wilson6–2, 2–6, 7–5
1955United Kingdom Geoffrey Paish (5) United Kingdom Mike Davies6–4, 6–4
1956United Kingdom Roger BeckerUnited Kingdom Gerald Oakley6–3, 6–1
1957United Kingdom Reginald BennettUnited Kingdom Geoffrey Owen6–3, 6–2
1958United Kingdom Roger Becker (2) United Kingdom Reginald Bennett6–3, 4–6, 6–1
1959United Kingdom Alan MillsUnited Kingdom Mike Hann8–6, 4–6, 6–3
1960Australia Mark OtwayUnited Kingdom John R. McDonald6–4, 6–4
1961Australia Mark Otway (2) United Kingdom Roger Becker6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1962United Kingdom Roger Becker (3) United Kingdom Mark Cox4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1963United Kingdom Mark CoxAustralia Warren Jacques1–6, 7–5, 6–2
1964United Kingdom Geoff BluettUnited Kingdom Clay Iles6–3, 6–3
1965Tournament not completed (rain)
1966South Africa Bob MaudNew Zealand Brian Fairlie6–4, 6–2
1967South Africa Frew McMillanUnited Kingdom Mark Cox6–3, 6–4
  Open era  
1968United Kingdom Mark Cox (2) Australia Owen Davidson6–4, 6–4Rothmans Invitational
1969West Germany Christian KuhnkeSpain Manuel Orantes6–4, 2–6, 9–7Eastbourne Invitational
1970 [21]Australia Ken RosewallSouth Africa Bob Hewitt6–2, 6–1Rothmans South of England Open Championship
1971Tournament not played (rain)
1972Spain Andrés GimenoFrance Pierre Barthès7–5, 6–3
1973United Kingdom Mark Cox (3) France Patrice Dominguez6–2, 2–6, 6–3
1974Tournament ended

Statistics

Singles champions by country

Women

Country Winner First title Last title
 Great Britain (GBR)7018811970
 United States (USA)319191921
 Australia (AUS)219641969
 South Africa (RSA)119221922
 Chile (CHI)119361936
 Brazil (BRA)119681968
 France (FRA)219711972

Men

Country Winner First title Last title
 Great Britain (GBR)4918811973
 South Africa (RSA)619201967
 New Zealand (NZ)419051929
 Ireland (IRE)318971932
 Japan (JPN)319281931
 Spain (ESP)319722014
 Germany (GER)219091969
 India (IND)219231924
 Poland (POL)219471948
 Argentina (ARG)119491949
 Netherlands (NED)119501950

References

  1. Clarke, James (2014-06-16). "How has Eastbourne become a major part of the tennis calendar?". BBC News. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  2. "The current tournament came out of the South of England Lawn Tennis Championship, which was held down here in Eastbourne". devonshireparkltc.co.uk. Devonshire Park LTC, July 2014. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  3. Lowerson, John (1995). Sport and the English middle classes, 1870-1914 (Pbk. ed.). Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 108. ISBN 9780719046513. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  4. John Nauright; Charles Parrish, eds. (2012). Sports around the world : history, culture, and practice. Santa Barbara, Calif.: ABC-CLIO. p. 198. ISBN 9781598843002.
  5. "BBC Radio Times Listings 1923 to 2009". bbc.co.uk. BBC Radio Times, Issue 2589. 23 June 1973, Page 22. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  6. "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". Evening Post. 20 March 1922. p. 11. Retrieved 2 October 2017 via PapersPast.
  7. Barrett, John (2001). Wimbledon: The Official History of the Championships. London: CollinsWillow. p. 37. ISBN 0007117078.
  8. 1 2 3 Tarran, Bruce (2013). George Hillyard: The man who moved Wimbledon. Troubador Publishing Ltd. p. 143. ISBN 9781780885490. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  9. "Lawn Tennis in 1904". Southland Times. No. 19465. 19 November 1904. p. 3 (supplement) via PapersPast.
  10. 1 2 3 "Eastbourne Tournament". The Glasgow Herald. 19 September 1921. p. 12. Retrieved 2 October 2017 via Google News Archive.
  11. 1 2 "Lawn Tennis". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 27, 482. Victoria, Australia. 17 September 1934. p. 14. Retrieved 22 October 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  12. "Tennis in England". The New Zealand Herald. 15 September 1936. p. 9 via PapersPast.
  13. "South of England Championships 1881". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1877 to 2012 Finals Results". stevegtennis.com. SteveG Tennis. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  15. "Lawn Tennis". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LXXX, no. 2295. New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1905. p. 1146. Retrieved 2 October 2017 via National Library of Australia.
  16. "A Win for Wilding". Taranaki Herald. Vol. LIV, no. 13757. 21 September 1908. p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2017 via PapersPast.
  17. "Lawn Tennis". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 22, 714. New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1910. p. 13. Retrieved 22 October 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  18. "Lawn Tennis". The West Australian. Vol. XXVII, no. 7, 979. Western Australia. 27 October 1911. p. 4. Retrieved 23 October 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  19. "Curious Lawn Tennis Final". The Express and Telegraph. Vol. LVIII, no. 17, 490. South Australia. 17 November 1921. p. 3. Retrieved 24 October 2016 via National Library of Australia.
  20. See.[10][19]
  21. "Emerson in form". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 1971. p. 16. Retrieved 2 October 2017 via Google News Archive.

50°45′51″N 0°17′0″E / 50.76417°N 0.28333°E / 50.76417; 0.28333

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.