| British Columbia Championships | |
| Type: | Defunct |
| Tour: | ILTF Circuit (1913=69) |
| Venue: | Victoria 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.
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.
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]
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
Included:[11]
| Year | Champion | Runner up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia Challenge Cup | ||||
| 1886 |  R. H. Handcock | ? | ||
| 1887 | R. H. Handcock (2) | Harvey Coombe | 3–0, retd. | |
| British Columbia Lawn Tennis Championships[12] | ||||
| 1888 (CR) | 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) | 6–8, 6–0, 6–1, 6–3 | ||
| 1892 | 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 | Albert Goward | 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 | ||
| 1902 (CR) | 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 | 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2 | ||
| 1906 | 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) | 7–5, 6–0, 6–2 | ||
| 1912 (CR) | 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) | Ashley Stuart Milne | 3–6, 6–2, 11–9, 6–3 | ||
| 1921 | 6–4, 6–4, 8–6 | |||
| 1922 (HR) | 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 | 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 | |||
| 1925 | Marsh Gordon | 6–2, 6–2, 6–3 | ||
| 1926 | 6–4, 6–3, 6–0 | |||
| 1927 | 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | |||
| 1928 | Bradshaw Harrison | Leon de Turenne | 6–3, 3–6, 9–7, 6–1 | |
| 1929 | Kurt Berndt | 6–3, 6–1, 10–8 | ||
| 1930 | 6–2, 4–6, 8–6, 6–3 | |||
| 1931 | 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 | 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 | 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 | Ed Kauder | 6–2, 7–5, 6-1 | ||
| 1951 | Merwin Miller | 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 | 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 | 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 | Steve Tidbal | 6–3, 6-3 | ||
| 1965 | Jack Neer | 7–5, 7-5 | ||
| 1966 | Bob Puddiecombe | 6–2, 6–4, 12-10 | ||
| 1967 | Tom Muench | Doug Verdieck | 1–6, 6–4, 6-0 | |
| 1968 | 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 | 6–4, 7-5 | ||
| 1972 | Chip Fisher | 6–3, 6-2 | ||
| 1973 | Bill Hoover | 6–1, 6-4 | ||
| 1974 | Chip Fisher (2) | 4–6, 7–5, 7-6 | ||
| Labatts British Columbia Championships | ||||
| 1975 | 7–6, 6-3 | |||
| 1976 |  Paul McNamee | 7–6, 6-3 | ||
| 1977: Event not held | ||||
| 1978 | 6–2, 6-1 |