Welsh Championships Explained

Welsh Championships
Type:	defunct
Founded:	1886
Ended:	1974
Editions:	77
Location:	Cardiff, Newport, Penarth, Wales
Venue:	Penarth LTC (1886–89, 1893–95, 1901–09) Newport Athletic Club (1892, 1897–99, 1900, 1910–14, 1920–39, 1946–1974) Cardiff LTC (1891)
Tour:	Pre-open era (1877–1967)
Surface:	Grass / Outdoor

The Welsh Championships (Welsh: Pencampwriaethau Cymru) ^[1] its original name until 1970 was also known as the Championship of Wales (1951), the Welsh Open (Welsh: Cymraeg Agored)^[2] (1947–50) the Green Shield Welsh Championships and Green Shield Welsh Open (1970–74) for sponsorship ^[3] reasons was an outdoor tennis event held from 1886 through 1974 it was played at various locations throughout its duration including Cardiff, Newport and Penarth in Wales. The dates that the tournament was held varied between June and July annually.

History

The Welsh Championships tournament began in 1886. It was originally held at the Penarth Lawn Tennis club,^[4] in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan through the later part of the nineteenth century and the first decade of the twentieth, the last event being held there in 1909. The championships was staged only once during this time in Cardiff, in 1891, before it became a permanent fixture at the Newport Athletic Club from 1946 onward ^[5] which also the hosted the 1906 International Lawn Tennis Challenge final later known as the Davis Cup. The tournament featured both men's and women's singles competition as well as same sex and mixed doubles. The first non-British men's singles final took place in 1922 between Manuel Alonso and Eduardo Flaquer of Spain and this was followed by the first non-British ladies singles final in 1932 between Jadwiga Jędrzejowska of Poland and Marie-Louise Horn of Germany. Many former Grand Slam champions have played and won this tournament and it survived for a period of 88 years until 1974.

Finals

Men's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1886 ^[6]		James Baldwin	6–0 ret.
1887 ^[7]	Ernest Browne (2)	James Baldwin	6–1, 6–2 ret.
1888 ^[8]			6–1, 6–1, 6–0
1889 ^[9]	Willoughby Hamilton (2)		3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1890 ^[10]	Willoughby Hamilton (3		6–2, 6–3, 6–0
1891			5–7, 6–2, 7–5, 0–6, 6–1
1892	Harry S. Barlow (2)	Kenneth Ramsden Marley	6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1893	George Ball-Greene		2–6, 6–1, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
1894	George Ball-Greene (2)		7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1895 ^[11]			2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1896			6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 6–0
1897	Sydney Howard Smith (2)		6–2, 6–4, 6–4
1898	Sydney Howard Smith (3)	Arnold Wyersdale Blake	6–0, 6–2, 6–3
1899	Sydney Howard Smith (4)		6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 5–7, 6–4
1900 ^[12]	Sydney Howard Smith (5)		6–8, 9–7, 6–3, 7–5
1901	Sydney Howard Smith (6)		6–4, 6–0, 7–5
1902	Sydney Howard Smith (7)		6–4, 3–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–2
1903	John Mycroft Boucher	Ernest Wills	6–3, 6–1, 6–1
1904	Sydney Howard Smith (8)		6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1905	Sydney Howard Smith (9)		6–4, 5–7, 10–8, 6–4
1906	Sydney Howard Smith (10)		2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1907	John Mycroft Boucher (2)	Samuel Ernest Charlton	6–4, 6–2, 6–2
1908 ^[13]	John Mycroft Boucher (3)		4–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1909	John Mycroft Boucher (4)		8–6, 6–1, 6–3
1910			8–6, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1911 ^[14]	Charles P. Dixon (2)		6–4, 6–2, 7–5
1912			6–4, 6–1, 0–6, 6–4
1913	Charles P. Dixon (3)	C. P. Hailey	6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1914	Charles P. Dixon (4)	Noel O. G. Turnbull	6–4, 6–3, 6–1
1915/1918	Not held (due to World War I)
1919	No competition
1920		Cecil L. Sweet-Escott	6–2, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1921		M. E. Nigel Jones	6–1, 1–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–3
1922			6–3, 6–4, 7–5
1923	John Mycroft Boucher (5)	Cecil L. Sweet-Escott	6–3, 7–5, 8–6
1924		John Mycroft Boucher	6–4, 6–4, 10–8
1925		Elliott W. Crawshay	7–5, 6–2, 8–10, 6–1
1926		Peter Freeman	6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1927		Jack Hillyard	8–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–1
1928		David Williams	6–4, 6–1, 3–6, 6–0
1929		William Henry Powell	7–5, 6–4, 4–6, 8–6
1930	David Williams		8–6, 3–6, 6–4, 10–8
1931		David Williams	6–4, 6–2, 6–1
1932		William Henry Powell	6–3, 7–5, 7–5
1933		Herbert Kinzl	6–4, 6–0, 6–2
1934			6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1935			6–1, 6–3, 6–1
1936			WEA
1937			2–6, 6–4, 6–2
1938			6–2, 2–6, 6–1
1939	Constantin Tănăsescu		10–12, 6–4, 7–5
1940/1945	Not held (due to World War I)
1946			6–4 3–6 13-11 8–6
1947	Czesław Spychała (2)		6–3 10–8 6–4
1948	Denis Slack		wea
1949			4–6 6–2 7–5 6–0
1950	Ip Koon Hung		wea
1951			2–6 6–2 6–3
1952		Donald Tregonning	6–2 6–3 1–6 6–3
1953			6–3 7–5
1954	Competition cancelled
1955			6–3 6–2
1956			6–3 1–6 9–11 6–4 6–4
1957			6–1 9–7
1958			6–4 6–4
1959			6–4 6–1
1960		Robin Sanders	6–3 6–2
1961			6–8 6–2 6–3
1962			6–3 6–4
1963 ^[15]			10–8 7–5
1964			6–4 6–4
1965			3–6 6–3 6–2
1966 ^[16]	Bob Hewitt (2)		6–3 8–6
1967			7–5 6–2
1968			9–7 6–4
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6–4 6–4
1970 ^[17]			6–3 6–4
1971 ^[18]	Ken Rosewall (2)		6–1 9–8
1972			6–8 6–4 6–4
1973 ^[19]			9–8 8–6
1974			6–2 6–4

Women's singles

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
1886	L. Browne	L.C. Stephens	4–6, 6–1, 6–3
1887			6–3, 6–3
1888		Miss Pope	6–2, 6–3
1889	N Pope	Mary Sweet-Escott	6–0, 6–2
1890	Competition cancelled
1891	N Pope (2)	Mary Sweet-Escott	4–6, 6–4, 6–1
1892	Mary Sweet-Escott	Louisa Sweet-Escott	2–6, 6–3, 6–2
1893	Ethel Cochrane	Emily Stoddart	6–3, 6–4
1894		Ethel Cochrane	8–6, 6–2
1895	Jane Corder		4–6, 7–5, 6–4
1896	Competition cancelled
1897	Henrica Ridding	Miss J Cochrane	9–7, 7–5
1898	Alice Parr		7–5, 7–5
1899		Henrica Ridding	4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1900	Constance Hill	Alice Parr	5-7, 6–4, 6–2
1901		M. Golding	6–1, 4–6, 7–5
1902	Winifred Longhurst (2)	Constance Hill	8–6, 4–6, 6–4
1903	Connie Wilson		6–3, 0–6, 7–5
1904	Connie Wilson (2)		6–3, 6–4
1905			6–0, 6–1
1906 ^[20]	May Sutton (2)		6–1, 6–0
1907 ^[21]	May Sutton (3)		6–0, 7–5
1908		Mrs G Bruce	6–2, 6–3
1909	Maude Garfit (2)		default
1910			8–6, 6–4
1911			8–6, 6–3
1912		Mrs Fletcher	6–1, 6–1
1913	Edith Hannam (2)	Mrs Fletcher	6–2, 6–2
1914	Edith Hannam (3)	Mrs Fletcher	6–0, 6–1
1915/1918	Not held (due to World War I)
1920	Edith Hannam (4)	Mrs Fletcher	6–0, 4–6, 6–1
1921	Helen Leisk		6–2, 6–2
1922	Edith Hannam (5)	Helen Leisk ^[22]	6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1923	Kathleen Raikes		8–6, 0–6, 6–3
1924		Edith Hannam	6–3, 6–3
1925		Kathleen Bevir	8–10, 6–0, 6–1
1926	Gladys Seel	Mrs R Fletcher	6–0, 6–4
1927	Phyllis Satterthwaite (2)	Gladys Seel	6–4, 6–2
1928		Effie Hemmant	6–3, 6–3
1929	Eleanor Rose (2)	Effie Hemmant	6–2, 2–6, 6–4
1930		Eleanor Rose	7–5, 6–4
1931	Effie Hemmant (2)	Jeanette Morfey	6–3, 5–7, 6–3
1932			8–6, 6–2
1933			6–0, 6–4
1934		Sheila Chuter	6–2, 6–0
1935			6–3, 6–2
1936	Jadwiga Jędrzejowska(2)	Rosl Kraus	4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1937			6–3, 6–4
1938	Simonne Mathieu (2)	Gladys Seel	6–4, 6–4
1939	Simonne Mathieu (3)	Betty Clements	6–0, 6–4
1940/1945	Not held (due to World War II)
1946		Joy Hibbert	6–1, 6–2
1947		Wendy Stork	6–2, 6–2
1948	Joan Curry (2)		6–3, 7–5
1949			4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1950			9–7, 6–2
1951			6–3, 2–6, 6–2
1952		Doreen Wedderburn	6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1953			6–3, 6–1
1954		Jenny Middleton	divided title due to rain
1955 ^[23]			1–6, 6–1, 6–2
1956			6–2, 6–3
1957	Angela Mortimer (2)		6–2, 6–4
1958	Angela Mortimer (3)		6–2, 6–2
1959	Angela Mortimer (4)		5-7, 6–3, 6–4
1960	Angela Mortimer (5)		11–9, 6–3
1961	Ann Haydon (2)		4–6, 6–2, 6–2
1962	Ann Haydon (3)		6–4, 6–3
1963			6–3, 6–3
1964 ^[24]			6–3, 6–2
1965			6–2, 6–0
1966 ^[25]			6–2, 6–0
1967			6–4, 6–4
1968 ^[26]			6–2, 6–0
↓  Open era  ↓
1969			6–4, 6–4
1970			6–0, 8–6
1971			6–3, 6–4
1972			7–5, 6–2
1973			1–6, 6–1, 11–9
1974	Julie Heldman (2)		6–3, 6–4

See also

• Tennis Wales

References

• Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack and Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Published by Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK.
• Lawn Tennis and Badminton Magazines, 1896–1901, Amateur Sports Publishing Co. Ltd, London, UK.
• Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode, London, UK.

External links

• The Tennis Base:Welsh Championships-Roll of Honor

Notes and References

1. Web site: Lawn Tennis Results. Papers Past. Auckland Star. XXXIX. 207. 29 August 1908. 11 August 2016.
2. Web site: Lawn Tennis Newport Wales. Google News. Rome News-Tribune. July 6, 1966. 11 August 2016.
3. Web site: Green Shield Named as Sponsors. Google News. The Glasgow Herald. Dec 4, 1970. 11 August 2016.
4. Web site: Wallis Mayers. A.. Lawn Tennis at Home & Abroad. archive.org. Charles Scribner & Sons. 64. New York. 1911. 29 August 2016.
5. Web site: History of Newport RFC. historyofnewport.co.uk. Friends of Newport Rugby Trust. 11 August 2016.
6. Web site: Welsh Championships 1886. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 11 August 2016.
7. Web site: Welsh Championships 1887. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 11 August 2016.
8. Web site: Welsh Championships 1888. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 11 August 2016.
9. Web site: Wallis Mayers. A.. Lawn Tennis at Home & Abroad. archive.org. Charles Scribner & Sons, p65 New York 1911. 29 August 2016.
10. Web site: Welsh Championships 1890. tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. 11 August 2016.
11. Web site: Wilberforce Eaves: Biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042229/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ea/wilberforce-eaves-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. 6 October 2016.
12. Web site: Welsh Championships 1900. tennisarchives. Tennis Archives. 11 August 2016.
13. Web site: Lawn Tennis Results. Papers Past. Auckland Star. XXXIX. 207. 29 August 1908. 11 August 2016.
14. Web site: Anglo-Colonial Sport. Papers Past. Auckland Star. XLII. 204. 28 August 1911. 6 September 2016.
15. Web site: Jaques Wins Welsh Tennis. Google News. The Age. July 23, 1963. 11 August 2016.
16. Web site: Hewitt Wins. Google News. Herald-Journal. July 10, 1966. 11 August 2016.
17. Web site: Newport Results Wales:1970-07–05. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 11 August 2016.
18. Web site: Newport Results Wales:1971-07–10. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 11 August 2016.
19. Web site: Newport Results Wales:1973-07–09. atpworldtour.com. ATP. 11 August 2016.
20. Web site: Miss Sutton Gets Walkover First Round Welsh Tennis Championships. Google News. Boston Evening Transcript. July 11, 1906. 11 August 2016.
21. Web site: May Sutton is Coming Home. Google News. The Pittsburgh Press. Aug 8, 1907. 11 August 2016.
22. Web site: Helen Aitchison: Biography. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418042952/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ai/helen-aitchison-1.html. dead. 18 April 2020. sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. 6 September 2016.
23. Web site: One-Minute Sports Page- Mrs Maria Weiss of Argentina Won the Welsh Lawn Tennis Championships Today. Google News. Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 15, 1955. 11 August 2016.
24. Web site: Tennis Wins in Wales. Google News. The Age. Jul 10, 1968. 11 August 2016.
25. Web site: Tennis Wins in Wales. Google News. The Age. Jul 10, 1968. 11 August 2016.
26. Web site: Pigeon Net Titlist. Google News. Toledo Blade. Jul 15, 1968. 11 August 2016.