Droitwich Open Explained

Droitwich Open
Type:Defunct
Tour:ILTF Grand Prix circuit, (1928–39)
Founded:1928
Ended:1939
Location:Droitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England.
Surface:Grass

The Droitwich Open also known as the Droitwich Spa Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1928 as the Droitwich Open Lawn Tennis Tournament or Droitwich Spa Open Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[1] The tournament was organised by the Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club (now called the Droitwich Tennis Club), and played at the Brine Baths Park (now called Droitwich Lido Park), Droitwich Spa, Worcesteshire, England.[2] The tournament ran until 1939 just before World War II then was discontinued.[3]

History

In 1928 the Droitwich Open Lawn Tennis Tournament was founded.[4] This tournament was played on grass court and staged annually through till 1939 when it was discontinued.[5] In October 1967 Droitwich Tennis Club applied to the Lawn Tennis Association to restart a new open tennis hard court tournament that was to begin in 1968.[6] In May 1968 the first Droitwich Open Hard Courts tournament was held.[7] In 1971 that event became part of the Bio-Strath Circuit under the brand name the Bio-Starth Droitwich Open Hard Courts.

Venue

Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1920.[8] It staged the first Droitwich Open in 1928.[9] The club was located in what was then called Brine Baths Park (now called Droitwich Lido Park), Droitwich Spa, Worcesteshire.[10] The original club had four grass courts and four hard courts (clay).[11] In 1975 Droitwich Tennis Club moved to its current location at St Peters Church Lane.[12] The club still has the eight tennis courts. They no longer have the original grass or clay courts, but a combination of hard and artificial grass courts.[13]

Finals

Men's singles

(Incomplete list)

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1929[14] Alfred Pearson Don Butler6–3, 6–1
1931 Don Butler E. M. Sykes6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1933[15] Don Butler (2) Ronald Shayes6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1934[16] Cam Malfroy Don Butler6–4, 3–6, 8–6
1935[17] Don Butler (3) George Godsell6–3, 6–2
1936[18] George Godsell Henry Billington6–3, 3–6, 7–5
1937[19] Ronald Shayes George Godsell6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1938 Alexander M. Hamburger Ronald Shayes6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1939 Alexander M. Hamburger (2) G.R.M. Ricketts 6–0, 7–5

Women's singles

(Incomplete list)

YearWinnersRunners-upScore
1928 Vera Marshall Vera Noott 6–3, 6–2
1929[20] Miss Elizabeth T. Madin Vera Marshall6–4, 6–4
1931 Vera Noott Mrs H. O'Connor 6–1, 6–4
1932 Jeanette Morfey Gladys Clarke-Jervoise 6–3, 6–0
1933 Florence Ford Mary Whitmarsh 6–4, 6–4
1934[21] Florence Ford (2) Joy Cunningham 6–3, 6–3
1935[22] Florence Ford (3) Joy Cunningham 6–3, 6–2
1936 Florence Ford 6–4, 6–4
1937 Florence Ford (4) Betty Batt 2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1938 Gertrude Valentine-Brown Florence Ford 6–2, 1–6, 6–4
1939 Gertrude Valentine-Brown (2) Madge Slaney[23] 4–6 7–5 6–1

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: DROITWICH TOURNAMENT: Increased Entries for Annual Event. The seventh annual Droitwich Open lawn tennis tournament began in the Brine Baths Park on Saturday in ideal weather. . Birmingham Daily Gazette . The British Newspaper Archive . 6 August 1934 . Birmingham, England . 10.
  2. Web site: ABOUT US . droitwichtennis.co.uk . Droitwich Tennis Club . 23 January 2023 . Droiwich Spa, Worcestershire, England . en . 2018.
  3. News: LAWN TENNIS Droitwich event may be revived: Plans are being made at Droitwich to restart a neww week long Open hard court tennis tournament next year, which disappeared from the annual calendar during the war. The Application is being made to the National Lawn Tennis Association next week . Birmingham Daily Post . The British Newspaper Archive . 4 October 1967 . Warwickshire, England . 19.
  4. News: DROITWICH FINALS: SINGLES VICTORIES FOR A. PEARSON AND MISS E. T. MADIN. The finals of the level events in the second annual Droitwich Spa Open lawn tennis tournament, held in the charming Brine Baths Park, were productive of some interesting play yesterday. . Birmingham Daily Gazette . The British Newspaper Archive . 8 August 1929 . Birmingham, England . 10.
  5. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967)
  6. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967). British Newspaper Archives. p.19.
  7. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967)
  8. Droitwich Tennis Club
  9. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (6 August 1934). The British Newspaper Archive. p. 10.
  10. Droitwich Tennis Club
  11. Book: Holiday Haunts in England, Wales and Channel Islands: The Official Guide to the Holiday Resorts Served by the G.W.R. with Particulars of Accommodation for Holiday Makers and Travellers Generally . 1927 . Great Western Railway . London . 887 . en . Droitwich Spa.
  12. Droitwich Tennis Club
  13. Web site: Bates . Adrian . Worcester: Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club . www.cityoftennis.co.uk . City of Tennis . 23 January 2023 . 2023.
  14. News: DROITWICH FINALS. Singles Victories for Mr. A. Pearson and Miss E. T. Madin. The finals of the singles events in the second annual Droitwich Sp open lawn tennis tournament, held in the charming Brine Baths Park, were productive of some interesting play yesterday the results were. . 25 July 2023 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . British Newspaper Archive . 8 August 1929 . Warwickshire, England . 10. subscription.
  15. News: MISS F. S FORD'S TREBLE: Fine Play at Droitwich Tennis Tournament. The Droitwich lawn tennis tournament was concluded at the Brine Baths Park yesterday. D. W. Butler. the holder of men's singles title was beaten by New Zealand player Cam Malfroy in straight sets. Florence Smith Ford won the women's singles, doubles and also mixed doubles finals. . 25 July 2023 . Birmingham Daily Gazette . British Newspaper Archive . 10 August 1934 . Warwickshire, England . 11. subscription.
  16. Birmingham Daily Gazette. 10 August 1934. p.11.
  17. News: DROITWICH TENNIS D W Butler Captures Singles Title. Don Butler Worcestershire won men's singles championship Droitwich Tennis tournament afternoon beating G E Godsell without losing a set. . 25 July 2023 . Evening Despatch . British Newspaper Archive . 8 August 1935 . Warwickshire, England . 14. subscription.
  18. News: Ronald A Shayes Wins Droitwich Tennis Title. The Holder Beaten In Straight Sets. George E Godsell was deprived of his second title for the Men's Singles Championship at Droitwich Lawn Tennis Tournament yesterday by R.A. Shayes the final round.. 25 July 2023 . Evening Despatch . British Newspaper Archive . 6 August 1937 . Warwickshire, England . 15. subscription.
  19. Evening Despatch. 6 August 1937 p.15.
  20. Birmingham Daily Gazette. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1929. p. 10
  21. Birmingham Daily Gazette. 10 August 1934. p.11.
  22. News: DROITWICH TENNIS TOURNEY Finals Reached in Singles' Events Miss Ford Advances. Florence Smith Ford winner of the women's singles last year reached the same stage of this event at the Droitwich Spa tennis tournament this afternoon. . 25 July 2023 . Evening Despatch . British Newspaper Archive . 7 August 1935 . Warwickshire, England . 12. subscription.
  23. Web site: Madge Slaney (GBR) - Ladies' Singles . Wimbledon . AELTC . 25 July 2023.

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