| East of England Championships | |
| Type: | defunct |
| Event Name: | Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament(1885-88) East of England County Lawn Tennis Championships (1889-96) East of England Championships (1897–1967) East of England Open Championships (1968–72) East of England Tournament (1973) East of England Championships (1974–82) |
| Location: | Felixstowe, Suffolk, England. |
| Venue: | Felixstowe LTC |
| Surface: | Grass |
The East of England Championships[1] also called the East of England Lawn Tennis Championships[2] was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1885 as the Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[3] In 1889 the event had by this time become a regional level tournament that ran until 1983 when it lost its status as a senior international tour level event. However the championships are still being staged today as the East of England and an LTA British Tour (Premier Event).[4]
The Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament hosted by the Felixstowe Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club became a regional level tour event called the East of England Championships in 1889. It was located Felixstowe, Suffolk, South East England.
The tournament was usually staged in mid-August, this later changed the middle or third week of July following the Wimbledon Championships. The East of England Championships ran for 98 years before it was discontinued in 1983 as a senior international tour level event. However the championships are still being staged today as the East of England an LTA British Tour (Premier Event).[5]
This tournament became an interrelating regional event to the North of England Championships (f.1884), the South of England Championships (f.1881) and the West of England Championships (f.1881).
Notable winners of the men's singles championship title included Reggie Doherty (1906), Herbert Roper Barrett (1897-1899, 1901-1902, 1910), George Hillyard (1907-1908), Héctor Cattaruzza (1926), Jiro Yamagishi (1934-1935, 1937), George Worthington (1949), Jan Leschly (1957-1957), Mark Cox (1963, 1965-1967) and Saeed Meer (1977).
Former women's singles winners included Dorothea Douglass Chambers, (1902, 1906-1908, 1910-1911), Geraldine Ramsey Beamish (1921-1922), Elsie Goldsack Pittman (1931-1932), Jadwiga Jędrzejowska)1937), Shirley Bloomer (1954), Jill Blackman (1966), Patti Hogan (1967) and Greer Stevens (1973).
Incomplete roll included:[6]
| Year | Champion | Runner Up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament | ||||
| 1884 |  Francis William Monement | Maurice Welldon | 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 | |
| 1885 | Francis William Monement (2) | Herbert Davy Longe | 6-1, 6-0 | |
| 1886 | Alfred Penn Gaskell | Charles Hoadley Ashe Ross | 5-6, 6-3, 6-3 | |
| 1887 | William Herbert Cohen | Charles Sidney Cullingham | 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1888 | Francis St. Barbe Haskett-Smith | Herbert William Kersey | 6-1, 9-7, 6-3 | |
| Eastern Counties Championships | ||||
| 1889 | William Nevill Cobbold | Charles Gladstone Allen | 1-6, 6-5, 6-3 | |
| 1890 | Charles Gladstone Allen | Francis Walter Eicke | 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 | |
| 1891 | Roy Allen | William Nevill Cobbold | 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1892 | Roy Allen (2) | Charles Gladstone Allen | w.o. | |
| 1893 | Roy Allen (3) | Herbert William Kersey | 6-4, 6-1, 10-8 | |
| East of England Championships | ||||
| 1894 | Ernest Wool Lewis | Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith | 6-0, 6-2 | |
| 1895 | Roy Allen (4) | Sydney Howard Smith | 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 | |
| 1896 | Reginald Doherty | Roy Allen | 6-4, 8-6 | |
| 1897 | Herbert Roper Barrett | Charles Gladstone Allen | 7-5, 7-5 | |
| 1898 | Herbert Roper Barrett (2) | Roy Allen | 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 | |
| 1899 | Herbert Roper Barrett (3) | Roy Allen | 3-6, 8-6, 6-3 | |
| 1900 | Charles Percy Dixon | Roy Allen | 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 | |
| 1901 | Herbert Roper Barrett (4) | Charles Percy Dixon | 7-5, 6-8, 6-1, 6-3 | |
| 1902 | Herbert Roper Barrett (5) | Charles Smeathman Hatton | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1903 | Roy Allen (5) | George Greville | 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1904 | Roy Allen (6) | Herbert Roper Barrett | 6-3, 6-1 | |
| 1907 | Alfred Beamish | 6-2, 6-2 | ||
| 1908 | George Hillyard (2) | Alfred Beamish | 6-1, 6-2 | |
| 1909 | Alfred Ernest Beamish | Dunstan Rhodes | 6-1, 6-1, 6-2 | |
| 1910 | Herbert Roper Barrett (6) | 4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 | ||
| 1914/1918 | Not held (due to world war one) | |||
| 1919 | Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle | Basil Henty | 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1920 | Hugh Walter Davies | Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle | 2-6, 6-3, 6-1 | |
| 1921 | Thomas Bevan | Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 1922 | Thomas Bevan (2) | Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle | 9-7, 4-6, 6-1 | |
| 1923 | Sydney Jacob | Donald Greig | 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1924 | Donald Greig | Charles Ernest Leonard Lyle | 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 | |
| 1925 | Max Woosnam | Charles Kingsley | 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1926 |  Héctor Américo Cattaruzza | Ronaldo Boyd | 6-4, 6-4, 8-6 | |
| 1927 | Charles Herbert Kingsley | Max Woosnam | 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1928 | Gordon Crole-Rees | Sydney Jacob | 3-6, 8-6, 6-2 | |
| 1929 | Gordon Crole-Rees (2) | G.R. Ashton | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1930 | Arthur W. Hill | Gordon Crole-Rees | 6-0, 6-4 | |
| 1931 |  Franz Matejka |  Charles Frederick Scroope | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1932 | George Godsell | George S. Fletcher | 8-6, 6-3 | |
| 1933 | Henry Scriven Burrows |  Alan Stedman | 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 | |
| 1934 | Charles Aeschlimann | 6-4, 6-0 | ||
| 1935 |  Jiro Yamagishi (2) | George Lyttleton Rogers | 6-3, 6-3 | |
| 1936 | Richard (Dickie) Ritchie | Eikichi Itoh | 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1937 | Jiro Yamagishi (3) | 6-1, 6-4 | ||
| 1938 | Lawrence Shaffi |  P. Martinelli | 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 | |
| 1939 | Constantin Tanacescu | Eric Filby | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1940/1946 | Not held (due to world war one) | |||
| 1947 | Jeff Robson | John Barry | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 1948 |  Zoltan Katona |  R.J.E. Mayers[7] | 6-8, 6-0, 6-2 | |
| 1949 | George Worthington |  Naresh Kumar | 6-2, 6-8, 6-4 | |
| 1950 | Anthony (Tony) Starte[8] | 2-6, 7-5, 6-1 | ||
| 1951 | Torben Ulrich | Derrick Leyland | 8-6, 6-2 | |
| 1952 | Gerry Oakley | Ivo Rinkel | 2-6, 6-4, 6-0 | |
| 1953 | Geoff Ward[9] | Nigel Lowe | 8-6, 6-3 | |
| 1954 | Jeff Robson (2) | Geoff Ward | 8-6, 9-7 | |
| 1955 | Ivor Warwick |  Khwaja Saeed Hai | 14-16, 6-4, 6-4 | |
| 1957 | Jan Leschly | Gordon Lawrence Talbot | 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1958 | Jan Leschly (2) | Claus Storm Pallesen | 6-0, 6-0 | |
| 1959[10] | Tariq Afridi | 7-5, 6-1 | ||
| 1962 | Robert G. Clarke[11] | Mark Cox | 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1963 | Mark Cox | Geoff Bluett | 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1964 | Keith Wooldridge | Graham Stilwell | 6-2, 6-0 | |
| 1965 | Mark Cox (2) | Gerald Battrick | 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 | |
| 1966 | Mark Cox (3) | Lew Gerrard | 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 | |
| 1967 | Mark Cox (4) | Keith Wooldridge | 6-2, 6-4 | |
| 1968 | Stanley Matthews | Keith Wooldridge | 10-12, 7-5, 7-5 | |
| Open era | ||||
| East of England Open Championships | ||||
| 1969 | Byron Bertram | 8-6, 1-6, 8-6 | ||
| 1970 |  Bob Giltinan (2) | Syd Ball | 7-5, 6-2 | |
| 1971 | Jeff Simpson | 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 | ||
| 1972 | John Feaver | Tony Fawcett | 9-8, 6-4 | |
| 1973 |  Armistead Neely | Larry Parker | 5-7, 6-4, 8-6 | |
| East of England Championships | ||||
| 1974 | Willem Prinsloo | Dave Segal | 6-3, 6-0 | |
| 1975 | Mike Collins | Saeed Meer | 3-6, 6-3, 9-7 | |
| 1976 | Mark Farrell | Stephen Alger | 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1977 | Saeed Meer | Ali Kahn | 2-6, 6-4, 9-7 | |
| 1978 | Dean Mathias | 6-3, 6-4 | ||
| 1979 | Rob Hak[12] | Willie Davies | 9-8, 3-6, 6-3 | |
| 1980 | John Paish | Willie Davies | 6-1, 6-4 | |
| 1981 | Ian Currie | Martin Guntrip | w.o. | |
| 1982 | Willie Davies (2) | John Paish | 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 |
(Incomplete roll)
| Year | Champion | Runner Up | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament | ||||
| 1886 | A. Ridley | Helen Kersey | 6-1, 6-5 | |
| 1887 | No women's event | |||
| 1888 | Nellie Turner | F Green | 4-6, 6-2, 10-8 | |
| Eastern Counties Championships | ||||
| 1889 | Helen Kersey | 6-3, 6-4 | ||
| 1890 | Winifred Kersey | 6-3, 6-4 | ||
| 1891 | C. Tidbury | 6-4, 6-2 | ||
| 1892 | No women's event | |||
| 1893 | Henrietta Horncastle | 6-3, 11-9 | ||
| 1894 | M. Burton | E. Burton | 6-3, retired. | |
| 1895 | Elsie Lane (2) | A. Inge | 6-1, 6-3 | |
| 1896 | Emma Ridding | Henrica Ridding | divided prizes | |
| East of England Championships | ||||
| 1897 | Mrs White | Henrietta Horncastle | 6-3, 6-3 | |
| 1898 | Miss Tootell | 6-1, 6-2 | ||
| 1899 | 6-8 6-2 6-4 | |||
| 1900 | Beryl Tulloch (2) | 4-6, 6-0, 6-2 | ||
| 1901 | Connie Wilson | 6-2, 6-4 | ||
| 1902 | Dorothea Douglass | Winifred Longhurst | 6-3, 4-6, 9-7 | |
| 1903 | Connie Wilson | 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 | ||
| 1904 | Connie Wilson (2) | 6-3, 6-3 | ||
| 1905 | Alice Greene (2) | Marion Colbatch-Clark | 8-6, 6-2 | |
| 1906 | 14-14, retired | |||
| 1907 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers (2) | Agnes Morton | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1908 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers (3) | 6-1, 6-3 | ||
| 1909 | Agnes Morton | Mary Gray Curtis-Whyte | 6-0, 6-1 | |
| 1910 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers (4) | M. Messom | 6-0, 6-2 | |
| 1911 | 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 | |||
| 1912 | Agnes Morton (2) | 5-7, 6-3, retired | ||
| 1913 | 7-5, 7-5 | |||
| 1914-18 | Not held (due to World War I) | |||
| 1919 | Muriel Ledger Hextall | Mrs F.W. Hodges | 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 | |
| 1920 | Mabel Davey Clayton | 6-4, 6-3 | ||
| 1921 | Mabel Davey Clayton | 6-3, 7-5 | ||
| 1922 | Geraldine Ramsey Beamish (2) | Mabel Davey Clayton | 6-0, 6-2 | |
| 1923 | Mabel Davey Clayton (2) | 1-6, 6-2, 10-8 | ||
| 1924 | Claire Beckingham | 6-4, 6-1 | ||
| 1925 | 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 | |||
| 1926 | Geraldine Ramsey Beamish (3) | Elsie Goldsack | 6-4, 6-2 | |
| 1927 | 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 | |||
| 1928 | Joan Ridley (2) | 6-4, 6-3 | ||
| 1929 | Joan Ridley (3) | 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 | ||
| 1930 | Nancy Lyle | 6-4, 6-3 | ||
| 1931 | Elsie Goldsack Pittman | Joan Ridley | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1932 | Elsie Goldsack Pittman (2) | 6-0, 8-6 | ||
| 1933 | Geraldine Ramsey Beamish (4) | Lucy Bond Pretty | 6-1, 6-1 | |
| 1934 | Freda Scott | 12-10, 8-8, retired | ||
| 1935 | 6-3, 6-2 | |||
| 1936 | Audrey de Smidt Allister | Nancy Palmer | 6-2, 6-2 | |
| 1937 |  Jadwiga Jędrzejowska | Audrey Wright | 6-1, 6-4 | |
| 1938 | Elsie Goldsack Pittman (3) | Rosemary Thomas | 7-5, 9-7 | |
| 1939 | Elsie Goldsack Pittman (4) | 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 | ||
| 1940-46 | Not held (due to World War I) | |||
| 1947 | Jadwiga Jędrzejowska (2) |  Bibi Gullbrandsson | 6-1, 6-2 | |
| 1948 | 11-9, 6-2 | |||
| 1949 | Joey Physick David | 7-5, 6-2 | ||
| 1950 | 6-2, 6-2 | |||
| 1951 | Joey Physick Lloyd | 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 | ||
| 1952 | Baba Lewis | 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 | ||
| 1953 | Lucille van der Westhuizen | D. Midgley | 6-0, 6-3 | |
| 1954 | Heather Redwood Robson | 6-3, 6-1 | ||
| 1955 | 6-4, 6-2 | |||
| 1956 | Elaine Becroft | 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 | ||
| 1957 | Inge Overgaard | 6-2, 6-0 | ||
| 1958 | A. Hardwick | 7-5, 6-2 | ||
| 1959 | Sheila Griffin Bramley | J. Stedman | 6-3 6-2 | |
| 1960 | Sheila Griffin Bramley (2) | Elaine Watson Shenton | divided title | |
| 1961 | J. Watts | Sheila Griffin Bramley | 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 | |
| 1962 | Judy Davidson | Elizabeth Terry | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1963 | Alison Stroud | Mrs S. Stevenson | 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 | |
| 1964 | 9-7, 4-6, 6-4 | |||
| 1965 | 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 | |||
| 1966 | Jill Blackman | Laura Rossouw | 6-3, 6-4 | |
| 1967 | Patti Hogan | Lynne Abbes | 6-2, 6-3 | |
| 1968 | Jenny Staley Hoad | 11-9, 6-1 | ||
| Open era | ||||
| East of England Open Championships | ||||
| 1969 | 6-2, 6-4 | |||
| 1970 | Corinne Molesworth | Robin Blakelock Lloyd | 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 | |
| 1971 | Jill Cooper | 6-3, 6-2 | ||
| 1972 | Wendy Turnbull | 7-5, 8-6 | ||
| 1973 | Greer Stevens | Diane Riste | 6-2, 6-1 | |
| East of England Championships | ||||
| 1974 | Gwen Stirton | Lois Raymond[13] | 6-3 7-5 | |
| 1975 | 2-6, 6-2, 6-2 | |||
| 1976 | J. Wilton | 6-3, 7-5 | ||
| 1977 | 6-2, 6-4 | |||
| 1978 |  Hagit Zubary[14] | 6-2, 9-7 | ||
| 1979 | Phyllis Blackwell | E. Sharp | 6-4, 6-3 | |
| 1980 | Sonia Davies | 6-1, 6-1 | ||
| 1981 | Deborah Stewart (2) | 6-3, 6-3 | ||
| 1982 | Belinda Cordwell | 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 | ||
| 1983 |  Paulette Moreno | 7-6, 6-0 |
Herbert Roper Barrett & Roy Allen (6) Roy Allen (10) Dorothea Douglass Chambers & Geraldine Ramsey Beamish & Elsie Goldsack Pittman (4) Geraldine Ramsey Beamish (8)In the late 1880s an East of England tournament was established in Filey, North Yorkshire, but was predominantly a local tennis meeting only.