North of England Championships explained

North of England Championships
Type:defunct
Tour:ILTF
Founded:1884
Ended:1974
Venue:South Cliff LTC (1884-1909), Yorkshire LTC (1910-1966), Hoylake LTC (1969-1974)
Location:Various
Surface:Grass

The North of England Championships and later known as the Rothmans Open North of England Championships (for sponsorship reasons), was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1884 as the North Yorkshire Tournament. It was mainly held at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Great Britain from (1884–91, 1893–1903, 1905–1966, 1968). The tournament was discontinued in 1974 when it was staged at Hoylake.

History

The North Yorkshire Tournament was first staged in 1884 at the South Cliff Lawn Tennis Club at Scarborough, North Yorkshire.[1] In 1886 its name was changed to the North of England Championships. It was for a long period a popular summer tournament in the British lawn tennis calendar. In 1910 it changed venue to be played at the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Club through until 1966.[1] The only other places to host the North of England Championships was at Kingston-upon-Hull in 1892, then Harrogate in 1904. In 1967 the event temporarily moved to Hoylake in what was then Cheshire, before returning to Scarborough the following year. In 1969 the championships moved permanently back to Hoylake until 1974 when it was abolished

Notable winners of the men's singles included Ernest Browne (1886), Harry Sibthorpe Barlow, Laurie Doherty (1910),[1] George Lyttleton Rogers (1937), Jaroslav Drobny (1949), Ashley Cooper (1958) and John Newcombe (1970).[2] Previous women's singles champions included Alice Simpson Pickering (1899), Dorothea Douglass(1901), Elizabeth Ryan (1919), Joan Hartigan (1934), Ann Haydon (1956), Virginia Wade (1967), Margaret Smith Court (1968), Billie Jean Moffitt King (1971) and Evonne Goolagong (1972).

For the years 1892, 1894–1900 and 1904–1905 the tournament was also valid as the Yorkshire Championships. For the years 1960 and from 1967 the tournament was also valid as the Hoylake Open Championships.

Sponsorship

In 1968 at the start of the open era the championships were sponsored by the newspaper the Liverpool Post and branded as the Liverpool Post North of England Championships. In 1969 the tobacco manufacturer Rothmans took over sponsorship of the event was then called the Rothmans Open North of England Championships until 1974.[3]

Locations

The championships were mainly held at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Great Britain from (1884–91, 1893–1903, 1905–1966, 1968), but was also hosted at other locations including Ilkley (1885), Kingston-upon-Hull (1892), then Harrogate (1904), Sheffield (1905) and finally Hoylake (1967–69, 1970–74) when the event was discontinued.

Finals

Men's singles

(Incomplete roll)[4]

YearChampionRunner-upScore
North Yorkshire Tournament
1884 Marmaduke Constable6–1, ret.
1885 Ernest Browne (2) E.W. Fletcher6–2, 6–2, 6–4
North of England Championships
1886 Ernest Browne (3)6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2
1887 Ernest Browne (4) Marmaduke Constable 6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1888 Harry Grove Henry Guy Nadin6–1, 6–1, 6–1
1889 Percy Bateman Brown David Davy 5–7, 6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1890 James Baldwin Charles Henry Chaytor9-7, 6–0, 6–0
1891 James Baldwin6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 7–5
1892 Harry Sibthorpe Barlow (2)6-7, 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1893 William Renshaw Charles Gladstone Allenw.o.
1894 Roy Allen Joshua Pimw.o.
1895 Harold Nisbet7-9, 4–6, 6–4, 9-7, 6–1
1898 Grainger Chaytor (2) Ernest Douglas Black6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1900 Grainger Chaytor (3) Charles William Wade6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1905 Roy Allen (2) Charles Gladstone Allenw.o.
1907 Walter Crawley Arthur Lowe6–1, 6–3
1908 George Hillyard6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1909 Laurie Doherty (2) Gordon Lowe7–5, 6–1, 6–3
1910 Laurie Doherty (3) Gordon Lowe6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1914/1918Not held (due to world war one)
1919 Pat O'Hara Wood Brian Norton4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 10–8
1920 Thomas Yeo Sherwell Clive Branfoot4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1921 Brian Norton D'Arcy McCrea6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 2–6, 6–4
1922 Randolph Lycett6–2, 5–7, 7–9, 6–1, 6–2
19236–3, 6–0, 6–2
1924 Louis Raymond Mohammed Sleem6–2, 6–3, 6–3
19256–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
1926 Charles Kingsley (2) Keats Lester10–8, 6–0, 1–6, 8-6
1927 Colin Gregory Randolph Lycett6-8, 12–10, 9-7 ret.
1928 Eskel Andrews John Olliff7–5, 6–4, 6–1
1929 Charles Kingsley (3)7-9, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4
1930 Eskel Andrews[5] (2) Colin Gregory6–0, 9-7
1931 Vernon Kirby Jack Chamberlain6–3, 6–3
1932 George Lyttleton Rogers Atri-Madan Mohan6–2, 3–6, 6–1
1933 Alan Stedman Keats Lester6–2, 7–5, 3–6, 6–3
1934 Harry Hopman Alan Stedman6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1935 Alan Stedman (2) George Lyttleton Rogers6–2, 6–3
1936 Adrian Quist6–1, 6–4, 6–2
1937 George Lyttleton Rogers (2) Pat Sherwood8-6, 6–3
1938 Jimmy Jones6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1939 Jack Deloford Dennis Coombe6–2, 6–2
1940/1945Not held (due to world war two)
1946 Ignacy Tłoczyński10–8, 6–2
1947 Ignacy Tłoczyński (2) Ghaus Mohammed Khan7–5, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3
1948 Franjo Kukuljević Gerry Oakley3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–4
1949 Jaroslav Drobný Tony Mottram6–1, 6–1, 6–3
1950 Bill Sidwell Geoff Brown2–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1951 Nigel Cockburn7–5, 2–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–1
1952 Eric Sturgess Budge Patty6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3
19536–3, 7–5
1954 Bobby Wilson (2)6–4, 6–2
1955 Sven Davidson Billy Knight4–6, 6–0, 8–6, 6–0
1956 Bobby Wilson (3) Tony Pickard6–3, 6–3
1957 Alan Mills Colin Hannam[6] 7–5, 3–6, 6–3
1958 Ashley Copper Mervyn Rose4–6, 7–5, 10–12, 6–1, 14–12
1960 Mark Otway John Roderick MacDonald6–3, 6–4
1961 Lawrence Franklin Strong R.A. Storey6–3, 7–5
1962 Michael Waters[7] R.A. Storey6–4, 6–2
1963 Colin McHugo Harry Sheridan[8] 7–5, 6–2
1964 Clay Iles[9] 9-7, 6–3, 6–3
1965 Keith Wooldridge6–4, 6–3
1966 Balaram Singh[10] 7–5, 6–3
1967 Keith Wooldridge (2) Haroon Rahim3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Open era
Liverpool Post North of England Championships
1968 Mike Sangster Herb Fitzgibbon2–6, 6–4, 12–10
Rothmans Open North of England Championships
1969 Ray Ruffels Brian Fairlie6–3, 6–3
1970 John Newcombe Owen Davidson4–6, 9–7, 6–4
1971 Andrew Pattison Jaidip Mukerjea6–2, 5–7, 6–2
1972 Hank Irvine Ray Keldie6–2, 4–6, 6–1
1973 Bob Giltinan Owen Davidson1–6, 6–3, 6–2
1974 Bernie Mitton John Yuill6–4, 6–4

Women's singles

(Incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner-upScore
North Yorkshire Tournament
1884 7–5, 6–3
1885 6–2, 6–2
North of England Championships
1886 6–4, 8-6
1887 Margaret Bracewell (2) Ann Dod 6–0, 6–1
1888 Margaret Bracewell (3)1–6, 6–4, 9–7, 6–4
1889 Edith Gurney Beatrice Wood6–4, 8-6
1890 Beatrice Wood M. Crossley 6–4, 6–4
1891 Miss Pope 6–3, 6–1
1892 Helen Jackson (2)6–0, ?,
1892 Beatrice Wood Draffen (2) Kate Nunneley6–4, 7–5
1893 L. Clark May Arbuthnot6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1894Beatrice Wood Draffen (3) Katherine Grey6–3, 6–1
1895 Marion Crosby Morton6–2, 6–1
1896 Lucy Kendal (2) Beatrice Wood Draffen?
1897 Lucy Kendal (3)6–3, 6–0
1898 Katherine Grey 6–4, 6–4
1899 Alice Simpson Pickering6–1, 6–4
1900 Alice Simpson Pickering (2) Ethel Jessop 6–0, 6–2
1901 Alice Simpson Pickering4–6, 10–8, 6–1
1902 Alice Simpson Pickering (3) Lucy Kendal6–3, 6–4
1903 Lucy Kendal (4) Alice Simpson Pickering3–6, 6–0, 7–5
1904 Lucy Kendal (5) Gladys Eastlake-Smith6–0, 4–6, 6–4
1905 Bertha Holder N. Morton 11-9, 6–1
1906 Lucy Kendal (6)6–4, 6–1
1907 Bertha Holder 6–0, 6–2
1908 Gladys Lamplough6–1, 6–1
1909 Gladys Lamplough (2)6–4, 6–3
1910 Rosamund Salusbury6–2, 6–4
1911 Edith Hannam6–2, 6–1
1912 Ethel Thomson Larcombe (2) Violet Pinckney6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1913 Elizabeth Ryan Ethel Thomson Larcombe6–3, 6–3
1914/1918Not held (due to world war one)
1919 Elizabeth Ryan (2) Lesley Cadle6–2, 6–1
1920 Elizabeth Ryan (3)6–1, 6–3
1921 Elizabeth Ryan (4) Winifred McNair6–3, 8-6
1922 Elizabeth Ryan6–2, 6–2
1923walkover
1924 Kathleen McKane (2)6–2, 6–0
19256–3, 6–2
1926 Ruth Watson 6–3, 6–1
1927 Joan Austin Lycett Claire Beckingham 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1928 Dorothy Shepherd Barron Claire Beckingham 6–2, 6–3
1929 Dorothy Anderson 6–3, 6–3
19306–4, 6–3
1931 Mary Heeley (2)2–6, 6–1, 6–2
1932 Sheila Hewitt Freda James6–3, 5-5, retired
1933 Susan Noel10–8, 5–7, 6–0
19342–6, 6–1, 10–8
1935 Mary Heeley (3) Anita Lizana6–3, 6–8, 6–4
1936 Mary Heeley (4)5–7, 6–4, 6–2
1937 Mary Heeley (5) Denise Huntbach 6–1, 6–1
1938 Florence Ford 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1939 Jean Nicoll Zora Nechilova6–3, 6–2
1940/1945Not held (due to world war two)
1946 Betty Clements Hilton 6–3, 6–1
1947 Valerie Cooper 6–2, 6–0
1948 Gem Hoahing (2) Natalia Zinovieff 6–2, 7–5
1949 Gem Hoahing (3) Joyce Fitch6–3, 6–2
1950 Thelma Coyne Long Jean Quertier6–4, 7–5
19514–6, 6–2, 6–1
19527–5, 6–2
1953 Margaret Harrison 6–1, 2–6, 6–4
1954 Judy Burke4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1955 Mary Carter Beryl Penrose6–3, 4–6, 6–3
19566–2, 7–5
1957 Georgie Woodgate (2)6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1958 Heather Brewer-Segal Mary Bevis Hawton6–1, 6–4
1959Mrs C. Clark 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1960 Susan Waters Jenny Young 5–7, 6–2, 6–3
1961 Vivienne Cox 6–4, 7–5
1962 J. Macintosh E. Smith 6–3, 6–4
1963 E. Smith 7–5, 6–4
19646–4, 1–6, 7–5
19656–3, 6–2
1966 Robin Blakelock-Lloyd6–1, 6–3
1967 Judy Tegart6–3 6–4
1967 Robin Blakelock-Lloyd (2)6–2, 6–2
Open era
Liverpool Post North of England Championships
1968 Margaret Smith Court Virginia Wade6–2, 6–4
Rothmans Open North of England Championships
1969 Virginia Wade (2) Christine Truman Janes0–6, 6–4, 8-6
1970 Evonne Goolagong Kerry Melville2–6, 6–2, 6–1
1971 Billie Jean Moffitt King Rosie Casals6–3 6–3
1972 Evonne Goolagong (2) Betty Stovedivided title
1973 Sharon Walsh11-9, 4–6, 6–4
1974 Jackie Fayter Patti Hogan6–0, 7–5

Tournament records

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jeffreys . Kevin . The Illustrious History of Tennis in Scarborough . on-magazine.co.uk . On: Yorkshire Magazine . 4 October 2022 . 22 April 2021.
  2. Web site: Hoylake: Overview: ATP Tour: Tennis . ATP Tour . Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) . 5 October 2022 . 1970.
  3. Book: Lake . Robert J. . A Social History of Tennis in Britain . 3 October 2014 . Routledge . Oxford . 978-1-134-44557-8 . 231 . en.
  4. Web site: Tournament – North of England Championships . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 31 March 2023.
  5. Web site: Eskell Andrews Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 31 March 2023.
  6. Web site: Colin Hannam Overview ATP Tour . ATP Tour . ATP . 31 March 2023.
  7. Web site: Michael Waters Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 31 March 2023.
  8. Web site: HARRY SHERIDAN OVERVIEW . www.itftennis.com . International Tennis Federation . 31 March 2023.
  9. Web site: CLAY ILES OVERVIEW . www.itftennis.com . International Tennis Federation . 31 March 2023.
  10. Web site: BALARAM SINGH OVERVIEW . www.itftennis.com . International Tennis Federation . 31 March 2023.