Somerset Championships Explained

Somerset Championships
Type:defunct
Location:Burnham-on-Sea
Taunton
Weston-super-Mare
Venue:Various
Tour:ILTF
Surface:Grass

The Somerset Championships was a men's and women's international grass court tennis tournament founded as the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament in 1881 at Taunton, Somerset, England.[1] In 1888 it was elevated to a county level event and renamed the Somersetshire Championships.[2] the tournament ran annually until 1984.

History

In 1881 the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Society established a tennis tournament at Taunton, Somerset, England.[3] In 1884 it was renamed as the Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis Tournament. In 1888 that event became the Somersetshire Championships.[4] In 1889 the tournament was renamed as the Somerset County Lawn Tennis Championships. The championships were staged annually until 1984.[5] When this tournament was held in Burnham-on-Sea it was held in conjunction with the Burnham-on-Sea Championships.[6] [7]

Location and Venues

The tournament was first held in Taunton at the West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club an associate club of the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, with later editions being held in Burnham-on-Sea at the Avenue Tennis Club and Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.

Notes and References

  1. News: WEST SOMERSET ARCHERY AND LAWN TENNIS SOCIETY. The third annual tennis tournament for members of this society was held at the cricket grounds last week. . 25 February 2023 . Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser . British Newspaper Archive . 22 August 1883 . Somerset, England . 5. subscription.
  2. News: WEST SOMERSET ARCHERY AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB:LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT TAUNTON. A lawn, tennis tournament oper to bona-fide residents in Somersetshire commenced the County Cricket Ground Taunton, on Tuesday, and concluded on Thursday . 25 February 2023 . Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser . British Newspaper Archive . 28 July 1886 . Somerset, England . 6 . subscription.
  3. Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (1883)
  4. Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (1886)
  5. News: PAUL FRENCH regained two titles he last held two years ago at the Somerset County Tennis championships at Burnham The 25-year-old chief tennis coach at Millfield School took the county men's singles title. . 25 February 2023 . Western Daily Press . British Newspaper Archive . 14 August 1984 . Bristol, England . 22 . subscription.
  6. Book: Corona: The Journal of His Majesty's Colonial Service . 1958 . H.M. Stationery Office . London . 221 . en . Tennis Fixtures: Wimbledon, All England Lawn Tennis Championships (23 Jun . - 5 Jul .) ... Burnham - on - Sea, Open Tournament including the Somerset Singles Championship (11-16 Aug.) ; St. Andrews, Fife, Scottish Hard Court Tennis Championships.
  7. News: County Tennis Championships The Somerset county tennis championships (and the Burnham-on-Sea Championships) will be held from 11th to 16th August this year. . 25 February 2023 . Central Somerset Gazette . British Newspaper Archive . 21 May 1981. subscription.