Suffolk Championships Explained

Suffolk Championships
Type:defunct
Founded:1883 f. 1893
Ended:1968
Editions:85
Location:Saxmundham
Event Name:Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (1883-93)
Suffolk Championships (1894–1968)
Tour:Pre-Open era tour (1883-1968)
Surface:Grass

The Suffolk Championships[1] was an open international tennis tournament for both men and women held at Saxmundham, Suffolk, England founded in 1883 as the Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament. In 1893 it was elevated to a county-level event and renamed as the Suffolk County Championships.[2] The championships ran until 1968 when it ceased to be part of ILTC worldwide tennis circuit.

History

On 12 August 1883 an annual open Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament was established at Hurts Hall Park, Saxmundham, Suffolk, England that ran until 1893.[3] that was a featured event on the Men's 1883 Tennis Tour. The winner of the first men's singles title was William Bolding Monement who defeated J.M. Wilkinson in straight sets.[4]

Also in August 1883 an annual Framlingham Tennis Tournament was also established by the Framlingham LTC, and played on the Hurts Hill Courts, Hurts Hill Park, Saxmundham, Suffolk, England that ran until 1914. It was not staged throughout World War One. It resumed in 1919 and that event also carried the title of Suffolk Championships for that year, and in 1922. The Framlingham event continued to be held at Hurts Hall Park, Saxmundham until 1936, when it was moved to the tennis courts of the Framlingham College Grounds at Framlingham (a distance of 17 miles) until the start of World War Two.

In 1884 the Saxmundham Lawn Tennis Tournament women's singles event was won by Miss M. Marriott who beat Miss G. Rant in two straight sets. In 1893 the event was renamed the Suffolk Championships,[5] the first official winners of the men's single title was Mr Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith,[6] and the women's singles tile Miss Alice Simpson Pickering.

From 1915 the championships being organised and staged by the Saxmundham LTC were not held until 1920 due to World War One. From 1923 until the out break of World War Two in 1939 championships continued to be held in Saxmundham. After World War Two the Framlingham LTC took over responsibility for organising the Suffolk Championships at Framlingham College until 1983. The Framlingham Open Lawn Tennis Tournament a distinct event was staged alongside this event until 1981.[7] The event is still played today under its original name, but is no longer a senior tour level event.

In the men's singles event Herbert Roper Barrett was the most successful player he won 17 titles,[8] out of 18 finals between 1898 and 1921 which remains today an all time record for most finals at a single tennis tournament.[9]

Finals

Men's singles

Incomplete roll included:[10] [11]

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883 William Bolding Monement M. Wilkinson6-1, 6-1
1884 Francis William Monement Maurice Welldon6-4, 1-6, 6-1
1885 Charles Richard Longe Herbert Davy Longe6-1, 6-0
1886 William Herbert Cohen Oswald Milne7-5, 7-5
1887 Benjamin Arthur Cohen George K. Barnabas Norman 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
1888 George K. Barnabas Norman A. Hewetson6-1, 6-4
1889 Lionel James Easton John David Wallich6-4, 5-6, 6-3
1890 Charles Gladstone Allen Roy Allen7-5, ret.
1891 Charles Gladstone Allenw.o.
1892 Mr. G. Williams Charles Gladstone Allen?
Suffolk County Championships
1893 Mr. G. Williams Roy Allen6-4, 6-1, 10-8
1894 Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith Robert Baldock Scott6-2, 6-2, 6-5
1895 Sydney Howard Smith5-7, 6-3, 6-3, ret.
1896 Roy Allen (2) Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith6-0, 6-2
1897 Laurie Doherty6-3, 8-6, 4-6, 6-1
1898 Charles Percy Dixon6-2, 6-4, 6-3
1899 Herbert Roper Barrett (2) Charles Percy Dixon6-3, 6-2, 6-3
1900 Charles Percy Dixon Roy Allen7-5, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
1901 Charles Percy Dixon (2) Charles O. S. Hatton6-1, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
1902 Herbert Roper Barrett (3) Charles Percy Dixon6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
1903 Roy Allen (3) Herbert Roper Barrett6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
1904 Herbert Roper Barrett (4) Roy Allen6-4, 6-4
1905 Herbert Roper Barrett (5) Roy Allen6-2, 6-3, 6-1
1906 Herbert Roper Barrett (6) C.E. Hunter6-4, 6-1, 6-2
1907 Herbert Roper Barrett (7) Alfred Beamish6-4, 6-2, 6-2
1908 Herbert Roper Barrett (8) Frank Roe6-1, 6-0
1909 Herbert Roper Barrett (9) Charles S. Gordon-Smith[12] 6-1, 6-1, 6-1
1910 Herbert Roper Barrett (10) Oswald Charles Johnson6-3, 6-4, 6-2
1914/1918Not held (due to World War One)
Suffolk Championships
1919 Herbert Roper Barrett (11) Frank Herbert Jarvis6-2, 6-2
1920 Herbert Roper Barrett (12) Hugh Davies6-0, 6-2
1921 Herbert Roper Barrett (13) Axel Berg Gravem[13] 6-2, 6-1
1922 Randolph Lycett Axel Berg Gravem6-2, 6-1
1923 Randolph Lycett (2) Michael Drone6-1, 6-0
1924 Randolph Lycett (3) Donald McNeil Greig7-5, 7-5
1925 Randolph Lycett (4) Bunny Austin6-3, 6-3
1926 Bunny Austin Randolph Lycett6-2, 9-9 ret.
1927 Randolph Lycett (5) Colonel Penn6-2, 6-1
1928 Randolph Lycett (6) F.C. Dawnay8-6, 6-2
1929 Norman Horace Latchford[14] P.H. Sidney6-4, 6-2
1930 Norman Horace Latchford (2) M. Barrington6-3, 6-4
1931 Norman Horace Latchford (3) Victor Alexander Cazalet7-5, 3-6, 6-2
1932 Jimmy Redall Brian Finnigan2-6, 6-4, 6-4
1933 Jimmy Redall (2) Charles Edgar Hare6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1934 Jimmy Redall (2) Cecil H. Elkington-Betts6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1935 Charles Edgar Hare Jimmy Redall13-11, 6-1
1936 Murray Deloford E.A. Pearce6-2, 6-1
1937 Choy Wai-Chuen Harold A. Hare[15] 6-1, 9-7
1938 Jack Piercy John T. Bouverie Leader6-3, 6-0
1939 Gordon Fitt John T. Bouverie Leader6-0, 6-4
1940/1946Not held (due to world war one)
1947 Gordon Fitt (2) Raymond Victor Fontes7-5, 4-6, 6-0
1948 C.M. Rudland A.H. Boar6-2, 6-2
1949 Percy Rosberg Teddy Bostock6-3, 7-5
1950 V. Schmidt Bo Andersson[16] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
1951 Freddie Beer L.E. Ahlberg9-7, 12-10
1952 L. Garfoe Robert (Bobby) Nicholl[17] 2-6, 8-6, 6-3
Open era
1968 J.S. Wootton Dick Knight6-3, 9-11, 6-3

Women's singles

(Incomplete roll)

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883 G. Rant L. Davy6-0, 6-2
1884 M. Marriott G. Rant 6-1, 6-1
1885 G. Rant? ?
1886 G. Rant A. Forster 6-4, 6-5
1887 Kate Barkley Edith Austin6-2, 6-4
1888 Miss Norman6-1, 6-2
1889 Winifred Kersey Helen Kersey6-1. 6-5
1890 Edith Coleridge Cole Alice Parr6-4, 6-2
1891 Winifred Kersey (2) Miss Carter6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Suffolk County Championships
1893 Elsie Lane Henrietta Horncastle6-3, 6-1
18946-4, 3-6, 6-4
18956-2, 7-5
1896 Henrica Ridding 0-6, 7-5, 6-3
1897 Mrs Horace White Constance Bloxsome 6-4, 6-4
1898 Henrietta Horncastle Miss Bush 1-6, 8-6, 7-5
1899 Mrs A. Paine6-2, retd.
19002-6, 6-3, 6-3
1901 Winifred Longhurst (2)6-3, 3-6, 7-5
19027-5, 6-3
1903 Connie Wilson (2)6-4, 6-2
1904Connie Wilson (3)6-2, 7-5
1905 Miss Tootell Mrs C.E. Hunter 6-0, 6-3
1906walkover
1907 Agnes Morton (2) E. Boyce 6-0, 6-2
1908 Agnes Morton (3) E. Boyce 6-3, 6-2
1909 Agnes Morton (4)6-1, 6-1
1910 Agnes Morton (5)6-1, 6-2
1911 Agnes Morton (6) Daisy Clark Kercheval-Hole 6-1 6-4
1912 Agnes Morton (7) Elizabeth Ryandivided prizes
1913 Agnes Morton (8) Elizabeth Ryan8-6, 6-0
1914 Agnes Morton (9)6-1, 6-4
1915/1918Not held (due to world war one)
Suffolk Championships
19196-4, 6-0
1920 Mrs J.E. Vere Elliott 6-1, 7-5
1921 E. Tanner 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
1922 Dorothy Holman (2)6-1, 6-1
1923 Dorothy Holman (3)1-6, 6-3, 6-2
19244-6, 6-2, 6-2
19257-5, 8-6
1926 Ermyntrude Harvey (2)6-4, 6-3
19275-7, 6-4, 7-5
1928 Ermyntrude Harvey (3)6-1, 6-3
1929 C. Turner Mrs P. Carthew 10-8, 7-5
19306-8, 7-5, 6-2
1931 Freda Scott (2) Ermyntrude Harvey9-7, 6-3
1932 Freda Scott (3) Dorothy Biddle de Winton 6-0, 6-1
1933 Dorothy Biddle de Winton M. Cleland 6-4, 11-9
1934 Freda Scott 6-2, 6-0
19356-2, 6-1
1936 Nancy Kidson Fontes (2) Nancy Palmer Edwards 10-8, 7-5
1937 Mrs H.J. Edwards J. Rudland 6-2, 7-9, 6-1
1938 Freda Scott Underwood (3) Betty Batt 8-6, 6-3
1940/1945Not held (due to world war one)
1947 D. Gaskell D. Sutcliffe 6-8, 6-2, 6-4
1948 Jean Nicoll Bostock Wendy Stork 6-1, 6-2
1949 D. Gaskell 6-4, 6-2
195011-9, 9-11, 6-3
1951 Joan Ross-Dilley (2) Andrea Ross-Dilley 8-10, 6-4, 9-7
1952 D E Gaskell Mrs T E Burrows 5-7, 6-1, 11-9
1953 Gladys Southwell Lines 6-0, 6-4
1954 C. Vincent D. Gaskell 7-5, 6-4
19556-1, 0-6, 6-2
1956 Christine Truman6-4, 7-5
1957 Jill Rook (2)1-6, 6-4, 6-4
19586-2, 6-3
1959 Mrs A. Robinson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
1960 Honor Durose 6-2, 6-2
1961 Vivienne Cox 6-1, 6-4
1962 Elizabeth Terry[18] B. Nicholson 6-1, 6-1
19636-2, 6-2
1964 Janet French [19] 6-2 6-2
1965 Janet French 7-5, 6-4
1966 Penny Hardgrave[20] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Open era
1969 Sue Minford1-6, 6-4, 6-2
197010-8, 6-1
1973 Diane (Di)Riste[21] Mrs L. Fulcher6-2, 6-2
1974 Marjorie Love (2) Julia Lloyd 6-2, 6-2
1975 Julia Lloyd [22] R. Hassell 3-6 6-1, 6-2
1976 Julia Lloyd Jacqueline Boothman6-2, 6-2
1977 Jo Sheridan[23] Mrs L. Fulcher 3-6 6-1 6-1
1978 Mrs G. Chambers 6-1, 6-2
1979 J. Lilley A. Loughrey 7-5, 6-3
1980 Christa Pickwick A. Loughrey6-0, 6-2
1981 Z. Kent J. Lilley 6-0, 7-6
1983 J. Stamper A. Loughrey 6-7, 6-1, 10-8

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Most finals played at a single tennis tournament . Guinness World Records . Guinness World Records Limited . 11 July 2022 . en-gb.
  2. News: Framlingham Tennis Week: The Suffolk championships opened at Framlingham on Monday, being the 57th annual week. Over 150 players signed on for action early in the day. Over 600 matches will have to be settled in the week, at a rate of over 100 a day. . 16 May 2023 . Diss Express . British Newspaper Archive . 11 August 1950 . Norfolk, England . 8. subscription.
  3. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Tournament – Saxmundham . www.tennisarchives.com . A. Nieuwland . 11 July 2022.
  4. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Saxmundham 1883 . www.tennisarchives.com . A. Nieuwland . 11 July 2022.
  5. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Tournament – Suffolk Championships . www.tennisarchives.com . A. Nieuwland . 11 July 2022.
  6. Web site: Nieuwland . Alex . Edition – Suffolk Championships 1894 . www.tennisarchives.com . A. Nieuwland . 11 July 2022.
  7. News: Play held up in Framlingham's annual tennis tournament: Attracting over 200 entries this year rather more than last the old-established Framlingham Lawn Tennis Tournament, which includes the Suffolk Championship singles. . 16 May 2023 . Diss Express . British Newspaper Archive . 18 August 1961 . Norfolk, England . 3. subscription.
  8. Web site: Roper Barrett Bio, Stats, and Results Olympics at Sports-Reference.com . Sport Reference LLC . 11 July 2022 . 17 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200417235234/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ba/roper-barrett-1.html . 2020-04-17 .
  9. Web site: Most finals played at a single tennis tournament . guinnessworldrecords.com . Guinness World Records . 11 July 2022 . en-gb.
  10. Web site: Tournament – Saxmundham . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives.
  11. Web site: Tournament – Suffolk Championships . www.tennisarchives.com . Tennis Archives . 7 April 2023.
  12. Web site: C.S. Gordon-Smith; Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 7 April 2023.
  13. Web site: Axel Gravem : Bio . ATP Tour . ATP . 7 April 2023.
  14. Web site: Norman Latchford :Overview . ATP Tour . ATP.
  15. Web site: Harold Hare: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 7 April 2023.
  16. Lawn Tennis Association . United States . American Lawn Tennis . American Lawn Tennis . 1952 . 46 . 26 . Rea Publications . New York . en.
  17. Web site: Robert Nicoll: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 7 April 2023.
  18. Web site: Player Profile: Elizabeth Terry . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 7 April 2023.
  19. Web site: Hall of Fame: Janet French . serveandreturnchicago.org . Serve & Return Chicago . 7 April 2023.
  20. Web site: Player Profile: Penelope Hardgrave . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 7 April 2023.
  21. Web site: Di Riste . www.eurosport.com . Euro Sport . 7 April 2023.
  22. Web site: Player Profile: Julia Lloyd . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 7 April 2023.
  23. Web site: Player Profile: Jo Sheridan . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 7 April 2023.