1886 women's tennis season

The 1886 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 57 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in February in London, England, and ended in December in Napier, New Zealand.

1886 Women's tennis season

Blanche Bingley wins Wimbledon, but May Langrishe is overall title leader.
Details
Duration	3 February – 30 December
Edition	11th
Tournaments	57
Categories	Important (3) National (3) Provincial/Regional/State (12) County (8) Regular (31)
Achievements (singles)
Most tournament titles	May Langrishe (4)
Most tournament finals	Maud Watson (6)
← 1885 1887 →

Summary of season

From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations. Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.

After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments. Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits. After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.

1886 sees a decrease in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form. The 1886 women's tennis season began on 3 February with the Hyde Park Court Covered Courts Tournament, London, Hyde Park Court. In May 1886 at the first major event of the year the Irish Championships played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's May Langrishe wins the singles title for her third and final title defeating the up-and-coming Louisa Martin, she also picks up the mixed doubles title with Eyre Chatterton. The ladies doubles event is won by Connie Butler and Louisa Martin. In terms of draw size the West of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 46 across three events.

In June 1886 at the second major tournament of the year, the Northern Championships played at the Liverpool Cricket Club in Liverpool, featured a full schedule of events the singles title going to Maud Watson defeating Lottie Dod in straights sets, the women's doubles event was won by the sister pairing of Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat a Miss Cliff and May Langrishe in the final, the mixed doubles event is won by Margaret Bracewell and William Renshaw who defeat Lottie Dod and Harry Grove in the final.

In July at the 1886 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Blanche Bingley defeats two-time defending champion Maud Watson in straight sets to claim her first major title.

In August at the U.S. National Championships played on the outdoor Grass courts at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island there was still no women's championship events staged. The season ended on 30 December 1886 at the first New Zealand Championships, Napier, New Zealand played on grass.

Season results

Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.

Key

Important.

National

Provincial/State/Regional

County

Regular

January

No events

February

* (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semifinalist	Quarterfinalist
6 Feb.	Hyde Park Court Covered Courts Tournament Hyde Park, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles
		Ethel Gurney ** Herbert Chipp 6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4	Blanche Bingley Harry Grove

March

No events

April

No events

May

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
1 May	Killiney and Ballybrack Championships Ballybrack LTC Killiney and Ballybrack Killiney and Ballybrack, Ireland Grass	May Langrishe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1	Beatrice Langrishe
15 May.	Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament (Championship of New South Wales) Sydney, Australia Asphalt Singles - Doubles	C. Greene 6–3, 6–2	Annie Lamb	Eliza Fitzgerald	E Beamon H Beaumont Eva Rodd Miss McLean
		Annie Lamb C. Greene 6–1, 6–4	Beatrice Metcalfe Eva Rodd
		Zilla Scott Louis Whyte 6–1, 6–5	Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald
22 May	West of Scotland Championships Pollokshields, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles	Jane Meikle 6–4, 5–7, 6–0	Julia MacKenzie
		Jane Meikle Walter Chamberlain 6–1, 6–2	Julia MacKenzie John Galbraith Horn
29 May.	Irish Championships Fitzwilliam LTC Dublin, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles	May Langrishe 6–3, 6–4	Louisa Martin	Connie Butler Beatrice Langrishe	Mabel Cahill Miss Exham Miss Hodson Adela Langrishe
		Connie Butler Louisa Martin 6–3, 6–4	Beatrice Langrishe May Langrishe
		May Langrishe Eyre Chatterton 6–0, 6–2, 6–1	Adela Langrishe Toler Roberts Garvey

June

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
3 June.	Championship of West of England Lansdowne Cricket Club Bath, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Lottie Dod 6–1, 6–2	Maud Watson	F. Burton Louisa Martin	Blanche Bingley Connie Butler Edith Davies N. Pope
4 Jun	Whitehouse Open Whitehouse LTC Edinburgh, Scotland Clay Singles - Doubles	Jane Meikle 6–2, 6–2	Miss Meikle
		J. Ferguson A. Steel 6–3, 6–2	E. Ferguson W. Ferguson
5 June.	Beckenham Cricket Club Tournament Beckenham, England Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		Ellen Wilson ** Edward J. Avory 9–7, 6–1	Miss Wing J.E. Passmore
13 Jun	East Gloucestershire Championship Challenge Cup Cheltenham LTC Cheltenham, England Singles - Doubles	Louisa Martin 6–4, 6–4	Maud Watson	Margaret Bracewell Blanche Bingley	Constance Bryan Lottie Dod Edith Gurney Beatrice Langrishe
		Margaret Bracewell William Renshaw 6–4, 6–4	Blanche Bingley James Dwight
16 Jun.	Welsh Championships Penarth LTC Penarth, Wales Singles - Doubles	L. Browne 4–6, 6–1, 6–3	L.C. Stephens	A. Reynolds M. Reynolds	Mrs Hill Miss Norton E.J. Stephens B. Trayes
19 Jun	Scottish Championships Edinburgh University Club Edinburgh, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles	Mabel Boulton 3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 4–6 6-2	Julia MacKenzie	J. Ferguson Miss Meikle	E. Ferguson Jane Meikle Miss MacKenzie
	London Championships London Athletic Club London, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Blanche Bingley 6–1, 6–1	Edith Davies	Edith Gurney B. Hannaford
24 Jun	Badsworth Hunt Tournament Ackworth House Pontefract, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Beatrice Wood 6–0, 6–0	Miss Smith
	Redhill Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Redhill, England Grass Singles - Doubles	J. Wray 6–1, 6–2	Miss Wing
26 Jun	Warriston Park LTC Tournament Edinburgh, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles	Jane Meikle 5–7, 6–1, 6–1	Mabel Boulton
	Clifton Open Clifton, England Singles - Doubles	Beatrice Langrishe 6–2, 7–5	N Pope	Clara Hill Margaret Fyffe	Miss Bryant Gratian Fyffe Marian Fyffe A. James
		N Pope James Baldwin 8–6, 6–4	Clara Hill John Charles Kay
30 June.	Northern Championships Liverpool Cricket Club Liverpool, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Maud Watson 6–3, 9–7	Lottie Dod	Miss L Cheetham Emily Fletcher	N. Garnett A. McLaren B. McLaren K. Mitchell
		Ann Dod Lottie Dod 6–3, 9–7	Miss Cliff May Langrishe

July

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
2 Jul	Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Margaret Bracewell 6–2, 6–2	Maud Watson
	Midland Counties Championships Edgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Blanche Bingley 6–2, 6–2	Lillian Watson	Miss Noon F. Lawrence	Margaret Bracewell Bertha Steedman Eva Steedman Mary Steedman
		Blanche Bingley Lilian Watson 6–4, 6–2	Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman
		Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 2–6, 8–6	Margaret Bracewellll William Renshaw
3 Jul	Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Stafford Institute LTC Stafford, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Agnes Noon 2–6, 6–4, 6–2	Barbara Noon
	Northumberland Cricket Club Open. Newcastle upon Tyne, England Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles
		Alice Cheese E. Cheese 6–1, 2–6, 11–9	Connie Butler Miss Marley
		Connie Butler Charles Liddle 6–4, 4–6, 8–6	Miss Marley Kenneth Ramsden Marley
	Natal Championships Pietermaritzburg, Natal Colony Grass Singles - Doubles	Mabel Grant 6–3, 6–2	L. Button
10 Jul.	Broughty Ferry Open Broughty Ferry LTC Broughty Ferry, Scotland Clay Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		Arthur Neville John Story Miss Aileen Malcom 6–3, 6–2	Archibald Thomson Miss. Daphne Hay
	Claremount Park Open. Claremont Park Public Lawn Tennis Grounds Blackpool, England. Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		Walter Reid Craig Miss Rose Viener 6–3, 4–6, 6–2	Montagu Howarth Miss. Rebecca Moore
12 Jul.	Chapel Allerton LTC Tournament Chapel Allerton LTC Chapel Allerton, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Louisa Moir 6–3, 5–6, 6–5	Isabel Tannett
		Beatrice Wood Arthur Meysey-Thompson 6–5, 6–2	Mrs Carpenter Cedric F. Palmer
	Ilkley Open Tournament Ilkley LTC Ilkley, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Beatrice Wood 3–6, 6–5, 6–0	Jean Moir
15 Jul.	Burton-on-Trent Open Burton upon Trent, England Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		F.A. Clark Miss Denton 6–4, 4–6, 8–6	Frank Noon Mrs Hodson
	Mersey Bowmen Club Tournament Aigburth, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Katharine Hill 6–5, 6–3	Jane Pickthall	Mary McConnell Catherine Jones
16 Jul.	Chiswick Park Club Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Chiswick, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Miss Douglas 6–4, 6–0	May Jacks	Blanche Bingley Lena Rice
		Blanche Bingley William Renshaw 7–5, 6–1	May Jacks William Taylor
17 Jul.	Wimbledon Championships AELTC London, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles	Blanche Bingley 6–3, 6–3	Maud Watson	Amy Tabor Lilian Watson	AM Chambers Julia Mackenzie FM Pearson J Shackle
22 Jul	Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis Tournament Taunton, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Nora Pope 6–1, 6–2	Alice Bagnall-Wild	Georgina Gilling-Lax Miss Woodhouse	Beatrice Adey Miss Chapman Ada Meyler Constance Meyler
		Alice Bagnall-Wild Nora Pope 6–2, 6–0	Miss Escott Georgina Gilling-Lax
24 Jul.	Kilkenny County and City Tournament Kilkenny, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles	Mabel Cahill 7–5, 6–2, 6–4	Beatrice Langrishe	Miss Kenealy	Miss Butler Adela Langrishe
		May Langrishe Ernest Brown 6–1, 6–1, 6–1	Mabel Cahill Francis Swayne
	Ealing Championships Ealing LTC Ealing, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Charlotte Cooper 6–4, 5–7, 6–4	Alice Brown	Edith Gurney Bertha Steedman
	South of Ireland Championships. Limerick, Ireland Grass Singles	Miss Smith 6–1, 6–4	G. Bailey	Mary Lysaght Mildred Smith
		Mary Lysaght William Bredin 6–5, 5–6, 6–2, 6–5	Miss Gloster Edward Westropp
	Leicester Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Leicester, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Agnes Watts Florence Noon title divided		Florence Mardall Effie Noon	Mrs Hill L. Snook Miss Snook Miss Hudson
		Florence Mardall Agnes Watts 6–2, 6–0	Miss Lorrimer Miss Snook
		Florence Noon Frank Noon 6–3, 6–2	Florence Mardall William N. Cobbold
28 Jul.	Leamington Open Tournament Leamington Spa, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Gertrude Mellersh 6–4, 6–4	Margaret Bracewell
		Mrs Hornby Charles Ross 6–2, 6–3	Gertrude Mellersh Thomas Mellersh
31 Jul.	Northumberland County Association Tournament Newcastle upon Tyne, England Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles
		Connie Butler Miss A. Clayton 6–1, 2–6, 11–9	Mrs R. Clayton Winifred Fenwick
		Miss A. Clayton Patrick Bowes-Lyon 6–4, 4–6, 8–6	Connie Butler Charles Liddle

August

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
2 Aug	East of Ireland Championships Howth LTC Howth, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles	May Langrishe 6–3, 6–2	Isabella Smyth	Noeleen Boyle Agnes Moore	Ada Atthill Elizabeth Crofton Jane McClintock Ida Perry
6 Aug	Darlington Association Tournament Darlington, England Singles - Doubles	Florence Stanuell 6–2, 6–2	Beatrice Wood	Connie Butler Mrs J.T. Proud
		Connie Butler Florence Stanuell 6–4, 6–3	Miss Langley Ethel Surtees
		Florence Stanuell Patrick Bowes-Lyon 6–1, 7–5	Connie Butler John Galbraith Horn
7 Aug	Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Exmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Maud Watson 7–5, 0–6, 6–3	Blanche Bingley	Constance Bryan Katherine Hole	Katharine Kindersley Leila Lodwick Lilian Watson
		Blanche Bingley William Renshaw 5–7, 7–5, 8–6	Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin
	Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament Hull, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Constance Hodgson 7–5, 0–6, 6–3	Miss Alfrey
		Dorothy Boulton Mabel Boulton 6–3, 6–3	Constance Hodgson Mrs Travers
		Mabel Boulton F.J. Hirst 6–3, 6–3	A. Thorney A.W. McIlwaine
	Waterford Open Tournament Waterford Cricket Club Waterford, Ireland Grass Singles	May Langrishe 6–2, 6–1	Ann Gallwey	Mabel Cahill Beatrice Langrishe	Frances Gallwey Miss Knox
	County Wexford Club Tournament County Wexford LTC Wexford Ireland Grass Singles	H. Esmonde 2–6, 6–4, 6–2	H.E. Moffat	Miss Brunskill K. Doran	Miss Beatty E. Doran
11 Aug	East Grinstead Lawn Tennis Tournament East Grinstead, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Miss Cobbold 3-6 6-1 6-1	May Jacks
		May Arbuthnot Miss Cobbold 6-4 6-3	Miss Bird Miss Saint-Clair
		Miss Cobbold William N. Cobbold 6-2 6-0	May Jacks Herbert Hockney
14 Aug	North of England Championships South Cliff LTC Scarborough, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Margaret Bracewell 6-4 8-6	Mabel Boulton	L. Brown Mrs W. Hill	Florence Mardall E. Robinson Miss Robinson Miss Young
		Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 8-6 4-6 6-4	E. Atkinson E. Rawlinson
		Margaret Bracewell Harry Grove 6-0 6-3	Mrs Hill J.H. Aitken
	Teignmouth and Shaldon Open Teignmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Lillian Watson Maud Watson divided tile
		Lillian Watson John Redfern Deykin 6–1, 6–4	J. Wray Charles Pine-Coffin
16 Aug	Felixstowe Open Lawn Tennis Tournament. Felixstowe, England Singles - Doubles	A. Ridley 6–1, 6–5	Helen Kersey
19 Aug	Saxmundham LTC Tournament Saxmundham, England Grass Singles - Doubles	G. Rant 6-4, 6-5	A. Forster
		G. Rant Mrs Warwick 6-3 6-1	Mabel Lowther May Lowther
		Kate Barkley R.G. Pollock 6-4 6-1	Miss Bond Herbert Longe
21 Aug	South Wales and Monmouthshire Championships Tenby, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles	Katherine Hill 6-4 6-3	Mary Agg
		Mary Agg B. Henry 6-2 6-2	V. Hardy C. Jones
		Mary Agg James Baldwin 6-3 6-3	C. Jones E.W. David
	Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Tournament Harrogate, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Margaret Bracewell 5-7 8-6 3-0 retd.	Mabel Boulton	Constance Hodgson Florence Mardall	Ethel Atkinson M. Crossley Miss Willett Beatrice Wood
		Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6-2 6-1	E. Atkinson Ella Rawlinson
		Mabel Boulton B. Hartley 6-4 6-4	Mrs W Hill John Galbraith Horn
23 Aug	South of Scotland Championships Beechgrove LTC Moffat, Scotland Grass Singles - Doubles	Ann Dod 6–3, 6–2	Evelyn Blencowe	Lottie Paterson	A. Barry Ada Blencowe Jane McClintock Ida Perry
		Ada Blencowe Evelyn Blencowe 7–5, 4–6, 6–1	Ann Dod Miss Thomson
		Lottie Paterson Edward B. Morrison 9–7, 7–5	Ann Dod Richard Millar Watson
26 Aug	Helmingham Invitation Helmingham Estate Helmingham, England Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		Miss Austin Mr Wood 6–2, 6–0	Miss Heasey Mr Addisou
28 Aug	Derbyshire Championships Buxton, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Louisa Martin 6–3, 6–0	May Langrishe	Blanche Bingley Mary Steedman	Lottie Dod Florence Mardall E. Richardson Florence Stanuell
		Lottie Dod May Langrishe 6–2, 7–5	Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell
		Louisa Martin Tom Campion 6–3, 4–6, 6–2	Alice Noon P. B. Brown
29 Aug	Bournemouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Dean Park Bournemouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Mrs Hornby 6–3, 6–3	B. Hannaford	L. Elphinston Mrs Surman	M. Elphinston Miss Fryer Miss Vaughan Miss Wollaston
		Miss Vaughan Leslie C. Wintle 6–2, 6–3	Miss Palmer D.W. Donaldson
30 Aug	Whitby Open Lawn Tennis Tournament Whitby, England Grass Singles - Doubles	G. Walters walkover	Beatrice Wood
		A. Walters G. Walters 6–2, 6–2	Miss Wilkins E. Wilkins
		Mabel Hartley George E. Brewerton 6–4, 6–3	L. Cheetham Arthur G. Pease

September

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
7 Sep	South of England Championships Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles	Margaret Bracewell 6–1, 6–3	Blanche Bingley	Florence Mardall Laura Triscott	E. Malcolm E. Monckton Mrs Kate Tullock Alice Strapp
		Margaret Bracewell Florence Mardall 6–4, 6–3	Gertrude Mellersh Elizabeth Mocatta
		Margaret Bracewell John Galbraith Hornn 6–4, 8–6	Florence Mardall Percy B. Brown

October

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
19 Oct	New Haven Ladies Tournament New Haven LTC New Haven, United States Grass Singles - Doubles	Miss Leslie 6–1, 6–4	Annie Miller	Miss Griggs Miss Kellogg	Miss L. Ives Miss Lynch N. B. Trowbridge Martha White
		Miss Lente N. B. Trowbridge 6–1, 6–3	Miss Briggs Miss Kellogg
29 Oct	Victorian Championships Melbourne, Australia Grass Singles - Doubles	C. Greene 6–1, 6–1	Ellen Mayne	Constance Raleigh Mabel Shaw
		Miss Mayne Mabel Shaw 6–1, 6–0	Miss Barnard Miss Brunton

November

No events

December

Ended	Tournament	Winner	Finalist	Semi finalist	Quarter finalist
30 Dec	New Zealand Championships (1st ed) Farndon Park Napier, New Zealand Grass Singles - Doubles	Sarah Lance 6–2, 3–6, 6–1	Hilda Hitchings	E Harman Mrs G Way
		Sarah Lance Mrs G Way 6–1, 6–4	Miss Hannin Miss Cotterill
		Hilda Hitchings EP Hudson 6–3, 6–1	Sarah Lance HB Williams
	Napier Open Farndon Park Napier, New Zealand Grass Singles - Doubles	No Ladies Singles	No Ladies Doubles
		Rose Tanner J.W. Begg 6–4, 6–0	Hilda Hitchings R. Smith

Tournament winners (singles)

This is a list of winners by the total number of singles titles won for 1886 major titles in bold:

• May Langrishe – Ballybrack, Howth, Irish Championships, Waterford (4)
• Blanche Bingley – Edgbaston, Stamford Bridge, Wimbledon Championships, (3)
• Jane Meikle – Edinburgh II, Edinburgh III, Pollokshields, (3)
• Margaret Bracewell – Eastbourne, Edgbaston II, Scarborough, (3)
• Beatrice Wood – Ilkley, Pontefract, (2)
• Maud Watson – Exmouth, Northern Championships, (2)
• Louisa Martin – Buxton, Cheltenham, (2)
• C. Greene – Melbourne, Sydney, (2)
• Miss Leslie – New Haven, (1)
• Lottie Dod – Bath (1)
• Charlotte Cooper – Ealing, (1)
• L. Browne – Penarth, (1)
• Lillian Watson – Teignmouth, (1)
• Mabel Cahill – Kilkenny, (1)
• Mabel Boulton – Edinburgh, (1)
• Sarah Lance – Napier, (1)
• J. Wray – Redhill, (1)
• Beatrice Langrishe – Clifton, (1)
• Agnes Noon – Stafford, (1)
• Louisa Moir – Chapel Allerton, (1)
• Katharine Hill – Aigburth, (1)
• Miss Douglas – Chiswick Park, (1)
• Nora Pope – Taunton, (1)
• Agnes Watts – Leicester, (1)
• Gertrude Mellersh – Leamington Spa, (1)
• H. Esmonde – Wexford, (1)
• Florence Noon – Leicester, (1)
• Florence Stanuell – Darlington, (1)
• Miss Cobbold – East Grinstead, (1)
• A. Ridley – Felixstowe, (1)
• G. Rant – Saxmundham, (1)
• Katherine Hill – Tenby, (1)
• Ann Dod – Mofatt, (1)
• Mrs Hornby – Bournemouth, (1)
• G. Walters – Whitby, (1)

Season statistics

Singles

• Total Tournaments (55)
• Most Titles: Blanche Bingley & May Langrishe & Margaret Bracewell & Jane Meikle (3)
• Most Finals: Maud Watson (6)