The Brincliffe Open [1] was an outdoor men's and women's grass court and hard court tennis tournament first staged in June 1885 by the Brincliffe Lawn Tennis Club (f.1883),[2] at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, West Riding, England. The tournament ran until 1927.[3]

Brincliffe Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourBritish & Irish Circuit
Founded1885
Editions1927
LocationBramall Lane, Sheffield, West Riding, England
VenueBrincliffe Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceGrass (outdoor)
Hard (outdoor)

History

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The Brincliffe Lawn Tennis Club Tournament [4] was an outdoor grass court men's and women's tennis tournament organised by Mr. W. Pierce Dix in conjunction with Brincliffe Lawn Tennis Club (f.1883).[5] Brincliffe LTC was already staging matches in 1884.[6] The first edition was staged from 18 to 20 June 1885 at the County Cricket Ground, Bramall Lane, Sheffield, West Riding, England. Mr. N. L. Jackson (editor of Baily's Monthly Magazine of Sports and Pastimes, and Racing Register) was invited to officiate as referee.[7]

Notable gentleman players participating in the 1885 tournament, included Wimbledon singles finalist and two doubles champion Ernest Renshaw.,[8] Ernest Wool Lewis the South of England Championships title holder, and Ireland's Ernest Browne the Wimbledon singles finalist.[9]

The first men's singles title was won by America's James Dwight who defeated Britain's Arthur John Stanley.[10] The women's singles title was won by Beatrice Wood who defeated Florence Mardall. In 1927 Phyllis Satterthwaite played at the tournament.[11]

Venue

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The Brincliffe Lawn Tnnis Club was established in 1883 at Cemetery Road, Sharrow, Sheffield where it remained until 1901 when it moved to Brincliffe Hill.[12] In 1924 according to the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Association the club consisted of six grass courts and four hard courts,[13] The annual tournament was still being played as late as 1927.[14]

Finals

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Mens Singles

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Year Winner Finalist Score
1885   James Dwight[15]   Arthur John Stanley 2-6, 6–1, 6–3, 6-4[16]

Mens Doubles

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Year Winner Runner-up Score
1885[17]   Charles Lacy Sweet
  Ernest Renshaw
  Gilbert Mahon
  Arthur John Stanley
?

Women's Singles

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Year Winner Runner-up Score
1885[18]   Beatrice Wood   Florence Louisa Mardall 6-1, 6-0[19]

Mix Doubles

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Year Winner Runner-up Score
1885[20]  John Charles Kay
  Florence Louisa Mardall
  Hamilton A. Emmons
  Miss Hobson
7-5, 3–6, 6-4[21]

References

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  1. ^ Lusis, Andy. "Brincliffe's tournament" (PDF). sdlta.org.uk. Sheffield and District Lawn Tennis Association. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. ^ Andrews. John (2015) Lost Club Brincliffe. https://www.sdlta.org.uk/assets/Downloads/010.4-Lost-Club-Brincliffe.docx.Sheffield District Lawn Tennis Association p.1.
  3. ^ Andrews p.6.
  4. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Brincliffe Lawn Tennis Club Tournament 1885". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  5. ^ Lusis, Andy. "Brincliffe's tournament" (PDF). sdlta.org.uk. Sheffield and District Lawn Tennis Association. p. 3. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  6. ^ Goy's calendar of sports: Sporting and Club Fixtures. London: Illustrated Sport. 1 August 1884. p. 30.
  7. ^ Luis.
  8. ^ Luis.
  9. ^ Nieuwland
  10. ^ Luis.
  11. ^ Andrews p.6.
  12. ^ Andrews p.2.
  13. ^ Andrews p.2.
  14. ^ Andrews p.6.
  15. ^ Luis.
  16. ^ Nieuwland
  17. ^ Luis.
  18. ^ Nieuwland
  19. ^ Nieuwland
  20. ^ Nieuwland
  21. ^ Nieuwland

Sources

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  • Andrews. John (2015) Lost Club Brincliffe. (PDF). sdlta.org.uk. Sheffield and District Lawn Tennis Association.
  • Goy's calendar of sports (1884). Sporting and Club Fixtures. London: Illustrated Sport.
  • Lusis, Andy. "Brincliffe's tournament" (PDF). sdlta.org.uk. Sheffield and District Lawn Tennis Association.
  • Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Brincliffe Lawn Tennis Club Tournament 1885". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives.