The British Columbia Championships[1] also known as the British Columbia Lawn Tennis Championships[2] or the Labatts British Columbia Championships (for sponsorship reasons) was a men's and women's international tennis tournament founded in 1886 as the Victoria Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup.[3] also called the British Columbia Challenge Cup.[4]

British Columbia Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Circuit (1913=69)
Founded1886; 138 years ago (1886)
Abolished1978; 46 years ago (1978)
VenueVictoria Lawn Tennis Club (1887-49)
Victoria Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club (1950-62)
Victoria Racquet Club (1963-78)

It was first played at the Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard, Victoria British Columbia, Canada. The tournament ran as part of ILTF Circuit until 1973. The tournament continued as part of the Satellite Circuit until 1978 when it was discontinued.

History

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In 1886 Victoria Lawn Tennis Challenge Cup was played at the naval base of the British Royal Navy in Esquimalt Royal Navy Dockyard ,Esquimalt, Canada. The tournament was then organized by the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club (f. 1884)[5] During the World War I, from 1915 to 1918.[6] the championships were not held In 1925, 1926,and 1930 the tournament was jointly valid as Canadian International Championships. From 1940 to 1945 the tournament was not held again due to World War II.

In 1973 the event ceased to be a part of the worldwide ILTF Circuit. In 1974 it was downgraded to the Satellite Circuit joining the Western Satellite Circuit. In 1975 it became part of the Pacific Northwest Satellite Tour. In 1976 it was part American Express Western Challenger Circuit. In 1975 the Labatt Brewing Company took over sponsorship the event. In 1977 the tournament was not held. In 1978 in its final year it became part of the Canadian Challenger Circuit then was discontinued.

Venue

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The tournament was held at the Victoria Lawn Tennis Club. In 1950 its name was changed to the Victoria Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club.[7] In 1963 the club's name was altered again to the Victoria Racquet Club.[8] The event was played exclusively on grass courts until 1966 when it switched to hard courts.[9]

Finals

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Notes 1: Challenge Round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921),[10] in some tournaments not all.

(CR) Indicates a challenge round was in operation

Men's singles

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Included:[11]

Year Champion Runner up Score
British Columbia Challenge Cup
1886   R. H. Handcock   Julian Gaisford ?
1887   R. H. Handcock (2)   Harvey Coombe 3–0, retd.
British Columbia Lawn Tennis Championships[12]
1888 (CR)   John Chawner Williams   R. H. Handcock ?
1889 (CR)   Charles Longe   John Chawner Williams 6–1, 6–0, 6–0
1890 (CR)   Charles Longe (2)   Harvey Combe 4–6, 6–8, 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
1891 (CR)   Charles Longe (3)   John Fortescue Foulkes 6–8, 6–0, 6–1, 6–3
1892   John Fortescue Foulkes   Arthur Longe 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1893   Charles Longe (4)   Lancelot Pelly 6–0, 6–1, 6–3
1894   John Fortescue Foulkes (2)   Charles Longe 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1895   John Fortescue Foulkes (3)   Harvey Combe 2–6, 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1896   John Fortescue Foulkes (4)   George Hurd 6–1, 7–5, 6–4
1897   John Fortescue Foulkes (5)   George Hurd 6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1898   John Fortescue Foulkes (6)   Robert Branks Powell 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1899 (CR)   John Fortescue Foulkes (7)   Lancelot Pelly 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1900 (CR)   John Fortescue Foulkes (8)   Robert Powell 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1901   Robert Powell   Albert Goward 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1902 (CR)   Albert Goward   Robert Powell 6–0, 6–1, 6–0
1903 (CR)   Robert Powell (2)   Albert Goward 7–5, 6–0, 6–3
1904 (CR)   Robert Powell (3)   Walter Bethel 6–3, 3–6, 7–5, 6–1
1905   Capt. Wright   Bernie Schwengers 6–4, 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1906   Joe Tyler   Bernie Schwengers 5–7, 6–1, 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1907 (CR)   Bernie Schwengers   Joe Tyler 8–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–4
1908 (CR)   Bernie Schwengers (2)   Bruce Smith 6–3, 6–1, 6–2
1909 (CR)   Joe Tyler (2)   Bernie Schwengers 5–7, 6–1, 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1910 (CR)   Bernie Schwengers (3)   Joe Tyler 6–2, 6–1, 6–0
1911   Joe Tyler (3)   Beverly Rhodes 7–5, 6–0, 6–2
1912 (CR)   Bill Johnston   Joe Tyler 6–0, 7–5, 6–1
1913[13]   Joe Tyler (4)   Herbert Garrett 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1914   Bernie Schwengers (4)   Henry Breck 6–2, 6–1, 6–4
1915–1918: Not held (due to World War I)
1919   Ashley Stuart Milne   R. C. Mercer 10–8, 6–1, 6–2
1920 (CR)   Phil Neer   Ashley Stuart Milne 3–6, 6–2, 11–9, 6–3
1921   Marshall Allen   Carl Gardner 6–4, 6–4, 8–6
1922 (HR)   Keith Verley   Marshall Allen 8–6, 5–7, 7–5, 6–3
1923   Keith Verley (2)   John Proctor 7–5, 6–2, 5–7, 6–3
1924   Ray Casey   Ed Chandler 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1925   Leroy Rennie   Marsh Gordon 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1926   Leon de Turenne   Wallace Scott 6–4, 6–3, 6–0
1927   John Risso   Bradshaw Harrison 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1928   Bradshaw Harrison   Leon de Turenne 6–3, 3–6, 9–7, 6–1
1929   Jerry Bartosh   Kurt Berndt 6–3, 6–1, 10–8
1930   Joe Coughlin   Henry Prusoff 6–2, 4–6, 8–6, 6–3
1931   Henry Prusoff   Laurason Driscoll 10–8, 1–6, 6–0, 7-5
1932   Henry Prusoff (2)   John Murio 6:2, 6:3, 6:2
1933   John Murio   Charlie Hunt 6–3, 6–2, 6-2
1934   Mel Dranga   Wayne Sabin 6–0, 8–6, 6-1
1935   Gene Smith   Dick Bennett 8-6, 6–2, 7-5
1936   John Murio (2)   Verne Hughes 6–4, 6–1, 6-4
1937   Dick Bennett   Morton Ballogh 6–2, 6–0, 3–6, 5–7, 6-2
1938   Mel Dranga (2)   Bobby Caruthers 6:3, 2:6, 2:6, 6:2, 6:1
1939   Eddie Amark   Tate Coulthard 7–5, 6–4, 6-3
1940–1945: No held (due to World War II)
British Columbia Championships
1946   Bud Gilmore   Sam Lee 5–7, 1–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6-1
1947   Arnold Beisser   Merwin Miller 6–4, 6–4, 6-1
1948   John Fleitz   Jack Lowe 2–6, 6–4, 6–1, 7-5
1949   Jim Kroesen   Jack Shoemaker 6–4, 11–13, 7–5, 6-4
1950   Lorne Main   Ed Kauder 6–2, 7–5, 6-1
1951   Merwin Miller   Paul Willey 7–9, 6–3, 6–4, 2–6, 6-3
1952   Jerry DeWitts   Fred Fisher 7–5, 6–2, 6-0
1953   Jim Demas   Stanley Hack 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6-0
1954   Seth Petersen   Jim Demas 4–6, 6–0, 6–3, 8-6
1955   Harry Buttimer   Joe Woolfson 6–4, 4–6, 6-1
1956   Paul Willey   Bill Rose 6–2, 6–0, 6-3
1957   Merwin Miller (2)   Gordon Davis 6–4, 6–3, 6-2
1958   Jim Watson   Bill Rose 4–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7-5
1959   Bill Hoogs Jr.   Dale Rohland 6–1, 3–6, 1–6, 6–4, 6-2
1960   Bobby Delgado   Forrest Stewart 1–6, 6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 6-2
1961   Yoshi Minegishi   Paul Welles 6–3, 6–4, 4–6, 6-3
1962   Dave Sanderlin   Chuck Rambeau 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6-4
1963   Jerry Cromwell   Bob Sherman 6–4, 3–6, 6-4
1964   Jaime Subirats   Steve Tidbal 6–3, 6-3
1965   Dick Leach   Jack Neer 7–5, 7-5
1966   Bob Puddiecombe   Don McCormick 6–2, 6–4, 12-10
1967   Tom Muench   Doug Verdieck 1–6, 6–4, 6-0
1968   Jim Parker   Bill Tym 11–9, 8-6
Open era
1969   Pierce Kelley   Craig Hardy 6–3, 6-2
1970   Steve Cornell   Mike Mullan 6–2, 6-2
1971[14]   Avery Rush   Manuel Castenada 6–4, 7-5
1972   Chip Fisher   Peter Campbell 6–3, 6-2
1973   João Soares   Bill Hoover 6–1, 6-4
1974   Chip Fisher (2)   Jerry Van Linge 4–6, 7–5, 7-6
Labatts British Columbia Championships
1975   Dave Kanter   Stan Pasarell 7–6, 6-3
1976   Paul McNamee   Dick Bohrnstedt 7–6, 6-3
1977: Event not held
1978   Bill Lloyd   Bruce Kleege 6–2, 6-1

References

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  1. ^ "HISTORY: TENNIS IN VICTORIA IN THE EARLY DAYS". clubspark.ca. Oak Bay Tennis Club. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  2. ^ "Mrs Williamson Wins Net Crown". Eureka Humboldt Standard. Eureka, California: Newspaper Archives. 4 August 1959. p. 11. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  3. ^ Kendrick, Martyn; Canada (Association), Tennis (1990). Advantage Canada : a Tennis Centenary. Toronto: Tennis Canada. p. 18. ISBN 978-0-9691122-4-2.
  4. ^ Historical Committee, USTA/PNW (20 February 2013). "History of Tennis in the Pacific Northwest" (PDF). irvingtonclub.com/. Irvington Club. p. 4. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  5. ^ Kendrick (1990)
  6. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  7. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  8. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  9. ^ Oak Bay Tennis Club
  10. ^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  11. ^ "Tournament – British Columbia Championship". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ^ Historical Committee, USTA/PNW (20 February 2013). "History of Tennis in the Pacific Northwest" (PDF). irvingtonclub.com/. Irvington Club. p. 4.
  13. ^ "Financial Conditions". Victoria Daily British Colonist. Victoria, British Columbia.: Newspaper Archives. 11 November 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Sports Shorts". Austin Daily Texan. Austin, Texas: Newspaper Archives. 10 August 1971. p. 7. Retrieved 14 April 2023.