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.

Suffolk Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameSaxmundham Lawn Tennis Club Tournament (1883-93)
Suffolk Championships (1894–1968)
TourPre-Open era tour (1883-1968)
Founded1883 f. 1893
Abolished1968
Editions85
LocationSaxmundham
SurfaceGrass

History

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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

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Men's singles

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Incomplete roll included:[10][11]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883   William Bolding Monement   M. Wilkinson 6-1, 6-1
1884   Francis William Monement   Maurice Welldon 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
1885   Charles Richard Longe   Herbert Davy Longe 6-1, 6-0
1886   William Herbert Cohen   Oswald Milne 7-5, 7-5
1887   Benjamin Arthur Cohen   George K. Barnabas Norman 3-6, 6-4, 6-2
1888   George K. Barnabas Norman   A. Hewetson 6-1, 6-4
1889   Lionel James Easton   John David Wallich 6-4, 5-6, 6-3
1890   Charles Gladstone Allen   Roy Allen 7-5, ret.
1891   Charles Gladstone Allen   Roy Allen w.o.
1892   Mr. G. Williams   Charles Gladstone Allen ?
Suffolk County Championships
1893   Mr. G. Williams   Roy Allen 6-4, 6-1, 10-8
1894   Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith   Robert Baldock Scott 6-2, 6-2, 6-5
1895   Roy Allen   Sydney Howard Smith 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, ret.
1896   Roy Allen (2)   Rupert L. Hamblin-Smith 6-0, 6-2
1897   Laurie Doherty   Jack Ridding 6-3, 8-6, 4-6, 6-1
1898   Herbert Roper Barrett   Charles Percy Dixon 6-2, 6-4, 6-3
1899   Herbert Roper Barrett (2)   Charles Percy Dixon 6-3, 6-2, 6-3
1900   Charles Percy Dixon   Roy Allen 7-5, 5-7, 7-5, 6-4
1901   Charles Percy Dixon (2)   Charles O. S. Hatton 6-1, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2
1902   Herbert Roper Barrett (3)   Charles Percy Dixon 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 8-6
1903   Roy Allen (3)   Herbert Roper Barrett 6-4, 1-6, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
1904   Herbert Roper Barrett (4)   Roy Allen 6-4, 6-4
1905   Herbert Roper Barrett (5)   Roy Allen 6-2, 6-3, 6-1
1906   Herbert Roper Barrett (6)   C.E. Hunter 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
1907   Herbert Roper Barrett (7)   Alfred Beamish 6-4, 6-2, 6-2
1908   Herbert Roper Barrett (8)   Frank Roe 6-1, 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 Johnson 6-3, 6-4, 6-2
1914/1918 Not held (due to World War One)
Suffolk Championships
1919   Herbert Roper Barrett (11)   Frank Herbert Jarvis 6-2, 6-2
1920   Herbert Roper Barrett (12)   Hugh Davies 6-0, 6-2
1921   Herbert Roper Barrett (13)   Axel Berg Gravem[13] 6-2, 6-1
1922   Randolph Lycett   Axel Berg Gravem 6-2, 6-1
1923   Randolph Lycett (2)   Michael Drone 6-1, 6-0
1924   Randolph Lycett (3)   Donald McNeil Greig 7-5, 7-5
1925   Randolph Lycett (4)   Bunny Austin 6-3, 6-3
1926   Bunny Austin   Randolph Lycett 6-2, 9-9 ret.
1927   Randolph Lycett (5)   Colonel Penn 6-2, 6-1
1928   Randolph Lycett (6)   F.C. Dawnay 8-6, 6-2
1929   Norman Horace Latchford[14]   P.H. Sidney 6-4, 6-2
1930   Norman Horace Latchford (2)   M. Barrington 6-3, 6-4
1931   Norman Horace Latchford (3)   Victor Alexander Cazalet 7-5, 3-6, 6-2
1932   Jimmy Redall   Brian Finnigan 2-6, 6-4, 6-4
1933   Jimmy Redall (2)   Charles Edgar Hare 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1934   Jimmy Redall (2)   Cecil H. Elkington-Betts 6-4, 5-7, 6-2
1935   Charles Edgar Hare   Jimmy Redall 13-11, 6-1
1936   Murray Deloford   E.A. Pearce 6-2, 6-1
1937   Choy Wai-Chuen   Harold A. Hare[15] 6-1, 9-7
1938   Jack Piercy   John T. Bouverie Leader 6-3, 6-0
1939   Gordon Fitt   John T. Bouverie Leader 6-0, 6-4
1940/1946 Not held (due to world war one)
1947   Gordon Fitt (2)   Raymond Victor Fontes 7-5, 4-6, 6-0
1948   C.M. Rudland   A.H. Boar 6-2, 6-2
1949   Percy Rosberg   Teddy Bostock 6-3, 7-5
1950   V. Schmidt   Bo Andersson[16] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
1951   Freddie Beer   L.E. Ahlberg 9-7, 12-10
1952   L. Garfoe   Robert (Bobby) Nicholl[17] 2-6, 8-6, 6-3
Open era
1968   J.S. Wootton   Dick Knight 6-3, 9-11, 6-3

Women's singles

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(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
Saxmundham LTC Tournament
1883   Georgina Rant   Laura Davy 6-0, 6-2
1884   May Marriott   Georgina Rant 6-1, 6-1
1885   Georgina Rant (2)   Edith Austin 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
1886   Georgina Rant(3)   A. Forster 6-4, 6-5
1887   Kate Barkley   Edith Austin 6-2, 6-4
1888   Miss Norman   Edith Austin 6-1, 6-2
1889   Winifred Kersey   Helen Kersey 6-1. 6-5
1890   Edith Coleridge Cole   Alice Parr 6-4, 6-2
1891   Winifred Kersey (2)   Miss Carter 6-2, 4-6, 6-2
Suffolk County Championships
1893   Elsie Lane   Henrietta Horncastle 6-3, 6-1
1894   Alice Simpson Pickering   Alice Parr 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
1895   Elsie Lane   Alice Simpson Pickering 6-2, 7-5
1896   Henrietta Horncastle   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   Beryl Tulloch   Mrs A. Paine 6-2, retd.
1900   Winifred Longhurst   Beryl Tulloch 2-6, 6-3, 6-3
1901   Winifred Longhurst (2)   Ruth Dyas Durlacher 6-3, 3-6, 7-5
1902   Connie Wilson   Agnes Morton 7-5, 6-3
1903   Connie Wilson (2)   Edith Austin Greville 6-4, 6-2
1904  Connie Wilson (3)   Alice Greene 6-2, 7-5
1905   Miss Tootell   Mrs C.E. Hunter 6-0, 6-3
1906   Agnes Morton   Connie Wilson walkover
1907   Agnes Morton (2)   E. Boyce 6-0, 6-2
1908   Agnes Morton (3)   E. Boyce 6-3, 6-2
1909   Agnes Morton (4)   Dorothy Holman 6-1, 6-1
1910   Agnes Morton (5)   Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6-1, 6-2
1911   Agnes Morton (6)   Daisy Clark Kercheval-Hole 6-1 6-4
1912   Agnes Morton (7)   Elizabeth Ryan divided prizes
1913   Agnes Morton (8)   Elizabeth Ryan 8-6, 6-0
1914   Agnes Morton (9)   Geraldine Ramsey Beamish 6-1, 6-4
1915/1918 Not held (due to world war one)
Suffolk Championships
1919   Phyllis Carr Satterthwaite   Dorothy Shepherd 6-4, 6-0
1920   Dorothy Kemmis-Betty   Mrs J.E. Vere Elliott 6-1, 7-5
1921   Dorothy Holman   E. Tanner 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
1922   Dorothy Holman (2)   Ermyntrude Harvey 6-1, 6-1
1923   Dorothy Holman (3)   Ermyntrude Harvey 1-6, 6-3, 6-2
1924   Ermyntrude Harvey   Joan Ridley 4-6, 6-2, 6-2
1925   Joan Austin Lycett   Elieen Bennett 7-5, 8-6
1926   Ermyntrude Harvey (2)   Betty Nuthall 6-4, 6-3
1927   Joan Austin Lycett   Dorothy Biddle 5-7, 6-4, 7-5
1928   Ermyntrude Harvey (3)   Joan Austin Lycett 6-1, 6-3
1929   C. Turner   Mrs P. Carthew 10-8, 7-5
1930   Freda Scott   Ermyntrude Harvey 6-8, 7-5, 6-2
1931   Freda Scott (2)   Ermyntrude Harvey 9-7, 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   Nancy Kidson   Freda Scott 6-2, 6-0
1935   Joan Ridley   Nancy Kidson Fontes 6-2, 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
1940/1945 Not 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   Wendy Stork   D. Gaskell 6-4, 6-2
1950   Joan Ross-Dilley   Andrea Ross-Dilley 11-9, 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   Elaine Watson   Gladys Southwell Lines 6-0, 6-4
1954   C. Vincent   D. Gaskell 7-5, 6-4
1955   Valerie Pitt   Christine Truman 6-1, 0-6, 6-2
1956   Jill Rook   Christine Truman 6-4, 7-5
1957   Jill Rook (2)   Jean-Nicoll-Bostock 1-6, 6-4, 6-4
1958   Norma Marsh   Jean Knight 6-2, 6-3
1959   Joan Stedman   Mrs A. Robinson 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
1960   Vivienne Cox   Honor Durose 6-2, 6-2
1961   Margaret H. O'Donnell   Vivienne Cox 6-1, 6-4
1962   Elizabeth Terry[18]   B. Nicholson 6-1, 6-1
1963   Robin Blakelock-Lloyd   Nell Truman 6-2, 6-2
1964   Nell Truman   Janet French [19] 6-2 6-2
1965   Stephanie Percival   Janet French 7-5, 6-4
1966   Joan Stedman   Penny Hardgrave[20] 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Open era
1969   Marjorie Love   Sue Minford 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
1970   Shirley Bloomer Brasher   Penny Hardgrave 10-8, 6-1
1973   Diane (Di)Riste[21]   Mrs L. Fulcher 6-2, 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 Boothman 6-2, 6-2
1977   Jo Sheridan[23]   Mrs L. Fulcher 3-6 6-1 6-1
1978   Elizabeth Locke   Mrs G. Chambers 6-1, 6-2
1979   J. Lilley   A. Loughrey 7-5, 6-3
1980   Christa Pickwick   A. Loughrey 6-0, 6-2
1981   Z. Kent   J. Lilley 6-0, 7-6
1983   J. Stamper   A. Loughrey 6-7, 6-1, 10-8

References

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  1. ^ "Most finals played at a single tennis tournament". Guinness World Records. Guinness World Records Limited. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  2. ^ "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". Diss Express. Norfolk, England: British Newspaper Archive. 11 August 1950. p. 8. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  3. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Saxmundham". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  4. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Saxmundham 1883". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  5. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Suffolk Championships". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  6. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Suffolk Championships 1894". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ^ "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". Diss Express. Norfolk, England: British Newspaper Archive. 18 August 1961. p. 3. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ^ "Roper Barrett Bio, Stats, and Results | Olympics at Sports-Reference.com". Sport Reference LLC. 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-04-17. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Most finals played at a single tennis tournament". guinnessworldrecords.com. Guinness World Records. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Tournament – Saxmundham". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives.
  11. ^ "Tournament – Suffolk Championships". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  12. ^ "C.S. Gordon-Smith; Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Axel Gravem : Bio". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Norman Latchford :Overview". ATP Tour. ATP.
  15. ^ "Harold Hare: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  16. ^ Lawn Tennis Association, United States (1952). "American Lawn Tennis". American Lawn Tennis. 46. New York: Rea Publications: 26.
  17. ^ "Robert Nicoll: Overview". ATP Tour. ATP. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Player Profile: Elizabeth Terry". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. ^ "Hall of Fame: Janet French". serveandreturnchicago.org. Serve & Return Chicago. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  20. ^ "Player Profile: Penelope Hardgrave". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  21. ^ "Di Riste". www.eurosport.com. Euro Sport. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Player Profile: Julia Lloyd". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Player Profile: Jo Sheridan". www.itftennis.com. ITF. Retrieved 7 April 2023.