The Bristol Open, originally known as the West of England Championships[1] and the West of England Lawn Tennis Championships[2] is a defunct tennis tournament that was originally hosted in Bath, Somerset, England, from 1881[3] till 1895. It was staged briefly in Bristol, England, in 1896, then from 1920 onwards was hosted again in Bristol annually until the tournament ceased in 1989. The tournament was played on grass courts in the weeks preceding the Wimbledon Championships usually June.

West of England Championships
Bristol Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourLTA Circuit (1888-1912)
ILTF Circuit (1913–70, 72-79)
WCT (1971)
Grand Prix circuit (1980–89)
WTA Tour (1971–72)
Founded1881
Abolished1989
Editions81
LocationBath, Bristol, England

History

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The West of England Championships were originally held in Bath[3] from 1881 until 1895; the tournament then transferred to Bristol in 1896. In 1897 the event ceased for period of 24 years. It was reinstated in 1920 and was played in Bristol for the remainder of its run. At the start of the Open Era the tournament was part of the independent tour circuit. In 1971 the event was renamed the Bristol Open; the men's event became part of the World Championship Tennis tour and the women's was part of the International Grand Prix. The women's event stopped in 1973 and was not held again. Although the men's tournament also stopped in 1973, it was reinstated in 1980 and became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit until 1989.

Finals

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Notes: 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),[4] in some tournaments not all.

* Indicates challenger

Men's singles

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West of England Championships
Year Champions Runners-up Score
1881   Ernest Browne   C. K. Wood 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1882   George M. Butterworth   Alexander K. Butterworth 6–4, 6–4
1883   Ernest Browne (2)   Wilfred Milne 6–3, 6–2, 6–3
1884[5]   Pelham Von Donop   John C. Kay 5–6, 6–5, 6–3
1885   Ernest Browne (3)   James Dwight 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
1886   James Dwight   Harry Grove 6–4, 6–3, 6–4
1887   Harry Grove   James Dwight 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1888   Harry S. Barlow   James Baldwin 6–4, 6–3, 8–10, 3–6, 8–6
1889   James Baldwin   Wilfred Milne 7–5, 6–4, 6–4
1890   Harry S. Barlow (2)   James Baldwin 7–5, 6–3, 6–2
1891   Harry S. Barlow (3)   James Baldwin 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–4
1895   Roy Allen   George Ball-Greene 14–12, 6–4, 7–5
1896[6]   Harold Mahony   William Larned 6–3, 6–3, 6–2
1897–1919 Not held (tournament is not staged for 24 years re-emerges after WW1)
1920   Francis Fisher   Frank Riseley 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–2
1921   Sydney Jacob   Francis Fisher 9–7, 6–2, 4–6, 6–0
1922   Brian Norton   Theodore Mavrogordato 6–3, 6–3
1923   Patrick Wheatley   F. R. L. Crawford 6–4, 6–3, 6–2
1924   Jack Condon   Frank Riseley 7–5, 6–2, 8–6
1925   Frank Riseley   J. G. Hogan 6–3, 6–4
1927   Sydney Jacob   A. E. Browne 6–3 6–2
1928   Dennis O'Callaghan   Sydney Jacob 9–7, 5–7, 6–3
1929[7]   George Lyttleton-Rogers   E. B. N. Taylor 6–1, 6–2
1930[7]   George Lyttleton-Rogers (2)   George Godsell 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1931[7]   George Lyttleton-Rogers (3   Nigel Sharpe 6–2, 6–1, 7–5
1933   Daniel Prenn   Hendrik Timmer 6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 6–4
1934   George Godsell   Brian J. Sturgeon 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 6–4
1935   Donald Butler   George Lyttleton-Rogers 8-,6 11–9, 9–7
1936   Cam Malfroy   Robert Tinkler 4–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–4
1937   Alan Stedman   Kho Sin-Kie 6–1, 1–6, 6–4
1938   Jimmy Mehta   Cam Malfroy 6–2, 6–3
1939[8]   Donald Butler   Gottfried von Cramm 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 5–7, 8–6
1940–1945 Not held (partly due to World War II)
1946[9]   Kho Sin-Kie   Ignacy Tłoczyński 6–4; 6–4
1947   Sumant Misra   Madan Atri Mohan 6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1948   Eric Sturgess   Sumant Misra 6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4
1949   Felicisimo Ampon   Syd Levy 6–1, 6–2, 6–1
1950   Jaroslav Drobný   Vladimír Černík 6–3, 10–8
1951   Straight Clark   Harold Burrows 9–7, 3–6, 5–7, 6–1, 7–5
1952   Jaroslav Drobný (2)   Armando Vieira 7–5, 6–1
1953[10]   Vic Seixas   Enrique Morea 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1954   Jaroslav Drobný (3)   Jack Arkinstall walkover
1955   Enrique Morea   Sidney Schwartz 2–6, 10–8, 6–2, 6–2
1956   Luis Ayala   Gordon Forbes 6–2, 8–10, 6–4
1957   Lew Hoad   Roger Becker 6–2, 6–3, 6–0
1958   Mike Davies   Ramanathan Krishnan 6–1, 6–4, 7–9, 6–4
1959   Ramanathan Krishnan   Jaroslav Drobný 11–9, 6–0
1960   Ronald Holmberg   Antonio Palafox 6–3, 6–4
1961   Chuck McKinley   Bob Mark 6–3, 6–2, 6–4
1962[11]   Fred Stolle   Antonio Palafox 6–3, 6–4
1963   Fred Stolle (2)   Chuck McKinley 6–3, 6–4
1964[12]   Chuck McKinley   Frew McMillan 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1965   Dennis Ralston   Clark Graebner 6–2 6–2
1966   Cliff Richey   Mike Belkin 6–1, 6–3
1967   Tom Okker   Cliff Drysdale 6–2, 5–7, 8–6
1968   Arthur Ashe   Clark Graebner 6–4, 6–3
↓  Open era  ↓
West of England Open Championships
1969   Ken Rosewall   Pierre Barthès 8–10, 6–3, 6–1
1970   Nikola Pilić   Rod Laver 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
1971   Rod Laver   Cliff Drysdale w.o.
Bristol Open
1972   Bob Hewitt   Alex Olmedo 6–4, 6–3
1973–80 Not held
1981   Mark Edmondson   Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 5–7, 6–4
1982   John Alexander   Tim Mayotte 6–3, 6–4
1983   Johan Kriek   Tom Gullikson 7–6, 7–5
1984   Johan Kriek (2)   Brian Teacher 6–7, 7–6, 6–4
1985[13]   Martin Davis   Glenn Layendecker 4–6, 6–3, 7–5
1986[14]   Vijay Amritraj   Henri Leconte 7–6, 1–6, 8–6
1987   Kelly Evernden   Tim Wilkison 6–4, 7–6
1988   Christian Saceanu   Ramesh Krishnan 6–4, 2–6, 6–2
1989   Eric Jelen   Nick Brown 6–4, 3–6, 7–5

Women's singles

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West of England Championships
Year Champions Runners-up Score
1881   Gertrude Gibbs   Annie Layard 6–0, 7–5
1882   Fanny Morris   Gertrude Gibbs 6–4, 6–4
1883   Maud Watson   N. Pope 6–1, 6–2
1884   Edith Davies   Lilian Cole 6–4, 6–4
1885   Gertrude Gibbs (2)   Edith Davies 2–6, 6–4, 6–0
1886   Lottie Dod   Maud Watson 7–5, 6–4
1887   Lottie Dod (2)   Maud Watson 7–5, 6–4
1888   Lottie Dod (3)   N. Pope 6–3, 6–0
1889   Louisa Martin   Florence Stanuell 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
1890   Louisa Martin (2)   N. Pope 6–3, 8–6
1891   N. Pope   Mary Agg 6–0, 7–5
1892–94 Not held
1895   Helen Jackson   Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6–1, 6–1
1896   Charlotte Cooper   Ruth Dyas 4–6, 7–5, 6–3
1899–1919 Not held (then due to World War I)
1920   Mabel Parton   Doris Covell Craddock 9–7, 6–8, 6–4
1921   Phyllis Howkins   Doris Covell Craddock 10–8, 6–2
1922   Doris Covell Craddock   Edith Boucher Hannam 6–1, 6–1
1923   Elizabeth Ryan   Doris Covell Craddock 8–6, 6–3
1924   Phyllis Howkins Covell (2)   Joan Austin 6–4, 6–3
1925   Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge   Doris Covell Craddock 6–4, 1–6, 6–3
1926 Not held
1927   Mary McIlquham   Margaret McKane Stocks 6–1, 6–1
1928   Phyllis Howkins Covell (3)   Betty Dix 7–5, 6–1
1929   Gethyn Harry   Mrs Helen Boucher 4–6, 6–1, 6–1
1930   Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge   Freda Scott 6–1, 8–6
1931   Doris Eastley   Vera Montgomery 3–6, 7–5, 6–3
1932 Not held
1933   Kay Stammers   Andrée Lucas 6–2, 6–2
1934   Andrée Lucas   Gethyn Harry 6–2, 6–2
1935   Gethyn Harry (2)   Mona Riddell 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1936   Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling   Daphne White Birch 6–2, 6–2
1937[15]   Anita Lizana   Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling ?
1938   Mona Riddell   Gem Hoahing 1–6, 6–3, 6–4
1939   Diana Wood   Joan Curry 6–2, 8–10, 6–2
1940   Kay Stammers Menzies   Peggy Scriven 8–10, 6–3, 6–3
1941–45 Not held (partly due to World War II)
1946   Joy Marriott Hibbert   Miss Moss 3–6, 6–3, 6–2
1947   Joan Curry   Pam Seaton Bocquet 6–4, 6–0
1948   Joan Curry (2)   Pam Seaton Bocquet 6–2, 6–3
1949   Joan Curry (3)   Peggy McCorkindale 3–6, 6–3, 9–7
1950   Dorothy Head   Helena Straubeová 6–3, 6–1
1951   Beverly Baker   Beryl Bartlett 6–3; 6–3
1952   Patricia Canning Todd   Beryl Bartlett 7–5, 6–2
1953   Doris Hart   Angela Mortimer 7–5, 6–3
1954   Pat Ward   Heather Nicholls-Brewer divided title
1955   Doris Hart (2)   Dorothy Head Knode 6–1, 6–3
1956   Althea Gibson   Daphne Seeney 6–2 10–8
1957   Angela Mortimer   Edda Buding 7–5, 6–0
1958   Maria Bueno   Angela Mortimer 6–0, 6–3
1959   Maria Bueno (2)   Sandra Reynolds 6–4, 6–3
1960   Deidre Catt   Renée Schuurman 7–5, 7–5
1961   Sandra Reynolds   Deidre Catt 7–5, 10–8
1962[11]   Margaret Smith   Maria Bueno 6–1, 3–6, 6–2
1963   Edda Buding   Elizabeth Starkie 9–7, 6–3
1964   Karen Hantze Susman   Françoise Dürr 6–8, 6–3, 6–3
1965   Nancy Richey   Elizabeth Starkie 7–5, 6–2
1966   Betty Stöve   Norma Baylon 6–3, 7–5
1967   Pat Walkden   Edda Buding 0–6, 6–4, 6–3
1968   Kerry Melville   Karen Krantzcke 6–0, 6–1
↓  Open era  ↓
West of England Open Championships
1969   Margaret Smith Court (2)   Billie Jean Moffitt King 6–3, 6–3
1970   Margaret Smith Court (3)   Françoise Dürr 6–1, 6–1
1971 Not held
Bristol Open
1972   Billie Jean Moffitt King   Kerry Melville 6–3, 6–2
1973–80 Not held (women's tournament ends)

Men's doubles

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Year Champions Runners-up Score
1972   Bob Hewitt
  Frew McMillan
  Clark Graebner
  Lew Hoad
6–3, 6–2
1973–80 Not held
1981   Billy Martin
  Russell Simpson
  John Austin
  Johan Kriek
6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1982   Tim Gullikson
  Tom Gullikson
  Mark Edmondson
  Kim Warwick
6–4, 7–6
1983   John Alexander
  John Fitzgerald
  Tom Gullikson
  Johan Kriek
7–5, 6–4
1984   Larry Stefanki
  Robert Van't Hof
  John Alexander
  John Fitzgerald
6–4, 5–7, 9–7
1985   Eddie Edwards
  Danie Visser
  John Alexander
  Russell Simpson
6–4, 7–6
1986   Christo Steyn
  Danie Visser
  Mark Edmondson
  Wally Masur
6–7, 7–6, 12–10
1987 Not available
1988   Peter Doohan
  Laurie Warder
  Marty Davis
  Tim Pawsat
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
1989   Paul Chamberlin
  Tim Wilkison
  Mike De Palmer
  Gary Donnelly
7–6, 6–4

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "McKinley to Finals". The Victoria Advocate. 13 June 1964. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Miss Susman Disappointed". The Glasgow Herald. 10 June 1964. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b Nauright, John; Parrish, Charles, eds. (2012). Sports Around the World: History, Culture, and Practice. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781598843002.
  4. ^ "Abolition of Challenge rounds". EVENING POST. 20 March 1922. Retrieved 6 October 2016 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ Bancroft, James W. (8 December 2021). The Early Years of the FA Cup: How the British Army Helped Establish the World's First Football Tournament. Barnsley, England: Frontline Books. p. 69. ISBN 978-1-3990-9994-3.
  6. ^ "West of England Championships 1896". tennisarchives.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "Steadmans Success Defeat of Irish Giant". EVENING POST. 25 August 1933. Retrieved 14 October 2016 – via Papers Past.
  8. ^ "Overseas Tennis Championship Finals". NEW ZEALAND HERALD. 19 June 1939. Retrieved 14 October 2016 – via Papers Past.
  9. ^ "West of England Championships 1946". tennisarchives.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  10. ^ "West of England Championships 1953". tennisarchives.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Wimbledon Stars Upset". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  12. ^ "West of England Championships 1964". tennisarchives.com. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Layendecker Net Winner". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  14. ^ "Sports Roundup". Retrieved 14 October 2016.
  15. ^ "Play in England". EVENING POST. 14 June 1937. Retrieved 14 October 2016 – via Papers Past.
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