Exmouth Open

Exmouth Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Event nameRobertson Viota Exmouth Open (1970-71)
Exmouth Open (1972-75)
TourILTF Circuit (1913–1975)
Founded1880; 144 years ago (1880)
Abolished1975; 49 years ago (1975)
LocationExmouth, Devon, Great Britain
VenueExmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club (1880–1927)
Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club (1927–1975)
SurfaceGrass outdoors

The Exmouth Open, originally called the Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament or simply Exmouth Tournament,[1] was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1880.[2] From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. It was hosted by the Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Exmouth, Devon, Great Britain until 1927. It was then hosted by the newly founded Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club until it was abolished as a senior tour event in 1975.

History

[edit]

The Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1879.[3] In 1880 the club hosted the first Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament for men only.[4] In 1881 the tournament became an open event for both men and women as well. The first winner of the open men's singles was England's Ernest Maconchy (later Brigadier General),[5][6] and first winner of the women's open singles was Ireland's Lilian Cole.[7] The event was one of the earliest English tournaments that featured a women's singles event.

In 1880s following the Wimbledon Championships it was part of what was known as the "Western tour" over the course of five weeks taking in the grass court events such as the Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament at Teignmouth,[8] the Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament at Torquay,[9] the Bournemouth Open Tournament at Bournemouth,[9] and finishing off at the South of England Championships at Eastbourne.[9]

In August 1888 a Battle of the Sexes charity tennis match was staged at the tournament, predating the modern famous match by 85 years, between Ernest Renshaw and Lottie Dod, Renshaw won but only just![10] From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. In 1968 following the start of the open era it was renamed to the Exmouth Open. The event was part of the Amateur Tour (1877–1912), the ILTF Amateur Tour (1913–1967) and the ITF Independent Tour (1968–1975). In 1970 the tournament was called the Robertson Viota Exmouth Open for sponsorship reasons. In 1971 it was known as the Bio-Strath Exmouth Open until 1972.[11]

Former notable of winners the men's singles event include; Charles Lacy Sweet, Charles Walder Grinstead, Harry Grove, Ernest Wool Lewis, William Renshaw, Reggie Doherty, Ryuki Miki, Jaroslav Drobny. Former winners of the women's singles title included; Maud Watson, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, Phyllis Satterthwaite and Sue Barker. The final men's edition held in 1975 was won by Britain's Jonathan Smith, and the final winner of the women's singles was Czech player Jana Simonova.

Finals

[edit]

Men's singles

[edit]
Incomplete roll
Year Winners Runners-up Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881[7][12] England Ernest Maconchy England Thomas Hoare 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1882[13][12] England Charles Lacy Sweet England Pelham Von Donop 6–1, 6–4
1883[7][12] United Kingdom Charles Walder Grinstead United Kingdom Teddy Williams 6–2, 6–5, 6–4
1884[7] United Kingdom Charles Walder Grinstead (2) United Kingdom Erskine Gerald Watson 6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1886[12] England Harry Grove England Henry E. Hunter Kent 6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 7–5
1887[12] England Harry Grove (2) United Kingdom James Baldwin 6–1, 6–3, 7–5
1888[12] United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis United Kingdom Herbert Chipp 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1889[12] United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis (2) England John Redfern Deykin 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1890[12] United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis (3) Ireland Manliffe Goodbody 6–2, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1891 United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis (4) United Kingdom Horace Chapman 6–1, 6–4, 7–5
1892 Ireland Tom Chaytor Scotland H. Walters 6–2, 7–5, 6–0
1893 England William Renshaw England Harry Grove 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1894 United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow Ireland Tom Chaytor 6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 0–6, 12–10
1895 United Kingdom Reggie Doherty United Kingdom Harry S. Barlow 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1897 United Kingdom John Mycroft Boucher United Kingdom Arthur Riseley 6–1, 6–0, 6–4
1898 United Kingdom Roy Allen United Kingdom Frank Riseley 6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 6–4
1902 United Kingdom Sidney Charles Atkey United Kingdom E. W. Church 6–3, 6–3
1903 United Kingdom B. Walker United Kingdom M. A. H. Fell 6–0, 7–5
1907 United Kingdom Charles Gladstone Eames United Kingdom R. F. J. Harrison 6–2, 6–0
1910 United Kingdom Roy Allen United Kingdom Henry Reginald Fussell 6–2 6–2 ret.
1914/1919 Not held (due to World War I)
1920 United Kingdom Henry Reginald Fussell Canada Arthur John Veysey 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1921 United Kingdom Herbert Amphlett Davis United Kingdom Charles E. L. Lyle 4–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1922 United Kingdom Charles Pyne Luck United Kingdom Charles E. L. Lyle 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1923 United Kingdom Charles Pyne Luck (2) United Kingdom Charles E. L. Lyle 6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1931 Japan Ryuki Miki United Kingdom John Pennycuick 9–7, 6–3
1935 New Zealand Cam Malfroy United Kingdom Bob Tinkler divided title
1936 United Kingdom Pat Hughes United Kingdom William Michelmore 6–1, 6–3
1937 United Kingdom Henry Billington United Kingdom Bob Tinkler 6–1, 6–4
1938 United Kingdom Henry Billington (2) United Kingdom Bob Tinkler 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1939 United Kingdom Harry Lee United Kingdom Henry Billington 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1940/1945 Not held (due to World War II)
1946 United Kingdom Derrick Leyland United Kingdom Jeffrey Michelmore 6–2, 6–4
1947 United Kingdom Derrick Leyland (2) United Kingdom John K. Drinkall 9–7, 2–6, 6–3
1949 United Kingdom Paddy Roberts Dominion of Ceylon Douglas Scharenguivel 6–3, 7–5
1950 Dominion of Ceylon Douglas Scharenguivel United Kingdom Jeffrey Michelmore 6–3, 6–2
1951 Dominion of Ceylon Douglas Scharenguivel (2) United Kingdom Jeffrey Michelmore 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1952 United Kingdom Colin Hannam United Kingdom D. S. Anderson 6–3, 6–3
1953 United Kingdom Bob Lee United Kingdom Tony Starte 3–6, 6–2, 10–8
1954 United Kingdom John M. Ward United Kingdom Geoffrey L. Ward 8–6, 6–2
1955 United Kingdom Darrell H. Shaw United Kingdom D. S. Anderson 7–5, 6–2
1956 United Kingdom Bill Threlfall United Kingdom Mike Sangster 8–6, 6–4
1957 United Kingdom Bill Threlfall (2) United Kingdom A. N. Price 6–3, 6–3
1958 United Kingdom Mike Sangster United Kingdom Peter Moys 6–3, 9–7
1959 United Kingdom Mike Sangster (2) United Kingdom Freddy S. Field 6–1, 5–7, 6–1
1960 United Kingdom Mark Cox United Kingdom Geoff Bluett 6–2, 6–0
1961 United Kingdom Alan Mills United Kingdom Tony Pickard 8–6, 4–6, 6–1
1962 Czechoslovakia Jaroslav Drobny United Kingdom Roger Becker 8–6, 6–4
1966 New Zealand Brian Fairlie New Zealand Onny Parun 6–8, 7–9, 6–2
1967 United Kingdom John D. C. Crump South Africa Rayno Seegers 7–5, 6–2
1968 New Zealand Brian Fairlie (2) New Zealand Onny Parun 10–8, 7–9, 6–2
↓  Open Era  ↓
Exmouth Open
1969 United Kingdom Paul W. Sussams United Kingdom Lindsey P. Murphy 12–14, 6–2, 6–4
Robertson Viota Exmouth Open
1970 Pakistan Munawar Iqbal United Kingdom Mark Joseph Farrell 6–3, 6–4
Bio-Strath Exmouth Open
1971 India Premjit Lall United Kingdom Stephen Warboys 3–6, 12–10, 6–4
Exmouth Open
1973 United Kingdom Mark Joseph Farrell United Kingdom Mike Collins 6–2, 6–4
1974 Australia Alvin R. Gardiner Australia Graeme Thomson 6–4, 7–5
1975 United Kingdom Jonathan Smith United States Peter Fisher 7–6, 1–6, 6–3

Men's doubles

[edit]
Incomplete roll
Year Champions Runners-up Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881 England William John Down
England T. P. Hogg
United Kingdom Spencer Cox
United Kingdom G. M. Minchin
def.
1882[13] England Charles Lacy Sweet
England Pelham Von Donop
?
1888 United Kingdom Ernest Wool Lewis
United Kingdom George Hillyard
England Ernest Renshaw
England Charles Lacy Sweet
6–2, 6–4.

Women's singles

[edit]
Incomplete roll
Year Winners Runners-up Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881 [7] Ireland Lilian Cole England Eveline Belfield 6–0, 6–0
1882[13][7] Ireland Lilian Cole (2) United Kingdom Charlotte Taylor 6–4, 6–2
1883 [7] England Maud Watson Ireland Lilian Cole 6–4, 6–2
1884 [7] England Maud Watson (2) United Kingdom Agnes Watts 6–1, 7–5, 6–3
1886 England Maud Watson (3) United Kingdom Blanche Bingley 7–5, 0–6, 6–3
1887 United Kingdom Blanche Bingley Hillyard England Maud Watson 6–4, 6–4
1888 United Kingdom Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4) United Kingdom Constance Bryan 6–3, 6–1
1889 United Kingdom Katharine Hole Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin 2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1890 Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin (3) United Kingdom Katharine Hole 6–1, 5–7, 6–4
1891 Wales Edith Austin Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin 6–3, 9–7
1892 Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin (4) United Kingdom Constance Bryan 8–6, 4–6, 6–2
1893 Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin (5) United Kingdom Constance Bryan 6–4, 6–2
1894 Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin (6) United Kingdom Helen Jackson 6–2, 6–3
1895 United Kingdom Helen Jackson Scotland Jane Corder 6–0 3–6 6–3
1897 United Kingdom Violet Pinckney United Kingdom Elsie Pinckney w.o.
1898 United Kingdom Ellen Thynne United Kingdom Edith Riseley 9–11, 6–3, 8–6
1899 United Kingdom Edith Riseley United Kingdom Winifred Longhurst 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1901 United Kingdom Mrs Thompson Netherlands Amy Mooijaart 6–1, 6–1
1903 United Kingdom D. Compton-Lundie United Kingdom Miss Brown 6–3, 6–4
1907 United Kingdom Aurea Farrington United Kingdom Miss McDonald 6–0, 6–0
1909 United Kingdom Joan Retallack United Kingdom Margaret Compton-Lundie 6–1, 5–5 ret.
1910 United Kingdom M. Fergus United Kingdom Lois Putman Hawker 6–3, 2–6, 6–4
1911 United Kingdom Winifred Longhurst United Kingdom Phyllis Carr 6–3, 6–3
1912 United Kingdom Joan Retallack (2) United Kingdom M. Leacroft 5–1, ret.
1913 United Kingdom Phyllis Satterthwaite United Kingdom Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6–4, 6–4
1913 United Kingdom Phyllis Satterthwaite (2) United Kingdom E. White 6–0, 6–0
1915/1919 Not held (due to World War I)
1920 United Kingdom Phyllis Satterthwaite (3) United Kingdom M. Aplin 6–3, 6–0
1921 United States Elizabeth Ryan United Kingdom Mrs Hall 6–1, 6–2
1967 United Kingdom Corinne Molesworth (2) Australia Margaret Harris 2–6, 7–5, 9–7
1968 United Kingdom Corinne Molesworth (2) South Africa Marianne Brummer 2–6, 7–5, 9–7
↓  Open Era  ↓
Exmouth Open
1969 United Kingdom Jill Cooper United Kingdom Rita Bentley 6–4, 3–6, 6–1
Robertson Viota Exmouth Open
1970 United Kingdom Rita Bentley United Kingdom Nuala Dwyer 6–2, 6–3
Bio-Strath Exmouth Open
1971 Australia Susan Alexander Australia Vicki Lancaster 6–2, 6–3
Exmouth Open
1973 United Kingdom Sue Barker United Kingdom Annette Coe 6–3, 6–1
1974 United Kingdom Sue Barker (2) United Kingdom Annette Coe 6–2, 6–2
1975 Czechoslovakia Jana Simonova United Kingdom Jo Durie 7–5, 7–6

Mixed doubles

[edit]
Incomplete roll
Year Champions Runners-up Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881 United Kingdom Georgiana Kindersley
United Kingdom Henry Kindersley
Ireland Lilian Cole
Ireland Thomas Arembery Tombe
2–6, 7–5, 7–5
1882[13] United Kingdom Charlotte Taylor
England Charles Pine-Coffin
United Kingdom Miss Percy
England Pelham von Donop
6–2, 6–3
1884 England Maud Watson
England John Redfern Deykin
United Kingdom Alice Bagnall-Wild
United Kingdom Harry Grove
6–2, 6–0
1886 United Kingdom Blanche Bingley
England William Renshaw
United Kingdom Maud Watson
England John Redfern Deykin
5–7, 7–5, 8–6
1887 United Kingdom Effie Noon
United Kingdom James Baldwin
United Kingdom Blanche Bingley Hillyard
United Kingdom George Hillyard
5–7, 7–5, 8–6
1888 England Lottie Dod
England Ernest Renshaw
United Kingdom Blanche Bingley Hillyard
United Kingdom George Hillyard
6–1, 4–6, 6–4
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1891 Wales Edith Austin
England Ernest Renshaw
United Kingdom Elsie Constance Pinckney
England Francis Haskett-Smith
6–4, 8–10, 6–4
1894 United Kingdom Helen Jackson
United Kingdom Harry Sibthorpe Barlow
Ireland Lilian Pine-Coffin
England William Renshaw
6–1, 6–1

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Lawn Tennis". Routledge's sporting annual. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1883. p. 116.
  2. ^ The Boy's Own Annual. London: Leisure Hour Office. 1880. p. 707.
  3. ^ "Club History –". Exmouth, Devon, England: Phear Park Bowling Club. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  4. ^ The Boy's Own Annual (1880)
  5. ^ "Brigadier General Ernest Maconchy: Soldiers' Stories". ww1.nam.ac.uk. London: National Army Museum. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  6. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Exmouth". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Dwight, James (1886). "List of Winners:Exmouth". Lawn-tennis. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson. p. 91.
  8. ^ Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8.
  9. ^ a b c Lake (2014)
  10. ^ Fletcher, Kelly (23 September 2020). "Book Review: Tennis for the people". New Frame. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  11. ^ World of Tennis 1971 : a BP year book. London: Queen Anne Press. 1971. pp. 270–271. ISBN 9780362000917.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h Heathcote, John Moyer (1891). Tennis. London: Longmans, Green. p. 444.
  13. ^ a b c d Routledge Sporting Annual 1883

Sources

[edit]
  • Club History. Exmouth, Devon, England: Phear Park Bowling Club.
  • Dwight, James (1886).Lawn Tennis. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson.
  • Fletcher, Kelly (23 September 2020). "Book Review: Tennis for the people". New Frame.
  • Heathcote, John Moyer (1891). Tennis. London: Longmans, Green.
  • Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8.
  • National Army Museum, Brigadier General Ernest Maconchy: Soldiers' Stories". ww1.nam.ac.uk.
  • Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Exmouth". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives.
  • Routledge's sporting annual (1883). London: George Routledge & Sons.
  • The Boy's Own Annual. London: Leisure Hour Office. 1880.