Wikipedia

Kent Championships

The Kent Championships also known as the Kent All-Comers' Championships and later Kent Open was a tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham, Kent, England between 1886 and 1996 and was held in the first half of June.

Kent Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1886
Abolished1996
LocationBeckenham, Kent, England
VenueFoxgrove Road
SurfaceGrass / outdoor

History

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From 1886 until 1910 the tournament was organized as an All-Comers event, the winner of which would play the title holder from previous year in the Challenge Round. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts at Beckenham Cricket Club a multi sport club that was established in 1866 in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham with the lawn tennis section of the club established in 1879. At the inaugural edition "The programme consisted of five events, the principal of which were the Kent All-Comers' Championship singles, and the gentlemen's singles handicap.[1] The former designation was adopted so that the event may not be confused with the Kent County Championship, announced to be held at the Blackheath Club.[2] There was only a mixed doubles event staged that year for women to participate in the Beckenham Cricket Club Tournament.

Herbert Chipp, later a Wimbledon umpire, came through a field of 13 entries to capture the inaugural 1886 men's singles title over Beckenham committee member Edward Avory. The Field informed its readers, "The final was a terribly tedious affair. Both players kept at the back of the court and played an excessively careful game." There were 14 pairs in the gentleman's doubles and seven pairs in the mixed doubles. The first event made a loss of £1. 10s. 9d. Two years later, from a field of 11 entries, May Jacks beat Edith Gurney to win the first women's singles tournament.

Slazenger's provided the tournament tennis balls every year from 1902, while the Challenge Round was abolished in 1911 and an Under 21 event, which became a national championship, started in 1921. When the former Soviet Union joined the International Tennis Federation in 1958, a small delegation was invited to Beckenham ahead of The Championships at Wimbledon.

The Kent Championships were the first UK tournament to have a sponsor, Rothmans, in 1963, after a special dispensation from the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis. Almost five years later in March 1968 at a Special General Meeting in Paris, Beckenham was awarded the status of an Open event. The club welcomed amateur and professional players to compete in the world's first Open grass-court tournament in June 1968. It was the third Open field in 1968 after the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth and the French Open at Roland Garros.

When a sponsor couldn't be found for the tournament after 1996, the event was consigned to tennis history. In total, 33 'double' winners (those who won the singles title at Beckenham and Wimbledon) had etched their names in Beckenham folklore.

Champions

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Men's singles

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Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships[3]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1886   Herbert Chipp   Edward J. Avory 6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1887   Frederick A. Bowlby   Herbert Chipp 1–6, 8–6, 6–4, 6–1
1888   Ernest G. Meers   Frederick A. Bowlby 5–7, 3–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–2
1889   Harry S. Barlow   Ernest G. Meers 6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 9–7
1890   Ernest G. Meers   Harry S. Barlow 5–7, 8–6, 6–3, 6–3
1891   Ernest G. Meers   Arthur Gore 6–0, 6–2, 6–2
1892   Harry S. Barlow   Ernest G. Meers 4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
1893   Harry S. Barlow   William Renshaw 2–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
1894   Horace A. B. Chapman   Harry S. Barlow 3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1895   Harry S. Barlow   Horace A. B. Chapman 2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1896   Manliffe Goodbody   Harry S. Barlow 6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 6–0
1897   George Greville   Manliffe Goodbody 4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1898   Wilberforce Eaves   George Greville 6–0, 6–0, 6–1
1899   Harold Mahony   Wilberforce Eaves 6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6
1900   Arthur Gore   Harold Mahony 6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1901   Laurence Doherty   Arthur Gore 6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1902   Laurence Doherty   George Simond 6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1903   Laurence Doherty   Arthur Gore 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1904   Harold Mahony   Brame Hillyard 6–3, 8–6, 7–9, 4–6, 6–3
1905 [a]   Norman Brookes   Arthur Gore 6–3, 9–7, 6–2
1906   Arthur Gore   A.L. Bentley 6–0, 6–2, 6–1
1907   Anthony Wilding   Arthur Gore 9–7, 6–2, 3–6, 0–6, 6–1
1908   Herbert Roper Barrett   Charles P. Dixon 6–0, 9–7, 6–2
1909   Herbert Roper Barrett   Major Ritchie cancelled (rain)
1910   Beals Wright   Herbert Roper Barrett 4–6, 7–5, 12–10, 6–4
1911   Anthony Wilding   Major Ritchie 6–0, 6–0, 6–3
1912   Anthony Wilding   Herbert Roper Barrett 6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 1–6, 6–2
1913   Alfred Beamish   George Thomas 6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 7–5
1914   Algernon Kingscote   Hope Crisp 7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1915 No competition (due to World War I)
1916
1917
1918
1919   Algernon Kingscote   F.M.B. Fisher 4–6, 6–4, 9–7, 3–6, 6–2
1920   Algernon Kingscote   Zenzo Shimidzu 7–5, 3–2 ret.
1921   Algernon Kingscote   Sydney M. Jacob 6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–3
1922   Algernon Kingscote   Randolph Lycett 6–3, 3–1 ret.
1923   William M. Johnston   Donald Greig 6–2, 6–3
1924   Algernon Kingscote   Jack Hillyard 8–6, 9–7, 6–2
1925   Randolph Lycett   Harry Lewis-Barclay 6–3, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4
1926   Gordon Crole Rees   Patrick Spence 6–4, 6–2
1927   Donald Greig   Charles Kingsley 4–6, 6–2, 6–3
1928   Charles Kingsley   Patrick Spence 2–6, 6–4, 8–6
1929   Harry Lee   Charles Kingsley 7–5, 6–4, 6–2
1930   Bunny Austin   Harry Lee 6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
1931   Colin Gregory   John Olliff 3–6, 6–3, 7–9, 6–3, 6–0
1932   Ted Avory   Buster Andrews 6–1, 6–4
1933   Vernon Kirby   Colin Robbins 8–6, 6–4
1934   Bunny Austin   Jiro Yamagishi 6–3, 6–0
1935   Jiro Yamagishi   Ian Collins 6–3, 6–1
1936   David N. Jones   Frank Wilde 11–9, 6–3
1937   Jiro Yamagishi   Raymond Tuckey 8–6, 1–6, 7–5
1938   John Olliff   Nigel Sharpe 6–2, 6–3
1939   Murray Deloford   Donald MacPhail 3–6, 6–2, 9–7
1940 No competition (due to World War II)
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946   Geoffrey Browne   Hans van Swol 6–1, 6–4
1947   Bill Sidwell   Torsten Johansson 6–2, 10–8
1948   Frank Sedgman   Jack Harper 6–4, 6–4
1949   Gardnar Mulloy   Earl Cochell 2–3 ret.
1950   Geoffrey Browne   Bill Sidwell 8–6, 7–9, 17–15
1951   Don Candy   Gardnar Mulloy 3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1952   Ham Richardson   Don Candy 6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1953   Ham Richardson   Gardnar Mulloy 6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1954 Competition cancelled at quarterfinal stage
1955   Tony Trabert   Herb Flam 6–4, 6–2
1956   Mal Anderson   Sammy Giammalva cancelled
1957   Mal Anderson   Herb Flam 6–2, 4–6, 8–6
1958   Neale Fraser   Kurt Nielsen 6–4, 6–4
1959   Alex Olmedo   Kurt Nielsen 8–6, 3–6, 6–4
1960   Robert Mark   Butch Buchholz 6–3, 6–4
1961   Jon Douglas   Lew Gerrard 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1962   Barry Phillips-Moore   Owen Davidson 6–4, 8–6
1963   Ken Fletcher   Marty Mulligan 6–3, 6–2
1964   John Newcombe   Fred Stolle 6–2, 5–7, 12–10
1965   John Newcombe   Lew Gerrard 6–3, 6–1
1966   John Newcombe   Premjit Lall 6–4, 15–13
1967   Owen Davidson   Ken Fletcher 3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Open era
1968 [b]   Fred Stolle   Roy Emerson 6–3, 6–1
1969   Ove Bengtson   Tom Gorman 6–4, 7–5
1970   Clark Graebner   Robert Maud 6–4, 10–8
1971   Stan Smith   Premjit Lall 7–9, 6–4, 6–2
1972   Alex Metreveli   Vijay Amritraj 6–2, 7–5
1973   Alex Metreveli   Björn Borg 6–3, 9–8
1974   Vijay Amritraj   Tom Gorman 6–7, 6–2, 6–4
1975   Arthur Ashe   Roscoe Tanner 7–5, 6–4
1976   Roscoe Tanner   Jimmy Connors 6–3, 6–4
1977   Mark Edmondson   Tim Gullikson 6–3, 6–4
1978   Jimmy Connors   Stan Smith 9–8, 6–3
1979   Peter Fleming   Roscoe Tanner 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
1980   Onny Parun   Sandy Mayer 6–4, 4–6, 9–7
1981   Kevin Curren   Chris Lewis 6–2, 6–3
1982   Kevin Curren   Buster Mottram 7–6, 6–4
1983   Steve Denton   Pat Cash 7–6, 7–6
1984   Pat Cash   Paul McNamee 3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1985   Tim Mayotte   Danie Visser 7–5, 6–1
1986   Ramesh Krishnan   Danie Visser 6–3, 6–7, 6–3
1987   Scott Davis   Leif Shiras 7–6, 6–3
1988   Christian Saceanu   Paul McNamee 3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1989   John McEnroe   Broderick Dyke 6–4, 7–6
1990   Ivan Lendl   Darren Cahill 6–3, 7–5
1991   Ivan Lendl   Pat Cash 3–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–4)
1992   David Wheaton   Christo van Rensburg 6–3, 1–6, 6–1
1993   David Wheaton   Chris Bailey 6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2)
1994   Guy Forget   Jeremy Bates 6–2, 6–3
1995   Andrew Richardson /   Petr Korda divided (rain)
1996   Mark Petchey   Petr Korda 6–2, 6–4

Women's singles

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Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships[3]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1888   May Jacks   Edith Gurney 1–6, 6–3, 6–0
1889   Maud Shackle   May Jacks 6–3, 7–5
1890   May Jacks   Maud Shackle 4–6, 6–0, 6–4
1891   Maud Shackle   May Jacks 6–4, 6–0
1892   Maud Shackle   May Jacks 6–3, 6–1
1893   Maud Shackle   Ruth Legh 6–3, 6–4
1894   Edith Austin   Amy Wilson 6–4, 6–2
1895   Edith Austin   Amy Wilson 6–3, 6–1
1896   Edith Austin   Ruth Legh 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1897   Edith Austin   Miss E. R. Morgan 6–2, 6–0
1898   Charlotte Cooper   Edith Austin 6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1899   Edith Austin   Charlotte Cooper 1–6, 7–5, 6–2
1900   Edith Greville   Muriel Robb 6–1, 6–3
1901   Dorothea Douglass   Edith Greville 6–1, 4–6, 6–4
1902   Dorothea Douglass   Hilda Lane 7–5, 6–4
1903   Connie Wilson   Dorothea Douglass 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1904   Dorothea Douglass   Connie Wilson 6–2, 6–2
1905 [a]   Connie Wilson   Alice Greene 6–2, 6–4
1906   Dorothea Douglass   Connie Wilson 6–3, 2–2 ret.
1907   May Sutton   Dorothea Douglass 6–2, 6–4
1908   Agnes Morton   Dora Boothby 6–2, 6–1
1909   Dora Boothby   Agnes Morton 6–4, 6–4
1910   Dorothea Douglass   Dora Boothby 6–4, 6–3
1911   Dorothea Douglass   Mildred Coles 6–3, 7–5
1912   Winifred McNair   Dora Boothby 6–1, 6–4
1913   Dorothea Douglass   Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–4, 6–4
1914   Edith Hannam   Agnes Morton 0–6, 11–9 ret.
1915 No competition (due to World War I)
1916
1917
1918
1919   Elizabeth Ryan   Dorothea Douglass 2–6, 7–5, 6–4
1920   Elizabeth Ryan   Winifred McNair 7–9, 3–2 divided
1921   Elizabeth Ryan   Geraldine Beamish 9–7, 6–4
1922   Kitty McKane   Elizabeth Ryan 6–3, 6–3
1923   Elizabeth Ryan   Phyllis Satterthwaite 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1924   Elizabeth Ryan   Kitty McKane 6–8, 6–1, 6–1
1925   Elizabeth Ryan   Geraldine Beamish 4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1926   Lilí Álvarez   Molla Mallory 6–4, 6–2
1927   Helen Wills   Kitty McKane Godfree 6–2, 6–4
1928   Elizabeth Ryan   Violet Chamberlain 6–2, 10–8
1929   Phyllis Howkins Covell   Peggy Saunders Mitchell 6–1, 6–4
1930   Jenny Sandison   Ann Owen 6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1931   Phyllis Mudford   Dorothy Round 6–1, 6–2
1932   Mary Heeley   Freda James 1–6, 6–3, 6–0
1933   Dorothy Round   Peggy Saunders Mitchell 7–5, 6–2
1934   Phyllis Mudford King   Joan Hartigan 6–2, 6–3
1935   Dorothy Round   Kay Stammers 6–2, 6–0
1936   Anita Lizana   Betty Nuthall 3–6, 6–0, 6–1
1937   Jadwiga Jędrzejowska   Alice Marble 6–1, 9–11, 6–1
1938   Jadwiga Jędrzejowska   Bobbie Heine Miller 7–5, 3–6, 6–2
1939   Alice Marble   Kay Stammers 6–3, 6–1
1940 No competition (due to World War II)
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946   Vera Dace   Betty Nuthall 6–4, 6–4
1947   Kay Menzies   Sheila Piercey Summers 6–2, 11–9
1948   Mary Terán de Weiss   Patsy Rodgers 7–5, 6–1
1949   Patricia Todd   Sheila Piercey Summers 6–3, 6–0
1950   Gussie Moran   Nancy Morrison 4–6, 6–1, 6–2
1951   Betty Rosenquest   Barbara Scofield 4–6, 7–5, 6–1
1952   Hazel Redick-Smith   Vera Thomas 6–2, 6–2
1953   Maureen Connolly   Julia Sampson Hayward 6–2, 6–3
1954 Abandoned
1955   Louise Brough   Mary Carter 6–2, 6–4
1956   Darlene Hard   Betty Rosenquest Pratt Abandoned (rain)
1957   Althea Gibson   Darlene Hard 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1958   Sandra Reynolds   Jean Forbes 6–4, 6–4
1959   Darlene Hard   Sally Moore 6–1, 7–5
1960   Christiane Mercelis   Vera Roberts 7–5, 4–6, 6–4
1961   Margaret Smith   Christine Truman 6–3, 4–6, 8–6
1962   Jan Lehane   Lesley Turner 7–5, 6–3
1963   Margaret Smith   Jan Lehane 6–0, 6–1
1964   Maria Bueno   Margaret Smith 3–5 divided (rain)
1965   Margaret Smith   Maria Bueno 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1966   Karen Krantzcke   Maria Bueno w.o.
1967   Ann Haydon-Jones   Virginia Wade 6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Open era
1968   Margaret Court   Ann Jones 11–9, 6–2
1969   Denise Carter-Triolo   Kerry Melville 6–3, 7–5
1970   Patti Hogan   Olga Morozova 6–1, 6–3
1971   Kerry Melville   Kristy Pigeon 6–0, 3–6, 9–7
1972   Olga Morozova   Jill Cooper 6–4, 6–1
1973   Dianne Fromholtz   Janet Newberry 7–5, 0–6, 6–1
1974   Paulina Peisachov   Kate Latham 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975   Greer Stevens   Patti Hogan 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1976   Olga Morozova   Marise Kruger 7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1977   Yvonne Vermaak   Michelle Tyler 6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1978   Evonne Cawley   Laura DuPont 6–4, 6–2
1979   Evonne Cawley   Pam Shriver 6–3, 6–2
1980   Andrea Jaeger   Jo Durie 6–4, 6–1
1981   Pam Shriver   Elizabeth Little 6–2, 6–2
1982   Pam Shriver   Elizabeth Sayers 6–3, 6–2
1983   Billie Jean King   Barbara Potter 6–4, 6–3

References

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  1. ^ "The Field Lawn Tennis Calendar" (1887). London. England.
  2. ^ "The Field Lawn Tennis Calendar" (1887). London. England.
  3. ^ a b "Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club: Kent Championships". beckenhamtennisclub.co.uk. Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Due to rain the final was postponed and played at the All-England Club directly preceding the Wimbledon Championships
  2. ^ Tournament was part of the 1968 Rothmans tennis circuit which consisted of four grass court tournaments (Surrey, Northern, Kent, London) in preparation of the Wimbledon Championships
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51°24′50″N 0°01′19″W / 51.4140°N 0.0219°W / 51.4140; -0.0219

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