Wikipedia

Bedford Open

(Redirected from Bedfordshire LTC Tournament)

The Bedford Open[1] also known as the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament [2] was men's and women's grass court tennis tournament established in 1880 as the Bedfordshire LTC Tournament.[3] It was held at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club, Bedford, Berkshire, England and ran through until 1974 when it was abolished.[4]

Bedford Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1880; 144 years ago (1880)
Abolished1974; 50 years ago (1974)
LocationBedford, Berkshire, England
VenueBedford Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceGrass

History edit

The first Bedfordshire Lawn Tennis Club evolved out of a croquet club established in June 1871 by the Brooks family of Flitwick Manor.[5] The first tournament tennis was played there on 29 August 1876, one year before the first Wimbledon Championships were held.[6] Records show that the field consisted of six pairs, the final grouping included a Mr G. Tylecote and Miss P. Hodgson who beat Mr. and Mrs. Cobbe in the mixed doubles.[7]

By 1879 at least two lawn tennis clubs had been established in Bedfordshire, the South Bedfordshire Lawn Tennis Club (LTC), that usually staged tennis events at Flitwick Manor, Wrest Park, Silsoe and Cranfield Court.[8] The North Bedfordshire LTC had courts at Sutton Manor, Sutton and Sandye Place.[9] Between 1884 and 1885 both the North and South Bedfordshire LTCs had ceased to operate.[10] Between 1882 and 1884 a new Bedfordshire LTC was established at Bedford on land next to Bedford College.[11] The current Bedford LTC based at Bradgate Road (f.1890), is thought to be the successor club to Bedfordshire LTC.[12]

From 1880 the South Bedfordshire LTC organised three recorded tournaments held at Fairfield Park, Stotfold, and two editions at Blunham House, Blunham, Bedford.[13] In July 1882 a second edition of a Bedfordshire tournament was held on 18 July that year.[14] On 28 August the Bedfordshire LTC had concluded an tournament the gentleman's singles was won by Mr. A. Payne, the ladies singles was won by Miss. A. Lindsell and the veteran's singles was won by a Reverend H. B. Allen.[15]

In 1891 the Bedford Open was founded.[16] In July 1939 the tournament held its 48th annual open event.[17] this event ran through till 1966 before it ceased. In 1974 the tournament was revived for one edition only.[18] This highly popular event was a regular stop on the senior worldwide tour for many years. Former winners of the men's single's title has included; Alan Stedman, Nigel Sharpe, John Bromwich,[19] Erik Bjerre, Ignacy Tłoczyński, Peter Cawthorn, Czeslaw Spychala,[20] Mike Davies,[21] Bobby Wilson, Frew McMillan,[22] Keith Diepraam, Alan Mills[23] and Alberto Esplugas. The previous winners of the women's singles title has included; Evelyn Blencowe, Ruth Pennington-Legh Winch, Phyllis Satterthwaite, Phoebe Holcroft Watson, Elsie Goldsack Pittman, Gem Hoahing,[24] Lorna Cornell,[25] Rita Bentley,[26] and Angela Mortimer.[27]

Venue edit

The Bedford Open Tennis Tournament was held continuously for 76 years at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club. In the late 1990s Bedford LTC which then consisted of 10 grass courts and 2 hard courts, had to move from its Bradgate road grounds due to the land being redeveloped.[28] The club moved to new premises at Chester Road, Bedford, where it still operates today.[29]

Finals edit

Men's Singles edit

(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
Bedfordshire LTC Tournament
1880   Robert James Lindsell   Frederick Willis ?
1881   Cecil Henry Polhill-Turner   R. Hughes 6-4, 6-4, 6-5
1882   E. Horley   R. Hughes ?
1883   S. Burton   A.A. Cooper ?
Bedford Open
1899   Harold L. Whale   Bernard Wood-Hill 3-6, 6-4, 6-4
1909   Charles Bernard Besly Yule   Leslie Poidevin 6-1, 6-4
1914/1918 Not held (due to World War I)
1934   Alan Stedman   George Godsell 6-1, 7-5
1935   Roland O. Williams   Frederic Robin Kipping 6-1, 6-1
1936   Nigel Sharpe   Derek Bouquet 6-8, 6-1, 6-1
1937   Nigel Sharpe (2)   Lawrence Shaffi 7-9, 6-4, 6-3
1938   Nigel Sharpe (3)   Lawrence Shaffi 7-5, 6-3
1940/1946 Not held (due to World War I)
1947   Owen Murray Bold   A. Dawes 6-3, 6-1
1948   John Bromwich   Czesław Spychała 6-3, 6-2
1949   Erik Bjerre   David Samaai 9-7, 3-6, 6-2
1950   Ignacy Tłoczyński   Tony Starte 7-5, 6-1, 7-5
1951   Peter Cawthorn   Dick Guise 6-0, 6-3
1952   Czesław Spychała   John Horn 3-6, 6-3, 6-0
1953   Mike Davies   David Moss 6-2, 6-2
1954   Mike Davies (2)   David H. Williams 6-3, 6-4
1955   Gerry Oakley   Alan Mills 7-5, 6-4
1956   John F. O'Brien   Khwaja Saeed Hai 3-6, 6-1, 6-2
1957   Gerry Oakley (2)   Peter Frankland 6-4, 7-5
1959   Alan Mills   Michael Sangster 6-3, 6-1
1960   Bobby Wilson   Michael Sangster 7-5, 6-1
1962   Keith Diepraam   Alan Mills 6-4, 6-2
1966   Alberto Esplugas   Jorge Marfa 6-2, 6-4
Open era
1974   Bobby Wilson (2)   T.E. Mabbitt 6-1, 6-0

Women's Singles edit

(incomplete roll)

Year Winner Runner-up Score
Bedford Open
1892   Evelyn Blencowe   Henrietta Horncastle 6-3, 6-2
1909   Mrs Cole   M.T. Gross w.o.
1910   Ruth Winch   Miss Scott 6-4, 6-0
1911   Ruth Winch (2)   E.M. White 6-1, 6-2
1912   Ruth Winch (3)   A. Sargent 6-2, 6-4
1913   E.M. White   Miss Sargent 3-6, 6-3, 3-0 ret.
1914   Phyllis Satterthwaite   Ruth Winch 6-1, 6-1
1915/1918 Not held due to World War I
1921   Ruth Winch (4)   Miss Dalton 6-4, 6-0
1922   Ruth Winch (5)   A. Sargent 6-2, 6-1
1924   R. Fletcher   A. Wells 6-3, 10-8
1925   Phoebe Holcroft   Betty Boas 6-3, 6-0
1926   Phoebe Holcroft Watson (2)   Claire Beckingham 6-2, 6-1
1927   Betty Boas   D. Haines 6-2, 6-4
1928   Naomi Trentham   E. Howes 6-2, 6-4
1929   Naomi Trentham (2)   Joan Ridley 6-4, 7-5
1930   Margaret Walsh Mellows   Sylvia Mayne 8-6, 6-4
1931   Freda Scott   E. Howes 6-2, 6-3
1932   Freda Scott (2)   Ruth Armstrong Kirk 6-4, 6-3
1933   N.C. Case   Helen Foster Dyson 9-7, 6-1
1934   N. Hill   M. MacTier 6-3, 1-6, 6-3
1935   N. Hill (2)   M. MacTier 8-6, 6-3
1936   Effie Hemmant Peters   Billie Yorke 6-3, 6-3
1937   Elsie Goldsack Pittman   Betty Batt 5-7, 6-3, 6-4
1938   Valerie Scott   Elsie Goldsack Pittman 6-0, 6-4
1939 Event divided between 4 players
1940/1946 Not held due to World War II
1947   Gem Hoahing   M. Smith 6-0, 6-1
1948   Gem Hoahing (2)   Betty Batt Passingham 6-1, 6-2
1949   Gem Hoahing (3)   Edith Middleton 6-3, 6-1
1950   Jean Knight   M. Graham 6-4, 6-3
1951   Lorna Cornell   Elaine Watson 6-4, 6-2
1952   Elaine Watson   Joyce Reid 6-1, 6-1
1953   Evelyn Attwood   Jean Knight 6-0, 6-2
1954[30]   Jean Knight   Evelyn Attwood 6-2, 6-2
1955   Sheila Armstrong   Rita Bentley 6-1, 6-4
1956   Jean Knight (2)   E. Tudor 6-0, 6-0
1957   Rita Bentley   Margaret R. O'Donnell 6-3, 6-2
1958   Rita Bentley (2)   Margaret R. O'Donnell 6-3, 6-3
1959   Angela Mortimer   Margaret R. O'Donnell 8-6, 6-3
1960   Angela Mortimer (2)   Shirley Bloomer Brasher 6-2, 6-1
1961   Pat Stewart   Honor Durose 6-3, 8-10, 7-5
1962   Carole Rosser   Diane Tuckey 6-4, 6-2
1963   Heather Allen   Carole Rosser divided title
1964   Heather Allen (2)   Sue Tutt w.o.
1965   Sue Tutt   Jean Haskew 6-3, 6-1
1966   Sue Tutt (2)   Anthea Rigby 6-2, 6-4
Open era
1974   Sandra Coe   E. Evans 6-3, 6-4

References edit

  1. ^ "THE BEDFORD OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT. Opended on Wednesday, a lunch-hour thunderstorm, which delayed play for hour, the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament has been blessed with continuous sunshine, and splendid progress was possible with a heavy programme". Bedfordshire Times and Independent. Bedford, Bedfordshire, England: British Newspaper Archives. 29 July 1927. p. 15.
  2. ^ Bedfordshire Times and Independent (1927)
  3. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69.
  4. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Bedford". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Newsletters: Tennis in Bedfordshire". bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk. Bedfordshire Archives. 19 May 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  6. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  7. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  8. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  9. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  10. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  11. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  12. ^ Bedfordshire Archives
  13. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Beds LTC". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  14. ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Bedfordshire". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  15. ^ Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882: . George Routledge and Son. London. p.117
  16. ^ BEDFORD OPEN TOURNAMENT The forty-eighth annual open tournament of the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club takes place at the Bradgate Road courts during the whole of next week. Bedfordshire Times and Independent (Friday 28 July 1939). British Newspaper Archives. Bedford, Bedfordshire. England. p.15.
  17. ^ Bedfordshire Times and Independent (1939) p.15.
  18. ^ Tennis Archives
  19. ^ Smith, Margaret. "Bedford+County: History". www.badmintonbedford.co.uk. Bedford Badminton Club. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  20. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  21. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  22. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  23. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  24. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  25. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  26. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  27. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  28. ^ Bedford Badminton Club
  29. ^ Tennis Association, Lawn. "History: Bedford Lawn Tennis Club". clubspark.lta.org.uk. LTA. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Series of photographs taken during the Bedford Open Tennis Tournament, 1954 (1) Billie..." discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/. Kew, Richmond: The National Archives. 1954. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
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