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.

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

History

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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

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Men's singles

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

Men's doubles

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

Women's singles

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

Mixed doubles

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

References

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  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

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  • 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.