North of Ireland Championships

Last updated
North of Ireland Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1879
Abolished1894
Editions15
Location Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland
VenueCliftonville Cricket Club
SurfaceGrass

The North of Ireland Championships [1] was an early Victorian period men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1879. The championship was played at the Cliftonville Cricket Club, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. [2] The tournament ran annually for fifteen editions until 1894. [3] It was the precursor tournament to the later Ulster Grass Court Championships.

Contents

History

The regional tennis tournament the North of Ireland Championships tournament was established early as 1881, [4] at the Cliftonville Cricket Club on Cliftonville Road in Belfast. Some time later the club was renamed as the Cliftonville Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. The North of Ireland Championships tournament ran until 1894 when it was abandoned. cancelled after 1894.

Following World War One in 1919 new regional lawn tennis was established representative for Northern Ireland called the Ulster Grass Court Championships staged at the Belfast Boat Club, [5] South Belfast. This grass court tournament ran until at least 1980. In 1928 a second regional tournament was established known as the Ulster Hard Court Championships that was played on clay courts that was staged through to the 1950s.

The former tournaments were both amateur events, but in the mid-1960s a professional event was staged in Belfast called the Ulster Professional Championships. [6]

Notable male players who this championship includes Manliffe Goodbody [7] who won it three times (1889, 1890, 1893). The North of Ireland and Ulster grass court tournaments have survived into the 21st century where today as two separate events is known as the North of Ireland Open, [8] and the Ulster Senior Open. [9]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner upScore
1879 [3] Flag of England.svg Captain Short Flag of England.svg M. Short6–5, 4–6, 6–3
1881 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Edward Johnson Charley Flag of England.svg J.R. Bristow2–1 sets
1882 [3] Flag of England.svg George Frank Wemyss Anson Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Edward Johnson Charley2–0 sets
1885 [3] Flag of England.svg Charle Milligan Johns Flag of England.svg Alfred Dawson Johns6–3, 6–3
1888 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Tegan Dickson Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Robert Cully Barton6–0, 6–0
1889 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Manliffe Francis Goodbody Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Tegan Dickson6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1890 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Manliffe Francis Goodbody (2) Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Arthur Henry Gore Ashe5–7, 6–4, 6–0, 6–2
1891 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg George Courtney Ball-Greene Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Manliffe Francis Goodbody w.o.
1892 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Francis Owen Stoker Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg George Courtney Ball-Greene w.o.
1893 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Manliffe Francis Goodbody (3) Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Francis Owen Stoker w.o.
1894 [3] Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Alexander Horsbrugh Porter Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Elgar Payn6–2, 6–1, 6–1

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner upScore
1890 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. M.A. Kinahan Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss Newett6–2, 6–0
1891 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. Hearn Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. M.A. Kinahan6–2, 6–2
1892 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. R. Shaw Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. Hearn4–6, 6–4, 6–1
1893 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. R. Shaw (2) Flag of Scotland.svg Miss. Jane Corder 3–6, 6–0, 9–7
1894 Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. R. Shaw (3) Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Miss. F. Carr6–1, 6–1

References

  1. ↑ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  2. ↑ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 "Tournament: North of Ireland Championships" . The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. ↑ Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  5. ↑ "Tennis at Belfast Boat Club". Belfast Boat Club. Belfast, Northern Ireland: The Belfast Boat Club. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  6. ↑ The Belfast Telegraph (3 July 1965), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. p.14
  7. ↑ Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes (1889). Volume LI. January - June. Vinton & Co Ltd, London. p. 129.
  8. ↑ "Adult Tournaments: North of Ireland Open – Downshire". Ulster Tennis. Ulster LTA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. ↑ "Adult Tournaments: Ulster Senior Open – Belfast Boat Club". Ulster Tennis. Ulster LTA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

Sources

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