| Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Founded | 1880 |
| Abolished | 1885 |
| Editions | 6 (2 spring, 4 autumn) |
| Location | Hove Rink Tennis Courts Brighton Sussex Great Britain |
| Surface | outdoor (Grass) outdoor (Asphalt) indoor (Wood) |
The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was an early men's tennis tournament held from 1880 to 1885. It consisted of a spring tournament usually held in April and another held in autumn usually September. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships formally called the Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889 and are still being staged today. [1] [2]
The Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament was a brief pre-open era autumn tennis tournament originally played on outdoor asphalt courts at Brighton and Hove Rink, England with the exception of the 1884 event that was played on grass courts. In 1882 the organisers staged a spring event in June also played on asphalt courts, but for only two editions. [3] There were just four editions of this event but it did feature two future Wimbledon Men's singles champions, the Renshaw twins. It was a forerunner event for the later Sussex Championships also called Sussex County Championships that were first staged in 1889. [4]
| Year | Winner | Runner up | Surface | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 |  Robert Wallace Glen Lee Braddell | Donald Charles Stewart | Wood (i) | 6–1, 6–8, 0–6, 6–2, 6–2. [5] |
| 1883 | Charles Walder Grinstead | Donald Charles Stewart | Grass | 6–3, 6–8, 8–10, 6–4, 6–1. [6] |
Incomplete list of tournaments included: [7]
| Year | Winner | Runner up | Surface | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | William Renshaw | Ernest Renshaw | Asphalt | 6-1 6-8 0-6 6-2 6–2. |
| 1881 |  Michael Gallwey McNamara | Champion Russell | Asphalt | 2-6 6-2 6-0 6–1. |
| 1882 | Herbert Wilberforce | Michael Gallwey McNamara | Asphalt | 6-1 6-8 0-6 6-2 6–2. |
| 1883 | Herbert Wilberforce | Charles Walder Grinstead | Asphalt | 6-3 6-8 8-10 6-4 6–1. |
| 1884 | Charles Lacy Sweet | Charles Walder Grinstead | Grass | 0–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1885 | Charles Walder Grinstead | William Taylor | Asphalt | w.o. |
| Year | Winner | Runner up | Surface | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | Ellen Maltby | Mary Ann Maltby | Asphalt | 6–3, 6–3 |
| 1881 | Edith Coleridge | Leila Lodwick | Asphalt | 6–5, 6–2 |
| 1885 | Miss Hudson | Constance Bryan | Asphalt | 6–1, 6–4 |