The Hull Open was annual men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded as the Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament in 1884.[1] From 1905 to 1914 the tournament was co-branded as the East Yorkshire Championships. The tournament was organised by the Hull Lawn Tennis Club, Kingston-Upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The tournament ran until 1956.
| Hull Open | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Abolished | 1956 |
| Location | Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England |
| Venue | Westbourne Avenue Grounds (1884–90) Ferens Recretation Grounds (1921–1959) |
| Surface | Grass |
History edit
In 1884 the Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament[2] was organised by the Hull Lawn Tennis Club (f.1880),[3] and played at the Westbourne Avenue Grounds. In 1891 that tournament was renamed as the Hull Open Tournament a grass court tennis event. In 1905 the tournament was co-branded as the East Yorkshire Championships,[4] a county level event that lasted until 1914. Following World War I the tournament resumed under the name of the Hull Open.[5] Despite being discontinued because of World War II it resumed thereafter through till at least 1956.[6]
The men's event though consisting of mainly British Isles players, did attract international players, the women's event started to attract international players after the Second World War. Senior tour tennis ceased to be staged in Kingston-Upon-Hull until 2002 when an event for women was established called the Hull Indoor Tournament that ran until 2006.
Finals edit
Men's Singles edit
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament | |||
| 1884 |  W.S. Wright |
William Francis Wells-Cole |
w.o. |
| 1885 |  William Henry Mahon |
 Gilbert Mahon |
w.o. |
| 1886 | William Henry Mahon (2) |
L. Harrison |
6–1, 6–2, 6–2 |
| 1887 | Frederick T. Bradbury |
L. Harrison |
2–6, 8–6, 6–2 |
| 1890 | William Henry Mahon (3) |
Geoffrey Heathcote-Hacker |
9–7, 6–3 |
| Hull Open Tournament | |||
| 1891 | H.L. Winter |
E.M. Samson |
w.o. |
| also valid as East Yorkshire Championships | |||
| 1905 | Ernest Watson |
Sidney Watson |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 1906 | Ernest Watson (2) |
Sidney Watson |
7–5, 2–6, 6–4 |
| 1908 | Ernest Watson (3) |
Alec Smith |
6–2, 6–0 |
| 1909 |  Les Poidevin |
Sidney Watson |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 1910 | George Simond |
Mark Day Hick |
6–2, 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1915/1918 | (Not held due to world war one) | ||
| Hull Open | |||
| 1935 |  Clayton Lee (Teddy) Burwell[10] |
Dave N. Jones |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 1936 | Ronald Shayes |
 Hans van Swol |
6–3, 6–0 |
| 1937 | Hans van Swol |
Edmund John David |
6–3, 9–7 |
| 1938 | Jimmy Jones |
Murray Deloford |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1939 |  Constantin Tanacescu |
Jimmy Jones |
6–2, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 1940/1946 | (Not held due to world war two) | ||
| 1947 |  Ghaus Mohammed Khan |
K.L. Ahmed |
6–4, 8–10, 6–4 |
| 1948 | John B. Griffith |
Teddy Tinling |
6–4, 7–5 |
| 1949 | George Godsell |
Teddy Tinling |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1950 | Geoff Brown |
 Brian W. Rooke |
7–5, 6–0 |
| 1951 | Nigel Cockburn |
Peter Cawthorn |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 1952 | Peter Cawthorn |
Steven Deaderick Potts[11] |
6–2, 7–5 |
| 1953 | Robert J. (Bob) Lee |
Anthony Starte |
7–5, 3–6, 6–3 |
| 1954 |  Jeffrey Ellis Robson |
Islam Ahmad |
6–3, 9–7 |
| 1955 | Ivor Warwick |
Arthur R. Gubb |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 1956 | Matt Rainey |
J.S. Fluck |
6–1, 8–6 |
| Tournament ends | |||
Women's singles edit
- Incomplete Roll
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament | |||
| 1886 | Constance Hodgson |
Miss Alfrey |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1887 | Constance Hodgson (2) |
Angel Smith |
3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1889 | Katherine Grey |
Miss Barber |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1890 | Katherine Grey (2) |
E. Lee-Smith |
6–1, 5–7, 9–7 |
| Hull Open Tournament | |||
| 1891 | Catherine Crosby |
G. Harrison |
w.o. |
| 1892 | Helen Jackson |
Beatrice Draffen |
6–0, 6–0 |
| 1901 | Miss Robinson |
Bertha Holder |
6–1, 1–6, 6–3 |
| also valid as East Yorkshire Championships | |||
| 1906 | Marion Crosby Morton |
Mrs J.B. Perrett |
2–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1908 | Bertha Holder |
Eleanor Rose |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 1910 | Helen Aitchison |
Bertha Holder |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 1911 | Eleanor Rose |
Mrs F. Robinson |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1912 | Eleanor Rose (2) |
Kathleen Aitchison |
7–5, 9–11, 6–2 |
| 1913 | Eleanor Rose (3) |
Kathleen Aitchison |
1–6, 6–2 6–4 |
| 1914 | Mrs J. Billyeald |
Susannah Cadman Wilford |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1915/1920 | (Not held due to world war one) | ||
| Hull Open | |||
| 1921 | Kathleen Aitchison |
Norah Fosdick Middleton |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1922 | Kathleen Aitchison (2) |
Joan Austin |
4–6, 8–6, 6–2 |
| 1923 | Joan Austin |
Eleanor Rose |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1924 | Kathleen Aitchison (3) |
Elsie Goodlass Holtby |
6–3, 6–1 |
| 1925 | Elsie Goodlass Holtby |
Norah Fosdick Middleton |
6–3, 6–3 |
| 1926 | Betty Dix |
Norah Fosdick Middleton |
6–3, 6–2 |
| 1927 | Dorothy Shaw |
Kate Anningson |
6–1, 6–0 |
| 1928 | Betty Dix (2) |
Kate Anningson |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 1929 | Dorothy Shaw Jameson |
Betty Dix |
6–1, 6–4 |
| 1930 | Betty Dix (3) |
Joan Reid-Thomas Strawson |
6–4, 6–2 |
| 1931 | Joan Reid-Thomas Strawson |
Betty Dix |
6–2, 6–2 |
| 1932 | Edie Rudd |
Nancy Hellewell |
3–6, 6–1, 8–6 |
| 1933 | Barbara Stampe |
Gladys Clarke-Jervoise |
1–6, 6–3, 6–4 |
| 1934 | Edie Rudd Luxton (2) |
Freda Scott |
6–1, 6–2 |
| 1935 | A. Sargent |
Patricia Owen |
6–4, 6–3 |
| 1936 | Gladys Southwell |
Gertruid Terwindt |
6–4, 7–5 |
| 1937 | Gertruid Terwindt |
Ruth Armstrong Kirk |
6–2, 6–3 |
| 1938 | Ruth Armstrong Kirk |
Mary Lincoln |
6–3, 6–4 |
| 1939 | Ruth Armstrong Kirk (2) |
Mary Lincoln |
w.o. |
| 1940/1946 | (Not held due to world war two) | ||
| 1947 | Mrs Dowling |
M. Dickenson |
8–6, 7–5 |
| 1948 | Mrs B. Scholten |
S. Tickler |
5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1949 | Georgie Woodgate |
Billie Woodgate |
6–4, 6–4 |
| 1950 | Sheila Speight |
Mrs G. Brown |
6–1, 6–3 |
| 1951 | Jean Trower |
Valerie Lewis |
5–7, 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1952 | Shirley Bloomer |
Valerie Lewis |
4–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1953 | Shirley Bloomer (2) |
Valerie Lewis |
6–1, 6–3 |
| 1954 | Shirley Bloomer (3) |
Jean Petchell |
7–5, 6–2 |
| 1955 | Valerie Lewis |
Anthea Gibb |
6–4, 6–1 |
| 1956 | Mrs C. Dunn |
Mrs M. Beecroft |
7–5, 2–6, 6–2 |
| Tournament ends | |||
References edit
- ^ "EAST YORKSHIRE CHAMPS/HULL OPEN TOURNAMENT: Rain was always in the air at Hull yesterday, but despite occasional showers good progress was made in the 28th annual open former Westbourne tournament of the Hull lawn Tennis Club". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Leeds, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 21 July 1911. p. 10.
- ^ "LAWN TENNIS. HULL WESTBOURNE OPEN TOURNAMENT. FIRST DAY. With everything in its favour, the sixth annual tournament Hull Lawn Tennis Club was commenced on the Westbourne Avenue grounds yesterday afternoon. Prizes to be offered in the seven events to be played". Hull Daily Mail. Hull, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 12 July 1889. p. 3.
- ^ Lowerson, John (1993). Sport and the English Middle Classes, 1870–1914. Manchester: Manchester University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0-7190-4651-3.
- ^ "Yorkshire Doubles Champions: The Brothers Watson, the Yorkshire Doubles Champion, and the holders the new East Yorkshire championship, were both engaged in play at the Hull Tennis Club grounds yesterday". Hull Daily Mail. Hull, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1906. p. 3.
- ^ "LAWN TENNIS: HULL OPEN – SUCCESSFUL MEETING CONCLUDED. Despite it being St. Swithin's, Hull was favoured with light though dull weather for the finals in one of the most successful tournaments ever held in the city". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. Hull, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 17 July 1922. p. 14.
- ^ "HULL OPEN TENNIS TOURNEY BE SAVED. The Lawn tennis tourney in the balance for the Hull tennis club. The committee meet the chairman today, it may be decided to curtail event to something a semi-local nature". Hull Daily Mail. Hull, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 22 October 1955. p. 6.
- ^ "Tournament – Hull Westbourne Avenue". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Tournament – Hull". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Tournament – East Yorkshire Championships". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ Patterson, Michael Robert (8 January 2023). "Clayton Lee "Teddy" Burwell – Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy Government Official, Lawyer, Tennis Player". arlingtoncemetery.net. Arlington National Cemetery. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
- ^ "Obituaries in Nashville, TN : Stephen Deaderick Potts". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee USA.: Gannett. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2023.