The Somerset Championships was a men's and women's international grass court tennis tournament founded as the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Tournament in 1881 at Taunton, Somerset, England.[1] In 1888 it was elevated to a county level event and renamed the Somersetshire Championships.[2] the tournament ran annually until 1984.
| Somerset Championships | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Tour | ILTF |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Abolished | 1984 |
| Location | Burnham-on-Sea Taunton Weston-super-Mare |
| Venue | Various |
| Surface | Grass |
History edit
In 1881 the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Society established a tennis tournament at Taunton, Somerset, England.[3] In 1884 it was renamed as the Taunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis Tournament. In 1888 that event became the Somersetshire Championships.[4] In 1889 the tournament was renamed as the Somerset County Lawn Tennis Championships. The championships were staged annually until 1984.[5] When this tournament was held in Burnham-on-Sea it was held in conjunction with the Burnham-on-Sea Championships.[6][7]
Location and Venues edit
The tournament was first held in Taunton at the West Somerset Lawn Tennis Club an associate club of the West Somerset Archery and Lawn Tennis Society, with later editions being held in Burnham-on-Sea at the Avenue Tennis Club and Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England.[citation needed]
References edit
- ^ "WEST SOMERSET ARCHERY AND LAWN TENNIS SOCIETY. The third annual tennis tournament for members of this society was held at the cricket grounds last week". Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. Somerset, England: British Newspaper Archive. 22 August 1883. p. 5. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "WEST SOMERSET ARCHERY AND LAWN TENNIS CLUB:LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT TAUNTON. A lawn, tennis tournament oper to bona-fide residents in Somersetshire commenced the County Cricket Ground Taunton, on Tuesday, and concluded on Thursday". Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser. Somerset, England: British Newspaper Archive. 28 July 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (1883)
- ^ Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser (1886)
- ^ "PAUL FRENCH regained two titles he last held two years ago at the Somerset County Tennis championships at Burnham The 25-year-old chief tennis coach at Millfield School took the county men's singles title". Western Daily Press. Bristol, England: British Newspaper Archive. 14 August 1984. p. 22. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
- ^ "Tennis Fixtures: Wimbledon , All England Lawn Tennis Championships ( 23 Jun . - 5 Jul . ) ... Burnham - on - Sea , Open Tournament including the Somerset Singles Championship ( 11-16 Aug. ) ; St. Andrews , Fife , Scottish Hard Court Tennis Championships". Corona: The Journal of His Majesty's Colonial Service. London: H.M. Stationery Office. 1958. p. 221.
- ^ "County Tennis Championships The Somerset county tennis championships (and the Burnham-on-Sea Championships) will be held from 11th to 16th August this year". Central Somerset Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 21 May 1981. Retrieved 25 February 2023.