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]
| 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) |
History edit
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]
Spring tournament edit
Men's singles edit
| Year | Winner | Runner Up | Surface | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 |  Robert Wallace Glen Lee Braddell |
Donald Charles Stewart |
Asphalt | 6–1, 6–8, 0–6, 6–2, 6–2.[5] |
| 1883 | Charles Walder Grinstead |
Donald Charles Stewart |
Asphalt | 6–3, 6–8, 8–10, 6–4, 6–1.[6] |
Autumn tournament edit
Incomplete list of tournaments included:[7]
Men's singles edit
| 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. |
Women's singles edit
| 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 |
References edit
- ^ Garcia, Gabriel (2018). "SUSSEX COUNTY: Tournament Roll of honour". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SAL. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Sussex County Championships Archives". Tennis Sussex. Sussex LTA. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
- ^ "Sussex County Lawn Tennis Club Spring Tournament 1882". tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
- ^ Garcia, Gabriel.
- ^ A. Nieuwland
- ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Edition – Sussex County Lawn Tennis Club Spring Tournament 1883". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- ^ Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament". www.tennisarchives.com. A. Nieuwland. Retrieved 10 July 2022.