Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championships

The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championships[1] and informally called the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first established in 1900. The championship was first held on courts at the Bath Grounds in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. The tournament ran until 1926 when it was suddenly discontinued. It was revived in 1930 and continued till 1939 when it was finally abolished.

Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Circuit
Founded1900 (1900)
Abolished1939 (1939)
LocationAshby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England
VenueAshby Castle Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceGrass

History

In 1900 Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championship was formally established. The tournament was originally organised by the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Lawn Tennis Association and Club and was played at the Bath Grounds in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England.

In 1926 the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Lawn Tennis Association Club changed its name to the Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club was formally incorporated on land it has purchased at Ashby Park that was part of Ashby De La Zouch Castle owned by the Hasting's family.[2] After which the tournament moved there. The new venue consisted if three grass courts and two red shale clay courts, and a wooden pavilion, with veranda plus a separate changing hut.[3]

In 1900, 1901, 1904 and 1909 this tournament was also valid as the Leicestershire Championships with players being awarded both titles. e.g. Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Champion and Leicestershire Champion. On 18 November 1926 it was announced by the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Association (f.1900), today called Tennis Leicestershire,[4] that the tournament was to be dropped from its official schedule of events citing financial constraints.[5] In 1930 the championships were revived and continued to be held until 1939,[6] when it was fully discontinued due to World War II.

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1900[7] Edward Roy Allen Frederick William Payn6–2, 6–2.[7]
1901 Edward Roy Allen (2) C.M. Bartlett6–0, 6–2.[7]
1904 A.P. Ford L. West6–0, 6–2, 9–7.[7]
1909 Edward Roy Allen (3) Harry Alabaster Parker6–4, 6–4, 6–4.[7]
1920 Louis Raymond Cecil J. Tindell-Green6–0, 6–4.[7]
1921 George S. Fletcher H.J. Weston6–1, 6–3, 6-1.[7]

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1900 Helen Cressy Green Ida Cressywalkover
1901 Helen Cressy Green (2) Ida Cressywalkover
1902 Maude Garfit Miss Cressy6–2, 6–3
1904 Maude Garfit (2) Elizabeth Lunt Heatley6–7, retd.
1906 Winifred Longhurst Elsie Lane6–3, 6–4
1908 Elizabeth Lunt Heatley C. Jonesdivided prizes
1909 Winifred Longhurst (2) Kathleen Clements6–2, 6–2
1915–18Not held due to World war I
1920 Doris Kate Craddock Mrs J.B. Perrett8–6, 8–6
1921 Mabel Davy Clayton Mabel Squire Parton10–8, 6–2
1922 Mabel Davy Clayton (2) M.A. Wright6–2, 6–3
1923 Elizabeth Ryan Mary Hart McIlquham6–1, 6–3
1924 Mary Hart McIlquham Marie Hazel5–7, 6–3, 6–2
1926 Mrs P. Whitley Mrs Munro8–6, 7–5

References
  1. "ASHBY TENNIS BOMBSHELL: The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Championship Meeting is to be discontinued". Leicester Evening Mail. Leicestershire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 18 November 1926. p. 8. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. "History". clubspark.lta.org.uk. Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  3. Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club
  4. "Tennis Leicestershire". Tennis Leicestershire. LTA. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  5. Leicester Evening Mail (18 November 1926) p.8.
  6. "ASHBY TENNIS: Meredith Beats Taylor For the Singles Title Despite the rain, Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Lawn Tennis Championships were almost completed on Saturday, but was abandoned due to rain, they will conclude tomorrow Sunday". Leicester Daily Mercury. Leicester, Leicestershire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 24 July 1939. p. 21. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. "Tournaments: Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
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