Westgate-on-Sea Tournament
The Westgate-on-Sea Tournament also known as the St. Mildred's Tournament was a men's and women's hard asphalt court tennis tournament founded in 1881 at the Westgate-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Club, St. Mildred's Courts, St. Mildreds Bay, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England.[1] The tournament ran annually until 1938 before the start of World War II.
| Westgate-on-Sea Tournament | |
|---|---|
| Defunct tennis tournament | |
| Founded | 1881 |
| Abolished | 1938 |
| Location | St. Mildred's Courts, St. Mildreds Bay, Westgate-on-Sea, Kent, England. |
| Venue | Westgate-on-Sea LTC |
| Surface | Hard (asphalt) |
History
The Westgate-on-Sea Tournament was a men's and women's annual tennis tournament founded in 1881 that continued to stage events through until 1938. The winner of the inaugural tournament was held from 9 to 13 September that year with men's singles being won by Mr. G. G. Dineley.[2] The men's doubles was won by Mr. T. Sopwith and Mr. S. Winkley.[3] In 1938 the final edition of this tournament was played from 22 to 27 August. The final men's singles event was by John Olliff.
Finals
The image right taken in 2008 is St Mildred's Bay. The built up area center right is St. Mildred's Gardens, and slighty to the upper left of center, you can see the Westgate-on-Sea tennis courts site of the old St. Mildred's courts, the courts today are made from hard cement with a taramc surface.
Men's Singles
- Incomplete Roll
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881.[4] | G. G. Dineley | T. Sopwith | ? |
| 1905. | Philip Rufford Hewlett | Henry Biddle | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1908. | Henry Biddle | A.P. Twigg | 6–8, 7–5, 6–3 |
| 1921. | Hugh Cyril Eltringham | Norman Dicks | 6–4, 1–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1922. | Gerald Sherwell | Basil Henty | 6–2, 6–4, 7–5 |
| 1923. | Gerald Sherwell | Hugh Cyril Eltringham | 6–3, 3–6, 9–7 |
| 1932.[5] | Henry Billington | ? | |
| 1933.[6] | Patrick Sherwood | Guy I. Pettigrew | ? |
| 1935. | Patrick Sherwood | H.D. Nicholson | 6–2, 6–1 |
| 1936. | Patrick Sherwood | John A.S. Collins | 6–4, 3–6, 8–6 |
| 1937. | John Olliff | John A.S. Collins | 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 |
| 1938. | John Olliff | Algernon Kingscote | 7–5, 6–3 |
Men's Doubles
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881.[7] | T. Sopwith S. Winkley | G.G. Dineley E. Warren | def. |
Women's singles (spring)
- Incomplete Roll
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | Mrs Morison | Peggy Ingram Bouverie | 6-4, 8-6 |
| 1928 | F B Hensman | Mrs A M B Foreshew | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1929 | Madeleine Pearson | Agnes Steer-Watkins | 6–3, 6-3 |
| 1930 | Aurea Edgington | Joan Ingram | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 1932 | Betty Holly | Alexandra McOstrich | 6-3, 3–6, 6-3 |
Women's Singles (Summer)
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | Mrs Fletcher | M E Pilcher | 4–6, 6–1, 6–0 |
| 1923 | Joan Austin | Joan Reid-Thomas | 8–6, 7–5 |
| 1924 | Joan Reid-Thomas | M Coles | 6–1, 6–4 |
| 1925 | E. Kelsey | Betty Nuthall | 1–6, 8–6, 6–2 |
| 1926 | Dorothy Holman | Peggy Ingram Bouverie | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1927 | Nancy Lyle | Mrs MacLeod | 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 |
| 1928 | Joan Ridley | Nancy Lyle | 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1929 | Nancy Lyle | Alida Klemantaski | 6–0, 6–4 |
| 1930[8] | Joan Ingram | Agnes Steer-Watkins | 6–1, 6–2 |
| 1931 | Jeanette Morfey | Alida Klemantaski | 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1932 | Madge Valantine List | Olga Greenwood | 6–4, 6–4 |
| 1933 | Sheila Chuter | W E Murphy | 7–5, 6–2 |
| 1935 | Gladys Southwell | J M Notley | 3–6, 6–4, 6–2 |
| 1937 | G F Mathias | Alida Taylor | 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1938 | Barbara Costerton | G F Mathias | 6–4, 6–3 |
Mix Doubles
| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1881.[9] | T. Sopwith Miss A. Townsend | Mr. C. Leigh Clare Miss. I. Bouverie | def. |
Notes
This tournament in some other sources is known as the St. Mildreds Tournament Westgate on Sea.
References
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.72.
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
- Thanet Advertiser (8 September 1933). p.167.
- "Westgate Tennis Finals. The annual open tournament of Westgate-on-Sea Lawn Tennis Club was held the club courts* Canterbury-road, last week. P. V. V. Sherwood, the holder of the men's singles championship, retained his title by beating G. I. Pettigrew". Thanet Advertiser. Thanet, Kent, England. 8 September 1933. p. 167.
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
- "Tennis Westgate Finals. The Westgate on Sea tennis tournament concluded at the St. Mildred's courts Saturday". Thanet Advertiser. Thanet , Kent, England. 17 April 1930. p. 3.
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
Sources
- Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) George Routledge and Son. London.
- Thanet Advertiser. (17 April 1930) Thanet, Kent, England.
- Thanet Advertiser. (8 September 1933) Thanet, Kent, England.