Championship of County Carlow

Championship of County Carlow
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1884; 140 years ago (1884)
Abolished1950; 74 years ago (1950)
LocationCarlow, County Carlow, Ireland.
VenueCarlow Sports Grounds
SurfaceGrass

The Championship of County Carlow[1] was a grass court tennis tournament founded as the County Carlow Lawn Tennis Tournament.[2] It was first staged in September 1884 .[3] The tournament was organised the Carlow Lawn Tennis Club (f. 1878),[4] and played on laid out courts at Lenham and Belmont, County Carlow, Ireland. The tournament was staged annually until 1950.

History

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The Carlow Lawn Tennis Club was established in 1878.[5] The inaugural County Carlow Lawn Tennis Tournament first took place at Lenham and Belmont between 1 and 4 September 1884.[6] The event was conceived by Horace Rochfort, a sports promoter from County Carlow.[7] Due to the a large amount of entries submitted for the tournament,[6] play was conducted in two locations,[6] days one and two were at Lenham on the Lecky Tennis Grounds,[6] and days three and four were played on courts laid out at the home of a Captain Thomas in Belmont.[6] The second men's singles tournament was won by Englands Harry Thorpe.[3] In 1908 tournament was renamed the Championship of County Carlow. In 1948 the championships was played as part of Carlow Lawn Tennis Club Open.[8] The event continued through till 1950.

Finals

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Men's Singles

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Incomplete roll:[3]

Year Winner Finalist Score
1884 Ireland R. Grove Annesley Ireland J.E. Jameson 6-5, 6–5, 6–2.[6]
1885 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Harry Thorpe Ireland Frederick James Smith Leckey 6-3, 6–3, 8–6.[3]

Women's Singles

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Incomplete roll:[3]

Year Winner Finalist Score
1884 England Miss E. Watson Ireland Miss Pack-Beresford, def.[6]

Mixed Doubles

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Incomplete roll:

Year Winner Finalist Score
1884 Ireland J.E. Jameson
Ireland Valentia Wheler Annesley
Ireland Robert Saint Clair Leckey
Ireland Miss Persse
6-1, 6–3, 6–2.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "CARLOW LAWN TENNIS CLUB Open Tennis Tournament Men's and Women's Singles Championship of County Carlow and usual Handicap Events". Irish Independent. Dublin, Republic of Ireland: British Newspaper Archive. 19 June 1948. p. 8. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ "TAKE NOTICE: Second County Carlow Lawn Tennis Tournament. This tournament under the auspices of the Carlow Club will take place 10th to 14th August this year". Carlow Sentinel. Carlow, Republic of Ireland: British Newspaper Archive. 25 July 1885. p. 2. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Tournaments:County Carlow". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  4. ^ "About The Club". www.carlowltc.com/. Carlow Tennis Club. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  5. ^ Carlow Tennis Club County Carlow
  6. ^ a b c d e f g All About Ireland and Cultural Heritage Project
  7. ^ Heritage Project, Cultural. "County Carlow Lawn Tennis Tournament 1884". All About Ireland. Dublin, Republic of Ireland: Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  8. ^ Irish Independent