North of Ireland Championships

The North of Ireland Championships[1] was an early Victorian period men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1879. The championship was played at the Cliftonville Cricket Club, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland.[2] The tournament ran annually for fifteen editions until 1894.[3] It was the precursor tournament to the later Ulster Grass Court Championships.

North of Ireland Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1879
Abolished1894
Editions15
LocationBelfast, County Antrim, Ireland
VenueCliftonville Cricket Club
SurfaceGrass

History

The regional tennis tournament the North of Ireland Championships tournament was established early as 1881,[4] at the Cliftonville Cricket Club on Cliftonville Road in Belfast. Some time later the club was renamed as the Cliftonville Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. The North of Ireland Championships tournament ran until 1894 when it was abandoned. cancelled after 1894.

Following World War One in 1919 new regional lawn tennis was established representative for Northern Ireland called the Ulster Grass Court Championships staged at the Belfast Boat Club,[5] South Belfast. This grass court tournament ran until at least 1980. In 1928 a second regional tournament was established known as the Ulster Hard Court Championships that was played on clay courts that was staged through to the 1950s.

The former tournaments were both amateur events, but in the mid-1960s a professional event was staged in Belfast called the Ulster Professional Championships.[6]

Notable male players who this championship includes Manliffe Goodbody[7] who won it three times (1889, 1890, 1893). The North of Ireland and Ulster grass court tournaments have survived into the 21st century where today as two separate events is known as the North of Ireland Open,[8] and the Ulster Senior Open.[9]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner UpScore
1879[3]England Captain ShortEngland M. Short6–5, 4–6, 6–3
1881[3]Ireland Edward Johnson CharleyEngland J.R. Bristow2–1 sets
1882[3]England George Frank Wemyss AnsonIreland Edward Johnson Charley2–0 sets
1885[3]England Charle Milligan JohnsEngland Alfred Dawson Johns6–3, 6–3
1888[3]Ireland Tegan DicksonIreland Robert Cully Barton6–0, 6–0
1889[3]Ireland Manliffe Francis GoodbodyIreland Tegan Dickson6–3, 6–2, 6–2
1890[3]Ireland Manliffe Francis Goodbody (2)Ireland Arthur Henry Gore Ashe5–7, 6–4, 6–0, 6–2
1891[3]Ireland George Courtney Ball-GreeneIreland Manliffe Francis Goodbodyw.o.
1892[3]Ireland Francis Owen StokerIreland George Courtney Ball-Greenew.o.
1893[3]Ireland Manliffe Francis Goodbody (3)Ireland Francis Owen Stokerw.o.
1894[3]Ireland Alexander Horsbrugh PorterUnited Kingdom David Elgar Payn6–2, 6–1, 6–1

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionRunner UpScore
1890Ireland Miss. M.A. KinahanIreland Miss Newett6–2, 6–0
1891Ireland Miss. HearnIreland Miss. M.A. Kinahan6–2, 6–2
1892Ireland Miss. R. ShawIreland Miss. Hearn4–6, 6–4, 6–1
1893Ireland Miss. R. Shaw (2)Scotland Miss. Jane Corder3–6, 6–0, 9–7
1894Ireland Miss. R. Shaw (3)Ireland Miss. F. Carr6–1, 6–1

References
  1. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  2. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882)
  3. "Tournament: North of Ireland Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68.
  5. "Tennis at Belfast Boat Club". Belfast Boat Club. Belfast, Northern Ireland: The Belfast Boat Club. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  6. The Belfast Telegraph (3 July 1965), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. p.14
  7. Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes (1889). Volume LI. January - June. Vinton & Co Ltd, London. p. 129.
  8. "Adult Tournaments: North of Ireland Open – Downshire". Ulster Tennis. Ulster LTA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  9. "Adult Tournaments: Ulster Senior Open – Belfast Boat Club". Ulster Tennis. Ulster LTA. Retrieved 26 July 2023.

Sources
  • Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes (1889). Volume LI. January - June. Vinton & Co Ltd, London.
  • Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) George Routledge and Son. London.
  • The Belfast Telegraph (3 July 1965), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
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