Kent Championships

The Kent Championships also known as the Kent All-Comers' Championships were a tennis tournament held in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham, Kent, England between 1886 and 1996 and was held in the first half of June. From 1887 until 1910 the tournament was organized as an All-Comers event, the winner of which would play the title holder from previous year in the Challenge Round. The tournament was played on outdoor grass courts at Beckenham Cricket Club a multi sport club that was established in 1866 in Foxgrove Road, Beckenham with the lawn tennis section of the club established in 1879.

Kent Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded1886
Abolished1996
LocationFoxgrove Road, Beckenham, Kent, England
SurfaceGrass / Outdoor

Herbert Chipp, later a Wimbledon umpire, came through a field of 13 entries to capture the inaugural men's singles title over Beckenham committee member Edward Avory. The Field informed its readers, "The final was a terribly tedious affair. Both players kept at the back of the court and played an excessively careful game." There were 14 pairs in the gentleman's doubles and seven pairs in the mixed doubles. The first event made a loss of £1. 10s. 9d. Two years later, from a field of 11 entries, May Jacks beat Edith Gurney to win the first women's singles tournament.

Slazenger's provided the tournament tennis balls every year from 1902, while the Challenge Round was abolished in 1911 and an Under 21 event, which became a national championship, started in 1921. When the former Soviet Union joined the International Tennis Federation in 1958, a small delegation was invited to Beckenham ahead of The Championships at Wimbledon.

The Kent Championships were the first UK tournament to have a sponsor, Rothmans, in 1963, after a special dispensation from the Lawn Tennis Association, the governing body of British tennis. Almost five years later in March 1968 at a Special General Meeting in Paris, Beckenham was awarded the status of an Open event. The club welcomed amateur and professional players to compete in the world's first Open grass-court tournament in June 1968. It was the third Open field in 1968 after the British Hard Court Championships in Bournemouth and the French Open at Roland Garros.

When a sponsor couldn't be found for the tournament after 1996, the event was consigned to tennis history. In total, 33 'double' winners (those who won the singles title at Beckenham and Wimbledon) had etched their names in Beckenham folklore.

Champions

Men's singles

Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships[1]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1886 Herbert Chipp Edward. J. Avory6–4, 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1887 Frederick A. Bowlby Herbert Chipp1–6, 8–6, 6–4, 6–1
1888 Ernest G. Meers Frederick A. Bowlby5–7, 3–6, 9–7, 6–3, 6–2
1889 Harry S. Barlow Ernest G. Meers6–4, 1–6, 6–2, 9–7
1890 Ernest G. Meers Harry S. Barlow5–7, 8–6, 6–3, 6–3
1891 Ernest G. Meers Arthur Gore6–0, 6–2, 6–2
1892 Harry S. Barlow Ernest G. Meers4–6, 2–6, 8–6, 6–2, 6–3
1893 Harry S. Barlow William Renshaw2–6, 6–3, 6–1, 6–4
1894 Horace A. B. Chapman Harry S. Barlow3–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3
1895 Harry S. Barlow Horace A. B. Chapman2–6, 6–3, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3
1896 Manliffe Goodbody Harry S. Barlow6–1, 6–2, 2–6, 6–0
1897 George Greville Manliffe Goodbody4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
1898 Wilberforce Eaves George Greville6–0, 6–0, 6–1
1899 Harold Mahony Wilberforce Eaves6–1, 6–1, 6–8, 3–6, 8–6
1900 Arthur Gore Harold Mahony6–4, 6–4, 6–4
1901 Laurence Doherty Arthur Gore6–1, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1902 Laurence Doherty George Simond6–4, 6–0, 6–3
1903 Laurence Doherty Arthur Gore6–1, 6–2, 6–3
1904 Harold Mahony Brame Hillyard6–3, 8–6, 7–9, 4–6, 6–3
1905 [lower-alpha 1] Norman Brookes Arthur Gore6–3, 9–7, 6–2
1906 Arthur Gore A.L. Bentley6–0, 6–2, 6–1
1907 Anthony Wilding Arthur Gore9–7, 6–2, 3–6, 0–6, 6–1
1908 Herbert Roper Barrett Charles P. Dixon6–0, 9–7, 6–2
1909 Herbert Roper Barrett Major Ritchiecancelled (rain)
1910 Beals Wright Herbert Roper Barrett4–6, 7–5, 12–10, 6–4
1911 Anthony Wilding Major Ritchie6–0, 6–0, 6–3
1912 Anthony Wilding Herbert Roper Barrett6–2, 4–6, 6–2, 1–6, 6–2
1913 Alfred Beamish George Thomas6–3, 6–3, 3–6, 7–5
1914 Algernon Kingscote Hope Crisp7–5, 2–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–2
1915No competition (due to World War I)
1916
1917
1918
1919 Algernon Kingscote F.M.B. Fisher4–6, 6–4, 9–7, 3–6, 6–2
1920 Algernon Kingscote Zenzo Shimidzu7–5, 3–2 ret.
1921 Algernon Kingscote Sydney M. Jacob6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–3
1922 Algernon Kingscote Randolph Lycett6–3, 3–1 ret.
1923 William M. Johnston Donald Greig6–2, 6–3
1924 Algernon Kingscote Jack Hillyard8–6, 9–7, 6–2
1925 Randolph Lycett Harry Lewis-Barclay6–3, 6–1, 5–7, 6–4
1926 Gordon Crole Rees Patrick Spence6–4, 6–2
1927 Donald Greig Charles Kingsley4–6, 6–2, 6–3
1928 Charles Kingsley Patrick Spence2–6, 6–4, 8–6
1929 Harry Lee Charles Kingsley7–5, 6–4, 6–2
1930 Bunny Austin Harry Lee6–2, 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
1931 Colin Gregory John Olliff3–6, 6–3, 7–9, 6–3, 6–0
1932 Edward. R. Avory Eskell D. Andrews6–1, 6–4
1933 Vernon Kirby Colin J. J. Robbins8–6, 6–4
1934 Bunny Austin Jiro Yamagishi6–3, 6–0
1935 Jiro Yamagishi Ian Collins6–3, 6–1
1936 David N. Jones Frank Wilde11–9, 6–3
1937 Jiro Yamagishi Raymond Tuckey8–6, 1–6, 7–5
1938 John Olliff Nigel Sharpe6–2, 6–3
1939 Murray Deloford Donald MacPhail3–6, 6–2, 9–7
1940No competition (due to World War II)
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946 Geoffrey Browne Hans van Swol6–1, 6–4
1947 Bill Sidwell Torsten Johansson6–2, 10–8
1948 Frank Sedgman Jack Harper6–4, 6–4
1949 Gardnar Mulloy Earl Cochell2–3 ret.
1950 Geoffrey Browne Bill Sidwell8–6, 7–9, 17–15
1951 Don Candy Gardnar Mulloy3–6, 6–4, 6–2
1952 Ham Richardson Don Candy6–2, 6–8, 6–2
1953 Ham Richardson Gardnar Mulloy6–4, 4–6, 6–3
1954Competition cancelled at quarterfinal stage
1955 Tony Trabert Herb Flam6–4, 6–2
1956 Mal Anderson Sammy Giammalvacancelled
1957 Mal Anderson Herb Flam6–2, 4–6, 8–6
1958 Neale Fraser Kurt Nielsen6–4, 6–4
1959 Alex Olmedo Kurt Nielsen8–6, 3–6, 6–4
1960 Robert Mark Butch Buchholz6–3, 6–4
1961 Jon Douglas Lew Gerrard4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1962 Barry Phillips-Moore Owen Davidson6–4, 8–6
1963 Ken Fletcher Marty Mulligan6–3, 6–2
1964 John Newcombe Fred Stolle6–2, 5–7, 12–10
1965 John Newcombe Lew Gerrard6–3, 6–1
1966 John Newcombe Premjit Lall6–4, 15–13
1967 Owen Davidson Ken Fletcher3–6, 6–2, 6–3
Open era
1968 [lower-alpha 2] Fred Stolle Roy Emerson6–3, 6–1
1969 Ove Bengtson Tom Gorman6–4, 7–5
1970 Clark Graebner Robert Maud6–4, 10–8
1971 Stan Smith Premjit Lall7–9, 6–4, 6–2
1972 Alex Metreveli Vijay Amritraj6–2, 7–5
1973 Alex Metreveli Björn Borg6–3, 9–8
1974 Vijay Amritraj Tom Gorman6–7, 6–2, 6–4
1975 Arthur Ashe Roscoe Tanner7–5, 6–4
1976 Roscoe Tanner Jimmy Connors6–3, 6–4
1977 Mark Edmondson Tim Gullikson6–3, 6–4
1978 Jimmy Connors Stan Smith9–8, 6–3
1979 Peter Fleming Roscoe Tanner3–6, 6–3, 7–5
1980 Onny Parun Sandy Mayer6–4, 4–6, 9–7
1981 Kevin Curren Chris Lewis6–2, 6–3
1982 Kevin Curren Buster Mottram7–6, 6–4
1983 Steve Denton Pat Cash7–6, 7–6
1984 Pat Cash Paul McNamee3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1985 Tim Mayotte Danie Visser7–5, 6–1
1986 Ramesh Krishnan Danie Visser6–3, 6–7, 6–3
1987 Scott Davis Leif Shiras7–6, 6–3
1988 Christian Saceanu Broderick Dyke6–4, 7–6
1989 John McEnroe Paul McNamee3–6, 6–2, 6–1
1990 Ivan Lendl Darren Cahill6–3, 7–5
1991 Ivan Lendl Pat Cash3–6, 7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–4)
1992 David Wheaton Christo van Rensburg6–3, 1–6, 6–1
1993 David Wheaton Chris Bailey6–4, 3–6, 7–6(7–2)
1994 Guy Forget Jeremy Bates6–2, 6–3
1995 Andrew Richardson / Petr Kordadivided (rain)
1996 Mark Petchey Petr Korda6–2, 6–4

Women's singles

Source:Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, Kent Championships[1]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1888 May Jacks Edith Gurney1–6, 6–3, 6–0
1889 Maud Shackle May Jacks6–3, 7–5
1890 May Jacks Maud Shackle4–6, 6–0, 6–4
1891 Maud Shackle May Jacks6–4, 6–0
1892 Maud Shackle May Jacks6–3, 6–1
1893 Maud Shackle Ruth Legh6–3, 6–4
1894 Edith Austin Amy Wilson6–4, 6–2
1895 Edith Austin Amy Wilson6–3, 6–1
1896 Edith Austin Ruth Legh6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1897 Edith Austin Miss E. R. Morgan6–2, 6–0
1898 Charlotte Cooper Edith Austin6–2, 4–6, 6–3
1899 Edith Austin Charlotte Cooper1–6, 7–5, 6–2
1900 Edith Greville Muriel Robb6–1, 6–3
1901 Dorothea Douglass Edith Greville6–1, 4–6, 6–4
1902 Dorothea Douglass Hilda Lane7–5, 6–4
1903 Connie Wilson Dorothea Douglass3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1904 Dorothea Douglass Connie Wilson6–2, 6–2
1905 [lower-alpha 1] Connie Wilson Alice Greene6–2, 6–4
1906 Dorothea Douglass Connie Wilson6–3, 2–2 ret.
1907 May Sutton Dorothea Douglass6–2, 6–4
1908 Agnes Morton Dora Boothby6–2, 6–1
1909 Dora Boothby Agnes Morton6–4, 6–4
1910 Dorothea Douglass Dora Boothby6–4, 6–3
1911 Dorothea Douglass Mildred Coles6–3, 7–5
1912 Winifred McNair Dora Boothby6–1, 6–4
1913 Dorothea Douglass Phyllis Satterthwaite6–4, 6–4
1914 Edith Hannam Agnes Morton0–6, 11–9 ret.
1915No competition (due to World War I)
1916
1917
1918
1919 Elizabeth Ryan Dorothea Douglass2–6, 7–5, 6–4
1920 Elizabeth Ryan Winifred McNair7–9, 3–2 divided
1921 Elizabeth Ryan Geraldine Beamish9–7, 6–4
1922 Kitty McKane Elizabeth Ryan6–3, 6–3
1923 Elizabeth Ryan Phyllis Satterthwaite6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1924 Elizabeth Ryan Kitty McKane6–8, 6–1, 6–1
1925 Elizabeth Ryan Geraldine Beamish4–6, 6–3, 6–2
1926 Lilí Álvarez Molla Mallory6–4, 6–2
1927 Helen Wills Kitty McKane Godfree6–2, 6–4
1928 Elizabeth Ryan Violet Chamberlain6–2, 10–8
1929 Phyllis Howkins Covell Peggy Saunders Mitchell6–1, 6–4
1930 Jenny Sandison Ann Owen6–2, 4–6, 6–4
1931 Phyllis Mudford Dorothy Round6–1, 6–2
1932 Mary Heeley Freda James1–6, 6–3, 6–0
1933 Dorothy Round Peggy Saunders Mitchell7–5, 6–2
1934 Phyllis Mudford King Joan Hartigan6–2, 6–3
1935 Dorothy Round Kay Stammers6–2, 6–0
1936 Anita Lizana Betty Nuthall3–6, 6–0, 6–1
1937 Jadwiga Jędrzejowska Alice Marble6–1, 9–11, 6–1
1938 Jadwiga Jędrzejowska Bobbie Heine Miller7–5, 3–6, 6–2
1939 Alice Marble Kay Stammers6–3, 6–1
1940No competition (due to World War II)
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946 Vera Dace Betty Nuthall6–4, 6–4
1947 Kay Menzies Sheila Piercey Summers6–2, 11–9
1948 Mary Terán de Weiss Patsy Rodgers7–5, 6–1
1949 Patricia Todd Sheila Piercey Summers6–3, 6–0
1950 Gussie Moran Nancy Morrison4–6, 6–1, 6–2
1951 Betty Rosenquest Barbara Scofield4–6, 7–5, 6–1
1952 Hazel Redick-Smith Vera Thomas6–2, 6–2
1953 Maureen Connolly Julia Sampson Hayward6–2, 6–3
1954Abandoned
1955 Louise Brough Mary Carter6–2, 6–4
1956 Darlene Hard Betty Rosenquest PrattAbandoned (rain)
1957 Althea Gibson Darlene Hard6–3, 3–6, 6–4
1958 Sandra Reynolds Jean Forbes6–4, 6–4
1959 Darlene Hard Sally Moore6–1, 7–5
1960 Christiane Mercelis Vera Roberts7–5, 4–6, 6–4
1961 Margaret Smith Christine Truman6–3, 4–6, 8–6
1962 Jan Lehane Lesley Turner7–5, 6–3
1963 Margaret Smith Jan Lehane6–0, 6–1
1964 Maria Bueno Margaret Smith3–5 divided (rain)
1965 Margaret Smith Maria Bueno4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1966 Karen Krantzcke Maria Buenow.o.
1967 Ann Haydon-Jones Virginia Wade6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Open era
1968 Margaret Court Ann Jones11–9, 6–2
1969 Denise Carter-Triolo Kerry Melville6–3, 7–5
1970 Patti Hogan Olga Morozova6–1, 6–3
1971 Kerry Melville Kristy Pigeon6–0, 3–6, 9–7
1972 Olga Morozova Jill Cooper6–4, 6–1
1973 Dianne Fromholtz Janet Newberry7–5, 0–6, 6–1
1974 Paulina Peisachov Kate Latham5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975 Greer Stevens Patti Hogan4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1976 Olga Morozova Marise Kruger7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1977 Yvonne Vermaak Michelle Tyler6–4, 5–7, 6–1
1978 Evonne Cawley Laura DuPont6–4, 6–2
1979 Evonne Cawley Pam Shriver6–3, 6–2
1980 Andrea Jaeger Jo Durie6–4, 6–1
1981 Pam Shriver Elizabeth Little6–2, 6–2
1982 Pam Shriver Elizabeth Sayers6–3, 6–2
1983 Billie Jean King Barbara Potter6–4, 6–3

References
  1. "Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club: Kent Championships". beckenhamtennisclub.co.uk. Beckenham Lawn Tennis Club, 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.

Notes
  1. Due to rain the final was postponed and played at the All-England Club directly preceding the Wimbledon Championships
  2. Tournament was part of the 1968 Rothmans tennis circuit which consisted of four grass court tournaments (Surrey, Northern, Kent, London) in preparation of the Wimbledon Championships

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