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Bedford Open

{{Short description|Men's and women's grass court tennis tournament established in 1880}}

{{Infobox tennis tournament

|name = Bedford Open

|type = defunct

|event name =

|tour =

|sponsor =

|founded ={{start date and age|df=yes|1880}}

|editions =

|ended ={{end date and age|df=yes|1974}}

|location=Bedford, Berkshire, England

|venue =Bedford Lawn Tennis Club

|surface =Grass

|website =

}}

The Bedford Open{{cite news |title=THE BEDFORD OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT. Opened on Wednesday, a lunch-hour thunderstorm, which delayed play for hour, the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament has been blessed with continuous sunshine, and splendid progress was possible with a heavy programme. |work=Bedfordshire Times and Independent |publisher=British Newspaper Archives |date=29 July 1927 |location=Bedford, Bedfordshire, England |page=15}} also known as the Bedford Lawn Tennis Open Tournament Bedfordshire Times and Independent (1927) was men's and women's grass court tennis tournament established in 1880 as the Bedfordshire LTC Tournament.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.69. It was held at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club, Bedford, Berkshire, England and ran through until 1974 when it was abolished.{{cite web |last1=Nieuwland |first1=Alex |title=Tournament – Bedford |url=https://www.tennisarchives.com/tournament/?t=2386&n=Bedford |website=www.tennisarchives.com |publisher=Tennis Archives |access-date=13 December 2022}}

==History==

The first Bedfordshire Lawn Tennis Club evolved out of a croquet club established in June 1871 by the Brooks family of Flitwick Manor.{{cite web |title=Newsletters: Tennis in Bedfordshire |url=https://bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk/Newsletters/Tennis-in-Bedfordshire.aspx |website=bedsarchives.bedford.gov.uk |publisher=Bedfordshire Archives |access-date=13 December 2022 |date=19 May 2020}} The first tournament tennis was played there on 29 August 1876, one year before the first Wimbledon Championships were held.Bedfordshire Archives Records show that the field consisted of six pairs, the final grouping included a Mr G. Tylecote and Miss P. Hodgson who beat Mr. and Mrs. Cobbe in the mixed doubles.Bedfordshire Archives

By 1879 at least two lawn tennis clubs had been established in Bedfordshire, the South Bedfordshire Lawn Tennis Club (LTC), that usually staged tennis events at Flitwick Manor, Wrest Park, Silsoe and Cranfield Court.Bedfordshire Archives The North Bedfordshire LTC had courts at Sutton Manor, Sutton and Sandye Place.Bedfordshire Archives Between 1884 and 1885 both the North and South Bedfordshire LTCs had ceased to operate.Bedfordshire Archives Between 1882 and 1884 a new Bedfordshire LTC was established at Bedford on land next to Bedford College.Bedfordshire Archives The current Bedford LTC based at Bradgate Road (f.1890), is thought to be the successor club to Bedfordshire LTC.Bedfordshire Archives

From 1880 the South Bedfordshire LTC organised three recorded tournaments held at Fairfield Park, Stotfold, and two editions at Blunham House, Blunham, Bedford.{{cite web |last1=Nieuwland |first1=Alex |title=Tournament – Beds LTC |url=https://www.tennisarchives.com/tournament/?t=5613&n=Beds%20LTC |website=www.tennisarchives.com |publisher=Tennis Archives |access-date=13 December 2022}} In July 1882 a second edition of a Bedfordshire tournament was held on 18 July that year.{{cite web |last1=Nieuwland |first1=Alex |title=Tournament – Bedfordshire |url=https://www.tennisarchives.com/tournament/?t=5721&n=Bedfordshire |website=www.tennisarchives.com |publisher=Tennis Archives |access-date=13 December 2022}} On 28 August the Bedfordshire LTC had concluded a tournament the gentleman's singles was won by Mr. A. Payne, the ladies singles was won by Miss. A. Lindsell and the veteran's singles was won by a Reverend H. B. Allen.Routledges Sporting Annual (1883) Lawn Tennis Principle Meetings of 1882: . George Routledge and Son. London. p.117

In 1891 the Bedford Open was founded.BEDFORD OPEN TOURNAMENT The forty-eighth annual open tournament of the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club takes place at the Bradgate Road courts during the whole of next week. Bedfordshire Times and Independent (Friday 28 July 1939). British Newspaper Archives. Bedford, Bedfordshire. England. p.15. In July 1939 the tournament held its 48th annual open event.Bedfordshire Times and Independent (1939) p.15. this event ran through till 1966 before it ceased. In 1974 the tournament was revived for one edition only.Tennis Archives This highly popular event was a regular stop on the senior worldwide tour for many years. Former winners of the men's single's title has included; Alan Stedman, Nigel Sharpe, John Bromwich,{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Margaret |title=Bedford+County: History |url=http://www.badmintonbedford.co.uk/history.html#tennis |website=www.badmintonbedford.co.uk |publisher=Bedford Badminton Club |access-date=13 December 2022}} Erik Bjerre, Ignacy Tłoczyński, Peter Cawthorn, Czeslaw Spychala,Bedford Badminton Club Mike Davies,Bedford Badminton Club Bobby Wilson, Frew McMillan,Bedford Badminton Club Keith Diepraam, Alan MillsBedford Badminton Club and Alberto Esplugas. The previous winners of the women's singles title has included; Evelyn Blencowe, Ruth Pennington-Legh Winch, Phyllis Satterthwaite, Phoebe Holcroft Watson, Elsie Goldsack Pittman, Gem Hoahing,Bedford Badminton Club Lorna Cornell,Bedford Badminton Club Rita Bentley,Bedford Badminton Club and Angela Mortimer.Bedford Badminton Club

Venue

The Bedford Open Tennis Tournament was held continuously for 76 years at the Bedford Lawn Tennis Club. In the late 1990s Bedford LTC which then consisted of 10 grass courts and 2 hard courts, had to move from its Bradgate road grounds due to the land being redeveloped.Bedford Badminton Club The club moved to new premises at Chester Road, Bedford, where it still operates today.{{cite web |last1=Tennis Association |first1=Lawn |title=History: Bedford Lawn Tennis Club |url=https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BedfordLawnTennisClub/History |website=clubspark.lta.org.uk |publisher=LTA |access-date=13 December 2022}}

Finals

=Men's Singles=

(incomplete roll)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
style="width:60px;"|Year

! style="width:200px;"|Winner

! style="width:200px;"|Runner-up

! style="width:120px;"|Score

colspan=4 align=center |Bedfordshire LTC Tournament
1880{{flagicon|GBR}} Robert James Lindsell{{flagicon|GBR}} Frederick Willis?
1881{{flagicon|GBR}} Cecil Henry Polhill-Turner{{flagicon|GBR}} R. Hughes6-4, 6–4, 6–5
1882{{flagicon|GBR}} E. Horley{{flagicon|GBR}} R. Hughes?
1883{{flagicon|GBR}} S. Burton{{flagicon|GBR}} A.A. Cooper?
colspan=4 align=center |Bedford Open
1899{{flagicon|GBR}} Harold L. Whale{{flagicon|GBR}} Bernard Wood-Hill3–6, 6–4, 6–4
1909{{flagicon|GBR}} Charles Bernard Besly Yule{{flagicon|AUS}} Leslie Poidevin6–1, 6–4
1914/1918colspan=4 align=center |Not held (due to World War I)
1934{{flagicon|NZL}} Alan Stedman{{flagicon|GBR}} George Godsell6–1, 7–5
1935{{flagicon|USA}} Roland O. Williams{{flagicon|GBR}} Frederic Robin Kipping6–1, 6–1
1936{{flagicon|GBR}} Nigel Sharpe{{flagicon|GBR}} Derek Bouquet6–8, 6–1, 6–1
1937{{flagicon|GBR}} Nigel Sharpe (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Lawrence Shaffi7–9, 6–4, 6–3
1938{{flagicon|GBR}} Nigel Sharpe (3){{flagicon|GBR}} Lawrence Shaffi7–5, 6–3
1940/1946colspan=4 align=center |Not held (due to World War I)
1947{{flagicon|NZL}} Owen Murray Bold{{flagicon|GBR}} A. Dawes6–3, 6–1
1948{{flagicon|AUS}} John Bromwich{{flagicon|POL}} Czesław Spychała6–3, 6–2
1949{{flagicon|DEN}} Erik Bjerre{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} David Samaai9–7, 3–6, 6–2
1950{{flagicon|JPN}} Ignacy Tłoczyński{{flagicon|GBR}} Tony Starte7–5, 6–1, 7–5
1951{{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Cawthorn{{flagicon|GBR}} Dick Guise6–0, 6–3
1952{{flagicon|POL}} Czesław Spychała{{flagicon|GBR}} John Horn3–6, 6–3, 6–0
1953{{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Davies{{flagicon|GBR}} David Moss6-2, 6–2
1954{{flagicon|GBR}} Mike Davies (2){{flagicon|GBR}} David H. Williams6-3, 6–4
1955{{flagicon|GBR}} Gerry Oakley{{flagicon|GBR}} Alan Mills7–5, 6–4
1956{{flagicon|AUS}} John F. O'Brien{{flagicon|PAK}} Khwaja Saeed Hai3–6, 6–1, 6–2
1957{{flagicon|GBR}} Gerry Oakley (2){{flagicon|AUS}} Peter Frankland6–4, 7–5
1959{{flagicon|GBR}} Alan Mills{{flagicon|GBR}} Michael Sangster6–3, 6–1
1960{{flagicon|GBR}} Bobby Wilson{{flagicon|GBR}} Michael Sangster7-5, 6–1
1962{{flagicon|RSA|1928}} Keith Diepraam{{flagicon|GBR}} Alan Mills6–4, 6–2
1966{{flagicon|ESP}} Alberto Esplugas{{flagicon|ESP}} Jorge Marfa6–2, 6–4
colspan=4 align=center |Open era
1974{{flagicon|GBR}} Bobby Wilson (2){{flagicon|GBR}} T.E. Mabbitt6–1, 6–0

=Women's Singles=

(incomplete roll)

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"
style="width:60px;"|Year

! style="width:200px;"|Winner

! style="width:200px;"|Runner-up

! style="width:120px;"|Score

colspan=4 align=center |Bedford Open
1892{{flagicon|GBR}} Evelyn Blencowe{{flagicon|GBR}} Henrietta Horncastle6-3, 6–2
1909{{flagicon|GBR}} Mrs Cole{{flagicon|GBR}} M.T. Grossw.o.
1910{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch{{flagicon|GBR}} Miss Scott6-4, 6–0
1911{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch (2){{flagicon|GBR}} E.M. White6–1, 6–2
1912{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch (3){{flagicon|GBR}} A. Sargent6-2, 6–4
1913{{flagicon|GBR}} E.M. White{{flagicon|GBR}} Miss Sargent3-6, 6–3, 3-0 ret.
1914{{flagicon|GBR}} Phyllis Satterthwaite{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch6-1, 6–1
1915/1918colspan=4 align=center |Not held due to World War I
1921{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch (4){{flagicon|GBR}} Miss Dalton6-4, 6–0
1922{{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Winch (5){{flagicon|GBR}} A. Sargent6-2, 6–1
1924{{flagicon|GBR}} R. Fletcher{{flagicon|GBR}} A. Wells6-3, 10–8
1925{{flagicon|GBR}} Phoebe Holcroft{{flagicon|GBR}} Betty Boas6–3, 6–0
1926{{flagicon|GBR}} Phoebe Holcroft Watson (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Claire Beckingham6-2, 6–1
1927{{flagicon|GBR}} Betty Boas{{flagicon|GBR}} D. Haines6-2, 6–4
1928{{flagicon|GBR}} Naomi Trentham{{flagicon|GBR}} E. Howes6-2, 6–4
1929{{flagicon|GBR}} Naomi Trentham (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Joan Ridley6-4, 7–5
1930{{flagicon|GBR}} Margaret Walsh Mellows{{flagicon|GBR}} Sylvia Mayne8-6, 6–4
1931{{flagicon|GBR}} Freda Scott{{flagicon|GBR}} E. Howes6-2, 6–3
1932{{flagicon|GBR}} Freda Scott (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Ruth Armstrong Kirk6-4, 6–3
1933{{flagicon|GBR}} N.C. Case{{flagicon|GBR}} Helen Foster Dyson9-7, 6–1
1934{{flagicon|GBR}} N. Hill{{flagicon|GBR}} M. MacTier6-3, 1–6, 6–3
1935{{flagicon|GBR}} N. Hill (2){{flagicon|GBR}} M. MacTier8-6, 6–3
1936{{flagicon|GBR}} Effie Hemmant Peters{{flagicon|GBR}} Billie Yorke6-3, 6–3
1937{{flagicon|GBR}} Elsie Goldsack Pittman{{flagicon|GBR}} Betty Batt5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1938{{flagicon|GBR}} Valerie Scott{{flagicon|GBR}} Elsie Goldsack Pittman6-0, 6–4
1939colspan=4 align=center |Event divided between 4 players
1940/1946colspan=4 align=center |Not held due to World War II
1947{{flagicon|GBR}} Gem Hoahing{{flagicon|GBR}} M. Smith6-0, 6–1
1948{{flagicon|GBR}} Gem Hoahing (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Betty Batt Passingham6-1, 6–2
1949{{flagicon|GBR}} Gem Hoahing (3){{flagicon|GBR}} Edith Middleton6-3, 6–1
1950{{flagicon|GBR}} Jean Knight{{flagicon|GBR}} M. Graham6-4, 6–3
1951{{flagicon|GBR}} Lorna Cornell{{flagicon|GBR}} Elaine Watson6-4, 6–2
1952{{flagicon|GBR}} Elaine Watson{{flagicon|GBR}} Joyce Reid6–1, 6–1
1953{{flagicon|NZL}} Evelyn Attwood{{flagicon|GBR}} Jean Knight6-0, 6–2
1954{{cite web |title=Series of photographs taken during the Bedford Open Tennis Tournament, 1954 (1) Billie... |url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/b3bedd00-f08d-42e8-9030-a94f05ac23cf |website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=8 May 2023 |location=Kew, Richmond |language=English |date=1954}}{{flagicon|GBR}} Jean Knight{{flagicon|NZL}} Evelyn Attwood6-2, 6–2
1955{{flagicon|GBR}} Sheila Armstrong{{flagicon|GBR}} Rita Bentley6-1, 6–4
1956{{flagicon|GBR}} Jean Knight (2){{flagicon|GBR}} E. Tudor6-0, 6–0
1957{{flagicon|GBR}} Rita Bentley{{flagicon|GBR}} Margaret R. O'Donnell6–3, 6–2
1958{{flagicon|GBR}} Rita Bentley (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Margaret R. O'Donnell6-3, 6–3
1959{{flagicon|GBR}} Angela Mortimer{{flagicon|GBR}} Margaret R. O'Donnell8–6, 6–3
1960{{flagicon|GBR}} Angela Mortimer (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Shirley Bloomer Brasher6–2, 6–1
1961{{flagicon|USA}} Pat Stewart{{flagicon|GBR}} Honor Durose6-3, 8–10, 7–5
1962{{flagicon|GBR}} Carole Rosser{{flagicon|GBR}} Diane Tuckey6-4, 6–2
1963{{flagicon|GBR}} Heather Allen{{flagicon|GBR}} Carole Rosserdivided title
1964{{flagicon|GBR}} Heather Allen (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Sue Tuttw.o.
1965{{flagicon|GBR}} Sue Tutt{{flagicon|GBR}} Jean Haskew6–3, 6–1
1966{{flagicon|GBR}} Sue Tutt (2){{flagicon|GBR}} Anthea Rigby6-2, 6–4
colspan=4 align=center |Open era
1974{{flagicon|GBR}} Sandra Coe{{flagicon|GBR}} E. Evans6–3, 6–4

References

{{Reflist|2}}

Category:Defunct tennis tournaments in the United Kingdom

Category:Grass court tennis tournaments