Droitwich Open

The Droitwich Open also known as the Droitwich Spa Open was a combined men's and women's tennis tournament founded in 1928 as the Droitwich Open Lawn Tennis Tournament or Droitwich Spa Open Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[1] The tournament was organised by the Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club (now called the Droitwich Tennis Club), and played at the Brine Baths Park (now called Droitwich Lido Park), Droitwich Spa, Worcesteshire, England.[2] The tournament ran until 1939 just before World War II then was discontinued.[3]

Droitwich Open
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Grand Prix circuit, (1928–39)
Founded1928
Abolished1939
LocationDroitwich Spa, Droitwich, Worcestershire, England.
SurfaceGrass

History

In 1928 the Droitwich Open Lawn Tennis Tournament was founded.[4] This tournament was played on grass court and staged annually through till 1939 when it was discontinued.[5] In October 1967 Droitwich Tennis Club applied to the Lawn Tennis Association to restart a new open tennis hard court tournament that was to begin in 1968.[6] In May 1968 the first Droitwich Open Hard Courts tournament was held.[7] In 1971 that event became part of the Bio-Strath Circuit under the brand name the Bio-Starth Droitwich Open Hard Courts.

Venue

Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1920.[8] It staged the first Droitwich Open in 1928.[9] The club was located in what was then called Brine Baths Park (now called Droitwich Lido Park), Droitwich Spa, Worcesteshire.[10] The original club had four grass courts and four hard courts (clay).[11] In 1975 Droitwich Tennis Club moved to its current location at St Peters Church Lane.[12] The club still has the eight tennis courts. They no longer have the original grass or clay courts, but a combination of hard and artificial grass courts.[13]

Finals

Mens's singles

(Incomplete list)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1929[14]United Kingdom Alfred PearsonUnited Kingdom Don Butler6–3, 6–1
1931United Kingdom Don ButlerUnited Kingdom E. M. Sykes6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1933[15]United Kingdom Don Butler (2)United Kingdom Ronald Shayes6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1934[16]New Zealand Cam MalfroyUnited Kingdom Don Butler6–4, 3–6, 8–6
1935[17]United Kingdom Don Butler (3)United Kingdom George Godsell6–3, 6–2
1936[18]United Kingdom George GodsellUnited Kingdom Henry Billington6–3, 3–6, 7–5
1937[19]United Kingdom Ronald ShayesUnited Kingdom George Godsell6–4, 6–4, 6–3
1938Romania Alexander M. HamburgerUnited Kingdom Ronald Shayes6–3, 3–6, 6–2
1939Romania Alexander M. Hamburger (2)United Kingdom G.R.M. Ricketts6–0, 7–5

Women's singles

(Incomplete list)

Year Winners Runners-up Score
1928United Kingdom Vera MarshallUnited Kingdom Vera Noott6–3, 6–2
1929[20]United Kingdom Miss Elizabeth T. MadinUnited Kingdom Vera Marshall6–4, 6–4
1931United Kingdom Vera NoottUnited Kingdom Mrs H. O'Connor6–1, 6–4
1932United Kingdom Jeanette MorfeyUnited Kingdom Gladys Clarke-Jervoise6–3, 6–0
1933United Kingdom Florence FordUnited Kingdom Mary Whitmarsh6–4, 6–4
1934[21]United Kingdom Florence Ford (2)United Kingdom Joy Cunningham6–3, 6–3
1935[22]United Kingdom Florence Ford (3)United Kingdom Joy Cunningham6–3, 6–2
1936United Kingdom Dorothy RoundUnited Kingdom Florence Ford6–4, 6–4
1937United Kingdom Florence Ford (4)United Kingdom Betty Batt2–6, 6–2, 6–2
1938United Kingdom Gertrude Valentine-BrownUnited Kingdom Florence Ford6–2, 1–6, 6–4
1939United Kingdom Gertrude Valentine-Brown (2)United Kingdom Madge Slaney[23]4–6 7–5 6–1

See also

References
  1. "DROITWICH TOURNAMENT: Increased Entries for Annual Event. The seventh annual Droitwich Open lawn tennis tournament began in the Brine Baths Park on Saturday in ideal weather". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, England: The British Newspaper Archive. 6 August 1934. p. 10.
  2. "ABOUT US". droitwichtennis.co.uk. Droiwich Spa, Worcestershire, England: Droitwich Tennis Club. 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  3. "LAWN TENNIS Droitwich event may be revived: Plans are being made at Droitwich to restart a neww week long Open hard court tennis tournament next year, which disappeared from the annual calendar during the war. The Application is being made to the National Lawn Tennis Association next week". Birmingham Daily Post. Warwickshire, England: The British Newspaper Archive. 4 October 1967. p. 19.
  4. "DROITWICH FINALS: SINGLES VICTORIES FOR A. PEARSON AND MISS E. T. MADIN. The finals of the level events in the second annual Droitwich Spa Open lawn tennis tournament, held in the charming Brine Baths Park, were productive of some interesting play yesterday". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Birmingham, England: The British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1929. p. 10.
  5. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967)
  6. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967). British Newspaper Archives. p.19.
  7. Birmingham Daily Post (4 October 1967)
  8. Droitwich Tennis Club
  9. Birmingham Daily Gazette. (6 August 1934). The British Newspaper Archive. p. 10.
  10. Droitwich Tennis Club
  11. "Droitwich Spa". Holiday Haunts in England, Wales and Channel Islands: The Official Guide to the Holiday Resorts Served by the G.W.R. with Particulars of Accommodation for Holiday Makers and Travellers Generally. London: Great Western Railway. 1927. p. 887.
  12. Droitwich Tennis Club
  13. Bates, Adrian (2023). "Worcester: Droitwich Spa Lawn Tennis Club". www.cityoftennis.co.uk. City of Tennis. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  14. "DROITWICH FINALS. Singles Victories for Mr. A. Pearson and Miss E. T. Madin. The finals of the singles events in the second annual Droitwich Sp open lawn tennis tournament, held in the charming Brine Baths Park, were productive of some interesting play yesterday the results were". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1929. p. 10. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  15. "MISS F. S FORD'S TREBLE: Fine Play at Droitwich Tennis Tournament. The Droitwich lawn tennis tournament was concluded at the Brine Baths Park yesterday. D. W. Butler. the holder of men's singles title was beaten by New Zealand player Cam Malfroy in straight sets. Florence Smith Ford won the women's singles, doubles and also mixed doubles finals". Birmingham Daily Gazette. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 10 August 1934. p. 11. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  16. Birmingham Daily Gazette. 10 August 1934. p.11.
  17. "DROITWICH TENNIS D W Butler Captures Singles Title. Don Butler Worcestershire won men's singles championship Droitwich Tennis tournament afternoon beating G E Godsell without losing a set". Evening Despatch. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1935. p. 14. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  18. "Ronald A Shayes Wins Droitwich Tennis Title. The Holder Beaten In Straight Sets. George E Godsell was deprived of his second title for the Men's Singles Championship at Droitwich Lawn Tennis Tournament yesterday by R.A. Shayes the final round". Evening Despatch. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 6 August 1937. p. 15. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  19. Evening Despatch. 6 August 1937 p.15.
  20. Birmingham Daily Gazette. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 8 August 1929. p. 10
  21. Birmingham Daily Gazette. 10 August 1934. p.11.
  22. "DROITWICH TENNIS TOURNEY Finals Reached in Singles' Events Miss Ford Advances. Florence Smith Ford winner of the women's singles last year reached the same stage of this event at the Droitwich Spa tennis tournament this afternoon". Evening Despatch. Warwickshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 7 August 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  23. "Madge Slaney (GBR) - Ladies' Singles" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
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