British Covered Court Championships
Tennis tournament
The British Covered Court Championships (BCCC) was an indoor tennis event held from 1885 through 1971 and played in London, England. The tournament dates fluctuated between October and March.
History
For its first five years the tournament was held at the Hyde Park Lawn Tennis Club in Porchester Square, London and consisted only of a men's singles competition. In 1890, when it was decided to add a women's singles and men's doubles competition, the tournament moved to the Queen's Club in London, although the men's singles remained at Hyde Park until 1895.[ 1] The mixed doubles event was added to the championships in 1898.[ 2] A third court was added to the championships in 1912, and, like the original two courts, it had a wooden surface.[ 3] In 1923, the Challenge Round system, allowing the champion to skip next year's competition and only play the winner of that competition, was abolished.[ 4] In 1925, the tournament was merged with the London Covered Court Championships .[ 5] The women's doubles event was added to the tournament in 1934 and renamed to The National Covered Court Championships .[ 6] From its inception, it grew into an important event through the first half of the 20th century, but by the late 1950s, its stature had diminished greatly and in 1966, they couldn't find a sponsor. In 1968, the BCCC became part of the first Dewar Cup circuit, but that was its final year at Queens Club.[ 7] In 1969, it merged with the Wembley Championship while continuing to be called the British Covered Court Championships, and it was an official ILTF Grand Prix event in 1970 and 1971. With several top players who were part of the World Championship Tennis circuit barred from competition in 1972 and no sponsors to be found, the tournament was discontinued.[ 7]
Frenchman Jean Borotra is the male record holder with eleven singles titles and British Dorothea Douglass Chambers holds the record for women with seven singles titles.
Champions
Indoor tennis court at Hyde Park in 1895
Men's singles
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Surface
1885
Herbert Lawford
Charles Ross
7–5, 6–3, 6–0
Wood
1886
Teddy Williams
Herbert Lawford
6–2, 1–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4
Wood
1887
Ernest Lewis
Teddy Williams
6–2, 6–2, 6–1
Wood
1888
Ernest Lewis
Ernest George Meers
6–3, 6–0, 6–1
Wood
1889
Ernest Lewis
James Crispe
6–1, 6–1, 6–1
Wood
1890
Ernest Lewis
Ernest George Meers
6–2, 6–3, 6–2
Wood
1891
Ernest Lewis
Ernest George Meers
6–4, 8–6, 6–3
Wood
1892
Ernest George Meers
Ernest Lewis
6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2
Wood
1893
Harold Mahony
Ernest George Meers
6–2, 6–2, 6–4
Wood
1894
Harold Mahony
Ernest George Meers
6–4, 6–4, 6–3
Wood
1895
Ernest Lewis
Harold Mahony
walkover
Wood
1896
Ernest Lewis
Wilberforce Eaves
6–4, 6–1, 6–8, 4–6, 7–5
Wood
1897
Wilberforce Eaves
Ernest Lewis
6–3, 6–3, 7–5
Wood
1898
Wilberforce Eaves
Laurence Doherty
6–4, 7–5, 6–3
Wood
1899
Wilberforce Eaves
Harold Mahony
6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4
Wood
1900
Arthur Gore
Major Ritchie
6–1, 7–5, 6–3
Wood
1901
Laurence Doherty
Arthur Gore
6–3, 6–1, 6–1
Wood
1902
Laurence Doherty
Major Ritchie
6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3
Wood
1903
Laurence Doherty
George Hillyard
6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Wood
1904
Laurence Doherty
Major Ritchie
6–2, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
Wood
1905
Laurence Doherty
Major Ritchie
6–1, 8–6, 6–2
Wood
1906
Laurence Doherty
Arthur Gore
6–2, 6–4, 8–6
Wood
1907
Anthony Wilding
Laurence Doherty
walkover
Wood
1908
Arthur Gore
Anthony Wilding
4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 8–6
Wood
1909
Major Ritchie
Arthur Gore
7–5, 8–6, 6–3
Wood
1910
Gordon Lowe
Arthur Lowe
6–4, 6–0, 6–1
Wood
1911
André Gobert
Gordon Lowe
6–3, 7–5, 6–3
Wood
1912
André Gobert
Anthony Wilding
3–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4
Wood
1913
Percival Davson
Erik Larsen
5–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2
Wood
1914
Major Ritchie
Percival Davson
8–6, 6–3, 6–1
Wood
1915–1918
Not held (due to World War I )
1919
Percival Davson
Major Ritchie
6–2, 6–3, 8–6
Wood
1920
André Gobert
Percival Davson
6–4, 7–5, 6–2
Wood
1921
André Gobert
Walter Crawley
6–2, 6–4, 4–6, 0–6, 7–5
Wood
1922
André Gobert
Brian I. C. Norton
4–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–2
Wood
1923
John D. Wheatley
Hassan Ali Fyzee
1–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–4
Wood
1924
Patrick Spence
John D. Wheatley
6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1
Wood
1925
Sydney Jacob [ 8]
Patrick Spence
3–6, 7–5, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3
Wood
1926
Jean Borotra
Donald Greig
6–3, 6–2, 6–4
Wood
1927
Edward Higgs
Gordon Crole Rees
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Wood
1928
Jean Borotra
Gordon Crole Rees
4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3
Wood
1929
Jean Borotra
Nigel Sharpe
7–5, 6–2, 6–2
Wood
1930
Jean Borotra
Henry Austin
6–1, 0–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4
Wood
1931
Jean Borotra
Jiro Satoh
10–8, 6–3, 0–6, 6–3
Wood
1932
Jean Borotra
Harry Lee
6–2, 6–3, 6–3
Wood
1933 [ 9]
Jean Borotra
Henry Austin
6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4
Wood
1934
Henry Austin
Jean Borotra
6–2, 4–6, 6–0, 6–8, 6–2
Wood
1935
Jean Borotra
Nigel Sharpe
6–0, 6–2, 6–0
Wood
1936
Karl Schröder
Jean Borotra
8–6, 6–1, 9–7
Wood
1937
Henry Austin
Karl Schröder
6–2, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2
Wood
1938
Jean Borotra
Donald Butler
6–0, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
Wood
1939–1946
Not held (due to World War II )
1947
Ivo Rinkel
Ernest Wittman
3–6, 7–5, 7–5
Wood
1948
Jean Borotra
Geoffrey Paish
6–3, 6–3, 6–2
Wood
1949
Jean Borotra
Geoffrey Paish
6–4, 6–3, 6–3
Wood
1950
Jaroslav Drobný
Geoffrey Paish
6–3, 6–2, 6–0
Wood
1951
Geoffrey Paish
Ignacy Tłoczyński
6–4, 6–4, 6–1
Wood
1952
Jaroslav Drobný
Tony Mottram
6–3, 6–4, 8–6
Wood
1953
Jaroslav Drobný
Robert Wilson
6–2, 7–5, 6–2
Wood
1954
Jaroslav Drobný
Władysław Skonecki
7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4
Wood
1955
Władysław Skonecki
William Knight
5–7, 7–5, 6–4, 9–7
Wood
1956
Alfred Huber
Geoffrey Paish
7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4
Wood
1957
Not held
1958
Mike Davies
Owen Davidson
5–7, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
Wood
1959
Robert Wilson
Kurt Nielsen
6–3, 8–6, 6–2
Wood
1960
William Knight
Robert Wilson
6–3, 6–4, 8–6
Wood
1961
Anthony Pickard
Manuel Santana
6–1, 6–3, 6–3
Wood
1962
Robert Wilson
William Knight
3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 6–2
Wood
1963
Robert Wilson
Roger Taylor
16–14, 6–2, 9–7
Wood
1964
Mike Sangster
Robert Wilson
6–3, 8–6, 6–4
Wood
1965
Robert Wilson
Mark Cox
6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
Wood
1966–1967
Not held
Open era
1968
Bob Hewitt
Bob Lutz
4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 10–8
Wood
1969
Rod Laver
Tony Roche
6–4, 6–1, 6–3
Carpet
1970
Rod Laver
Cliff Richey
6–3, 6–4, 7–5
Carpet
1971
Ilie Năstase
Rod Laver
3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4
Carpet
Women's singles
Year
Champions
Runners-up
Score
Surface
1890
May Jacks
Maud Shackle
6–0, 6–1
Wood
1891
Maud Shackle
May Jacks
7–5, 6–2
Wood
1892
Maud Shackle
May Arbuthnot
6–3, 3–6, 6–2
Wood
1893
Maud Shackle
May Arbuthnot
6–2, 1–6, 7–5
Wood
1894
Edith Austin
May Arbuthnot
2–6, 6–4, 7–5
Wood
1895
Charlotte Cooper
Edith Austin
6–4, 3–6, 6–1
Wood
1896
Edith Austin
Charlotte Cooper
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
Wood
1897
Edith Austin
Ruth Dyas
9–11, 6–4, 12–10
Wood
1898
Edith Austin
Ruth Pennington-Legh
6–3, 2–6, 6–2
Wood
1899
Edith Austin
Charlotte Cooper
6–2, 6–4
Wood
1900
Toupie Lowther
Edith Austin Greville
2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Wood
1901
Blanche Bingley Hillyard
Toupie Lowther
6–2, 6–3
Wood
1902
Toupie Lowther
Gladys Duddell
6–3, 6–1
Wood
1903
Toupie Lowther
Adine Masson
6–1, 6–0
Wood
1904
Dorothea Douglass
Edith Austin Greville
6–2, 6–3
Wood
1905
Hilda Lane
Gladys Eastlake Smith
6–4, 8–6
Wood
1906
Dorothea Douglass
Hilda Lane
6–2, 6–0
Wood
1907
Gladys Eastlake Smith
Mildred Coles
6–3, 6–3
Wood
1908
Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Gladys Eastlake Smith
6–3, 6–3
Wood
1909
Dora Boothby
Madeline O'Neill
6–1, 6–3
Wood
1910
Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Madeline O'Neill
6–4, 6–3
Wood
1911
Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Helen Aitchison
6–3, 6–1
Wood
1912
Dorothy Holman
Aurea Edgington
6–2, 6–0
Wood
1913
Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Dorothy Holman
6–2, 6–3
Wood
1914
Dorothy Holman
Madeline O'Neill
7–9, 6–1, 6–2
Wood
1915–1918
Not held
1919
Dorothea Douglass Chambers
Dorothy Holman
6–3, 6–3
Wood
1920
Elizabeth Ryan
Doris Craddock
6–4, 6–2
Wood
1921
Dorothy Holman
Irene Bowder Peacock
6–1, 3–6, 6–4
Wood
1922
Dorothy Holman
Doris Craddock
6–2, 6–1
Wood
1923
Mabel Davey Clayton
Aurea Edgington
6–3, 6–2
Wood
1924
Geraldine Beamish
Doris Craddock
6–4, 6–4
Wood
1925
Joan Reid-Thomas
Blanche Colston
6–2, 7–5
Wood
1926
Peggy Saunders
Betty Dix
6–4, 6–2
Wood
1927
Eileen Bennett
Cristobel Hardie
6–4, 6–0
Wood
1928
Kathleen McKane Godfree
Eileen Bennett
6–1, 6–2
Wood
1929
Peggy Saunders Michell
Joan Ridley
6–4, 6–4
Wood
1930
Joan Ridley
Joan Fry
6–2, 6–2
Wood
1931
Mary Heeley
Jeanette Morfey
6–1, 6–0
Wood
1932
Peggy Scriven
Kay Stammers
6–2, 6–4
Wood
1933
Phyllis King
Kay Stammers
10–12, 6–1, 6–3
Wood
1934
Phyllis King
Mary Hardwick
6–3, 4–6, 6–2
Wood
1935
Peggy Scriven
Ermyntrude Harvey
6–2, 6–2
Wood
1936
Anita Lizana
Mary Hardwick
6–3, 6–0
Wood
1937
Peggy Scriven
Phyllis King
6–1, 6–2
Wood
1938
Peggy Scriven
Alexandra McOstrich McKelvie
6–3, 4–6, 6–1
Wood
1939–1947
Not held
1948
Gem Hoahing
Joan Curry
1–6, 6–3, 7–5
Wood
1949
Joan Curry
Jean Quertier
6–1, 6–0
Wood
1950
Jean Quertier
Joan Curry
3–6, 7–5, 6–3
Wood
1951
Susan Partridge
Jean Walker-Smith
6–4, 6–4
Wood
1952
Angela Mortimer
Susan Partridge
6–3, 3–6, 6–3
Wood
1953
Angela Mortimer
Georgie Woodgate
6–3, 6–2
Wood
1954
Angela Mortimer
Shirley Bloomer
6–2, 6–3
Wood
1955
Anne Shilcock
Pat Ward
6–2, 6–4
Wood
1956
Angela Buxton
Anne Shilcock
6–2, 6–2
Wood
1957
Not held
1958
Anne Shilcock
Christine Truman
6–2, 6–2
Wood
1959
Angela Mortimer
Pat Ward
6–2, 6–3
Wood
1960
Angela Mortimer
Ann Haydon
7–5, retired
Wood
1961
Angela Mortimer
Christine Truman
2–6, 6–1, 6–4
Wood
1962
Ann Haydon
Christine Truman
6–4, 4–6, 9–7
Wood
1963
Deidre Catt
Renée Schuurman
4–6, 6–3, 6–3
Wood
1964
Ann Haydon-Jones
Fay Toyne
6–3, 6–3
Wood
1965
Ann Haydon-Jones
Fay Toyne
6–2, 6–1
Wood
1966–1967
Not held
Open era
1968
Margaret Court
Virginia Wade
10–8, 6–1
Wood
1969
Ann Haydon-Jones
Billie Jean King
9–11, 6–2, 9–7
Carpet
1970
Billie Jean King
Ann Haydon-Jones
8–6, 3–6, 6–1
Carpet
1971
Billie Jean King
Françoise Dürr
6–1, 5–7, 7–5
Carpet
Records
Men's singles
Source: [ 10]
Most titles: Jean Borotra , 11
Most consecutive titles: Jean Borotra, 6
Most finals: Jean Borotra, 13
Most consecutive finals: Jean Borotra, 9
Most matches played: Major Ritchie , 83
Most matches won: Jean Borotra, (67)
Most consecutive match wins: Jean Borotra, 35
Most editions played: Major Ritchie , 30
Best match winning %: André Gobert 94.12%
Longest final: Laurence Doherty v Major Ritchie, result: 6–2, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, 57 games, 1904
Shortest final: Jean Borotra v Nigel Sharpe , result: 6–0, 6–2, 6–0, 20 games, 1935
Title won with the fewest games lost, Ernest Wool Lewis , 22, 1887
Oldest champion: Jean Borotra, 51y 1m and 28d, 1949
Youngest champion: Edward Lake Williams , 19y 9m and 12d, 1886
See also
References
^ McKelvie, Roy (1986). The Queen's Club Story, 1886-1986 . London: Stanley Paul. p. 35. ISBN 0091660602 .
^ McKelvie, p.36
^ McKelvie, pp.41,42
^ McKelvie, p.113
^ McKelvie, p.114
^ McKelvie, p.117
^ a b Max Robertson, ed. (1974). The Encyclopedia of Tennis: 100 Years of Great Players and Events . London: Allen & Unwin. pp. 209, 210. ISBN 0047960426 .
^ "Jacob Family History" . Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2011-01-04 .
^ "Borotra's Tactics" . paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 127, 25 November 1933. Retrieved 19 September 2016 .
^ "British Covered Court Championships Tournament Records" . thetennisbase.com . Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 25 November 2017 .