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The Exmouth Open, originally called the Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament or simply Exmouth Tournament, was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1880. From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. It was hosted by the Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, Exmouth, Devon, Great Britain until 1927. It was then hosted by the newly founded Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club until it was abolished as a senior tour event in 1975.

History

The Exmouth Archery, Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1879. In 1880 the club hosted the first Exmouth Lawn Tennis Club Tournament for men only. In 1881 the tournament became an open event for both men and women as well. The first winner of the open men's singles was England's Ernest Maconchy (later Brigadier General), and first winner of the women's open singles was Ireland's Lilian Cole. The event was one of the earliest English tournaments that featured a women's singles event.

In 1880s following the Wimbledon Championships it was part of what was known as the "Western tour" over the course of five weeks taking in the grass court events such as the Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament at Teignmouth, the Torquay Lawn Tennis Tournament at Torquay, the Bournemouth Open Tournament at Bournemouth, and finishing off at the South of England Championships at Eastbourne.

In August 1888 a Battle of the Sexes charity tennis match was staged at the tournament, predating the modern famous match by 85 years, between Ernest Renshaw and Lottie Dod, Renshaw won but only just! From 1890 the event was known as the Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament. In 1968 following the start of the open era it was renamed to the Exmouth Open. The event was part of the Amateur Tour (1877–1912), the ILTF Amateur Tour (1913–1967) and the ITF Independent Tour (1968–1975). In 1970 the tournament was called the Robertson Viota Exmouth Open for sponsorship reasons. In 1971 it was known as the Bio-Strath Exmouth Open until 1972.

Former notable of winners the men's singles event include; Charles Lacy Sweet, Charles Walder Grinstead, Harry Grove, Ernest Wool Lewis, William Renshaw, Reggie Doherty, Ryuki Miki, Jaroslav Drobny. Former winners of the women's singles title included; Maud Watson, Blanche Bingley Hillyard, Phyllis Satterthwaite and Sue Barker. The final men's edition held in 1975 was won by Britain's Jonathan Smith, and the final winner of the women's singles was Czech player Jana Simonova.

Finals

Men's singles

Incomplete roll

Year	Winners	Runners-up	Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881	Ernest Maconchy	Thomas Hoare	6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1882	Charles Lacy Sweet	Pelham Von Donop	6–1, 6–4
1883	Charles Walder Grinstead	Teddy Williams	6–2, 6–5, 6–4
1884	Charles Walder Grinstead (2)	Erskine Gerald Watson	6–2, 6–2, 6–3
1886	Harry Grove	Henry E. Hunter Kent	6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 7–5
1887	Harry Grove (2)	James Baldwin	6–1, 6–3, 7–5
1888	Ernest Wool Lewis	Herbert Chipp	6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1889	Ernest Wool Lewis (2)	John Redfern Deykin	6–1, 6–2, 6–3
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1890	Ernest Wool Lewis (3)	Manliffe Goodbody	6–2, 7–5, 2–6, 6–3
1891	Ernest Wool Lewis (4)	Horace Chapman	6–1, 6–4, 7–5
1892	Tom Chaytor	H. Walters	6–2, 7–5, 6–0
1893	William Renshaw	Harry Grove	6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1894	Harry S. Barlow	Tom Chaytor	6–2, 7–5, 4–6, 0–6, 12–10
1895	Reggie Doherty	Harry S. Barlow	7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1897	John Mycroft Boucher	Arthur Riseley	6–1, 6–0, 6–4
1898	Roy Allen	Frank Riseley	6–4, 6–4, 5–7, 5–7, 6–4
1902	Sidney Charles Atkey	E. W. Church	6–3, 6–3
1903	B. Walker	M. A. H. Fell	6–0, 7–5
1907	Charles Gladstone Eames	R. F. J. Harrison	6–2, 6–0
1910	Roy Allen	Henry Reginald Fussell	6–2 6–2 ret.
1914/1919	Not held (due to World War I)
1920	Henry Reginald Fussell	Arthur John Veysey	5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1921	Herbert Amphlett Davis	Charles E. L. Lyle	4–6, 6–4, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1922	Charles Pyne Luck	Charles E. L. Lyle	6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1923	Charles Pyne Luck (2)	Charles E. L. Lyle	6–2, 6–3, 1–6, 6–4
1931	Ryuki Miki	John Pennycuick	9–7, 6–3
1935	Cam Malfroy	Bob Tinkler	divided title
1936	Pat Hughes	William Michelmore	6–1, 6–3
1937	Henry Billington	Bob Tinkler	6–1, 6–4
1938	Henry Billington (2)	Bob Tinkler	4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1939	Harry Lee	Henry Billington	4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1940/1945	Not held (due to World War II)
1946	Derrick Leyland	Jeffrey Michelmore	6–2, 6–4
1947	Derrick Leyland (2)	John K. Drinkall	9–7, 2–6, 6–3
1949	Paddy Roberts	Douglas Scharenguivel	6–3, 7–5
1950	Douglas Scharenguivel	Jeffrey Michelmore	6–3, 6–2
1951	Douglas Scharenguivel (2)	Jeffrey Michelmore	6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1952	Colin Hannam	D. S. Anderson	6–3, 6–3
1953	Bob Lee	Tony Starte	3–6, 6–2, 10–8
1954	John M. Ward	Geoffrey L. Ward	8–6, 6–2
1955	Darrell H. Shaw	D. S. Anderson	7–5, 6–2
1956	Bill Threlfall	Mike Sangster	8–6, 6–4
1957	Bill Threlfall (2)	A. N. Price	6–3, 6–3
1958	Mike Sangster	Peter Moys	6–3, 9–7
1959	Mike Sangster (2)	Freddy S. Field	6–1, 5–7, 6–1
1960	Mark Cox	Geoff Bluett	6–2, 6–0
1961	Alan Mills	Tony Pickard	8–6, 4–6, 6–1
1962	Jaroslav Drobny	Roger Becker	8–6, 6–4
1966	Brian Fairlie	Onny Parun	6–8, 7–9, 6–2
1967	John D. C. Crump	Rayno Seegers	7–5, 6–2
1968	Brian Fairlie (2)	Onny Parun	10–8, 7–9, 6–2
↓  Open Era  ↓
Exmouth Open
1969	Paul W. Sussams	Lindsey P. Murphy	12–14, 6–2, 6–4
Robertson Viota Exmouth Open
1970	Munawar Iqbal	Mark Joseph Farrell	6–3, 6–4
Bio-Strath Exmouth Open
1971	Premjit Lall	Stephen Warboys	3–6, 12–10, 6–4
Exmouth Open
1973	Mark Joseph Farrell	Mike Collins	6–2, 6–4
1974	Alvin R. Gardiner	Graeme Thomson	6–4, 7–5
1975	Jonathan Smith	Peter Fisher	7–6, 1–6, 6–3

Men's doubles

Incomplete roll

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881	William John Down T. P. Hogg	Spencer Cox G. M. Minchin	def.
1882	Charles Lacy Sweet Pelham Von Donop	?
1888	Ernest Wool Lewis George Hillyard	Ernest Renshaw Charles Lacy Sweet	6–2, 6–4.

Women's singles

Incomplete roll

Year	Winners	Runners-up	Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881	Lilian Cole	Eveline Belfield	6–0, 6–0
1882	Lilian Cole (2)	Charlotte Taylor	6–4, 6–2
1883	Maud Watson	Lilian Cole	6–4, 6–2
1884	Maud Watson (2)	Agnes Watts	6–1, 7–5, 6–3
1886	Maud Watson (3)	Blanche Bingley	7–5, 0–6, 6–3
1887	Blanche Bingley Hillyard	Maud Watson	6–4, 6–4
1888	Blanche Bingley Hillyard (4)	Constance Bryan	6–3, 6–1
1889	Katharine Hole	Lilian Pine-Coffin	2–6, 7–5, 6–4
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1890	Lilian Pine-Coffin (3)	Katharine Hole	6–1, 5–7, 6–4
1891	Edith Austin	Lilian Pine-Coffin	6–3, 9–7
1892	Lilian Pine-Coffin (4)	Constance Bryan	8–6, 4–6, 6–2
1893	Lilian Pine-Coffin (5)	Constance Bryan	6–4, 6–2
1894	Lilian Pine-Coffin (6)	Helen Jackson	6–2, 6–3
1895	Helen Jackson	Jane Corder	6–0 3–6 6–3
1897	Violet Pinckney	Elsie Pinckney	w.o.
1898	Ellen Thynne	Edith Riseley	9–11, 6–3, 8–6
1899	Edith Riseley	Winifred Longhurst	6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1901	Mrs Thompson	Amy Mooijaart	6–1, 6–1
1903	D. Compton-Lundie	Miss Brown	6–3, 6–4
1907	Aurea Farrington	Miss McDonald	6–0, 6–0
1909	Joan Retallack	Margaret Compton-Lundie	6–1, 5–5 ret.
1910	M. Fergus	Lois Putman Hawker	6–3, 2–6, 6–4
1911	Winifred Longhurst	Phyllis Carr	6–3, 6–3
1912	Joan Retallack (2)	M. Leacroft	5–1, ret.
1913	Phyllis Satterthwaite	Madeline Fisher O'Neill	6–4, 6–4
1913	Phyllis Satterthwaite (2)	E. White	6–0, 6–0
1915/1919	Not held (due to World War I)
1920	Phyllis Satterthwaite (3)	M. Aplin	6–3, 6–0
1921	Elizabeth Ryan	Mrs Hall	6–1, 6–2
1967	Corinne Molesworth (2)	Margaret Harris	2–6, 7–5, 9–7
1968	Corinne Molesworth (2)	Marianne Brummer	2–6, 7–5, 9–7
↓  Open Era  ↓
Exmouth Open
1969	Jill Cooper	Rita Bentley	6–4, 3–6, 6–1
Robertson Viota Exmouth Open
1970	Rita Bentley	Nuala Dwyer	6–2, 6–3
Bio-Strath Exmouth Open
1971	Susan Alexander	Vicki Lancaster	6–2, 6–3
Exmouth Open
1973	Sue Barker	Annette Coe	6–3, 6–1
1974	Sue Barker (2)	Annette Coe	6–2, 6–2
1975	Jana Simonova	Jo Durie	7–5, 7–6

Mixed doubles

Incomplete roll

Year	Champions	Runners-up	Score
Exmouth LTC Tournament
1881	Georgiana Kindersley Henry Kindersley	Lilian Cole Thomas Arembery Tombe	2–6, 7–5, 7–5
1882	Charlotte Taylor Charles Pine-Coffin	Miss Percy Pelham von Donop	6–2, 6–3
1884	Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin	Alice Bagnall-Wild Harry Grove	6–2, 6–0
1886	Blanche Bingley William Renshaw	Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin	5–7, 7–5, 8–6
1887	Effie Noon James Baldwin	Blanche Bingley Hillyard George Hillyard	5–7, 7–5, 8–6
1888	Lottie Dod Ernest Renshaw	Blanche Bingley Hillyard George Hillyard	6–1, 4–6, 6–4
Exmouth Open Tennis Tournament
1891	Edith Austin Ernest Renshaw	Elsie Constance Pinckney Francis Haskett-Smith	6–4, 8–10, 6–4
1894	Helen Jackson Harry Sibthorpe Barlow	Lilian Pine-Coffin William Renshaw	6–1, 6–1

References

1. "Lawn Tennis". Routledge's sporting annual. London: George Routledge & Sons. 1883. p. 116.
2. The Boy's Own Annual. London: Leisure Hour Office. 1880. p. 707.
3. "Club History –". Exmouth, Devon, England: Phear Park Bowling Club. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
4. The Boy's Own Annual (1880)
5. "Brigadier General Ernest Maconchy: Soldiers' Stories". ww1.nam.ac.uk. London: National Army Museum. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
6. Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Exmouth". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives.
7. ^ Dwight, James (1886). "List of Winners:Exmouth". Lawn-tennis. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson. p. 91.
8. Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8.
9. ^ Lake (2014)
10. Fletcher, Kelly (23 September 2020). "Book Review: Tennis for the people". New Frame. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
11. World of Tennis 1971 : a BP year book. London: Queen Anne Press. 1971. pp. 270–271. ISBN 9780362000917.
12. ^ Heathcote, John Moyer (1891). Tennis. London: Longmans, Green. p. 444.
13. ^ Routledge Sporting Annual 1883

Sources

• Club History. Exmouth, Devon, England: Phear Park Bowling Club.
• Dwight, James (1886).Lawn Tennis. Boston, Massachusetts, United States: Wright & Ditson.
• Fletcher, Kelly (23 September 2020). "Book Review: Tennis for the people". New Frame.
• Heathcote, John Moyer (1891). Tennis. London: Longmans, Green.
• Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8.
• National Army Museum, Brigadier General Ernest Maconchy: Soldiers' Stories". ww1.nam.ac.uk.
• Nieuwland, Alex. "Tournament – Exmouth". www.tennisarchives.com. Netherlands: Tennis Archives.
• Routledge's sporting annual (1883). London: George Routledge & Sons.
• The Boy's Own Annual. London: Leisure Hour Office. 1880.

• Grass court tennis tournaments
• Defunct tennis tournaments in the United Kingdom
• Tennis tournaments in England