The Bristol Open, originally known as the West of England Championships and the West of England Lawn Tennis Championships is a defunct tennis tournament that was originally hosted in Bath, Somerset, England, from 1881 till 1895. It was staged briefly in Bristol, England, in 1896, then from 1920 onwards was hosted again in Bristol annually until the tournament ceased in 1989. The tournament was played on grass courts in the weeks preceding the Wimbledon Championships usually June.
History The West of England Championships were originally held in Bath from 1881 until 1895; the tournament then transferred to Bristol in 1896. In 1897 the event ceased for period of 24 years. It was reinstated in 1920 and was played in Bristol for the remainder of its run. At the start of the Open Era the tournament was part of the independent tour circuit. In 1971 the event was renamed the Bristol Open; the men's event became part of the World Championship Tennis tour and the women's was part of the International Grand Prix. The women's event stopped in 1973 and was not held again. Although the men's tournament also stopped in 1973, it was reinstated in 1980 and became part of the Grand Prix tennis circuit until 1989.
Finals Notes: Challenge round: the final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921), in some tournaments not all.
Men's singles
West of England ChampionshipsYearChampionsRunners-upScore1881 Ernest Browne C. K. Wood 6–4, 6–2, 6–41882 George M. Butterworth Alexander K. Butterworth 6–4, 6–41883 Ernest Browne (2) Wilfred Milne 6–3, 6–2, 6–31884 Pelham Von Donop John C. Kay 5–6, 6–5, 6–31885 Ernest Browne (3) James Dwight 6–3, 6–1, 6–41886 James Dwight Harry Grove 6–4, 6–3, 6–41887 Harry Grove James Dwight 3–6, 6–4, 6–4, 6–21888 Harry S. Barlow James Baldwin 6–4, 6–3, 8–10, 3–6, 8–61889 James Baldwin Wilfred Milne 7–5, 6–4, 6–41890 Harry S. Barlow (2) James Baldwin 7–5, 6–3, 6–21891 Harry S. Barlow (3) James Baldwin 2–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–41895 Roy Allen George Ball-Greene 14–12, 6–4, 7–51896 Harold Mahony William Larned 6–3, 6–3, 6–21897–1919Not held (tournament is not staged for 24 years re-emerges after WW1)1920 Francis Fisher Frank Riseley 5–7, 6–4, 6–2, 6–21921 Sydney Jacob Francis Fisher 9–7, 6–2, 4–6, 6–01922 Brian Norton Theodore Mavrogordato 6–3, 6–31923 Patrick Wheatley F. R. L. Crawford 6–4, 6–3, 6–21924 Jack Condon Frank Riseley 7–5, 6–2, 8–61925 Frank Riseley J. G. Hogan 6–3, 6–41927 Sydney Jacob A. E. Browne 6–3 6–21928 Dennis O'Callaghan Sydney Jacob 9–7, 5–7, 6–3 1929 George Lyttleton-Rogers E. B. N. Taylor 6–1, 6–21930 George Lyttleton-Rogers (2) George Godsell 6–3, 3–6, 6–41931 George Lyttleton-Rogers (3 Nigel Sharpe 6–2, 6–1, 7–51933 Daniel Prenn Hendrik Timmer 6–2, 7–9, 6–4, 6–41934 George Godsell Brian J. Sturgeon 6–4, 0–6, 6–3, 6–41935 Donald Butler George Lyttleton-Rogers 8-,6 11–9, 9–71936 Cam Malfroy Robert Tinkler 4–6, 6–0, 6–4, 6–41937 Alan Stedman Kho Sin-Kie 6–1, 1–6, 6–41938 Jimmy Mehta Cam Malfroy 6–2, 6–31939 Donald Butler Gottfried von Cramm 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 5–7, 8–61940–1945Not held (partly due to World War II)1946 Kho Sin-Kie Ignacy Tłoczyński 6–4; 6–41947 Sumant Misra Madan Atri Mohan 6–4, 4–6, 6–21948 Eric Sturgess Sumant Misra 6–4, 2–6, 6–2, 6–41949 Felicisimo Ampon Syd Levy 6–1, 6–2, 6–11950 Jaroslav Drobný Vladimír Černík 6–3, 10–81951 Straight Clark Harold Burrows 9–7, 3–6, 5–7, 6–1, 7–51952 Jaroslav Drobný (2) Armando Vieira 7–5, 6–11953 Vic Seixas Enrique Morea 6–3, 6–1, 8–61954 Jaroslav Drobný (3) Jack Arkinstall walkover1955 Enrique Morea Sidney Schwartz 2–6, 10–8, 6–2, 6–21956 Luis Ayala Gordon Forbes 6–2, 8–10, 6–41957 Lew Hoad Roger Becker 6–2, 6–3, 6–01958 Mike Davies Ramanathan Krishnan 6–1, 6–4, 7–9, 6–41959 Ramanathan Krishnan Jaroslav Drobný 11–9, 6–01960 Ronald Holmberg Antonio Palafox 6–3, 6–41961 Chuck McKinley Bob Mark 6–3, 6–2, 6–41962 Fred Stolle Antonio Palafox 6–3, 6–41963 Fred Stolle (2) Chuck McKinley 6–3, 6–41964 Chuck McKinley Frew McMillan 6–4, 6–4, 6–21965 Dennis Ralston Clark Graebner 6–2 6–21966 Cliff Richey Mike Belkin 6–1, 6–31967 Tom Okker Cliff Drysdale 6–2, 5–7, 8–61968 Arthur Ashe Clark Graebner 6–4, 6–3↓ Open era ↓West of England Open Championships1969 Ken Rosewall Pierre Barthès 8–10, 6–3, 6–11970 Nikola Pilić Rod Laver 6–3, 1–6, 6–31971 Rod Laver Cliff Drysdale w.o.Bristol Open1972 Bob Hewitt Alex Olmedo 6–4, 6–31973–80 Not held1981 Mark Edmondson Roscoe Tanner 6–3, 5–7, 6–41982 John Alexander Tim Mayotte 6–3, 6–41983 Johan Kriek Tom Gullikson 7–6, 7–51984 Johan Kriek (2) Brian Teacher 6–7, 7–6, 6–41985 Martin Davis Glenn Layendecker 4–6, 6–3, 7–51986 Vijay Amritraj Henri Leconte 7–6, 1–6, 8–61987 Kelly Evernden Tim Wilkison 6–4, 7–61988 Christian Saceanu Ramesh Krishnan 6–4, 2–6, 6–21989 Eric Jelen Nick Brown 6–4, 3–6, 7–5
Women's singles West of England ChampionshipsYearChampionsRunners-upScore1881 Gertrude Gibbs Annie Layard 6–0, 7–51882 Fanny Morris Gertrude Gibbs 6–4, 6–41883 Maud Watson N. Pope 6–1, 6–21884 Edith Davies Lilian Cole 6–4, 6–41885 Gertrude Gibbs (2) Edith Davies 2–6, 6–4, 6–01886 Lottie Dod Maud Watson 7–5, 6–41887 Lottie Dod (2) Maud Watson 7–5, 6–41888 Lottie Dod (3) N. Pope 6–3, 6–01889 Louisa Martin Florence Stanuell 4–6, 6–1, 6–21890 Louisa Martin (2) N. Pope 6–3, 8–61891 N. Pope Mary Agg 6–0, 7–51892–94 Not held1895 Helen Jackson Madeline Fisher O'Neill 6–1, 6–11896 Charlotte Cooper Ruth Dyas 4–6, 7–5, 6–31899–1919 Not held (then due to World War I)1920 Mabel Parton Doris Covell Craddock 9–7, 6–8, 6–41921 Phyllis Howkins Doris Covell Craddock 10–8, 6–21922 Doris Covell Craddock Edith Boucher Hannam 6–1, 6–11923 Elizabeth Ryan Doris Covell Craddock 8–6, 6–31924 Phyllis Howkins Covell (2) Joan Austin 6–4, 6–31925 Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge Doris Covell Craddock 6–4, 1–6, 6–31926 Not held1927 Mary McIlquham Margaret McKane Stocks 6–1, 6–11928 Phyllis Howkins Covell (3) Betty Dix 7–5, 6–1 1929 Gethyn Harry Mrs Helen Boucher 4–6, 6–1, 6–11930 Kathleen Lidderdale Bridge Freda Scott 6–1, 8–61931 Doris Eastley Vera Montgomery 3–6, 7–5, 6–31932 Not held1933 Kay Stammers Andrée Lucas 6–2, 6–21934 Andrée Lucas Gethyn Harry 6–2, 6–21935 Gethyn Harry (2) Mona Riddell 6–4, 4–6, 6–31936 Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling Daphne White Birch 6–2, 6–21937 Anita Lizana Hilde Krahwinkel Sperling ?1938 Mona Riddell Gem Hoahing 1–6, 6–3, 6–41939 Diana Wood Joan Curry 6–2, 8–10, 6–21940 Kay Stammers Menzies Peggy Scriven 8–10, 6–3, 6–31941–45Not held (partly due to World War II)1946 Joy Marriott Hibbert Miss Moss 3–6, 6–3, 6–21947 Joan Curry Pam Seaton Bocquet 6–4, 6–01948 Joan Curry (2) Pam Seaton Bocquet 6–2, 6–31949 Joan Curry (3) Peggy McCorkindale 3–6, 6–3, 9–71950 Dorothy Head Helena Straubeová 6–3, 6–11951 Beverly Baker Beryl Bartlett 6–3; 6–31952 Patricia Canning Todd Beryl Bartlett 7–5, 6–21953 Doris Hart Angela Mortimer 7–5, 6–31954 Pat Ward Heather Nicholls-Brewer divided title1955 Doris Hart (2) Dorothy Head Knode 6–1, 6–31956 Althea Gibson Daphne Seeney 6–2 10–81957 Angela Mortimer Edda Buding 7–5, 6–01958 Maria Bueno Angela Mortimer 6–0, 6–31959 Maria Bueno (2) Sandra Reynolds 6–4, 6–31960 Deidre Catt Renée Schuurman 7–5, 7–51961 Sandra Reynolds Deidre Catt 7–5, 10–81962 Margaret Smith Maria Bueno 6–1, 3–6, 6–21963 Edda Buding Elizabeth Starkie 9–7, 6–31964 Karen Hantze Susman Françoise Dürr 6–8, 6–3, 6–31965 Nancy Richey Elizabeth Starkie 7–5, 6–21966 Betty Stöve Norma Baylon 6–3, 7–51967 Pat Walkden Edda Buding 0–6, 6–4, 6–31968 Kerry Melville Karen Krantzcke 6–0, 6–1↓ Open era ↓West of England Open Championships1969 Margaret Smith Court (2) Billie Jean Moffitt King 6–3, 6–31970 Margaret Smith Court (3) Françoise Dürr 6–1, 6–11971 Not heldBristol Open1972 Billie Jean Moffitt King Kerry Melville 6–3, 6–21973–80 Not held (women's tournament ends)
Men's doubles YearChampionsRunners-upScore1972 Bob Hewitt Frew McMillan Clark Graebner Lew Hoad 6–3, 6–21973–80 Not held1981 Billy Martin Russell Simpson John Austin Johan Kriek 6–3, 4–6, 6–41982 Tim Gullikson Tom Gullikson Mark Edmondson Kim Warwick 6–4, 7–61983 John Alexander John Fitzgerald Tom Gullikson Johan Kriek 7–5, 6–41984 Larry Stefanki Robert Van't Hof John Alexander John Fitzgerald 6–4, 5–7, 9–71985 Eddie Edwards Danie Visser John Alexander Russell Simpson 6–4, 7–61986 Christo Steyn Danie Visser Mark Edmondson Wally Masur 6–7, 7–6, 12–10 1987 Not available1988 Peter Doohan Laurie Warder Marty Davis Tim Pawsat 2–6, 6–4, 7–51989 Paul Chamberlin Tim Wilkison Mike De Palmer Gary Donnelly 7–6, 6–4
See also Bristol and Clifton Open (1882–1897) tennis tournament held in Clifton, Bristol.
References
External links ITF Search (search Bristol)