The North of Ireland ChampionshipsRoutledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68. was an early Victorian period men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1879. The championship was played at the Cliftonville Cricket Club, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland.Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) The tournament ran annually for fifteen editions until 1894. It was the precursor tournament to the later Ulster Grass Court Championships.
History The regional tennis tournament the North of Ireland Championships tournament was established early as 1881,Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) Lawn Tennis in 1881. George Routledge and Son. London. p.68. at the Cliftonville Cricket Club on Cliftonville Road in Belfast. Some time later the club was renamed as the Cliftonville Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. The North of Ireland Championships tournament ran until 1894 when it was abandoned. cancelled after 1894.
Following World War One in 1919 new regional lawn tennis was established representative for Northern Ireland called the Ulster Grass Court Championships staged at the Belfast Boat Club, South Belfast. This grass court tournament ran until at least 1980. In 1928 a second regional tournament was established known as the Ulster Hard Court Championships that was played on clay courts that was staged through to the 1950s.
The former tournaments were both amateur events, but in the mid-1960s a professional event was staged in Belfast called the Ulster Professional Championships.The Belfast Telegraph (3 July 1965), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. p.14
Notable male players who this championship includes Manliffe GoodbodyBaily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes (1889). Volume LI. January - June. Vinton & Co Ltd, London. p. 129. who won it three times (1889, 1890, 1893). The North of Ireland and Ulster grass court tournaments have survived into the 21st century where today as two separate events is known as the North of Ireland Open, and the Ulster Senior Open.
Finals Men's singles (incomplete roll) Year Champion Runner up Score1879 Captain Short M. Short6–5, 4–6, 6–31881 Edward Johnson Charley J.R. Bristow2–1 sets1882 George Frank Wemyss Anson Edward Johnson Charley2–0 sets1885 Charle Milligan Johns Alfred Dawson Johns6–3, 6–31888 Tegan Dickson Robert Cully Barton6–0, 6–01889 Manliffe Francis Goodbody Tegan Dickson 6–3, 6–2, 6–21890 Manliffe Francis Goodbody (2) Arthur Henry Gore Ashe5–7, 6–4, 6–0, 6–21891 George Courtney Ball-Greene Manliffe Francis Goodbodyw.o.1892 Francis Owen Stoker George Courtney Ball-Greenew.o.1893 Manliffe Francis Goodbody (3) Francis Owen Stokerw.o.1894 Alexander Horsbrugh Porter David Elgar Payn6–2, 6–1, 6–1
Women's singles (incomplete roll) Year Champion Runner up Score 1890 Miss. M.A. Kinahan Miss Newett 6–2, 6–0 1891 Miss. Hearn Miss. M.A. Kinahan 6–2, 6–2 1892 Miss. R. Shaw Miss. Hearn 4–6, 6–4, 6–1 1893 Miss. R. Shaw (2) Miss. Jane Corder 3–6, 6–0, 9–7 1894 Miss. R. Shaw (3) Miss. F. Carr 6–1, 6–1
References
Sources Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes (1889). Volume LI. January - June. Vinton & Co Ltd, London. Routledges Sporting Annual (1882) George Routledge and Son. London. The Belfast Telegraph (3 July 1965), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.