The Rothmans Connaught Hard Court Championships also known simply as the Connaught Hard Courts was a combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament founded in 1951. The championships were organised by the Connaught Lawn Tennis Club, Chingford, Essex, England. The tournament ran until 1974.
History The Connaught Hard Court Championships, were established in 1951 as an open tournament held at the Connaught Lawn Tennis Club (f.1885), Chingford, Essex, England. The tournament was continually staged until 1974. The tournament was sponsored by the tobacco company Rothmans International from 1971 to 1974.
Notable winners of the men's singles title included; Tony Mottram, Jack Arkinstall, Torben Ulrich, Sven Davidson, Lew Hoad,Connaught Club Rod Laver, Jaroslav Drobný, and Owen Davidson.Tennis Archives Previous winners of women's singles title included; Doris Hart, Angela Mortimer, Christine Truman, Norma Baylon, Ann Haydon Jones, Virginia Wade, and Dianne Fromholtz.
Finals Men's singles (Incomplete roll)
YearChampionsRunners-upScore↓ ILTF Circuit ↓1951 Tony MottramJohn Horn6-0, 6-31952 Tony Mottram (2) Ignacy Tloczynski2-6, 6-1, 6-31953 Jack Arkinstall Don Black6-3, 6-01954 Torben Ulrich Bobby Wilson6-2, 1-6, 6-0 1955 Sven Davidson Mike Davies6-4, 6-11956 Lew Hoad Bobby Wilson6-2, 6-11957 Jaroslav Drobný Mike Davies6-4, 6-31958 Roger Becker Mike Davies4-6, 6-4, 6-31959 Roger Becker (2) Bobby Wilson7-5, 2-6, 6-41960 Bobby Wilson Roger Becker6-4, 6-41961 Bobby Wilson (2) Alan Mills8-6, 6-11962 Rod Laver Martin Mulligan4-6, 6-4, 6-41963 Bobby Wilson (3) Mike Sangster8-6, 6-4, 6-21964 Bobby Wilson (4) Mike Sangster6-2, 6-31965 Bobby Wilson (5) Mark Cox6-2, 8-61966 Bobby Wilson (6) Alan Mills6-2, 6-21967 Birger Folke Lars Ölander6-3, 2-6, 14-121968 Paul Hutchins Bobby Wilson6-2, 1-6, 6-1↓ Open era ↓1969 Allan Stone John Cooper6-4, 6-21972 Hank Irvine John Clifton6-2, 6-21973 Owen Davidson Colin Dowdeswell3-6, 9-8, 6-1
Women's singles (Incomplete roll) YearChampionsRunners-upScore↓ ILTF Circuit ↓ 1951 Kay Tuckey Joy Gannon Mottram 6-4, 6-4 1952 Jean Walker-Smith Joy Gannon Mottram1-6, 9-7, 6-4 1953 Doris Hart Shirley Fry6-3, 4-6, 6-4 1954 Leonie Thorn Brighton Jenny Middleton 7-5, 6-3 1955 Angela Mortimer Elaine Watson 6-1, 6-0 1956 Angela Mortimer (2) Jenny Middleton 6-3, 6-1 1957 Christine Truman Elaine Shenton 6-3, 6-3 1958 Christine Truman (2) Ann Haydon 6-3, 8-6 1959 Angela Mortimer (3) Christine Truman 6-3, 7-5 1960 Angela Mortimer (4) Christine Truman 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 1961 Angela Mortimer (5) Edda Buding6-3, 6-3 1962 Angela Mortimer (6) Christine Truman 6-2, 6-4 1963 Norma Baylon Christine Truman divide title 1964 Norma Baylon (2) Christine Truman 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 1965 Elizabeth Starkie Christine Truman 8-6, 6-3 1966 Ann Haydon Jones Virginia Wade 6-4, 6-3 1967 Virginia Wade Pat Walkden6-0, 9-7 1968 Faye Toyne Moore Virginia Wade 6-4, 8-6↓ Open era ↓ 1969 Corinne Molesworth Shirley Bloomer Brasher 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 1972 Cynthia Sieler Wendy Appleby7-5, 7-5 1973 Dianne Fromholtz Ilana Kloss6-1, 3-6, 6-4
Tournament records Most men's singles titles: Bobby Wilson (6) Most men's singles finals: Bobby Wilson (8) Most women's singles titles: Angela Mortimer (6) Most women's singles finals: Christine Truman (8)
References