The Hull Open was annual men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded as the Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament in 1884. From 1905 to 1914 the tournament was co-branded as the East Yorkshire Championships. The tournament was organised by the Hull Lawn Tennis Club, Kingston-Upon-Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, England. The tournament ran until 1956.
History In 1884 the Hull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament was organised by the Hull Lawn Tennis Club (f.1880), and played at the Westbourne Avenue Grounds. In 1891 that tournament was renamed as the Hull Open Tournament a grass court tennis event. In 1905 the tournament was co-branded as the East Yorkshire Championships, a county level event that lasted until 1914. Following World War I the tournament resumed under the name of the Hull Open. Despite being discontinued because of World War II it resumed thereafter through till at least 1956.
The men's event though consisting of mainly British Isles players, did attract international players, the women's event started to attract international players after the Second World War. Senior tour tennis ceased to be staged in Kingston-Upon-Hull until 2002 when an event for women was established called the Hull Indoor Tournament that ran until 2006.
Finals Men's Singles Incomplete Roll included YearWinnerRunner-upScoreHull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament1884 W.S. Wright William Francis Wells-Colew.o. 1885 William Henry Mahon Gilbert Mahonw.o. 1886 William Henry Mahon (2) L. Harrison6–1, 6–2, 6–2 1887 Frederick T. Bradbury L. Harrison2–6, 8–6, 6–2 1890 William Henry Mahon (3) Geoffrey Heathcote-Hacker9–7, 6–3 Hull Open Tournament 1891 H.L. Winter E.M. Samsonw.o. also valid as East Yorkshire Championships1905 Ernest Watson Sidney Watson6–2, 6–3 1906 Ernest Watson (2) Sidney Watson7–5, 2–6, 6–4 1908 Ernest Watson (3) Alec Smith6–2, 6–0 1909 Les Poidevin Sidney Watson6–3, 6–4 1910 George Simond Mark Day Hick6–2, 6–1, 6–2 1915/1918(Not held due to world war one)Hull Open1935 Clayton Lee (Teddy) Burwell Dave N. Jones 6–1, 6–4 1936 Ronald Shayes Hans van Swol6–3, 6–0 1937 Hans van Swol Edmund John David6–3, 9–7 1938 Jimmy Jones Murray Deloford6–3, 6–1 1939 Constantin Tanacescu Jimmy Jones6–2, 4–6, 6–2 1940/1946(Not held due to world war two)1947 Ghaus Mohammed Khan K.L. Ahmed6–4, 8–10, 6–4 1948 John B. Griffith Teddy Tinling6–4, 7–51949 George Godsell Teddy Tinling6–3, 6–2 1950 Geoff Brown Brian W. Rooke7–5, 6–0 1951 Nigel Cockburn Peter Cawthorn6–4, 6–1 1952 Peter Cawthorn Steven Deaderick Potts6–2, 7–5 1953 Robert J. (Bob) Lee Anthony Starte7–5, 3–6, 6–3 1954 Jeffrey Ellis Robson Islam Ahmad6–3, 9–7 1955 Ivor Warwick Arthur R. Gubb6–4, 6–11956 Matt Rainey J.S. Fluck6–1, 8–6 Tournament ends
Women's singles Incomplete Roll YearWinnerRunner-upScoreHull Westbourne Avenue Open Tournament1886 Constance Hodgson Miss Alfrey6–3, 6–2 1887 Constance Hodgson (2) Angel Smith3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1889 Katherine Grey Miss Barber6–3, 6–1 1890 Katherine Grey (2) E. Lee-Smith6–1, 5–7, 9–7 Hull Open Tournament1891 Catherine Crosby G. Harrisonw.o. 1892 Helen Jackson Beatrice Draffen 6–0, 6–01901 Miss Robinson Bertha Holder6–1, 1–6, 6–3 also valid as East Yorkshire Championships1906 Marion Crosby Morton Mrs J.B. Perrett2–6, 6–4, 6–2 1908 Bertha Holder Eleanor Rose6–1, 6–2 1910 Helen Aitchison Bertha Holder6–1, 6–41911 Eleanor Rose Mrs F. Robinson6–2, 6–2 1912 Eleanor Rose (2) Kathleen Aitchison7–5, 9–11, 6–2 1913 Eleanor Rose (3) Kathleen Aitchison1–6, 6–2 6–4 1914 Mrs J. Billyeald Susannah Cadman Wilford6–3, 6–2 1915/1920(Not held due to world war one)Hull Open1921 Kathleen Aitchison Norah Fosdick Middleton6–2, 6–2 1922 Kathleen Aitchison (2) Joan Austin4–6, 8–6, 6–2 1923 Joan Austin Eleanor Rose6–3, 6–2 1924 Kathleen Aitchison (3) Elsie Goodlass Holtby6–3, 6–1 1925 Elsie Goodlass Holtby Norah Fosdick Middleton 6–3, 6–3 1926 Betty Dix Norah Fosdick Middleton6–3, 6–2 1927 Dorothy Shaw Kate Anningson6–1, 6–0 1928 Betty Dix (2) Kate Anningson 6–2, 6–3 1929 Dorothy Shaw Jameson Betty Dix 6–1, 6–4 1930 Betty Dix (3) Joan Reid-Thomas Strawson6–4, 6–2 1931 Joan Reid-Thomas Strawson Betty Dix6–2, 6–2 1932 Edie Rudd Nancy Hellewell3–6, 6–1, 8–6 1933 Barbara Stampe Gladys Clarke-Jervoise1–6, 6–3, 6–4 1934 Edie Rudd Luxton (2) Freda Scott6–1, 6–21935 A. Sargent Patricia Owen6–4, 6–3 1936 Gladys Southwell Gertruid Terwindt 6–4, 7–5 1937 Gertruid Terwindt Ruth Armstrong Kirk6–2, 6–3 1938 Ruth Armstrong Kirk Mary Lincoln6–3, 6–4 1939 Ruth Armstrong Kirk (2) Mary Lincolnw.o.1940/1946(Not held due to world war two)1947 Mrs Dowling M. Dickenson8–6, 7–5 1948 Mrs B. Scholten S. Tickler5–7, 7–5, 6–4 1949 Georgie Woodgate Billie Woodgate6–4, 6–4 1950 Sheila Speight Mrs G. Brown6–1, 6–3 1951 Jean Trower Valerie Lewis5–7, 7–5, 6–4 1952 Shirley Bloomer Valerie Lewis4–6, 6–4, 6–2 1953 Shirley Bloomer (2) Valerie Lewis6–1, 6–3 1954 Shirley Bloomer (3) Jean Petchell 7–5, 6–2 1955 Valerie Lewis Anthea Gibb 6–4, 6–1 1956 Mrs C. Dunn Mrs M. Beecroft7–5, 2–6, 6–2 Tournament ends
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