The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championships, informally called the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open, was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first established in 1900. The championship was first held on courts at the Bath Grounds in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England. The tournament ran until 1926 when it was suddenly discontinued. It was revived in 1930 and continued till 1939 when it was finally abolished.
History In 1900 Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Championship was formally established. The tournament was originally organised by the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Lawn Tennis Association and Club and was played at the Bath Grounds in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, England.
In 1926 the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Lawn Tennis Association Club changed its name to the Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club. It was formally incorporated on land it had purchased at Ashby Park, which was part of Ashby de la Zouch Castle (owned by the Hastings family). After which the tournament moved there. The new venue consisted of three grass courts and two red shale clay courts, and a wooden pavilion, with veranda plus a separate changing hut.Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club
In 1900, 1901, 1904 and 1909 this tournament was also valid as the Leicestershire Championships with players being awarded both titles. e.g. Ashby-de-la-Zouch Open Champion and Leicestershire Champion. On 18 November 1926 it was announced by the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Association (f.1900), today called Tennis Leicestershire, that the tournament was to be dropped from its official schedule of events, citing financial constraints.Leicester Evening Mail (18 November 1926) p.8. In 1930, the championships were revived and continued to be held until 1939, when it was fully discontinued due to World War II.
Finals
Men's singles
(incomplete roll) YearChampionsRunners-upScore 1900 Edward Roy Allen Frederick William Payn6–2, 6–2. 1901 Edward Roy Allen (2) C.M. Bartlett6–0, 6–2. 1904 A.P. Ford L. West6–0, 6–2, 9–7. 1909 Edward Roy Allen (3) Harry Alabaster Parker6–4, 6–4, 6–4. 1920 Louis Raymond Cecil J. Tindell-Green6–0, 6–4. 1921 George S. Fletcher H.J. Weston6–1, 6–3, 6-1.
Women's singles
(incomplete roll) YearChampionsRunners-upScore 1900 Helen Cressy Green Ida Cressy walkover 1901 Helen Cressy Green (2) Ida Cressy walkover 1902 Maude Garfit Miss Cressy 6–2, 6–3 1904 Maude Garfit (2) Elizabeth Lunt Heatley 6–7, retd. 1906 Winifred Longhurst Elsie Lane 6–3, 6–4 1908 Elizabeth Lunt Heatley C. Jones divided prizes 1909 Winifred Longhurst (2) Kathleen Clements6–2, 6–2 1915–18 Not held due to World war I 1920 Doris Kate Craddock Mrs J.B. Perrett 8–6, 8–6 1921 Mabel Davy Clayton Mabel Squire Parton 10–8, 6–2 1922 Mabel Davy Clayton (2) M.A. Wright 6–2, 6–3 1923 Elizabeth Ryan Mary Hart McIlquham 6–1, 6–3 1924 Mary Hart McIlquham Marie Hazel 5–7, 6–3, 6–2 1926 Mrs P. Whitley Mrs Munro 8–6, 7–5
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