The New South Wales Hard Court Championships was a men's and women's open tennis tournament founded in 1915, and first held at Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. It was first organised by the Dubbo District Tennis Association in conjunction with the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association and was played on clay courts. It was staged as part of ILTF Australasia Circuit a sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit until 1972, then became part of the ILTF Independent Tour until 1984 and finally part of the Tennis Australia Circuit till 1988 when it was discontinued as a senior event.

History The tournament was founded in on 26 June 1915 and was held in Dubbo, New South Wales, Australia. The event was first organised by the Dubbo District Tennis Association in conjunction with the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association. The first men's singles champion was Clarence Todd who defeated Noel Heath in straight sets. The first winner of the women's championship was a Miss Elliott. In 1922 the LTAA was split up into two separate tennis for Australia and New Zealand at which the newly formed Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia had oversight of this event. In 1924 as tennis was continuing to thrive in Australia a New South Wales Hardcourt Tennis Association was founded, it then became responsible for organising the championships.

It was staged as part of ILTF Australasia Circuit a sub circuit of the ILTF World Circuit until 1972 when it became part of the ILTF Independent Tour until 1984 and finally the Tennis Australia Circuit until 1988 when it was part of the Australia Satellite Circuit then was discontinued. The final known winner of the men's singles championship was Brett Andrews, and the final winner of the women's event was Sally McCann who defeated Kristine Radford. The tournament was staged in Dubbo the most times throughout its run with thirty five editions played there. It was also staged in other towns and cities in New South Wales including Armidale, Bathurst, Cootamundra, Cowra, Gloucester, Goulburn, Grafton, Grenfell, Gunnedah, Newcastle, Orange, Parkes, Quirindi, Sydney, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong and Young.

Finals Men's singles

(incomplete roll) YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓1915The Melbourne LeaderDubbo Clarence Todd Noel Heath6–1, 9–7.1916/1918Not held (due to World War I)1919Dubbo Matthew (Henry) Marsh Jack Logan6–3, 6–2.1920Dubbo Clarence Todd (2) Henry Marsh7–5, 6–2.1921Dubbo Horace Rice James Bayley6–2, 9–7.1922Dubbo Stewart Henderson Clarence Todd6–3, 5–7, 6–4.1923Dubbo James Bayley Horace Rice 6–0, 6–2.1924Dubbo James Anderson Bertram George (Bert) Cooke6–1, 6–1.1925Dubbo James Willard Jack Cummings6–1, 6–3.1926Dubbo Richard Schlesinger James Willard6–4, 5–7, 7–5.1927Dubbo Harry Hopman James Willard6–3, 9–7.1928The Sydney Morning Herald (1928)Dubbo Fred Kalms Norman Peach6–1, 6–2.1929Dubbo Jack Crawford James Bayley6–4, 6–1.1930Dubbo Ray Dunlop James Bayley6–3, 1–6, 6–4.1931Dubbo Harry Hopman (2) James Willard6–3, 7–5.1932Dubbo Vivian McGrath James Willard6–3, 2–6, 6–2.1933Dubbo Ray Dunlop (2) William Bruce Walker 9–7, 7–5.1934Dubbo John Bromwich Neil Leonard Turvey6–2, 6–3.1935Dubbo Vivian McGrath (2) John Bromwich7–5, 6–2.1936Dubbo Vivian McGrath (3) Jack Crawford6–1, 8–6.1937Dubbo Neil Leonard Turvey Dr. John Walton Spence6–2, 6–3.1938Dubbo Jack Crawford (2) Vivian McGrath6–3, 0–6, 6–3.1939Dubbo Vivian McGrath (4) Leonard Schwartz6–4, 6–3.1940 Dubbo Jack Crawford (3) John Bromwich6–4, 2–6, 7–5.1941/1944Not held (due to World War II)1945Dubbo Geoff Brown Earl Sieler6–2, 6–3.1946Dubbo Colin Long Don Rocavert6–3, 5–7, 6–4.1947Dubbo Adrian Quist George Worthington6–3, 3–6, 6–3.1948 Dubbo Jack Crawford (4) Robert McCarthy3–6, 6–3, 6–3.1949 Dubbo Jack Crawford (5) Robert McCarthy3–6, 6–3, 7–5.1950Dubbo Jim Gilchrist Maxwell (Max) Anderson3–6, 6–4, 6–2.1951Dubbo Lew Hoad George Worthington7–5, 6–4.1952Dubbo Don Candy Ross Sheriff6–3, 6–2.1953Dubbo Mervyn Rose Lew Hoad 2–6, 6–4, 6–4.1954Dubbo George Worthington Mervyn Rose6–2, 6–8, 6–2.1955Armidale Lew Hoad (2) Ken Rosewall6–3, 6–3.1956Wagga Wagga Ken Rosewall Neale Fraser6–2, 6–4.1957Dubbo Bob Mark Neale Frase6–2, 7–9, 10–8. 1958Newcastle Ashley Cooper Bob Mark6–3, 6–4.1959Goulburn Neale Fraser Bob Howe6–4, 6–3.1960Bathurst Bob Hewitt Rod Laver9–11, 6–4, 6–3.1961Grafton Bob Hewitt (2) Fred Stolle6–4, 4–6, 8–6.1962Young John Newcombe Geoff Pollard6–2, 6–2.1963Dubbo Tony Roche Dick Crealy6–0, 6–3.1964Tamworth Martin Mulligan Fred Stolle6–3, 6–3.1965Wollongong John Newcombe Tony Roche7–5, 3–6, 6–3.1966Parkes Tony Roche (2) Fred Stolle6–2, 6–3, 6–3.1967Gunnedah Tony Roche (3) Bill Bowrey6–2, 6–0.1968Wollongong Rod Brent Dick Crealy6–3, 3–6, 6–4.↓  Open era  ↓1969Cowra Dick Crealy Ray Ruffels6–3, 0–6, 6–3.1970Newcastle Colin Dibley Peter Doerner6–3, 6–4.1971Goulburn Colin Dibley (2) Bob Giltinan5–7, 6–3, 6–4.1972Grenfell Kim Warwick Graeme Thomson6–2, 6–3.↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓1973Gloucester Kim Warwick (2) Bob Giltinan6–2, 6–4.1974Quirindi Bill Bowrey Fred Stolle6–2, 3–6, 7–5.1975Cootamundra Ian Pollard John Marks4–6, 6–4, 6–3.1976Grafton Ken Rosewall (2) Mark Edmondson6–1, 6–2.1977Orange John Marks Bob Giltinan6–4, 1–6, 6–1.1978Wagga Wagga Steven Wright R. Swaysland6–2, 7–5.1979Tamworth Alvin R. Gardiner Victor Eke6–2, 6–4.1980Orange John Fitzgerald Wally Masur7–6, 6–3.1981Wagga Wagga Terry Rocavert Peter Johnston2–6, 6–3, 7–5.1982Grafton Brett Edwards Ken Rosewall6–4, 6–2.

Women's singles

(incomplete roll) YearLocationChampionsRunners-upScore↓  ILTF World Circuit  ↓ 1915Dubbo Miss Elliott Miss M Morgan 3–6, 6–2, 6–31916/1918Not held (due to World War I) 1919Dubbo Joan Scott Miss Elliott 6–3, 7–5 1920Dubbo Gwen Chiplin Daphne Akhurst 6–4, 6–3 1921Dubbo Joan Scott (2) M Morgan 8–6, 7–5 1922 Daily Advertiser (1922)Dubbo Gwen Chiplin Utz (2) Nell Lloyd 7–5, 7–5 1923Dubbo Sylvia Lance Lorna Bull 6–1, 6–4 1924Dubbo Edith Butcherine Florence Blackhall 6–1, 2–6, 9–7 1925Dubbo Iris Luckie Ula Valkenburg 6–0, 4–6, 6–0 1926Dubbo Iris Luckie (2) Pattie Meaney 6–2, 1–6, 6–3 1927Dubbo Edith Butcherine (2) Pattie Meaney 6–1, 6–3 1928Dubbo Iris Luckie (3) Gwen Waterhouse 6–2, 6–0 1929Dubbo Marjorie Cox Joan Pett 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 1930Dubbo Muriel Wilson Florence B. Walker 6–3, 6–3 1931Dubbo Muriel Wilson (2) Joan Wheaton 6–2, 7–5 1932Dubbo Muriel Wilson (3) Nell Hall 9–7, 6–4 1933Dubbo Joan Wheaton Dot Dingle 6–3, 3–6, 6–1 1934Dubbo Muriel Wilson (4) Kath Hayes 6–4, 6–2 1935Dubbo Thelma Coyne Vera Selwin 3–6, 6–2, 7–5 1936Dubbo Thelma Coyne (2) Muriel Wilson 6-2, 5–7, 6–1 1937Dubbo Nancye Wynne May Blick 6-4, 6–3 1938Dubbo Nina Vickery Florence B. Walker 6–4, 6–3 1939Dubbo Nancye Wynne (2) Joan Hartigan 6–1, 6–0 1940Dubbo Joan Hartigan Alison Burton 6–4, 6–31941/1944Not held (due to World War II) 1945Sydney Mary Bevis Joyce Fitch 6–3, 9–7 1946Dubbo Mary Bevis (2) Joyce Fitch 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 1947Dubbo Pat Jones Mary Bevis2–6, 6–1, 7–5 1948Dubbo Esme Ashford Joyce Fitch 6–2, 7–5 1949Dubbo Mary Bevis Hawton (3) Phyllis Finn 6–3, 6–0 1950Dubbo Beryl Penrose Esme Ashford 6–2, 4–6, 6–2 1951Dubbo Mary Bevis Hawton (4) Esme Ashford 6–2, 6–3 1952Dubbo Mary Carter Dorn McGill Fogarty 6–4, 6–1 1953Dubbo Beryl Penrose Jenny Staley 2–6, 6–4, 6–4 1954Dubbo Beryl Penrose Gwen Bryant 6–4, 6–2 1955Armidale Mary Bevis Hawton (5) Beth Jones 6–2, 9–7 1956Wagga Wagga Beryl Penrose (2) Beth Jones 6–2, 7–5 1957Dubbo Lorraine Coghlan Beth Jones 6–1, 6–2 1958Newcastle Jan Lehane Thelma Coyne Long 6–3, 9–7 1959Goulburn Jan Lehane (2) Betty Holstein 2–6, 6–1, 6–2 1960Bathurst Lesley Turner Margaret Smith 6–2, 7–5 1961Grafton Lesley Turner (2) Margaret Smith6–4, 4–6, 6–4 1962Young Jan Lehane (3) Lesley Turner 6–1, 5–7, 8–6 1963Dubbo Jan Lehane (4) Noelene Turner 6–1, 6–1 1964Tamworth Robyn Ebbern Lesley Turner 6–2, 6–3 1965Wollongong Lesley Turner (3) Gail Sherriff 6–4, 6–2 1966Parkes Elizabeth Fenton Karen Krantzcke 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 1967Gunnedah Elizabeth Fenton (2) Karen Krantzcke 8–6, 4–6, 6–2 1968Wollongong Elizabeth Fenton (3) Evonne Goolagong 4–6, 6–4, 7–5↓  Open era  ↓ 1969Cowra Evonne Goolagong Wendy Gilchrist 6–4, 6–2 1970Newcastle Evonne Goolagong (2) Karen Krantzcke6–1, 5–7, 6–3 1971Goulburn Evonne Goolagong (3) Patti Hogan6–1, 6–4 1972Grenfell Evonne Goolagong (4) Jan Lehane O'Neill 6–1, 6–2↓  ILTF Independent Tour  ↓ 1973Gloucester Evonne Goolagong (5) Dianne Fromholtz 6–2, 6–0 1974Quirindi Evonne Goolagong (6) Chris O'Neil 4–6, 6–1, 6–1 1975Cootamundra Jan Lehane O'Neill (5) Jenny Walker 6–4, 6–2 1976Grafton Chris O'Neill Jan Lehane O'Neill 7–5, 1–6, 6–3 1977Orange Donna Stockton Amanda Tobin-Dingwall 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 1978Wagga Wagga Kaye Hallam Keryn Pratt 7–6, 6–3 1979Tamworth Kaye Hallam (2) Pat Coleman 6–3, 6–3 1980Orange Amanda Tobin Debbie Freeman 6–2, 6–3 1981Wagga Wagga Karen Gulley Linda Cassell 6–4, 6–1 1982Grafton Sharon Hodgkin Amanda Tobin 6–4, 7–5 1983Wollongong Janine Thompson Rebecca Bryant 6–3, 7–6 1984Dubbo Janine Thompson (2) Louise Field 6–4, 6–3↓  Tennis Australia Circuit  ↓ 1987Sydney Michelle Jaggard Colleen Carney 6–3, 6–3 1988Newcastle Sally McCann Kristine Radford 3–6, 6–2, 6–0

Tournament statistics Men's singles Most titles: Jack Crawford (5) Most finals: Jack Crawford (6) Most consecutive titles: Vivian McGrath & Jack Crawford & Bob Hewitt & Tony Roche & Colin Dibley & Kim Warwick (2) Most consecutive finals: Tony Roche (3)

Women's singles Most titles: Evonne Goolagong (6) Most finals: Evonne Goolagong (7) Most consecutive titles: Evonne Goolagong (5) Most consecutive finals: Evonne Goolagong (7)

References