The 1886 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 57 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in February in London, England, and ended in December in Napier, New Zealand.
Summary of season From 1888 until 1912 Britain's Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), grew in status and influence to become the de facto international tennis governing body before the proper International Lawn Tennis Federation commenced operations. Despite the United States National Lawn Tennis Association (USNLTA) forming in 1881 a good seven years before the LTA, it was the British body that set laws, settled disputes and organized the increasingly complicated tournament calendar before the International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) formed in March, 1913.Lake. p.343.
After the formation of the ILTF the world tennis circuit going forward was a highly organised and structured network of national and international tournaments. Most tennis tournaments were usually mixed events for men and women, and the women's international tennis circuit certainly up to 1923 was composed mainly of tournaments on the British and European Circuits.Someren p.35. After the USNLTA joined the ILTF this would later change with more and more tournaments being staged globally. Women tennis players on the world circuit up to the open era were funded by their national associations enabling them to travel and take part in international tournaments.Someren p.31.
1886 sees a decrease in the number women's singles events being held as the tennis circuit continues to form.Berry. David (2020). A people's history of tennis. (2) Feminists. Pluto Books London . p.34. The 1886 women's tennis season began on 3 February with the Hyde Park Court Covered Courts Tournament, London, Hyde Park Court. In May 1886 at the first major event of the year the Irish ChampionshipsIrish TV Documentary (4 Jul 2016). The True Tale Of The Irish Tennis Murderer. Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTE). Dublin. Ireland. played at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin, Ireland. Ireland's May Langrishe wins the singles title for her third and final title defeating the up-and-coming Louisa Martin, she also picks up the mixed doubles title with Eyre Chatterton. The ladies doubles event is won by Connie Butler and Louisa Martin. In terms of draw size the West of England Championships was the largest tournament of the year with a draw of 46 across three events.
In June 1886 at the second major tournament of the year, the Northern Championships played at the Liverpool Cricket Club in Liverpool, featured a full schedule of events the singles title going to Maud Watson defeating Lottie Dod in straights sets, the women's doubles event was won by the sister pairing of Ann Dod and Lottie Dod who defeat a Miss Cliff and May Langrishe in the final, the mixed doubles event is won by Margaret Bracewell and William Renshaw who defeat Lottie Dod and Harry Grove in the final.
In July at the 1886 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, Blanche Bingley defeats two-time defending champion Maud Watson in straight sets to claim her first major title.
In August at the U.S. National Championships played on the outdoor Grass courts at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island there was still no women's championship events staged. The season ended on 30 December 1886 at the first New Zealand Championships, Napier, New Zealand played on grass.
Season results Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.
Key Important. National Provincial/State/Regional County Regular
January No events
February * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles) EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemifinalistQuarterfinalist6 Feb. Hyde Park Court Covered Courts TournamentHyde Park, EnglandWood (i)Singles - Doubles No Ladies Singles Ethel Gurney ** Herbert Chipp6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 Blanche Bingley Harry Grove
March No events
April No events
May EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist1 MayKilliney and Ballybrack ChampionshipsBallybrack LTCKilliney and BallybrackKilliney and Ballybrack, Ireland Grass May Langrishe 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 Beatrice Langrishe 15 May. Inter-Colonial Lawn Tennis Tournament (Championship of New South Wales)Sydney, AustraliaAsphaltSingles - Doubles C. Greene6–3, 6–2 Annie Lamb Eliza Fitzgerald E Beamon H Beaumont Eva Rodd Miss McLean Annie Lamb C. Greene6–1, 6–4 Beatrice Metcalfe Eva Rodd Zilla Scott Louis Whyte6–1, 6–5 Eliza Fitzgerald Robert Fitzgerald 22 May West of Scotland ChampionshipsPollokshields, ScotlandGrassSingles - Doubles Jane Meikle6–4, 5–7, 6–0 Julia MacKenzie Jane Meikle Walter Chamberlain6–1, 6–2 Julia MacKenzieJohn Galbraith Horn 29 May. Irish ChampionshipsFitzwilliam LTCDublin, IrelandGrassSingles - Doubles May Langrishe6–3, 6–4 Louisa Martin Connie Butler Beatrice Langrishe Mabel Cahill Miss Exham Miss Hodson Adela Langrishe Connie Butler Louisa Martin6–3, 6–4 Beatrice LangrisheMay Langrishe May Langrishe Eyre Chatterton6–0, 6–2, 6–1 Adela Langrishe Toler Roberts Garvey
June EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist3 June.Championship of West of EnglandLansdowne Cricket ClubBath, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Lottie Dod6–1, 6–2 Maud Watson F. Burton Louisa Martin Blanche Bingley Connie Butler Edith Davies N. Pope 4 JunWhitehouse Open Whitehouse LTCEdinburgh, ScotlandClaySingles - Doubles Jane Meikle6–2, 6–2 Miss Meikle J. Ferguson A. Steel 6–3, 6–2 E. Ferguson W. Ferguson 5 June. Beckenham Cricket Club TournamentBeckenham, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Ellen Wilson ** Edward J. Avory9–7, 6–1 Miss Wing J.E. Passmore 13 JunEast Gloucestershire Championship Challenge Cup Cheltenham LTC Cheltenham, EnglandSingles - Doubles Louisa Martin6–4, 6–4 Maud Watson Margaret Bracewell Blanche Bingley Constance Bryan Lottie Dod Edith Gurney Beatrice Langrishe Margaret Bracewell William Renshaw6–4, 6–4 Blanche Bingley James Dwight 16 Jun.Welsh Championships Penarth LTCPenarth, WalesSingles - Doubles L. Browne4–6, 6–1, 6–3 L.C. Stephens A. Reynolds M. Reynolds Mrs Hill Miss Norton E.J. Stephens B. Trayes 19 JunScottish Championships Edinburgh University Club Edinburgh, ScotlandGrass Singles - Doubles Mabel Boulton3–6, 6–0, 6–2, 4–6 6-2 Julia MacKenzie J. Ferguson Miss Meikle E. Ferguson Jane Meikle Miss MacKenzie London ChampionshipsLondon Athletic ClubLondon, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Blanche Bingley6–1, 6–1 Edith Davies Edith Gurney B. Hannaford 24 JunBadsworth Hunt TournamentAckworth HousePontefract, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Beatrice Wood6–0, 6–0 Miss Smith Redhill Open Lawn Tennis TournamentRedhill, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles J. Wray6–1, 6–2 Miss Wing 26 JunWarriston Park LTC TournamentEdinburgh, ScotlandGrass Singles - Doubles Jane Meikle5–7, 6–1, 6–1 Mabel Boulton Clifton OpenClifton, EnglandSingles - Doubles Beatrice Langrishe6–2, 7–5 N Pope Clara Hill Margaret Fyffe Miss Bryant Gratian Fyffe Marian Fyffe A. James N Pope James Baldwin8–6, 6–4 Clara Hill John Charles Kay 30 June.Northern Championships Liverpool Cricket Club Liverpool, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Maud Watson 6–3, 9–7 Lottie Dod Miss L Cheetham Emily Fletcher N. Garnett A. McLaren B. McLaren K. Mitchell Ann Dod Lottie Dod6–3, 9–7 Miss Cliff May Langrishe
July EndedTournamentWinnerFinalistSemi finalist Quarter finalist2 JulEdgbaston Open TournamentEdgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Margaret Bracewell6–2, 6–2 Maud Watson Midland Counties ChampionshipsEdgbaston CLTC Edgbaston, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Blanche Bingley6–2, 6–2 Lillian Watson Miss Noon F. Lawrence Margaret Bracewell Bertha Steedman Eva Steedman Mary Steedman Blanche Bingley Lilian Watson 6–4, 6–2 Bertha Steedman Mary Steedman Maud Watson John Redfern Deykin 7–5, 6–1, 4–6, 2–6, 8–6 Margaret Bracewellll William Renshaw 3 JulStaffordshire Lawn Tennis TournamentStafford Institute LTCStafford, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Agnes Noon2–6, 6–4, 6–2 Barbara Noon Northumberland Cricket Club Open.Newcastle upon Tyne, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles Alice Cheese E. Cheese 6–1, 2–6, 11–9 Connie Butler Miss Marley Connie Butler Charles Liddle6–4, 4–6, 8–6 Miss Marley Kenneth Ramsden Marley Natal ChampionshipsPietermaritzburg, Natal ColonyGrassSingles - Doubles Mabel Grant6–3, 6–2 L. Button 10 Jul.Broughty Ferry OpenBroughty Ferry LTCBroughty Ferry, Scotland ClaySingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Arthur Neville John Story Miss Aileen Malcom6–3, 6–2 Archibald Thomson Miss. Daphne Hay Claremount Park Open. Claremont Park Public Lawn Tennis GroundsBlackpool, England.GrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles Walter Reid Craig Miss Rose Viener6–3, 4–6, 6–2 Montagu Howarth Miss. Rebecca Moore 12 Jul.Chapel Allerton LTC TournamentChapel Allerton LTCChapel Allerton, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Louisa Moir6–3, 5–6, 6–5 Isabel Tannett Beatrice Wood Arthur Meysey-Thompson6–5, 6–2 Mrs Carpenter Cedric F. Palmer Ilkley Open TournamentIlkley LTCIlkley, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Beatrice Wood3–6, 6–5, 6–0 Jean Moir 15 Jul.Burton-on-Trent Open Burton upon Trent, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles No Ladies Singles No Ladies Doubles F.A. Clark Miss Denton6–4, 4–6, 8–6 Frank Noon Mrs Hodson Mersey Bowmen Club Tournament Aigburth, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Katharine Hill 6–5, 6–3 Jane Pickthall Mary McConnell Catherine Jones 16 Jul.Chiswick Park Club Open Lawn Tennis TournamentChiswick, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Miss Douglas 6–4, 6–0 May JacksBlanche Bingley Lena Rice Blanche Bingley William Renshaw7–5, 6–1 May Jacks William Taylor 17 Jul.Wimbledon ChampionshipsAELTCLondon, EnglandOutdoorGrassSingles - Doubles Blanche Bingley6–3, 6–3 Maud Watson Amy Tabor Lilian Watson AM Chambers Julia Mackenzie FM Pearson J Shackle 22 JulTaunton and West Somerset Lawn Tennis TournamentTaunton, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Nora Pope6–1, 6–2 Alice Bagnall-Wild Georgina Gilling-Lax Miss Woodhouse Beatrice Adey Miss Chapman Ada Meyler Constance Meyler Alice Bagnall-Wild Nora Pope6–2, 6–0 Miss Escott Georgina Gilling-Lax 24 Jul. Kilkenny County and City Tournament Kilkenny, IrelandGrass Singles - Doubles Mabel Cahill7–5, 6–2, 6–4 Beatrice Langrishe Miss Kenealy Miss Butler Adela Langrishe May Langrishe Ernest Brown6–1, 6–1, 6–1 Mabel Cahill Francis Swayne Ealing ChampionshipsEaling LTCEaling, EnglandGrass Singles - Doubles Charlotte Cooper6–4, 5–7, 6–4 Alice Brown Edith Gurney Bertha Steedman South of Ireland Championships.Limerick, IrelandGrassSingles Miss Smith 6–1, 6–4 G. Bailey Mary Lysaght Mildred Smith Mary Lysaght William Bredin6–5, 5–6, 6–2, 6–5 Miss Gloster Edward Westropp Leicester Open Lawn Tennis TournamentLeicester, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Agnes Watts Florence Noontitle divided Florence Mardall Effie Noon Mrs Hill L. Snook Miss Snook Miss Hudson Florence Mardall Agnes Watts6–2, 6–0 Miss Lorrimer Miss Snook Florence Noon Frank Noon6–3, 6–2 Florence Mardall William N. Cobbold 28 Jul. Leamington Open TournamentLeamington Spa, EnglandGrassSingles - Doubles Gertrude Mellersh6–4, 6–4 Margaret Bracewell Mrs Hornby Charles Ross6–2, 6–3 Gertrude Mellersh Thomas Mellersh 31 Jul.Northumberland County Association TournamentNewcastle upon Tyne, EnglandGrassSingles - DoublesNo Ladies Singles Connie Butler Miss A. Clayton 6–1, 2–6, 11–9 Mrs R. Clayton Winifred Fenwick Miss A. Clayton Patrick Bowes-Lyon6–4, 4–6, 8–6 Connie Butler Charles Liddle
August