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South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship

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South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship
Tournament information
Founded1876; 148 years ago (1876)
Editions142 (2018)
LocationLimerick
Ireland
VenueLimerick Lawn Tennis Club
SurfaceArtificial Grass, outdoors
Websitehttp://www.lltc.ie/history/south of ireland championships
Current champions
Men's singlesRepublic of Ireland James Halas

The South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship originally called the South of Ireland Championships first established in 1876 and also known as the Limerick Cup is a grass court tennis tournament that features both men's and women's competitions that is currently an official tour event of Tennis Ireland. It is held at the Limerick Lawn Tennis Club in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland.[1] The championships is the world's second oldest surviving tennis tournament after Wimbledon[2] but the only event to have been staged continuously for the last 141 years.[3]

History

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A South of Ireland Championships tournament was staged in 1876, and played at the Limerick County Cricket Club, in Limerick. Records appear contradictory; the staging of this initial tournament appears to predate the founding of the Limerick LTC in 1877 by one year.

Limerick Lawn Tennis Club was first established in 1877 in Limerick, County Limerick, Ireland.[4] The same year the club staged the first Open Championships in Ireland in August 1877 one month after the Wimbledon Championships were inaugurated, the results of that tournament were however not recorded.[4] It was not until 1879 that the first Irish Lawn Tennis Championships were staged at the Fitzwilliam Tennis Club in Dublin.[4] In 1877 a subsidiary tournament that played as part of the South of Ireland Championships was established called the Limerick Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament or Limerick CC Lawn Tennis Tournament.[5]

In 1878 the first South of Ireland Championships also known as the Limerick Cup were founded [6] the men's event was won by Veere St Leger Goold.[6][4] The event featured both men's and women's singles and doubles competitions and was the first notable tournament in Great Britain and Ireland to feature a woman's competition seven years before the Wimbledon Championships followed suit.[4] In 1881 the reigning Wimbledon Champion William Renshaw and his twin brother Ernest Renshaw entered the doubles competition.[4] Between 1884 and 1885 no women's event were staged.[4] The 1885 and 1886 editions were won by future Wimbledon Champion Willoughby Hamilton.[4]

Between 1911 and 1912 the championships were won by Irishman Frank Cosbie.[6] With the advent of World War One the championships were still held from 1914 and 1919.[3] Post war the championships were won again by Irish Lawn Tennis Championships finalist Frank Cosbie three times consecutively 1924 to 1926.[6] The tournament was still staged during World War Two from 1939 to 1945.[3] Post war the 1953 championships were won by American player Ellis Williamson.[6] In 1975 the men's championships were won Michael. P. Hickey who played in 21 Davis Cup competitions as part of the Irish Team.[4] British player Ross Matheson won the event in 1991, 1994 and 1996.[4] Into the 2000s Brian McCarthy was probably the most successful player he won the championships in (2010,2014) and reached the finals on four occasions (2010–11, 2013–16).

The tournament was part of the pre-open era men's tennis tour from 1878 to 1967.[6] Into the Open Era it did not survive as a tour tournament on the lucrative Grand Prix tennis circuit but did remain a fixture on the International Tennis Federation circuit for a short while until the mid-1990s. The tournament was downgraded again to regional status and continues to operate within the annual tennis tournament circuit of Tennis Ireland. The championships were staged in June 2018 which was the 141st edition of this tournament it was won by James Halas.[7]

Finals

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Notes: Challenge Round: The Final round of a tournament, in which the winner of a single-elimination phase faces the previous year's champion, who plays only that one match. The challenge round was used in the early history of tennis (from 1877 through 1921) [8] in some tournaments not all.

Men's singles

[edit]

Incomplete list of past winners and results included:[6]

Year Champion Runner Up Score
1876 England William Henry Darby England Mr. W. Bruce 11-3.[9]
1878 Ireland Vere St. Leger Goold[10] England William Henry Darby 6-0,6-4
1879 Ireland Heffernan J. F. J. Considine [10] Ireland Henry Evelyn Tombe 6-4, 6-3 [6]
1880 England Edward Brackenbury [10] Ireland Edward Monitford Longfield 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 [6]
1881 [a] England Edward Brackenbury [10] Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght 0-6, 6-3, 7-5, 8-6 [6]
1882 Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght [10] England Edward Brackenbury w.o.[6]
1883 [11] Ireland Eyre Chatterton[10] Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght 6-1 6-0 6-0 [6]
1884 Ireland Eyre Chatterton[10] United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland William Henry Darby 6=0 6-4 [6]
1885 Ireland Willoughby J. Hamilton[10] Ireland Eyre Chatterton 6-4, 12-10, 6-0 [6]
1886 Ireland Willoughby J. Hamilton[10] United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Thomas Harrison Griffiths 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 [6]
1896 Ireland Captain Bredin [6] Scotland E.J.L. Golding 6-3, 6-3
1897 Ireland J. Hirst ? ?
1898 United States Jahial Parmly Paret Ireland J. Hirst 2 to 0 sets
1899 Ireland E.P. Graham Ireland J. Hirst 2 to 0 sets
1900 Ireland William Perrott Ireland E.P. Graham 6-1, 6-3, 9-7
1901 Ireland William Perrott Ireland Robert Malcolm Graham 3 sets to 0
1902 Ireland Maurice Fitzmaurice Day Ireland William Perrott 1-6, 6-1, 4-6, 8-6, 6-2
1904 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland J.S. Talbot United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland L. Tennis w.o.
1909 Ireland Sydney Lawrence Fry Ireland T.M. O'Callaghan 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
1910 Championships were held [3]
1911 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Frank Cosbie [6] ? ?
1912 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Frank Cosbie [6] ? ?
1914–1923 Championships were held [3]
1924 Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6] ? ?
1925 Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6] ? ?
1926 Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6] ? ?
1928–1951 Championships were held [3]
1952 Republic of Ireland A. Duncan Taylor [10] ? ?
1953 Republic of Ireland Tom Cleary Republic of Ireland Harry Crowe 7-5, 1-6, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 [10]
1954 Republic of Ireland Alan Haughton Republic of Ireland Tom Cleary 6-4, 6-3 [10]
1955 Republic of Ireland Harry Barniville Republic of Ireland Harry Crowe 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1957 Republic of Ireland Frank Furney Republic of Ireland Alan Haughton 9-7, 6-1 [10]
1958 United States Ellis Williamson Republic of Ireland Patrick Murphy 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 [10]
1960 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley Moxon Republic of Ireland John O'Brien 7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1961 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley Moxon Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1962 Championships were held [3]
1963 Republic of Ireland John O'Brien United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley Moxon 6-3, 6-4 [10]
1964–1974 Championships were held [3]
Open era
1975 Republic of Ireland Michael. P. Hickey [4] ? ?
1976 Republic of Ireland Michael Sleep Republic of Ireland Don O'Connell ? [10]
1978 Republic of Ireland Jim McCardle Republic of Ireland Alan Haughton 9-7, 6-1 [10]
1981 Republic of Ireland Tommy Burke Republic of Ireland ? ? [10]
1982 United States Doug Stone Republic of Ireland ? 7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1983 Republic of Ireland Michael Daly Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1984 Republic of Ireland Michael Daly Republic of Ireland Noel Sheridan 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1985 Republic of Ireland Liam Croke Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1986 Republic of Ireland Michael Nugent Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1988 Republic of Ireland Peter Wright Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1989 Republic of Ireland G. Henderson Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1991 United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4] Republic of Ireland ? ?
1992 United Kingdom Ulli Nganga Republic of Ireland ? 7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1993 Republic of Ireland Keir Wood Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1994 United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4] Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon 6-2, 6-3
1995 Republic of Ireland Owen Casey [10] ? ?
1996 United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4] ? ?
1997 Republic of Ireland Scott Barron Republic of Ireland Owen Casey 6-2, 6-3 [10]
1998 Republic of Ireland Owen Casey [10] ? ?
1999 Republic of Ireland Joe Greene Republic of Ireland David Mullins ? [10]
2000 Republic of Ireland Owen Casey Republic of Ireland Steven Nugent 6-1, 6-2 [10]
2001 Republic of Ireland John Doran Republic of Ireland Conor Niland 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 [10]
2002 Republic of Ireland Nicky Malone Republic of Ireland Conor Niland 7-5, 6-3 [10]
2003 Republic of Ireland Conor Niland [4] Republic of Ireland Conor Taylor 6-2, 6-1 [10]
2004 Republic of Ireland Barry King Republic of Ireland James McGee ? [10]
2005 Republic of Ireland Kevin Rea Republic of Ireland Travis McDonnagh 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 [10]
2007 Republic of Ireland T. Farron-Mahon Republic of Ireland Daniel Glancy 6-2, 6-2 [10]
2010 [12] Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthy Republic of Ireland Kevin Rea 6-3, 7-6 [10]
2011 [13] Republic of Ireland Paul Fitzgerald Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthy 6-4, 6-7, 7-5 [10]
2012 [14] Republic of Ireland Darragh Glavin Republic of Ireland George McGill 6-3, 7-5 [10]
2013 [15] Republic of Ireland Kevin Rea Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthy 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 [10]
2014 [16] Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthy Republic of Ireland George McGill 6-4, 6-4 [10]
2015 [17] Republic of Ireland Frank O'Keefe Republic of Ireland Niall Casey 6-1, 6-4 [10]
2016 Republic of Ireland C. J. Kelly Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthy 6-1, 6-4 [10]
2017 ? ? ?
2018 Republic of Ireland James Halas Republic of Ireland Andrew Jones 7-5, 6-1

Other tournaments

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Limerick CC Tournament

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The Limerick Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament was founded in 1877 and was played along with the South of Ireland Championships until 1883

Men's singles

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1880 England Edmond Bennet Brackenbury Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght 6-4, 6-4, 6-2
1883 Ireland Ernest Browne Ireland William E. Dawson 6-3, 6-2, 6-5

Venue

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The Limerick Lawn Tennis Club currently operates 12 artificial (synthetic) grass turf outdoor tennis courts and 3 squash courts.[18]

Notes

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  1. ^ The 1881 to 1886 editions included a challenge round

References

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  1. ^ "History - Limerick Lawn Tennis Club". www.lltc.ie. Limerick, Ireland: Limerick Lawn Tennis Club. 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  2. ^ "Official Bid Book for the 2018 GGX: 10th Gay Games" (PDF). igrugby.org. Organising Committee of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Sports Limerick. 2018. p. 93. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Tennis Ireland - Hartmann Optometrists 141st South of Ireland Tennis Championships 2018 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "History - Limerick Lawn Tennis Club". www.lltc.ie. Limerick, Ireland: Limerick Lawn Tennis Club. 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  5. ^ Higgins, Tom (2006). "Southern Ireland: Tournaments". The History of Irish Tennis Volume 2. Dublin: Tennis Ireland. ISBN 9780948870040.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Nieuwland, Alex (2017). "Tournament – South of Ireland Championships - Limerick Cup". www.tennisarchives.com. Harlingen, Netherlands: Idzznew BV. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  7. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Hartmann Optometrists 141st South of Ireland Tennis Championships 2018 - General". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  8. ^ "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  9. ^ "Edition – South of Ireland Championships 1876". www.tennisarchives.com. Tennis Archives. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av SOI Winners 1878 to 2016. Limerick LTC
  11. ^ "South of Ireland Championships". The Freeman's Journal. Dublin, Ireland: newspapers.com. 25 July 1883. p. 3.
  12. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Senior South Of Ireland Open Tennis Championship 2010 - Draw and Results". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Senior South of Ireland 2011 - General". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  14. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Senior South of Ireland 2012 - Draw and Results". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  15. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Senior South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship 2013 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland.
  16. ^ "Tennis Ireland - Senior South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship 2014 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  17. ^ "Tennis Ireland - 138th South Of Ireland Open Tennis Championships - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  18. ^ "About us". www.lltc.ie. Limerick Lawn Tennis Club. Retrieved 1 August 2018.

Sources

[edit]
  • "Abolition of Challenge Rounds". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. EVENING POST, VOLUME CIII, ISSUE 65, 20 MARCH 1922.
  • "History - Limerick Lawn Tennis Club". www.lltc.ie. Limerick, Ireland: Limerick Lawn Tennis Club. 2013.
  • Nieuwland, Alex (2017). "Tournament – South of Ireland Championships - Limerick Cup". www.tennisarchives.com. Harlingen, Netherlands: Idzznew BV. Retrieved.
  • Tennis Ireland, (2011). "Senior South of Ireland 2011 - General". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland.
  • Tennis Ireland, (2013) "Senior South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship 2013 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland.
  • Tennis Ireland, (2014). "Senior South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship 2014 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland.
  • Tennis Ireland, (2015). "138th South Of Ireland Open Tennis Championships - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland.
  • Tennis Ireland, (2018). - "Hartmann Optometrists 141st South of Ireland Tennis Championships 2018"- "Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Official lawn Tennis Governing Body of Ireland.
  • SOI Winners 1878 to 2016. Limerick LTC.
  • "South of Ireland Championships". (1883). The Freeman's Journal. Dublin, Ireland: newspapers.com.
  • https://ti.tournamentsoftware.com/Tennis Ireland:Clubs:Tournaments of Limerick Lawn Tennis

Further reading

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  • Ayre's Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, 1908 to 1938, A. Wallis Myers.
  • British Lawn Tennis and Squash Magazine, 1948 to 1967, British Lawn Tennis Ltd, UK.
  • Dunlop Lawn Tennis Almanack And Tournament Guide, G.P. Hughes, 1939 to 1958, Dunlop Sports Co. Ltd, UK
  • Lawn tennis and Badminton Magazine, 1906 to 1973, UK.
  • Lowe's Lawn Tennis Annuals and Compendia, Lowe, Sir F. Gordon, Eyre & Spottiswoode
  • Spalding's Lawn Tennis Annuals from 1885 to 1922, American Sports Pub. Co, USA.
  • The World of Tennis Annuals, Barrett John, 1970 to 2001.
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