The M.C.C. Autumn Championship was a combined grass court tennis tournament founded in 1889 as the Buckley Trophy by Irish born Australian businessman Mars Buckley. It was held annually at the MCC, Albert Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia until 1949.
History The M.C.C. Autumn Championship was founded in 1889 as the Buckley Trophy by Irish-born Australian businessman Mars Buckley. Also known as the Victorian Grass Court Championships.
The event was the grass court equivalent to the Victorian Championships which from 1879 to 1895 was played on outdoor hard asphalt tennis courts.
In 1896 this event was rebranded under a new name, at which point the Victorian Championships switched to being a grass court tournament. The tournament ran annually through till 1949.
Finals Singles (incomplete roll) include: YearWinnersRunners-upScore1889 Arthur Colquhoun Norman Bayles2-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-41890The Sydney Mail (10 May 1890) p.20. Walter Riddell Norman Bayles2-6, 8-6, 6-41891 Wilberforce Eaves Haworth Bartram3-0 sets1892 Ben Greene Ulysses Brown6-4, 6-3, 6-21893 Gus Kearney Ben Greene3-6, 0-6, 6-0, 6-1, 6-11894 Ben Greene (2) Andrew L. Macfie6-2, 6-2, 6-31895 Ben Greene (3) Robert G. Bowen6-2, 6-3, 8-61896 Tom Tatchell Robert G. Bowen5-7, 6-1, 6-1, 2-6, 6-41897 Alfred Dunlop Tom Tatchell3-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-21898 Gus Kearney (2) Thomas Irving3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-31899 Gus Kearney (3) Alfred Dunlop7-5, 6-2, 6-21900 Norman Brookes Alfred Dunlop6-0, 6-4, 8-61912 Arthur O'Hara Wood Alfred Dunlop6-0, 6-4, 8-61914 Horace Rice Rodney Heath1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-21915 Arthur O'Hara Wood (2) Harry Parker6-2, 6-1, 6-21919 Timothy Fitchet Rupert Wertheim 4-6, 10-8, 6-4, 6-3 1920 Pat O'Hara Wood Ron Thomasdef. ?1921 Gerald Patterson Pat O'Hara Wood6-2, 6-3, 6-21922 Gerald Patterson (2) Jack Hawkes6-1, 6-2, 8-61923 Pat O'Hara Wood (2) Bob Schlesinger6-0, 6-1, 3-6, 7-9, 6-21924 Gerald Patterson (3) Pat O'Hara Wood 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-21925 Bob Schlesinger Pat O'Hara Wood 6-3, 6-0, 0-6, 6-11926 Gerald Patterson (4) Bob Schlesinger8-6, 6-2, 6-21927 Pat O'Hara Wood (3) Edgar Moon 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-41928 Bob Schlesinger (2) Paul A. Haege 7-5, 6-4, 6-31929 Jack Crawford Jim Willard6-4, 8-6, 6-31930 Bob Schlesinger (3) J. R. James MacGillicuddy6-4, 6-2, 6-31931 Harry Hopman Jack Clemenger6-1, 6-4, 6-31932 Harry Hopman (2) Vivian McGrath10-12, 6-4, 7-5, 6-41933 Harry Hopman (3) Vivian McGrath4-6, 3-6, 8-6, 6-2, 9-71935 Harry Hopman (4) Abel Kay5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 6-31936 Harry Hopman (5) Reg Ewin6-3, 6-4, 6-21937 Harry Hopman (6) Bert Tonkin 6-4, 6-4, 6-21938 Harry Hopman (7) Abel Kay10-12, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-21939 Adrian Quist Harry Hopman7-5, 7-5, 3-6, 7-51940 Harry Hopman (8) Lionel Brodie5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-11947 Dinny Pails Colin Long7-5, 7-5, 8-61948 Colin Long George Worthington6-1, 6-3, 6-41949 Mervyn Rose Harry Hopman7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
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