The North of England Championships and later known as the Rothmans Open North of England Championships (for sponsorship reasons), was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1884 as the North Yorkshire Tournament. It was mainly held at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Great Britain from (1884–91, 1893–1903, 1905–1966, 1968). The tournament was discontinued in 1974 when it was staged at Hoylake.

History The North Yorkshire Tournament was first staged in 1884 at the South Cliff Lawn Tennis Club at Scarborough, North Yorkshire. In 1886 its name was changed to the North of England Championships. It was for a long period a popular summer tournament in the British lawn tennis calendar. In 1910 it changed venue to be played at the Yorkshire Lawn Tennis Club through until 1966. The only other places to host the North of England Championships was at Kingston-upon-Hull in 1892, then Harrogate in 1904. In 1967 the event temporarily moved to Hoylake in what was then Cheshire, before returning to Scarborough the following year. In 1969 the championships moved permanently back to Hoylake until 1974 when it was abolished

Notable winners of the men's singles included Ernest Browne (1886), Harry Sibthorpe Barlow, Laurie Doherty (1910), George Lyttleton Rogers (1937), Jaroslav Drobny (1949), Ashley Cooper (1958) and John Newcombe (1970). Previous women's singles champions included Alice Simpson Pickering (1899), Dorothea Douglass(1901), Elizabeth Ryan (1919), Joan Hartigan (1934), Ann Haydon (1956), Virginia Wade (1967), Margaret Smith Court (1968), Billie Jean Moffitt King (1971) and Evonne Goolagong (1972).

For the years 1892, 1894–1900 and 1904–1905 the tournament was also valid as the Yorkshire Championships. For the years 1960 and from 1967 the tournament was also valid as the Hoylake Open Championships.

Sponsorship In 1968 at the start of the open era the championships were sponsored by the newspaper the Liverpool Post and branded as the Liverpool Post North of England Championships. In 1969 the tobacco manufacturer Rothmans took over sponsorship of the event was then called the Rothmans Open North of England Championships until 1974.

Locations The championships were mainly held at Scarborough, North Yorkshire, Great Britain from (1884–91, 1893–1903, 1905–1966, 1968), but was also hosted at other locations including Ilkley (1885), Kingston-upon-Hull (1892), then Harrogate (1904), Sheffield (1905) and finally Hoylake (1967–69, 1970–74) when the event was discontinued.

Finals Men's singles (Incomplete roll) YearChampionRunner-upScoreNorth Yorkshire Tournament 1884 Ernest Browne Marmaduke Constable6–1, ret. 1885 Ernest Browne (2) E.W. Fletcher6–2, 6–2, 6–4North of England Championships 1886 Ernest Browne (3) Harry Grove 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2 1887 Ernest Browne (4) Marmaduke Constable 6–2, 6–4, 6–2 1888 Harry Grove Henry Guy Nadin6–1, 6–1, 6–1 1889 Percy Bateman Brown David Davy 5–7, 6–2, 6–4, 6–2 1890 James Baldwin Charles Henry Chaytor9-7, 6–0, 6–0 1891 Harry Sibthorpe Barlow James Baldwin6–3, 6–2, 2–6, 7–5 1892 Harry Sibthorpe Barlow (2) Grainger Chaytor 6-7, 6–1, 6–2, 6–1 1893 William Renshaw Charles Gladstone Allenw.o. 1894 Roy Allen Joshua Pim w.o. 1895 Grainger Chaytor Harold Nisbet7-9, 4–6, 6–4, 9-7, 6–1 1898 Grainger Chaytor (2) Ernest Douglas Black6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–3 1900 Grainger Chaytor (3) Charles William Wade6–2, 6–2, 6–3 1905 Roy Allen (2) Charles Gladstone Allen w.o. 1907 Walter Crawley Arthur Lowe6–1, 6–3 1908 Laurie Doherty George Hillyard6–1, 6–4, 6–2 1909 Laurie Doherty (2) Gordon Lowe7–5, 6–1, 6–3 1910 Laurie Doherty (3) Gordon Lowe6–3, 6–2, 6–21914/1918Not held (due to world war one) 1919 Pat O'Hara Wood Brian Norton4–6, 6–2, 6–1, 10–8 1920 Thomas Yeo Sherwell Clive Branfoot4–6, 6–4, 7–5 1921 Brian Norton D'Arcy McCrea6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 2–6, 6–4 1922 Gordon Lowe Randolph Lycett6–2, 5–7, 7–9, 6–1, 6–2 1923 Sydney Jacob D'Arcy McCrea 6–3, 6–0, 6–2 1924 Louis Raymond Mohammed Sleem6–2, 6–3, 6–3 1925 Charles Kingsley Gordon Crole-Rees 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–3 1926 Charles Kingsley (2) Keats Lester10–8, 6–0, 1–6, 8-6 1927 Colin Gregory Randolph Lycett6-8, 12–10, 9-7 ret. 1928 Eskel Andrews John Olliff7–5, 6–4, 6–1 1929 Charles Kingsley (3) Keats Lester 7-9, 6–1, 6–1, 6–4 1930 Eskel Andrews (2) Colin Gregory6–0, 9-7 1931 Vernon Kirby Jack Chamberlain6–3, 6–3 1932 George Lyttleton Rogers Atri-Madan Mohan6–2, 3–6, 6–1 1933 Alan Stedman Keats Lester6–2, 7–5, 3–6, 6–3 1934 Harry Hopman Alan Stedman6–4, 6–2, 6–4 1935 Alan Stedman (2) George Lyttleton Rogers6–2, 6–3 1936 Adrian Quist Charles Hare 6–1, 6–4, 6–2 1937 George Lyttleton Rogers (2) Pat Sherwood8-6, 6–3 1938 Don Butler Jimmy Jones6–2, 3–6, 6–3 1939 Jack Deloford Dennis Coombe6–2, 6–21940/1945Not held (due to world war two) 1946 Ignacy Tłoczyński Don Butler 10–8, 6–2 1947 Ignacy Tłoczyński (2) Ghaus Mohammed Khan7–5, 6–4, 2–6, 6–3 1948 Franjo Kukuljević Gerry Oakley3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–4 1949 Jaroslav Drobný Tony Mottram6–1, 6–1, 6–3 1950 Bill Sidwell Geoff Brown2–6, 6–4, 6–1, 6–2 1951 Nigel Cockburn Czeslaw Spychala 7–5, 2–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–1 1952 Eric Sturgess Budge Patty6–3, 3–6, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3 1953 Bobby Wilson Billy Knight 6–3, 7–5 1954 Bobby Wilson (2) John Barry 6–4, 6–2 1955 Sven Davidson Billy Knight4–6, 6–0, 8–6, 6–0 1956 Bobby Wilson (3) Tony Pickard6–3, 6–3 1957 Alan Mills Colin Hannam7–5, 3–6, 6–3 1958 Ashley Copper Mervyn Rose4–6, 7–5, 10–12, 6–1, 14–12 1960 Mark Otway John Roderick MacDonald6–3, 6–4 1961 Lawrence Franklin Strong R.A. Storey6–3, 7–5 1962 Michael Waters R.A. Storey6–4, 6–2 1963 Colin McHugo Harry Sheridan7–5, 6–2 1964 Keith Wooldridge Clay Iles9-7, 6–3, 6–3 1965 Graham Stilwell Keith Wooldridge6–4, 6–3 1966 Brian Fairlie Balaram Singh7–5, 6–3 1967 Keith Wooldridge (2) Haroon Rahim3–6, 6–4, 6–4Open era Liverpool Post North of England Championships 1968 Mike Sangster Herb Fitzgibbon2–6, 6–4, 12–10Rothmans Open North of England Championships 1969 Ray Ruffels Brian Fairlie6–3, 6–3 1970 John Newcombe Owen Davidson4–6, 9–7, 6–4 1971 Andrew Pattison Jaidip Mukerjea6–2, 5–7, 6–2 1972 Hank Irvine Ray Keldie6–2, 4–6, 6–1 1973 Bob Giltinan Owen Davidson1–6, 6–3, 6–2 1974 Bernie Mitton John Yuill6–4, 6–4

Women's singles (Incomplete roll) YearChampionRunner-upScoreNorth Yorkshire Tournament 1884 Constance Hodgson Beatrice Wood 7–5, 6–3 1885 Mabel Boulton Beatrice Wood 6–2, 6–2 North of England Championships 1886 Margaret Bracewell Mabel Boulton 6–4, 8-6 1887 Margaret Bracewell (2) Ann Dod 6–0, 6–1 1888 Margaret Bracewell (3) Bertha Steedman 1–6, 6–4, 9–7, 6–4 1889 Edith Gurney Beatrice Wood6–4, 8-6 1890 Beatrice Wood M. Crossley 6–4, 6–4 1891 Helen Jackson Miss Pope 6–3, 6–1 1892 Helen Jackson (2) Beatrice Wood Draffen 6–0, ?, 1892 Beatrice Wood Draffen (2) Kate Nunneley6–4, 7–5 1893 L. Clark May Arbuthnot6–4, 2–6, 6–2 1894Beatrice Wood Draffen (3) Katherine Grey6–3, 6–1 1895 Lucy Kendal Marion Crosby Morton6–2, 6–1 1896 Lucy Kendal (2) Beatrice Wood Draffen? 1897 Lucy Kendal (3) Muriel Robb 6–3, 6–0 1898 Katherine Grey Alice Simpson Pickering 6–4, 6–4 1899 Alice Simpson Pickering Bertha Holder 6–1, 6–4 1900 Alice Simpson Pickering (2) Ethel Jessop 6–0, 6–2 1901 Dorothea Douglass Alice Simpson Pickering4–6, 10–8, 6–1 1902 Alice Simpson Pickering (3) Lucy Kendal6–3, 6–4 1903 Lucy Kendal (4) Alice Simpson Pickering3–6, 6–0, 7–5 1904 Lucy Kendal (5) Gladys Eastlake-Smith6–0, 4–6, 6–4 1905 Bertha Holder N. Morton 11-9, 6–1 1906 Lucy Kendal (6) Gladys Eastlake-Smith 6–4, 6–1 1907 Gladys Eastlake-Smith Bertha Holder 6–0, 6–2 1908 Edith Boucher Gladys Lamplough6–1, 6–1 1909 Gladys Lamplough (2) Helen Aitchison 6–4, 6–3 1910 Katie Slater Clegg Rosamund Salusbury6–2, 6–4 1911 Ethel Thomson Larcombe Edith Hannam6–2, 6–1 1912 Ethel Thomson Larcombe (2) Violet Pinckney6–2, 4–6, 6–3 1913 Elizabeth Ryan Ethel Thomson Larcombe6–3, 6–31914/1918Not held (due to world war one) 1919 Elizabeth Ryan (2) Lesley Cadle6–2, 6–1 1920 Elizabeth Ryan (3) Eleanor Rose 6–1, 6–3 1921 Elizabeth Ryan (4) Winifred McNair6–3, 8-6 1922 Kathleen McKane Elizabeth Ryan6–2, 6–2 1923 Dorothy Shepherd-Barron Phyllis Satterthwaite walkover 1924 Kathleen McKane (2) Dorothy Holman 6–2, 6–0 1925 Geraldine Beamish Claire Beckingham 6–3, 6–2 1926 Ruth Watson Joan Ridley 6–3, 6–1 1927 Joan Austin Lycett Claire Beckingham 6–4, 3–6, 6–2 1928 Dorothy Shepherd Barron Claire Beckingham 6–2, 6–3 1929 Joan Fry Dorothy Anderson 6–3, 6–3 1930 Mary Heeley Joan Fry 6–4, 6–3 1931 Mary Heeley (2) Freda James 2–6, 6–1, 6–2 1932 Sheila Hewitt Freda James6–3, 5-5, retired 1933 Kay Stammers Susan Noel10–8, 5–7, 6–0 1934 Joan Hartigan Susan Noel 2–6, 6–1, 10–8 1935 Mary Heeley (3) Anita Lizana6–3, 6–8, 6–4 1936 Mary Heeley (4) Florence Ford 5–7, 6–4, 6–2 1937 Mary Heeley (5) Denise Huntbach 6–1, 6–1 1938 Valerie Scott Florence Ford 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 1939 Jean Nicoll Zora Nechilova6–3, 6–21940/1945Not held (due to world war two) 1946 Jean Quertier Betty Clements Hilton 6–3, 6–1 1947 Gem Hoahing Valerie Cooper 6–2, 6–0 1948 Gem Hoahing (2) Natalia Zinovieff 6–2, 7–5 1949 Gem Hoahing (3) Joyce Fitch6–3, 6–2 1950 Thelma Coyne Long Jean Quertier6–4, 7–5 1951 Billie Woodgate Barbara Knapp 4–6, 6–2, 6–1 1952 Jean Walker-Smith Beryl Penrose 7–5, 6–2 1953 Georgie Woodgate Margaret Harrison 6–1, 2–6, 6–4 1954 Judy Burke Angela Buxton 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 1955 Mary Carter Beryl Penrose6–3, 4–6, 6–3 1956 Ann Haydon Elaine Watson 6–2, 7–5 1957 Georgie Woodgate (2) Rosemary Deloford 6–3, 4–6, 6–4 1958 Heather Brewer-Segal Mary Bevis Hawton6–1, 6–4 1959 Elaine Shenton Mrs C. Clark 3–6, 6–2, 6–2 1960 Susan Waters Jenny Young 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 1961 Ann McAlpine Vivienne Cox 6–4, 7–5 1962 J. Macintosh E. Smith 6–3, 6–4 1963 E. Smith Marilyn Greenwood 7–5, 6–4 1964 Robin Blakelock-Lloyd Nell Truman 6–4, 1–6, 7–5 1965 Stephanie Percival Sally Holdsworth 6–3, 6–2 1966 Elizabeth Starkie Robin Blakelock-Lloyd6–1, 6–3 1967 Virginia Wade Judy Tegart6–3 6–4 1967 Robin Blakelock-Lloyd (2) Sally Holdsworth 6–2, 6–2Open era Liverpool Post North of England Championships 1968 Margaret Smith Court Virginia Wade6–2, 6–4Rothmans Open North of England Championships 1969 Virginia Wade (2) Christine Truman Janes0–6, 6–4, 8-6 1970 Evonne Goolagong Kerry Melville2–6, 6–2, 6–1 1971 Billie Jean Moffitt King Rosie Casals6–3 6–3 1972 Evonne Goolagong (2) Betty Stovedivided title 1973 Patti Hogan Sharon Walsh11-9, 4–6, 6–4 1974 Jackie Fayter Patti Hogan6–0, 7–5

Tournament records Most men's overall singles titles: Ernest Browne (4) Most men's NOE singles titles: Laurie Doherty & Charles Kingsley & Bobby Wilson (3) Most women's NOE singles titles: Lucy Kendal (6)

See also North of England Hard Court Championships

References

Sources Jeffreys, Kevin (22 April 2021). "The Illustrious History of Tennis in Scarborough". on-magazine.co.uk. On: Yorkshire Magazine. Retrieved 4 October 2022. Lake, Robert J. (3 October 2014). A Social History of Tennis in Britain. Oxford: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-44557-8.