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General Date1879-10-07 - 1879-10-11
Tournament typeAmateur
SurfaceIndoor hardcourt
Rounds5
CityCheltenham, Imperial Winter Gardens
CountryEngland

Source The Field, Tennis Forum

Info From “The Field”, October 11, 1879: “The first open tournament held by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club was commenced on Tuesday last, and notwithstanding that the summer weather, which is generally considered necessary for the game, must be looked upon as passed for this year, it was a thorough success. This result is in a great measure owing to the fact that the matches were not played on grass, but on asphalte and wood courts in the Imperial Winter Garden. “Within this building, which is roofed with grass like the Crystal Palace, there are a couple of capital courts; one on asphalte, which was devoted to the ladies’ games as it is somewhat limited in size, and one on boards. The light might be better, and in bright sunshine is dazzling, but no other fault could be found with the courts, and it is an immense advantage to be able to set the elements at defiance. No fault, however, was to be found with the weather on this occasion, and some of the best matches were played outside on the skating rink. “Thanks to constant practice on these courts, the members of the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club are decidedly good players. The results of the two principal matches, which we give below, fully show this. Mr ‘Saint Leger’ [Vere Saint Leger Goold], the winner of the Irish Championship last spring, and second to John Hartley at the All England Championship, was beaten by William Renshaw, and in the ladies’ matches the visitors were, with one exception, cut out in the first round. “Indeed, such ladies’ play is rarely seen, and it is to be hoped that before long the Cheltenham ladies will have an opportunity of trying their strength against those of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin. They have at least half a dozen players that could hold their own against most clubs. […] “Amongst the ladies, Marian Bradley was the most brilliant player, her service, when it came off, being very severe. In Florence Mardall, however, she met a very strong opponent, who finally proved too much for her, the latter being more certain in her returns. Mary Abercrombie, Ellen Maltby and Ellen Ramsay all played remarkably well. “The attendance was large and fashionable, the Cheltenham season having again begun. There was good accommodation for spectators, both in and out of the building. The arrangements were admirably carried out by the committee, Dr John Abercrombie acting as secretary. A word of praise is due to Mr Rawlinson, who umpired admirably in most of the important matches; and though on one occasion he made a mistake, was in a great measure justified in his decision.”

From “The Field”, October 18, 1879: “This most successful meeting was brought to a conclusion on Saturday last, Friday and Saturday being devoted to the double matches, for which the entries were good, and, as the results proved, the play quite as exciting as in the singles matches. The practice of the preceding days had undoubtedly improved the play of some of the visitors, to whom the asphalte and wooden courts were decidedly strange at first. [...] “The ladies did not attempt volleying at the net, and wisely, as it requires more strength and activity than they can be expected to possess. Marian Bradley and Mary Abercrombie, who won the first prize, were decidedly the strongest pair. Florence Mardall played wonderfully well, but Miss Bradley was in better form than when they met in the singles match; and, though Clara Hill made some wonderful left-hand returns, she was not as sure as Miss Abercrombie. “Ellen Ramsay played admirably, being at once graceful and active, but her partner ought to have abstained occasionally from spooning the ball up to the roof of the building, as to spectators such play is by no means attractive, and in the difficult light by no means as easy to return as it would be under ordinary circumstances. [...] “Everything was carried out during the week without a hitch; and, if the club can only make certain of the having the Imperial Garden to play in, they may rest assured that the Cheltenham tournament will take a place among the lawn tennis fixtures, second only perhaps to the All England meeting. “At their next tournament we hope to see more visitors. The All England Club only sent one representative; but now that Cheltenham has proved that it possesses such players as William Renshaw among the gentlemen, and Florence Mardall and Marian Bradley among the ladies, we have no doubt that that there will be no lack of strangers in future to contest their laurels.”

Report Mens doubles final: Gardner/Burnett - Ainslie/Weston 6-4 6-3 4-6 6-0
Women's Singles (Draw:16)
1R: Florence Mardall d. Miss Gardner by 2 sets to love
1R: Ellen Ramsay d. Carrie Bennett 6-1 6-0
1R: Clara Hill d. Mrs Friend 6-4 6-4
1R: Ellen Maltby d. Edith Renshaw by 2 sets to one
1R: Mary Abercrombie d. Mary Ann Maltby by 2 sets to love
1R: Miss Shand d. Miss Bennett by 2 sets to love
1R: Miss Willoughby d. L.W. Hawkins by 2 sets to love
1R: Marian Bradley d. Miss Cockshott 6-0 6-0

QF: Mardall d. Ramsay 6-3 6-3
QF: E Maltby d. Hill 6-2 6-2
QF: Abercrombie d. Shand 6-1 6-0
QF: Bradley d. Willoughby 6-0,6-0

SF: Mardall d. Maltby 6-3 6-5
SF: Bradley d. Abercrombie 6-3 6-2

FI: Florence Mardall d. Marian Bradley 6-5 6-4 3-6 3-6 6-3

Women's Doubles (Draw:8)

1R: Mary Abercrombie/Marian Bradley d. Ellen Maltby/Mary Ann Maltby 6-5 6-5
1R: Mrs Aylmer/B. Neate d. Miss Bennett/Mrs Gardner 6-3 6-3
1R: Ellen Ramsay/Edith Renshaw d. Miss Cockshott/Miss Shand 6-2 6-1
1R: Clara Hill/Florence Mardall d. Carrie Bennett/Mrs Friend 6-2 6-1

SF: Abercrombie/Bradley d. Aylmer/Neate 6-0 6-2
SF: Hill/Mardall d. Ramsay/Renshaw 5-6 6-1 6-4

DF: Mary Abercrombie/Marian Bradley d. Clara Hill/Florence Mardall 6-2 6-3 6-2



From “The Field”, October 11, 1879: “The first open tournament held by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club was commenced on Tuesday last, and notwithstanding that the summer weather, which is generally considered necessary for the game, must be looked upon as passed for this year, it was a thorough success. This result is in a great measure owing to the fact that the matches were not played on grass, but on asphalte and wood courts in the Imperial Winter Garden.

“Within this building, which is roofed with grass like the Crystal Palace, there are a couple of capital courts; one on asphalte, which was devoted to the ladies’ games as it is somewhat limited in size, and one on boards. The light might be better, and in bright sunshine is dazzling, but no other fault could be found with the courts, and it is an immense advantage to be able to set the elements at defiance. No fault, however, was to be found with the weather on this occasion, and some of the best matches were played outside on the skating rink.

“Thanks to constant practice on these courts, the members of the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club are decidedly good players. The results of the two principal matches, which we give below, fully show this. Mr ‘Saint Leger’ [Vere Saint Leger Goold], the winner of the Irish Championship last spring, and second to John Hartley at the All England Championship, was beaten by William Renshaw, and in the ladies’ matches the visitors were, with one exception, cut out in the first round.

“Indeed, such ladies’ play is rarely seen, and it is to be hoped that before long the Cheltenham ladies will have an opportunity of trying their strength against those of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin. They have at least half a dozen players that could hold their own against most clubs. […]

“Amongst the ladies, Marian Bradley was the most brilliant player, her service, when it came off, being very severe. In Florence Mardall, however, she met a very strong opponent, who finally proved too much for her, the latter being more certain in her returns. Mary Abercrombie, Ellen Maltby and Ellen Ramsay all played remarkably well.

“The attendance was large and fashionable, the Cheltenham season having again begun. There was good accommodation for spectators, both in and out of the building. The arrangements were admirably carried out by the committee, Dr John Abercrombie acting as secretary. A word of praise is due to Mr Rawlinson, who umpired admirably in most of the important matches; and though on one occasion he made a mistake, was in a great measure justified in his decision.”
--

From “The Field”, October 18, 1879: “This most successful meeting was brought to a conclusion on Saturday last, Friday and Saturday being devoted to the double matches, for which the entries were good, and, as the results proved, the play quite as exciting as in the singles matches. The practice of the preceding days had undoubtedly improved the play of some of the visitors, to whom the asphalte and wooden courts were decidedly strange at first. [...]

“The ladies did not attempt volleying at the net, and wisely, as it requires more strength and activity than they can be expected to possess. Marian Bradley and Mary Abercrombie, who won the first prize, were decidedly the strongest pair. Florence Mardall played wonderfully well, but Miss Bradley was in better form than when they met in the singles match; and, though Clara Hill made some wonderful left-hand returns, she was not as sure as Miss Abercrombie.

“Ellen Ramsay played admirably, being at once graceful and active, but her partner ought to have abstained occasionally from spooning the ball up to the roof of the building, as to spectators such play is by no means attractive, and in the difficult light by no means as easy to return as it would be under ordinary circumstances. [...]

“Everything was carried out during the week without a hitch; and, if the club can only make certain of the having the Imperial Garden to play in, they may rest assured that the Cheltenham tournament will take a place among the lawn tennis fixtures, second only perhaps to the All England meeting.

“At their next tournament we hope to see more visitors. The All England Club only sent one representative; but now that Cheltenham has proved that it possesses such players as William Renshaw among the gentlemen, and Florence Mardall and Marian Bradley among the ladies, we have no doubt that that there will be no lack of strangers in future to contest their laurels.”

Media


Winner Player William Charles Renshaw


Players

Rounds
Round 1
Round 2
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Final

Tournament