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General First nameRobert George
LastnameBowen
GenderMale
CountryAustralia
Date of birth1874-01-26
Place of birthAdelaide, South Australia, Australia
Date of death1930-09-03
Place of deathMedindie, South Australia, Australia


About

From the internet:

Robert Bowen began to play tennis as a young boy at the old Glen Osmond Club in Adelaide, South Australia. He soon showed promise of his brilliancy and, by defeating his elder brother, became the champion of the club. In 1889, he joined the Zingari Club and played for them as first single and was active in gaining the premier position for them.
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From The Register News Pictorial (Adelaide), 4 September 1930

Obituary

Fine Tennis Player Passes

Bob Bowen, who died yesterday morning, after a long illness, perhaps did more to advance the standard of tennis in this state than any other player. Roland H. Kelsey once wrote of him: “There has rarely been seen in the world more graceful and better stroke production than was exhibited by Bob, and his play furnished an example of perfect style, ease of movement, pace and accuracy, combined with rare judgment.”

For fifteen years of his life Bowen was the outstanding factor in the game in South Australia, secured every championship on many occasions, and took part in all the fights against inter-state players. Mr Bowen was an enthusiast from very early years, and made his first appearance for Glen Osmond in pennant matches in the late 1880s. Although then only a boy, he could hold his own against many a veteran.

In those days there were six men forming a combination, which has probably never been equalled in the state since then. They were: Joseph Baker, Frank Hone, Gilbert Hone, Robert Bowen, David Harbison and Herbert Hill. Unfortunately there were no inter-state matches in those days, otherwise South Australia, with such representatives, would have taken a very high, place.

Many Championships

The first inter-state fixture was in April, 1895, and Mr. Bowen was a member of the team that went to Melbourne. The others were Joseph Baker, Herbert Penfold Hyland, and Roland Kelsey. Their opponents were Frederick Waters,
Reginald Fraser, Arthur Chomley and Alfred Dunlop (the famous international’s first inter-state game). From then onward there were regular fixtures, in all of whichthe deceased played until, and including, the year 1909, when removal from the town to the country practically ceased his association with the game.

South Australian State Championships that Bob Bowen won were as follows:

Singles: 1894, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899, and 1901; men’s doubles: 1893 (with the late Gilbert Hone), 1894 (with Herbert Hill),1895, 1896, 1897, and 1898, and 1901 (with Joseph Baker); mixed doubles, 1894 (with Miss Wynnie Brown), 1896 (with Miss Lillian Payne), 1897, 1899, and 1900 (with Miss Alice Hone), 1903 (with Miss Maisie Parr), 1909 (with Miss Lily Addison) and 1912 (with Mrs Flora Rowe).

A widow [née Lillian May Drew] and two sisters, Mrs John Murray [née Eva Bowen] and Miss Florence Bowen, survive Mr Bowen.

Media


Archive statistics Career1890 - 1912
Tournament wins6
Matches73
Match wins48


Tournament wins 1901 - South Australian Championships ()
1899 - South Australian Championships ()
1898 - South Australian Championships ()
1897 - South Australian Championships ()
1896 - South Australian Championships ()
1894 - South Australian Championships ()


Tournaments South Australian Championships - 1912 South Australian Championships - 1911 Australian Open - 1910 South Australian Championships - 1909 South Australian Championships - 1908 South Australian Championships - 1907 South Australian Championships - 1906 South Australian Championships - 1905 South Australian Championships - 1904 Victorian Championships - 1904 South Australian Championships - 1903 South Australian Championships - 1902 South Australian Championships - 1901 South Australian Championships - 1900 Victorian Championships - 1900 South Australian Championships - 1899 South Australian Championships - 1898 South Australian Championships - 1897 New South Wales Championships - 1897 South Australian Championships - 1896 Metropolitan Cricket (MCC ) Autumn Tournament - 1896 South Australian Championships - 1895 Western Australia Championships - 1895 Buckley Trophy - 1895 South Australian Championships - 1894 Victorian Championships - 1894 South Australian Championships - 1893 South Australian Championships - 1892 South Australian Championships - 1891 Victorian Championships - 1891 South Australian Championships - 1890