South of Ireland Open Tennis Championship
Tournament information
Founded1876 (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

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

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

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

YearChampionRunner UpScore
1876England William Henry DarbyEngland Mr. W. Bruce11-3.[9]
1878Ireland Vere St. Leger Goold[10]England William Henry Darby6-0,6-4
1879Ireland Heffernan J. F. J. Considine [10]Ireland Henry Evelyn Tombe6-4, 6-3 [6]
1880England Edward Brackenbury [10]Ireland Edward Monitford Longfield6-4, 6-4, 6-2 [6]
1881 [lower-alpha 1]England Edward Brackenbury [10]Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght0-6, 6-3, 7-5, 8-6 [6]
1882Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght [10]England Edward Brackenburyw.o.[6]
1883 [11]Ireland Eyre Chatterton[10]Ireland Edward M. L. Lysaght6-1 6-0 6-0 [6]
1884Ireland Eyre Chatterton[10]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland William Henry Darby6=0 6-4 [6]
1885Ireland Willoughby J. Hamilton[10]Ireland Eyre Chatterton6-4, 12-10, 6-0 [6]
1886Ireland Willoughby J. Hamilton[10]United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Thomas Harrison Griffiths6-3, 6-1, 6-2 [6]
1896Ireland Captain Bredin [6]Scotland E.J.L. Golding6-3, 6-3
1897Ireland J. Hirst ??
1898United States Jahial Parmly ParetIreland J. Hirst2 to 0 sets
1899Ireland E.P. GrahamIreland J. Hirst2 to 0 sets
1900Ireland William PerrottIreland E.P. Graham6-1, 6-3, 9-7
1901Ireland William PerrottIreland Robert Malcolm Graham3 sets to 0
1902Ireland Maurice Fitzmaurice DayIreland William Perrott1-6, 6-1, 4-6, 8-6, 6-2
1904United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland J.S. TalbotUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland L. Tennisw.o.
1909Ireland Sydney Lawrence FryIreland T.M. O'Callaghan6-0, 6-3, 6-4
1910Championships were held [3]
1911United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Frank Cosbie [6]??
1912United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Frank Cosbie [6]??
1914–1923Championships were held [3]
1924Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6]??
1925Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6]??
1926Republic of Ireland Frank Cosbie [6]??
1928–1951Championships were held [3]
1952Republic of Ireland A. Duncan Taylor [10]? ?
1953Republic of Ireland Tom ClearyRepublic of Ireland Harry Crowe7-5, 1-6, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 [10]
1954Republic of Ireland Alan HaughtonRepublic of Ireland Tom Cleary6-4, 6-3 [10]
1955Republic of Ireland Harry BarnivilleRepublic of Ireland Harry Crowe6-2, 6-3 [10]
1957Republic of Ireland Frank FurneyRepublic of Ireland Alan Haughton9-7, 6-1 [10]
1958United States Ellis WilliamsonRepublic of Ireland Patrick Murphy6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 [10]
1960United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley MoxonRepublic of Ireland John O'Brien7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1961United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley MoxonRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1962Championships were held [3]
1963Republic of Ireland John O'BrienUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Dudley Moxon6-3, 6-4 [10]
1964–1974Championships were held [3]
Open era
1975Republic of Ireland Michael. P. Hickey [4]??
1976Republic of Ireland Michael SleepRepublic of Ireland Don O'Connell? [10]
1978Republic of Ireland Jim McCardleRepublic of Ireland Alan Haughton9-7, 6-1 [10]
1981Republic of Ireland Tommy BurkeRepublic of Ireland ?? [10]
1982United States Doug StoneRepublic of Ireland ?7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1983Republic of Ireland Michael DalyRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1984Republic of Ireland Michael DalyRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1985Republic of Ireland Liam CrokeRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1986Republic of Ireland Michael NugentRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1988Republic of Ireland Peter WrightRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1989Republic of Ireland G. HendersonRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1991United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4]Republic of Ireland ??
1992United Kingdom Ulli NgangaRepublic of Ireland ?7-9, 6-1, 6-4 [10]
1993Republic of Ireland Keir WoodRepublic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3 [10]
1994United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4]Republic of Ireland Redmond O'Hanlon6-2, 6-3
1995Republic of Ireland Owen Casey [10]??
1996United Kingdom Ross Matheson[4]??
1997Republic of Ireland Scott BarronRepublic of Ireland Owen Casey6-2, 6-3 [10]
1998Republic of Ireland Owen Casey [10] ??
1999Republic of Ireland Joe GreeneRepublic of Ireland David Mullins? [10]
2000Republic of Ireland Owen CaseyRepublic of Ireland Steven Nugent6-1, 6-2 [10]
2001Republic of Ireland John DoranRepublic of Ireland Conor Niland7-6, 4-6, 7-5 [10]
2002Republic of Ireland Nicky MaloneRepublic of Ireland Conor Niland7-5, 6-3 [10]
2003Republic of Ireland Conor Niland [4]Republic of Ireland Conor Taylor6-2, 6-1 [10]
2004Republic of Ireland Barry KingRepublic of Ireland James McGee ? [10]
2005Republic of Ireland Kevin ReaRepublic of Ireland Travis McDonnagh1-6, 6-1, 6-3 [10]
2007Republic of Ireland T. Farron-MahonRepublic of Ireland Daniel Glancy6-2, 6-2 [10]
2010 [12]Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthyRepublic of Ireland Kevin Rea6-3, 7-6 [10]
2011 [13]Republic of Ireland Paul FitzgeraldRepublic of Ireland Barry McCarthy6-4, 6-7, 7-5 [10]
2012 [14]Republic of Ireland Darragh GlavinRepublic of Ireland George McGill6-3, 7-5 [10]
2013 [15]Republic of Ireland Kevin ReaRepublic of Ireland Barry McCarthy4-6, 7-5, 7-5 [10]
2014 [16]Republic of Ireland Barry McCarthyRepublic of Ireland George McGill6-4, 6-4 [10]
2015 [17]Republic of Ireland Frank O'KeefeRepublic of Ireland Niall Casey6-1, 6-4 [10]
2016Republic of Ireland C. J. KellyRepublic of Ireland Barry McCarthy6-1, 6-4 [10]
2017 ? ? ?
2018Republic of Ireland James HalasRepublic of Ireland Andrew Jones7-5, 6-1

Other tournaments

Limerick CC Tournament

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
1880England Edmond Bennet BrackenburyIreland Edward M. L. Lysaght6-4, 6-4, 6-2
1883Ireland Ernest BrowneIreland William E. Dawson6-3, 6-2, 6-5

Venue

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

Notes

  1. The 1881 to 1886 editions included a challenge round

References

  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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tennis Ireland - Hartmann Optometrists 141st South of Ireland Tennis Championships 2018 - Organization". ti.tournamentsoftware.com. Tennis Ireland. 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 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. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 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

  • "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

  • 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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