British Covered Court Championships
Introduction The '''British Covered Court Championships''' (BCCC) was an indoor tennis event held from 1885 through 1971 and played in London, England. The tournament dates fluctuated between October and March.
History For its first five years the tournament was held at the Hyde Park Lawn Tennis Club in Porchester Square, London and consisted only of a men's singles competition. In 1890, when it was decided to add a women's singles and men's doubles competition, the tournament moved to the Queen's Club in London, although the men's singles remained at Hyde Park until 1895.The mixed doubles event was added to the championships in 1898.A third court was added to the championships in 1912, and, like the original two courts, it had a wooden surface. In 1923, the Challenge Round system, allowing the champion to skip next year's competition and only play the winner of that competition, was abolished. In 1925, the tournament was merged with the London Covered Court Championships. The women's doubles event was added to the tournament in 1934 and renamed to '''The National Covered Court Championships'''. From its inception, it grew into an important event through the first half of the 20th century, but by the late 1950s, its stature had diminished greatly and in 1966, they couldn't find a sponsor. In 1968, the BCCC became part of the first Dewar Cup circuit, but that was its final year at Queens Club. In 1969, it merged with the Wembley Championship while continuing to be called the British Covered Court Championships, and it was an official ILTF Grand Prix event in 1970 and 1971.With several top players who were part of the World Championship Tennis circuit barred from competition in 1972 and no sponsors to be found, the tournament was discontinued.Frenchman Jean Borotra is the male record holder with eleven singles titles and British Dorothea Douglass Chambers holds the record for women with seven singles titles.
Champions 300px===Men's singles===YearChampionsRunners-upScoreSurface1885   Herbert Lawford   Charles Ross   7–5, 6–3, 6–0  Wood1886   Teddy Williams   Herbert Lawford  6–2, 1–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4  Wood1887   Ernest Lewis  Teddy Williams 6–2, 6–2, 6–1  Wood1888   Ernest Lewis   Ernest George Meers  6–3, 6–0, 6–1  Wood1889   Ernest Lewis   James Crispe  6–1, 6–1, 6–1  Wood1890   Ernest Lewis   Ernest George Meers  6–2, 6–3, 6–2  Wood1891   Ernest Lewis   Ernest George Meers  6–4, 8–6, 6–3  Wood1892   Ernest George Meers    Ernest Lewis  6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2  Wood1893   Harold Mahony   Ernest George Meers  6–2, 6–2, 6–4  Wood1894   Harold Mahony   Ernest George Meers  6–4, 6–4, 6–3  Wood1895   Ernest Lewis   Harold Mahony  walkover  Wood1896   Ernest Lewis   Wilberforce Eaves   6–4, 6–1, 6–8, 4–6, 7–5  Wood1897   Wilberforce Eaves   Ernest Lewis  6–3, 6–3, 7–5  Wood1898   Wilberforce Eaves   Laurence Doherty  6–4, 7–5, 6–3  Wood1899   Wilberforce Eaves    Harold Mahony  6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4  Wood1900   Arthur Gore   Major Ritchie  6–1, 7–5, 6–3  Wood1901   Laurence Doherty   Arthur Gore  6–3, 6–1, 6–1  Wood1902   Laurence Doherty   Major Ritchie  6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3  Wood1903   Laurence Doherty   George Hillyard  6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 Wood1904   Laurence Doherty   Major Ritchie  6–2, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3  Wood1905   Laurence Doherty   Major Ritchie  6–1, 8–6, 6–2  Wood1906   Laurence Doherty   Arthur Gore  6–2, 6–4, 8–6  Wood1907   Anthony Wilding   Laurence Doherty  walkover  Wood1908   Arthur Gore   Anthony Wilding  4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 8–6  Wood1909   Major Ritchie   Arthur Gore  7–5, 8–6, 6–3  Wood1910   Gordon Lowe   Arthur Lowe  6–4, 6–0, 6–1  Wood1911   André Gobert   Gordon Lowe  6–3, 7–5, 6–3  Wood1912   André Gobert   Anthony Wilding  3–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4  Wood1913   Percival Davson   Erik Larsen  5–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2  Wood1914   Major Ritchie   Percival Davson  8–6, 6–3, 6–1  Wood1915–1918  Not held (due to World War I)1919   Percival Davson   Major Ritchie  6–2, 6–3, 8–6  Wood1920   André Gobert   Percival Davson  6–4, 7–5, 6–2  Wood1921   André Gobert   Walter Crawley  6–2, 6–4, 4–6, 0–6, 7–5  Wood1922   André Gobert    Brian I. C. Norton  4–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–2  Wood1923   John D. Wheatley   Hassan Ali Fyzee  1–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–4  Wood1924   Patrick Spence   John D. Wheatley  6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1  Wood1925   Sydney Jacob   Patrick Spence  3–6, 7–5, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3  Wood1926   Jean Borotra   Donald Greig  6–3, 6–2, 6–4  Wood1927   Edward Higgs   Gordon Crole Rees  6–4, 6–3, 6–4  Wood1928   Jean Borotra   Gordon Crole Rees  4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3  Wood1929   Jean Borotra   Nigel Sharpe  7–5, 6–2, 6–2  Wood1930   Jean Borotra   Henry Austin  6–1, 0–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4  Wood1931   Jean Borotra   Jiro Satoh  10–8, 6–3, 0–6, 6–3  Wood1932   Jean Borotra   Harry Lee  6–2, 6–3, 6–3  Wood1933   Jean Borotra   Henry Austin  6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4  Wood1934   Henry Austin   Jean Borotra  6–2, 4–6, 6–0, 6–8, 6–2 Wood1935   Jean Borotra   Nigel Sharpe  6–0, 6–2, 6–0  Wood1936   Karl Schröder   Jean Borotra  8–6, 6–1, 9–7  Wood1937   Henry Austin   Karl Schröder  6–2, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2  Wood1938   Jean Borotra   Donald Butler  6–0, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2  Wood1939–1946  Not held (due to World War II)1947   Ivo Rinkel   Ernest Wittman  3–6, 7–5, 7–5 Wood1948   Jean Borotra   Geoffrey Paish  6–3, 6–3, 6–2 Wood1949   Jean Borotra   Geoffrey Paish  6–4, 6–3, 6–3 Wood1950   Jaroslav Drobný   Geoffrey Paish  6–3, 6–2, 6–0  Wood1951   Geoffrey Paish   Ignacy Tłoczyński  6–4, 6–4, 6–1  Wood1952   Jaroslav Drobný   Tony Mottram  6–3, 6–4, 8–6 Wood1953   Jaroslav Drobný   Robert Wilson  6–2, 7–5, 6–2 Wood1954   Jaroslav Drobný   Władysław Skonecki  7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4 Wood1955   Władysław Skonecki   William Knight  5–7, 7–5, 6–4, 9–7 Wood1956   Alfred Huber   Geoffrey Paish  7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4 Wood1957  Not held1958   Mike Davies   Owen Davidson  5–7, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 Wood1959   Robert Wilson   Kurt Nielsen  6–3, 8–6, 6–2  Wood1960   William Knight   Robert Wilson  6–3, 6–4, 8–6  Wood1961   Anthony Pickard   Manuel Santana  6–1, 6–3, 6–3 Wood1962   Robert Wilson   William Knight  3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 6–2  Wood1963   Robert Wilson   Roger Taylor  16–14, 6–2, 9–7  Wood1964   Mike Sangster   Robert Wilson  6–3, 8–6, 6–4  Wood1965   Robert Wilson   Mark Cox  6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4  Wood1966–1967  Not held''Open era''1968   Bob Hewitt   Bob Lutz  4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 10–8 Wood1969   Rod Laver   Tony Roche  6–4, 6–1, 6–3 Carpet1970   Rod Laver   Cliff Richey  6–3, 6–4, 7–5 Carpet1971   Ilie Năstase   Rod Laver   3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 Carpet===Women's singles===YearChampionsRunners-upScoreSurface1890   May Jacks   Maud Shackle 6–0, 6–1  Wood1891   Maud Shackle   May Jacks 7–5, 6–2  Wood1892   Maud Shackle   May Arbuthnot 6–3, 3–6, 6–2  Wood1893   Maud Shackle   May Arbuthnot 6–2, 1–6, 7–5  Wood1894   Edith Austin   May Arbuthnot 2–6, 6–4, 7–5  Wood1895   Charlotte Cooper   Edith Austin 6–4, 3–6, 6–1  Wood1896   Edith Austin   Charlotte Cooper 6–2, 3–6, 6–3  Wood1897   Edith Austin   Ruth Dyas 9–11, 6–4, 12–10  Wood1898   Edith Austin   Ruth Pennington-Legh 6–3, 2–6, 6–2  Wood1899   Edith Austin   Charlotte Cooper 6–2, 6–4  Wood1900   Toupie Lowther   Edith Austin Greville 2–6, 7–5, 6–4  Wood1901   Blanche Bingley Hillyard   Toupie Lowther 6–2, 6–3  Wood1902   Toupie Lowther   Gladys Duddell 6–3, 6–1  Wood1903   Toupie Lowther   Adine Masson 6–1, 6–0  Wood1904   Dorothea Douglass   Edith Austin Greville 6–2, 6–3  Wood1905   Hilda Lane   Gladys Eastlake Smith 6–4, 8–6  Wood1906   Dorothea Douglass   Hilda Lane 6–2, 6–0  Wood1907   Gladys Eastlake Smith   Mildred Coles 6–3, 6–3  Wood1908   Dorothea Douglass Chambers   Gladys Eastlake Smith 6–3, 6–3  Wood1909   Dora Boothby   Madeline O'Neill 6–1, 6–3  Wood1910   Dorothea Douglass Chambers   Madeline O'Neill 6–4, 6–3  Wood1911   Dorothea Douglass Chambers   Helen Aitchison 6–3, 6–1  Wood1912   Dorothy Holman   Aurea Edgington 6–2, 6–0  Wood1913   Dorothea Douglass Chambers   Dorothy Holman 6–2, 6–3  Wood1914   Dorothy Holman   Madeline O'Neill 7–9, 6–1, 6–2  Wood1915–1918  Not held1919   Dorothea Douglass Chambers   Dorothy Holman 6–3, 6–3  Wood1920   Elizabeth Ryan    Doris Craddock  6–4, 6–2  Wood1921   Dorothy Holman   Irene Bowder Peacock  6–1, 3–6, 6–4  Wood1922   Dorothy Holman   Doris Craddock 6–2, 6–1  Wood1923   Mabel Davey Clayton   Aurea Edgington  6–3, 6–2  Wood1924   Geraldine Beamish   Doris Craddock 6–4, 6–4  Wood1925   Joan Reid-Thomas   Blanche Colston 6–2, 7–5  Wood1926   Peggy Saunders   Betty Dix 6–4, 6–2  Wood1927   Eileen Bennett   Cristobel Hardie 6–4, 6–0  Wood1928   Kathleen McKane Godfree   Eileen Bennett 6–1, 6–2  Wood1929   Peggy Saunders Michell   Joan Ridley 6–4, 6–4  Wood1930   Joan Ridley   Joan Fry 6–2, 6–2  Wood1931   Mary Heeley   Jeanette Morfey 6–1, 6–0  Wood1932   Peggy Scriven   Kay Stammers 6–2, 6–4  Wood1933   Phyllis King   Kay Stammers 10–12, 6–1, 6–3  Wood1934   Phyllis King   Mary Hardwick 6–3, 4–6, 6–2  Wood1935   Peggy Scriven   Ermyntrude Harvey 6–2, 6–2  Wood1936   Anita Lizana   Mary Hardwick 6–3, 6–0  Wood1937   Peggy Scriven   Phyllis King 6–1, 6–2  Wood1938   Peggy Scriven   Alexandra McOstrich McKelvie 6–3, 4–6, 6–1  Wood1939–1947  Not held1948   Gem Hoahing   Joan Curry 1–6, 6–3, 7–5  Wood1949   Joan Curry   Jean Quertier 6–1, 6–0  Wood1950   Jean Quertier   Joan Curry 3–6, 7–5, 6–3  Wood1951   Susan Partridge   Jean Walker-Smith 6–4, 6–4  Wood1952   Angela Mortimer   Susan Partridge 6–3, 3–6, 6–3  Wood1953   Angela Mortimer   Georgie Woodgate 6–3, 6–2  Wood1954   Angela Mortimer   Shirley Bloomer 6–2, 6–3  Wood1955   Anne Shilcock   Pat Ward 6–2, 6–4  Wood1956   Angela Buxton   Anne Shilcock 6–2, 6–2  Wood1957  Not held1958   Anne Shilcock   Christine Truman 6–2, 6–2  Wood1959   Angela Mortimer   Pat Ward 6–2, 6–3  Wood1960   Angela Mortimer   Ann Haydon 7–5, retired  Wood1961   Angela Mortimer   Christine Truman 2–6, 6–1, 6–4  Wood1962   Ann Haydon   Christine Truman 6–4, 4–6, 9–7  Wood1963   Deidre Catt   Renée Schuurman 4–6, 6–3, 6–3  Wood1964   Ann Haydon-Jones   Fay Toyne 6–3, 6–3  Wood1965   Ann Haydon-Jones   Fay Toyne 6–2, 6–1  Wood1966–1967  Not held''Open era''1968   Margaret Court   Virginia Wade  10–8, 6–1 Wood1969   Ann Haydon-Jones   Billie Jean King  9–11, 6–2, 9–7 Carpet1970   Billie Jean King   Ann Haydon-Jones 8–6, 3–6, 6–1  Carpet1971   Billie Jean King   Françoise Dürr 6–1, 5–7, 7–5  Carpet
Records ===Men's singles===Source: *Most titles:  Jean Borotra, 11*Most consecutive titles:  Jean Borotra, 6*Most finals:  Jean Borotra, 13*Most consecutive finals:  Jean Borotra, 9*Most matches played:  Major Ritchie, 83*Most matches won:  Jean Borotra, (67)*Most consecutive match wins:  Jean Borotra, 35*Most editions played:  Major Ritchie, 30*Best match winning %: André Gobert 94.12% *Longest final:  Laurence Doherty v  Major Ritchie, result: 6–2, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3, 57 games, 1904*Shortest final:  Jean Borotra v  Nigel Sharpe, result: 6–0, 6–2, 6–0, 20 games, 1935*Title won with the fewest games lost,  Ernest Wool Lewis, 22, 1887*Oldest champion:  Jean Borotra, 51y 1m and 28d, 1949*Youngest champion:  Edward Lake Williams, 19y 9m and 12d, 1886
See also * British Hard Court Championships
References