# Rothmans Connaught Hard Court Championships

The Rothmans Connaught Hard Court Championships also known simply as the Connaught Hard Courts was a combined men's and women's clay court tennis tournament founded in 1951. The championships were organised by the Connaught Lawn Tennis Club, Chingford, Essex, England. The tournament ran until 1974.

## History

The Connaught Hard Court Championships, were established in 1951 as an open tournament held at the Connaught Lawn Tennis Club (f.1885), Chingford, Essex, England. The tournament was continually staged until 1974. The tournament was sponsored by the tobacco company Rothmans International from 1971 to 1974.
Notable winners of the men's singles title included; Tony Mottram, Jack Arkinstall, Torben Ulrich, Sven Davidson, Lew Hoad, Rod Laver, Jaroslav Drobný, and Owen Davidson. Previous winners of women's singles title included; Doris Hart, Angela Mortimer, Christine Truman, Norma Baylon, Ann Haydon Jones, Virginia Wade, and Dianne Fromholtz.

## Finals
### Men's singles

(Incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| ↓ ILTF Circuit ↓ ||||
| 1951 | Tony Mottram | John Horn | 6-0, 6-3 |
| 1952 | Tony Mottram (2) | Ignacy Tloczynski | 2-6, 6-1, 6-3 |
| 1953 | Jack Arkinstall | Don Black | 6-3, 6-0 |
| 1954 | Torben Ulrich | Bobby Wilson | 6-2, 1-6, 6-0 |
| 1955 | Sven Davidson | Mike Davies | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 1956 | Lew Hoad | Bobby Wilson | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 1957 | Jaroslav Drobný | Mike Davies | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1958 | Roger Becker | Mike Davies | 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1959 | Roger Becker (2) | Bobby Wilson | 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 |
| 1960 | Bobby Wilson | Roger Becker | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1961 | Bobby Wilson (2) | Alan Mills | 8-6, 6-1 |
| 1962 | Rod Laver | Martin Mulligan | 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1963 | Bobby Wilson (3) | Mike Sangster | 8-6, 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1964 | Bobby Wilson (4) | Mike Sangster | 6-2, 6-3 |
| 1965 | Bobby Wilson (5) | Mark Cox | 6-2, 8-6 |
| 1966 | Bobby Wilson (6) | Alan Mills | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1967 | Birger Folke | Lars Ölander | 6-3, 2-6, 14-12 |
| 1968 | Paul Hutchins | Bobby Wilson | 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| 1969 | Allan Stone | John Cooper | 6-4, 6-2 |
| 1972 | Hank Irvine | John Clifton | 6-2, 6-2 |
| 1973 | Owen Davidson | Colin Dowdeswell | 3-6, 9-8, 6-1 |

### Women's singles

(Incomplete roll)
| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
| ↓ ILTF Circuit ↓ ||||
| 1951 | Kay Tuckey | Joy Gannon Mottram | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 1952 | Jean Walker-Smith | Joy Gannon Mottram | 1-6, 9-7, 6-4 |
| 1953 | Doris Hart | Shirley Fry | 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 1954 | Leonie Thorn Brighton | Jenny Middleton | 7-5, 6-3 |
| 1955 | Angela Mortimer | Elaine Watson | 6-1, 6-0 |
| 1956 | Angela Mortimer (2) | Jenny Middleton | 6-3, 6-1 |
| 1957 | Christine Truman | Elaine Shenton | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1958 | Christine Truman (2) | Ann Haydon | 6-3, 8-6 |
| 1959 | Angela Mortimer (3) | Christine Truman | 6-3, 7-5 |
| 1960 | Angela Mortimer (4) | Christine Truman | 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 |
| 1961 | Angela Mortimer (5) | Edda Buding | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 1962 | Angela Mortimer (6) | Christine Truman | 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1963 | Norma Baylon | Christine Truman (3) | divide title |
| 1964 | Norma Baylon (2) | Christine Truman | 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1965 | Elizabeth Starkie | Christine Truman | 8-6, 6-3 |
| 1966 | Ann Haydon Jones | Virginia Wade | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 1967 | Virginia Wade | Pat Walkden | 6-0, 9-7 |
| 1968 | Faye Toyne Moore | Virginia Wade | 6-4, 8-6 |
| ↓ Open era ↓ ||||
| 1969 | Corinne Molesworth | Shirley Bloomer Brasher | 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 1972 | Cynthia Sieler | Wendy Appleby | 7-5, 7-5 |
| 1973 | Dianne Fromholtz | Ilana Kloss | 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 |

## Tournament records

* Most men's singles titles: Bobby Wilson (6)
* Most men's singles finals: Bobby Wilson (8)
* Most women's singles titles: Angela Mortimer (6)
* Most women's singles finals: Christine Truman (8)