# British Covered Court Championships

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
### Men's singles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | Surface |
| 1885 | Herbert Lawford | Charles Ross | 7–5, 6–3, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1886 | Teddy Williams | Herbert Lawford | 6–2, 1–6, 5–7, 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1887 | Ernest Lewis | Teddy Williams | 6–2, 6–2, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1888 | Ernest Lewis | Ernest George Meers | 6–3, 6–0, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1889 | Ernest Lewis | James Crispe | 6–1, 6–1, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1890 | Ernest Lewis | Ernest George Meers | 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1891 | Ernest Lewis | Ernest George Meers | 6–4, 8–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1892 | Ernest George Meers | Ernest Lewis | 6–3, 3–6, 6–1, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1893 | Harold Mahony | Ernest George Meers | 6–2, 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1894 | Harold Mahony | Ernest George Meers | 6–4, 6–4, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1895 | Ernest Lewis | Harold Mahony | walkover | Wood |
| 1896 | Ernest Lewis | Wilberforce Eaves | 6–4, 6–1, 6–8, 4–6, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1897 | Wilberforce Eaves | Ernest Lewis | 6–3, 6–3, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1898 | Wilberforce Eaves | Laurence Doherty | 6–4, 7–5, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1899 | Wilberforce Eaves | Harold Mahony | 6–2, 6–4, 6–8, 3–6, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1900 | Arthur Gore | Major Ritchie | 6–1, 7–5, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1901 | Laurence Doherty | Arthur Gore | 6–3, 6–1, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1902 | Laurence Doherty | Major Ritchie | 6–4, 6–3, 5–7, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1903 | Laurence Doherty | George Hillyard | 6–1, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1904 | Laurence Doherty | Major Ritchie | 6–2, 8–10, 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1905 | Laurence Doherty | Major Ritchie | 6–1, 8–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1906 | Laurence Doherty | Arthur Gore | 6–2, 6–4, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1907 | Anthony Wilding | Laurence Doherty | walkover | Wood |
| 1908 | Arthur Gore | Anthony Wilding | 4–6, 8–6, 6–0, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1909 | Major Ritchie | Arthur Gore | 7–5, 8–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1910 | Gordon Lowe | Arthur Lowe | 6–4, 6–0, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1911 | André Gobert | Gordon Lowe | 6–3, 7–5, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1912 | André Gobert | Anthony Wilding | 3–6, 7–5, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1913 | Percival Davson | Erik Larsen | 5–7, 6–2, 6–3, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1914 | Major Ritchie | Percival Davson | 8–6, 6–3, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1915–1918 | Not held (due to World War I) | Not held (due to World War I) | Not held (due to World War I) | Not held (due to World War I) |
| 1919 | Percival Davson | Major Ritchie | 6–2, 6–3, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1920 | André Gobert | Percival Davson | 6–4, 7–5, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1921 | André Gobert | Walter Crawley | 6–2, 6–4, 4–6, 0–6, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1922 | André Gobert | Brian I. C. Norton | 4–6, 6–1, 6–8, 6–4, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1923 | John D. Wheatley | Hassan Ali Fyzee | 1–6, 6–2, 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1924 | Patrick Spence | John D. Wheatley | 6–2, 6–2, 4–6, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1925 | Sydney Jacob | Patrick Spence | 3–6, 7–5, 6–0, 3–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1926 | Jean Borotra | Donald Greig | 6–3, 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1927 | Edward Higgs | Gordon Crole Rees | 6–4, 6–3, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1928 | Jean Borotra | Gordon Crole Rees | 4–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1929 | Jean Borotra | Nigel Sharpe | 7–5, 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1930 | Jean Borotra | Henry Austin | 6–1, 0–6, 2–6, 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1931 | Jean Borotra | Jiro Satoh | 10–8, 6–3, 0–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1932 | Jean Borotra | Harry Lee | 6–2, 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1933 | Jean Borotra | Henry Austin | 6–3, 5–7, 6–4, 1–6, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1934 | Henry Austin | Jean Borotra | 6–2, 4–6, 6–0, 6–8, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1935 | Jean Borotra | Nigel Sharpe | 6–0, 6–2, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1936 | Karl Schröder | Jean Borotra | 8–6, 6–1, 9–7 | Wood |
| 1937 | Henry Austin | Karl Schröder | 6–2, 3–6, 7–5, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1938 | Jean Borotra | Donald Butler | 6–0, 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1939–1946 | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) | Not held (due to World War II) |
| 1947 | Ivo Rinkel | Ernest Wittman | 3–6, 7–5, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1948 | Jean Borotra | Geoffrey Paish | 6–3, 6–3, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1949 | Jean Borotra | Geoffrey Paish | 6–4, 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1950 | Jaroslav Drobný | Geoffrey Paish | 6–3, 6–2, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1951 | Geoffrey Paish | Ignacy Tłoczyński | 6–4, 6–4, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1952 | Jaroslav Drobný | Tony Mottram | 6–3, 6–4, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1953 | Jaroslav Drobný | Robert Wilson | 6–2, 7–5, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1954 | Jaroslav Drobný | Władysław Skonecki | 7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1955 | Władysław Skonecki | William Knight | 5–7, 7–5, 6–4, 9–7 | Wood |
| 1956 | Alfred Huber | Geoffrey Paish | 7–5, 7–5, 7–9, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1957 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1958 | Mike Davies | Owen Davidson | 5–7, 6–1, 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1959 | Robert Wilson | Kurt Nielsen | 6–3, 8–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1960 | William Knight | Robert Wilson | 6–3, 6–4, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1961 | Anthony Pickard | Manuel Santana | 6–1, 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1962 | Robert Wilson | William Knight | 3–6, 6–3, 8–6, 2–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1963 | Robert Wilson | Roger Taylor | 16–14, 6–2, 9–7 | Wood |
| 1964 | Mike Sangster | Robert Wilson | 6–3, 8–6, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1965 | Robert Wilson | Mark Cox | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1966–1967 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| Open era |||||
| 1968 | Bob Hewitt | Bob Lutz | 4–6, 6–2, 6–4, 10–8 | Wood |
| 1969 | Rod Laver | Tony Roche | 6–4, 6–1, 6–3 | Carpet |
| 1970 | Rod Laver | Cliff Richey | 6–3, 6–4, 7–5 | Carpet |
| 1971 | Ilie Năstase | Rod Laver | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–4 | Carpet |

### Women's singles

| Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score | Surface |
| 1890 | May Jacks | Maud Shackle | 6–0, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1891 | Maud Shackle | May Jacks | 7–5, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1892 | Maud Shackle | May Arbuthnot | 6–3, 3–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1893 | Maud Shackle | May Arbuthnot | 6–2, 1–6, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1894 | Edith Austin | May Arbuthnot | 2–6, 6–4, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1895 | Charlotte Cooper | Edith Austin | 6–4, 3–6, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1896 | Edith Austin | Charlotte Cooper | 6–2, 3–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1897 | Edith Austin | Ruth Dyas | 9–11, 6–4, 12–10 | Wood |
| 1898 | Edith Austin | Ruth Pennington-Legh | 6–3, 2–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1899 | Edith Austin | Charlotte Cooper | 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1900 | Toupie Lowther | Edith Austin Greville | 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1901 | Blanche Bingley Hillyard | Toupie Lowther | 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1902 | Toupie Lowther | Gladys Duddell | 6–3, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1903 | Toupie Lowther | Adine Masson | 6–1, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1904 | Dorothea Douglass | Edith Austin Greville | 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1905 | Hilda Lane | Gladys Eastlake Smith | 6–4, 8–6 | Wood |
| 1906 | Dorothea Douglass | Hilda Lane | 6–2, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1907 | Gladys Eastlake Smith | Mildred Coles | 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1908 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | Gladys Eastlake Smith | 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1909 | Dora Boothby | Madeline O'Neill | 6–1, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1910 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | Madeline O'Neill | 6–4, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1911 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | Helen Aitchison | 6–3, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1912 | Dorothy Holman | Aurea Edgington | 6–2, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1913 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | Dorothy Holman | 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1914 | Dorothy Holman | Madeline O'Neill | 7–9, 6–1, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1915–1918 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1919 | Dorothea Douglass Chambers | Dorothy Holman | 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1920 | Elizabeth Ryan | Doris Craddock | 6–4, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1921 | Dorothy Holman | Irene Bowder Peacock | 6–1, 3–6, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1922 | Dorothy Holman | Doris Craddock | 6–2, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1923 | Mabel Davey Clayton | Aurea Edgington | 6–3, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1924 | Geraldine Beamish | Doris Craddock | 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1925 | Joan Reid-Thomas | Blanche Colston | 6–2, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1926 | Peggy Saunders | Betty Dix | 6–4, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1927 | Eileen Bennett | Cristobel Hardie | 6–4, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1928 | Kathleen McKane Godfree | Eileen Bennett | 6–1, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1929 | Peggy Saunders Michell | Joan Ridley | 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1930 | Joan Ridley | Joan Fry | 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1931 | Mary Heeley | Jeanette Morfey | 6–1, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1932 | Peggy Scriven | Kay Stammers | 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1933 | Phyllis King | Kay Stammers | 10–12, 6–1, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1934 | Phyllis King | Mary Hardwick | 6–3, 4–6, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1935 | Peggy Scriven | Ermyntrude Harvey | 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1936 | Anita Lizana | Mary Hardwick | 6–3, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1937 | Peggy Scriven | Phyllis King | 6–1, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1938 | Peggy Scriven | Alexandra McOstrich McKelvie | 6–3, 4–6, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1939–1947 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1948 | Gem Hoahing | Joan Curry | 1–6, 6–3, 7–5 | Wood |
| 1949 | Joan Curry | Jean Quertier | 6–1, 6–0 | Wood |
| 1950 | Jean Quertier | Joan Curry | 3–6, 7–5, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1951 | Susan Partridge | Jean Walker-Smith | 6–4, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1952 | Angela Mortimer | Susan Partridge | 6–3, 3–6, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1953 | Angela Mortimer | Georgie Woodgate | 6–3, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1954 | Angela Mortimer | Shirley Bloomer | 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1955 | Anne Shilcock | Pat Ward | 6–2, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1956 | Angela Buxton | Anne Shilcock | 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1957 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| 1958 | Anne Shilcock | Christine Truman | 6–2, 6–2 | Wood |
| 1959 | Angela Mortimer | Pat Ward | 6–2, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1960 | Angela Mortimer | Ann Haydon | 7–5, retired | Wood |
| 1961 | Angela Mortimer | Christine Truman | 2–6, 6–1, 6–4 | Wood |
| 1962 | Ann Haydon | Christine Truman | 6–4, 4–6, 9–7 | Wood |
| 1963 | Deidre Catt | Renée Schuurman | 4–6, 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1964 | Ann Haydon-Jones | Fay Toyne | 6–3, 6–3 | Wood |
| 1965 | Ann Haydon-Jones | Fay Toyne | 6–2, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1966–1967 | Not held | Not held | Not held | Not held |
| Open era |||||
| 1968 | Margaret Court | Virginia Wade | 10–8, 6–1 | Wood |
| 1969 | Ann Haydon-Jones | Billie Jean King | 9–11, 6–2, 9–7 | Carpet |
| 1970 | Billie Jean King | Ann Haydon-Jones | 8–6, 3–6, 6–1 | Carpet |
| 1971 | 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