# Darlington Open

The Darlington Open. also known as the Darlington Association Tournament was a late Victorian era men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1881. It was organised by the Darlington Outdoor's Sports Association and held at the Feethams Cricket Ground Darlington, County Durham, England. The tournament ran annually until 1933.

## History

Darlington Open Tournament was founded in 1881 by the Darlington Outdoor's Sports Association, and held at the Feethams Cricket Ground Darlington, County Durham, England until 1893. The inaugural was held from 1 August to 6 August 1881. The winner of the men's singles was Mr. Mark Fenwick who defeated Mr. Arthur Richard Springett. The women's singles was won by Miss Ethel Surtees who defeated Miss Alice Cheese.
A local newspaper report of the event that concluded on early August 1882:
   “A great and fashionable assembly” witnessed Mr. Hallward beat Mr. Minden Fenwick in the Gentlemen’s Single Handed Final. Miss Smith beat Miss Turner to the ladies’ title, and the Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Double Handed competition was won by Mr. J.W. Fowler and Miss. E Cheese.
The final edition concluded on 12 August 1893 the winner of men's singles was Mr. Harold Mahony and the winner of the women's singles was Miss Charlotte Cooper.
Other notable winners of this title in the men's singles include Herbert William Wrangham Wilberforce (1883, 1887, 1888) and Patrick Bowes-Lyon (1884–1886). Whilst former women's singles winners included Helen Jackson (1887) and Lottie Dod (1888). Of note the ladies singles tournament was not played at every edition. The tournament ran annually until 1933 when it was dropped by the County Durham Lawn Tennis Association along with the following Norton Open and Ryton Open.

## Finals

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), in some tournaments not all.

### Men's Singles

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1881. | Mark Fenwick | G. H. Evans | 6–0, 4–6, 6–2 |
| 1882. | Arthur Hallward * | Minden Fenwick | 6–1, 4–6, 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1883. | Herbert Wilberforce * | Arthur Hallward | 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 |
| 1884. | Patrick Bowes-Lyon * | Herbert Wilberforce | 7-9, 6-2, 6-1, ret. |
| 1885. | Patrick Bowes-Lyon (2) | Kenneth Ramsden Marley * | 6–0, 6–1, 6–3 |
| 1886. | Patrick Bowes-Lyon (3) | Arthur Godfrey Pease * | ? |
| 1887. | Herbert Wilberforce (2) | John Galbraith Horn | 6–0, 6–0, 6–1 |
| 1888. | Herbert Wilberforce (3) | Herbert Bowes-Lyon * | 6–2, 6–2, ret. |
| 1889. | Frank Noon | George Richmond Mewburn | 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 |
| 1890. | Frank Noon (2) | Henry Johnston Carson | 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–4, 6–1 |
| 1891. | George Ball-Greene | Harold Weston Carlton | 6–4, 6–3, 1–6, 6–2 |
| 1892. | Grainger Chaytor * | George Ball-Greene | 7–5, 6–3, 7–5 |
| 1893. | Harold Mahony * | Grainger Chaytor | w.o. |

### Men's Doubles

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1881. | Mark Fenwick Minden Fenwick | Mr. Long George E. Newby | 5–6, 6–1, 6–3 |

### Women's Single's

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1881. | Miss. Ethel Surtees | Miss. Alice Cheese | 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1882. | Miss. Ethel Surtees (2) | Miss. Alice Cheese | 3–6, 6–3, 6–1 |
| 1887. | Constance Smith | Anthea Turner | 6–3, 6–0 |
| 1893. | Charlotte Cooper | Miss. Shaw | 6–0, 6–1 |

### Women's Doubles

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1881. | Miss. A, Stobart Miss. E. Hunt | Miss. Bell Miss. F. Lightfoot | won |

### Mixed Doubles

| Year | Winner | Runner-up | Score |
| 1881. | Sir James Blackhouse Dale Miss. Alice Cheese | Percival Clennell Fenwick Miss. Winnifred Fenwick | 9–7, 6–3 |
| 1882. | J.W. Fowler Miss. E. Cheese | Percival Clennell Fenwick Miss. Winnifred Fenwick | 7–5, 8–6 |
| 1893. | Harold Mahony Miss. Charlotte Cooper | Henry Gervas Stobart Miss. Shaw | 6–1, 6–4 |