# 1881 women's tennis season

The 1881 Women's tennis season was a tennis circuit composed of 39 national, regional, county, and regular tournaments. The season began in April in Cheltenham, England, and ended in October in Queen's Park, Brighton, England.

## Season summary

Prior to the creation of the International Lawn Tennis Federation and the establishment of its world championship events in 1913 the Wimbledon Championships, the U.S. National Championships, the Irish Lawn Tennis Championships and the Northern Championships were considered by players and historians as the four most important tennis tournaments to win.
This year for women there would be a tennis circuit of sorts starting to form. 1881 also sees the first indoor tournament for women the Cheltenham Covered Court Championships organised by the Cheltenham Lawn Tennis Club and played on wood courts at the Imperial Winter Gardens, Cheltenham, England.
At the only major event to feature women's competition the Irish Championships in Dublin the women's singles and doubles events were not held, but a mixed doubles event was staged won by Ireland's Mary Abercrombie and England's William Renshaw. In terms of draw size the Exmouth Open was the largest as far as women competitors were concerned with 26 in the main singles draw.
In May 1881 the first national tennis association is formed that being the United States Lawn Tennis Association. At the first official U.S. National Championships there was no women's events and it would be eight years before there would be. In Australia the University of Sydney Lawn Tennis Club formed in 1881 and officially incorporated in 1885, was the only venue in the country following admission of women undergraduates to have active players.
At the 1881 Wimbledon Championships the world's first major tennis tournament, it still remained an all men's event, no women's events were staged. On 26 November 1881 indoor tennis was played inside the 7th Regiment Armory in New York City on with twelve courts for the use of women. In 1913 the International Lawn Tennis Federation was created, that consisted of national member associations. The ILTF through its associated members then became responsible for supervising women's tour events.

## Season results

Notes 1: 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.
This year 26 singles, 7 doubles and 20 mixed doubles events were held.
Key
* Main events.
* National events
* provincial/state/regional events
* County events
* Regular events

### January to March

No events

### April

    * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 23 Apr. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Marion Bradley 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 | Florence Mardall | Mary Abercrombie Ellen Ramsay | Edith Atherley Mrs Hill Frances Morris Mrs H. Ramsay |
| 23 Apr. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Clara Hill* Ellen Ramsay 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Dark Miss Jones | Mary Abercrombie Ellen Ramsay | Edith Atherley Mrs Hill Frances Morris Mrs H. Ramsay |
| 23 Apr. | Cheltenham Covered Court Championships Imperial Winter Gardens Cheltenham, England Wood (i) Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Miss Williams** Ernest Browne default | Florence Mardall Henry Blane Porter | Mary Abercrombie Ellen Ramsay | Edith Atherley Mrs Hill Frances Morris Mrs H. Ramsay |

### May

| Date | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
| 12 May | Devonshire Park Championships (Spring) Devonshire Park LTC Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Agnes Watts 2 sets to 0 | E Hudson | | |
| 12 May | Devonshire Park Championships (Spring) Devonshire Park LTC Eastbourne, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles | Agnes Watts** Sidney Alfred Noon 2 sets to 0t | E Hudson E.R. Hudson | | |
| 19 May | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Kettering, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 | M Blencowe | | |
| 19 May | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament Kettering, England Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | Miss E. Hall * Miss H.B. Upcher Won | | | |
| 19 May | West of England Championships Lansdowne CC Bath, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Gertrude Gibbs 6-0, 7-5 | Annie Layard | Clara Hill | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall |
| 19 May | West of England Championships Lansdowne CC Bath, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter 6-0, 8-6 | Grace Gibbs William Bush-Salmon | Clara Hill | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall |
| 28 May | Irish Championships Fitzwilliam LTC Dublin, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Mary Abercrombie ** William Renshaw 6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–3 | Miss Costello Spencer Duncan Maul | | |

### June

    ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
| 4 Jun | West of England Championships Lansdowne CC Bath, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Gertrude Gibbs 6-0, 7-5 | Annie Layard | Clara Hill | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall |
| 4 Jun | West of England Championships Lansdowne CC Bath, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Florence Mardall** Henry Blane Porter 6-0, 8-6 | Grace Gibbs William J. Bush-Salmon | Clara Hill | Georgina Kirkby Florence Mardall |
| 19 Jun. | Liverpool Cricket Club Lawn Tennis Tournament Liverpool CLTC Liverpool II, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Nixon * Miss Black Won | Miss F. Fitzroy Algernon Aylmer | | |
| 26 Jun. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament North Northants LTC Kettering II, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss A. Stobart * Miss E. Hunt Def | Miss E. Hall Miss F. Lightfoot | | |
| 26 Jun. | North Northamptonshire LTC Tournament North Northants LTC Kettering II, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Mrs Upcher Mr. A. Pulteney def | Miss Bell Mr H. Stockdale | | |

### July

    * (denotes doubles) ** (denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | All comers' finalist | Semifinalist | Quarterfinalist |
| 2 Jul | Championship of the Sydney LTC Sydney LTC Bath II, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Freeling Won | ? | | |
| 7 Jul. | Ripon Club Tournament Ripon LTC Ripon, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Healey ** Mr A.J. Wise 2–1 sets | Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann | | |
| 11 Jul. | Tonbridge LTC Tournament Tonbridge LTC Tonbridge, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Gorham ** Mr C. Lachlan 2–1 sets | Miss Springett Mr. J. L. Shann | | |
| 12 Jul. | Bedfordshire LTC Tournament Befordshire LTC Blenham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss L. Archdale Won | ? | | |
| 16 Jul | Staffordshire C.C.C. Tournament Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Club Lichfield, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | Rose Collier 6-0, 6-5 | M Blencowe | | |
| 16 Jul | Staffordshire C.C.C. Tournament Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Club Lichfield, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles - Mix Doubles - | M Blencowe** A. Blencowe 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Peters-Smith A Denton | | |
| 23 Jul | Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Maud Watson 6-3 6-1 6-4 | Lilian Watson | K. Stretton | K.H. Cartland Miss Chamberlain K. Holliday |
| 23 Jul | Edgbaston Open Tournament Edgbaston, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Lilian Watson* Maud Watson 6-1, 6-3 | K. Cartland * L. Hutton | K. Stretton | K.H. Cartland Miss Chamberlain K. Holliday |
| 26 Jul. | Norwich Open Norwich LTC Norwich, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss M. Raikes 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 | Miss Burleigh | | |
| 30 Jul | London Athletic Club Open Tournament Stamford Bridge, England Grass Singles - Doubles | M Raikes 5-0, 5-2 | Miss Burleigh | | |

### August

(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
| 1 Aug. | Hexham Tournament Hexham LTC Hexham, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Gibson ** Jasper Gibson 2–0 sets | Mrs Peters-Smith Mr A Denton | | |
| 4 Aug. | Cirencester Park Lawn Tennis Tournament Earl Bathurst Estate Cirencester Park Cirencester, Gloucestershire, England Outdoor Grass Singles - Doubles | Gertrude Gibbs | Marian Smith | | |
| 6 Aug | Darlington Association Tournament Darlington, England Grass Singles - Mix Doubles | Ethel Surtees 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 | Alice Cheese | LML Turner | Minnie Congreve Winifred Fenwick Mrs JB Dale |
| 6 Aug | Darlington Association Tournament Darlington, England Grass Singles - Mix Doubles | Alice Cheese ** J.B. Dale 9-7, 6-3 | Winifred Fenwick Percival C. Fenwick | LML Turner | Minnie Congreve Winifred Fenwick Mrs JB Dale |
| 6 Aug | County Kildare Championship County Limerick CC Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles – | Miss C. Vesey Won | Miss F. Metcalfe | | |
| 6 Aug | County Kildare Championship County Limerick CC Naas, Ireland Outdoor Grass Singles – | Miss F. Metcalfe ** Algeron Aylmer won | | | |
| 6 Aug | Waterford Annual Lawn Tennis Tournament Waterford Cricket Club Waterford, County Waterford, Ireland Grass Singles | May Langrishe 6-2, 6-1 | Adela Langrishe | Ann Gallwey | Miss Hunt Beatrice Langrishe |
| 8 Aug | Waterloo LTC Tournament Waterloo LTC Liverpool, England Grass Singles - Doubles | K. Rayner 6-0 6-0 | L. Cheetham | H. Rayner | Alice Bagnall-Wild A. Barry |
| 8 Aug | Waterloo LTC Tournament Waterloo LTC Liverpool, England Grass Singles - Doubles | A. Barry * F. Helder 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 | Miss Jardine Miss Jones | H. Rayner | Alice Bagnall-Wild A. Barry |
| 8 Aug | Waterloo LTC Tournament Waterloo LTC Liverpool, England Grass Singles - Doubles | K. Rayner ** J.F. Carde 6-1, 12-10 | Alice Bagnall-Wild E. Bucknell | H. Rayner | Alice Bagnall-Wild A. Barry |
| 10 Aug | South Berkshire Tournament South Berks LTC Caversham, England Grass Singles – | Miss Stokes Won | | | |
| 12 Aug | Exmouth Tournament Exmouth, England Grass Singles | Lilian Cole 6-0, 6-0 | Eveline Belfield | Maude Taylor | Mary Hoare M. Smith |
| 12 Aug | Exmouth Tournament Exmouth, England Grass Singles | Georgiana Kindersley ** Henry Kindersley 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 | Lilian Cole Thomas Arembery Tombe | Maude Taylor | Mary Hoare M. Smith |
| 12 Aug | North of Ireland Championships Cliftonville CC Belfast, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Charley ** C. Goldsmid 2–1 sets | Miss. Spunner Mr. C.H. Wright | | |
| 19 Aug. | Waterford Tournament Cliftonville CC Waterford, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Knox ** R Knox 2–1 sets | Beatrice Langrishe William Renshaw | | |
| 21 Aug | South of Ireland Championships County Limerick CC Limerick, Ireland Grass Singles - Doubles | Marian Smith 8-6, 6-1 | Miss Westropp | Mary Lysaght | |
| 26 Aug. | Teignmouth and Shaldon Tournament Teignmouth LTC Teignmouth, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Power ** Charles Cole def | Miss Robinson Champion Russell | | |
| 30 Aug | South Wales Championships Tenby LTC Tenby, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Kemmis ** P.J. Ashe 8-6, 6-1 | Miss Jones Mr Rock | | |
| 31 Aug | Sittingbourne & Gore Court Ladies Open Gore Court LTC Sittingbourne, England Grass Singles – | Miss M Malden 6–3, 6–3 | Miss Goodwin | | |
| 31 Aug | Aldershot Division Open Aldershot Division LTC Aldershot, England Grass Singles – | Miss Draper 2–0 sets | Miss Pritchard | | |

### September

(* denotes doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist | Quarter Finalist |
| 2 Sep. | Vale of Clwyd CLTC Open Vale of Clwyd CLTC Denbigh, Wales Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss L Williams 5–3, 5–3 | Miss Proctor | | |
| 8 Sep | Highclere Park Tournament Highclere, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Arkwright 6–4, 6–1 | Miss Johnson | | |
| 15 Sep. | St Leonards-on-Sea Tournament Saint Leonards LTC St Leonards-on-Sea, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Augusta Langley 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 | Constance Smith | Miss Smith | |
| 17 Sep. | Torquay LTC Tournament Torquay LTC Torquay, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Coulthard ** Mr.W. Ware 2–1 sets. | Lilian Cole Thomas A. Tombe | | |
| 19 Sep. | White Rose York Tournament White Rose LTC York, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Smith ** Mr Burke def. | Miss Smith Mr A. Hotham | | |
| 24 Sep. | East Gloucestershire Championships Montpelier Gardens Cheltenham, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Gertrude Gibbs 6-4, 6-4 | Miss Perry | Marion Bradley Clara Hill | Mary Abercrombie Florence Mardall Ellen Ramsay |
| 24 Sep. | East Gloucestershire Championships Montpelier Gardens Cheltenham, England Outdoor Grass Singles | Clara Hill * Ellen Ramsay 6-1, 6-3 | Mrs Dark Miss Jones | Marion Bradley Clara Hill | Mary Abercrombie Florence Mardall Ellen Ramsay |

### October

(*denotes doubles) (**denotes mix doubles)
| Ended | Tournament | Winner | Finalist | Semi Finalist |
| 1 Oct. | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Edith Coleridge 6-5, 6-2 | Leila Lodwick | M. Walker |
| 1 Oct. | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | Miss Maltby * E. Munt 6-2, 6-2 | Miss Saint-Clair M. Walker | M. Walker |
| 1 Oct. | Sussex County Lawn Tennis Tournament Brighton, England Grass Singles - Doubles | E. Munt ** H.B. Thornhill 6-3, 6-1 | Leila Lodwick Orlando R. Coote | M. Walker |
| 8 Oct. | Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Queen's Park, England Grass Singles | Edith Coleridge 6-5, 4-6, 6-2 | Eva Adshead | Leila Lodwick |
| 8 Oct. | Brighton Lawn Tennis Club Tournament Queen's Park, England Grass Singles | Miss Munt ** H.B. Thornhill 6-3, 6-1 | Leila Lodwick Orlando R. Coote | Leila Lodwick |

### November to December

No events

## Tournament Winners
### Singles

    This is list of winners sorted by number of singles titles (# and main titles in bold)
* Gertrude Gibbs (3) Bath, Cheltenham II, Cirencester
* Edith Coleridge (2) Brighton, Queens Park
* Miss M. Raikes (2) Norwich, Stamford Bridge
* Miss Draper (1) Aldershot
* Miss L. Archdale (1) Blenham
* Miss Stokes (1) Caversham
* Marion Bradley (1) Cheltenham
* Ethel Surtees (1) Darlington
* Miss L. Williams (1) Denbigh
* Agnes Watts (1) Eastbourne
* Maud Watson (1) Edgbaston–(1)
* Lilian Cole (1) Exmouth
* Miss Arkwright (1) Highclere
* Miss A. Jackson (1) Kettering
* Rose Collier (1) Lichfield
* Marian Smith (1) Limerick
* Kate Rayner (1) Liverpool
* Miss C. Vesey 1) Naas
* Miss M Malden (1) Sittingbourne
* M Raikes (1) Stamford Bridge
* Marion Langley (1) St. Leonards-on-Sea
* May Langrishe (1) Waterford

### Doubles

    This is list of winners sorted by number of doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)
* Clara Hill & Ellen Ramsay (2) Cheltenham, Cheltenham II
* Connie Butler & May Langrishe (1) Irish Championships
* Miss Maltby & E. Munt (1) Brighton
* Lilian Watson & Maud Watson (1) Edgbaston
* A. Barry & F. Helder (1)Liverpool–(1)

### Mixed Doubles

    This is list of winners sorted by number of mixed doubles titles (# and main titles in bold)
* Mary Abercrombie & William Renshaw (1) Irish Championships
* Miss Costello & Spencer D. Maul (1) Eastbourne
* Florence Mardall & Henry Blane Porter (1) Bath
* E. Munt & H.B. Thornhill (1) Brighton
* Alice Cheese & J.B. Dale (1) Darlington
* Miss Williams & Ernest Browne (1) Cheltenham
* Agnes Watts & Sidney Alfred Noon (1) Eastbourne
* Georgiana Kindersley & Henry Kindersley (1) Exmouth
* M Blencowe & A. Blencowe (1) Lichfield
* K. Rayner & J.F. Card (1) Liverpool
* Miss Munt & H.B. Thornhill (1) Queens Park
* Miss Coulthard * Mr.W. Ware (1) Torquay
* Miss Smith & Mr Burke (1) York

## Statistical summary

* Total Tournaments–(39)
* Most Titles— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs—(3)
* Most Finals— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(3)
* Most Matches Played— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(10)
* Most Matches Won— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(10)
* Match Winning %— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs—(100.0%)
* Most Tournaments Played— Gertrude Beatrice Gibbs–(5)
* Most Head to Head Meetings— Miss M. Raikes & Miss Burleigh–(6)