Burton-on-Trent Open

The Burton-on-Trent Open^[1] also called the Burton-on-Trent Open Tennis Tournament was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in August 1883. It was first staged at the Ind Coope Ground at Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, England and ran till 1905 when it was abolished.^[2]

Burton-on-Trent Open
Defunct tennis tournament
Founded	1883; 142 years ago (1883)
Abolished	1905; 120 years ago (1905)
Location	Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, England
Venue	Ind Coope Ground
Surface	Grass

History

The Burton-on-Trent Open was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in August 1883. The tournament was held through to 1939 when it was abolished. The gentlemen's singles competed for the Ratcliff Challenge Cup.^[3] In 1884 there was two editions of this tournament one in the spring won by Frank Seymour Noon and the other in the summer won by Walter Chamberlain. Other former winners of the men's singles included: Henry Guy Nadin, Edward Roy Allen and Sydney Howard Smith.^[4] Previous women's singles title winners included: Hilda Lane, Violet Pinckney and Alice Pickering.

Venue

The tournament was held on the Ind Coope Ground,^[5] Burton-upon-Trent throughout its duration, Ind Coope & Co's were a local brewery firm that also provided some of the tournaments prizes. The Ind Coope Ground was also used by Staffordshire County Cricket Club.