Willoughby J. Hamilton – One of Ireland’s greatest tennis players

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By Mark Ryan
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Part I

Willoughby James Hamilton was born on 9 December 1864 in Monasterevin, County Kildare, Ireland. Willoughby was the fourth son and seventh child (of a total of nine children) of the Reverend Canon William Alfred Hamilton and Henrietta Catherine, née Cole. Willoughby’s siblings were Henry Balfour (born 1849), Alfred St. George (born 1851), the twins Gertrude May and Florence Eglantine (born 1853), Catherine Henrietta (born 1858), William Drummond (born 1859), Francis Cole Lowry (born 1869) and Blayney, spelt Blaney in some sources, (born 1872).

Willoughby’s father, William, was originally from Tullylish, County Down, Ulster (now also known as Northern Ireland). William Hamilton was educated at Shrewsbury public school in England before going on to Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated, successively, B.A. (1846), M.A. (1858), B.D. and D.D. (1877). He was ordained Deacon in 1847 in Chester Cathedral by the Bishop of Chester, and Priest on 16 July 1848, at Cambridge, by the Archbishop of Canterbury, John Bird Sumner. William Hamilton and Henrietta Cole were married on 10 January 1849 in Mellifont Church, near Drogheda in County Louth, Ireland.

After holding a number of curacies, on 15 November 1863 William Hamilton was presented by the Marquis of Drogheda to Monasterevin, in the Diocese of Kildare, where William was Prebendary of Harristown, and a Rural Dean of Kildare diocese. It was during William’s tenure in Kildare that Willoughby James Hamilton was born.

On 21 August 1867, William, on the presentation of the Archbishop of Dublin, was collated Rector of Taney, a parish in Dundrum on the south side of Dublin. In later years William would become Canon of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and Prebendary of St. Michan’s, 1878-92, Rural Dean of Taney, Chaplain to the Lord Lieutenant, 1869-92, and Chaplain to the Earl of Enniskillen. (William Hamilton was not the first member of his family to take holy orders, and two of his sons, Willoughby’s brothers Henry Balfour and Francis Cole Lowry, would follow in their father’s footsteps.)

What was Dundrum like when Willoughby Hamilton was growing up there in the late 1860s? According to the website http://www.taneyparish.ie/history.html, “The growth and development of Dublin during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries prompted the movement of a growing and prosperous professional and business class out of the busy city centre to quieter rural surroundings. The population around Dundrum grew steadily during this period. By the early nineteenth century, the old parish church was unable to accommodate the rapid influx of people, and from c. 1815, building work began on the new, much larger church, Christ Church, Taney, which opened in 1818. Christ Church then became the principal church of the parish, being extended again during the 1860s and 1870s. This period also marked the opening of a Parish School, and Sunday school, and the proliferation of social clubs and other parish organisations.”

In 1854, the steady growth of the suburb of Dundrum had been spurred by the arrival of the Dublin and South Eastern Railway, which provided a direct link between Dundrum and the centre of Dublin.

Perhaps Willoughby attended the parish school or the Sunday school mentioned above. Or perhaps not. After all, although his father had been ordained, William Hamilton was unlikely to have forced religion on his children. Indeed, it is possible to imagine him encouraging them in the pursuits they chose, whether religious, academic or sporting. Ultimately Willoughby, and his brothers William and Blayney, would become proficient not only at tennis, but also at a number of other sports, and it is difficult to imagine them enjoying the success they did in the public arena without the support of their father. (The Hamilton children are also likely to have had a supportive mother, but it has not been possible to find much information on Henrietta Hamilton.)

It appears that the young Willoughby was sent away to boarding school at some point. One source states that he attended Haileybury, a boarding school in Hertfordshire, England, but it has not been possible to confirm this. Regardless of the type of school Willoughby attended, it is likely that sport was an integral part of the curriculum.

Given the sporting success that Willoughby was to enjoy later on it is somewhat ironic that tennis, or lawn tennis as it was initially known in the form in which he was to play it, did not exist at the time of Willoughby’s birth in 1864. It was not until February 1874, when Willoughby was nine years old, that the Englishman Major Walter Clopton Wingfield entered a patent application for “A New and Improved Portable Court for Playing the Ancient Game of Tennis”, marketed by him as “sphairistike” (from the Ancient Greek, meaning “the art of playing ball”).

This new sport quickly became very popular on the lawns of Britain (and Ireland, which was still under British rule at this point). Soon tennis clubs were being formed and tournaments held. One of the first tournaments to be held in Ireland was the South of Ireland Championships, which took place on the Limerick Cricket Ground in July 1877 (this tournament included what was probably the first women’s singles event held anywhere in the world).

The world-famous Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club was founded in November 1877. This club was originally called the Dublin Lawn Tennis Club and was initially located in Upper Pembroke Street, near the centre of Dublin, just around the corner from Fitzwilliam Square, where the first Irish Championships would be held in May 1879. In later years Willoughby Hamilton would be a member of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club although it is not known exactly when he joined.

Willoughby Hamilton appears to have begun to play tennis competitively in his late teens. In September of 1883, he won the men’s singles event (handicap only) at the inaugural tournament in Dundrum in Dublin. The exact venue for this tournament is not known, but its being held in Dundrum, where Willoughby had grown up and where his family still lived, meant that it was practically on his doorstep. Willoughby was just eighteen at the time and more than likely a university student. One source states that he attended Oxford University in England, but it has not been possible to confirm this. In later years, when Willoughby was a member of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club, he participated in some of that club’s ties against Dublin University, as Trinity College, Dublin, was commonly known at that time, so it appears that Willoughby did not attend Dublin University either.

In 1884, Willoughby made his debut in the Irish Championships, held in those days in Fitzwilliam Square, near the centre of Dublin. This rather small Georgian square eventually contained six grass courts and the tournament, which had begun in 1879, was held at the end of May as the main opener to the tennis season. In its early years the Irish Championships attracted the top Irish and British players, and was considered to be almost on a par with the Wimbledon tournament.

In 1884, when Willoughby Hamilton first played in Fitzwilliam Square, the Englishman Ernest Renshaw was the defending men’s singles champion. His twin brother, William, had won the Irish title three years running, 1880-2, and would eventually win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon seven times. On his debut the 19-year-old Willoughby Hamilton acquitted himself well by reaching the quarter-finals, where he lost to Harold McKay in four sets, 6-2, 7-5, 6-8, 6-4.

Later in the same summer, Willoughby took part in the second tennis tournament to be held in Dundrum. This time he lost in the semi-final to his older brother, William. According to the “Irish Times” of Monday 15 September 1884, “In the Gentlemen’s Singles the most exciting games were those between the brothers Hamilton and Mr Chaytor and Mr Carpendale. In the former, Mr [W.J.] Hamilton, owing 40, was beaten by his brother, W.D. Hamilton, owing half 40 plus 2 bisques, after one set all and five games all were called.”

From the abovementioned report it is clear that the men’s singles event was handicap only once again and that Willoughby, no doubt considered the better player of the two brothers, was heavily handicapped as a result (William Hamilton went on to succeed Willoughby as the champion, but William would never enjoy the same level of success on a tennis court as Willoughby).

In 1885, Willoughby entered the Irish Championships in Dublin for the second time and this time went one stage further than the previous year in the singles event before losing in the semi-finals to his countryman, Eyre Chatterton from County Cork, by a score of 10-8, 6-8, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The fact that the 20-year-old Willoughby was able to push Eyre Chatterton to five sets is an indication of how well Willoughby was already playing at such a young age. Chatterton himself was only 21 at this point, but he was a top-class player nevertheless, although not destined to win the Irish or Wimbledon singles titles.

Eyre Chatterton had won the South of Ireland Championships in Limerick in 1883 and 1884, but Willoughby dispossessed Chatterton of his title in July 1885 when the two players met again at the County Limerick Cricket Club, the venue for this important event. The result in the Challenge Round was 6-4, 12-10, 6-0 in Willoughby’s favour and it is clear from this score that the second set was the heart of the match and that Chatterton was unable to put up any more resistance once he had lost it.

 

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Part II

The South of Ireland Championships had been held during the second-last week in July. One week later the East of Ireland Championships took place in Howth in Dublin, and once again Willoughby Hamilton won the main singles title which, although only a handicap event, carried a certain amount of prestige. In the final Willoughby, owing 30, beat a W. Clarke 7-5, 7-5, 6-2. (In those days newspapers rarely carried a player’s first name, so it has not been possible to find the first name of a number players in the records, W. Clarke included.)

After taking the East of Ireland Championships in Dublin, Willoughby then travelled down to Sligo to take part in the West of Ireland Championships, a tournament which had first been held in 1882, when it was won by Dr. Effingham MacDowel. In the second round of the 1885 event, Willoughby met and beat Dr MacDowel 6-1, 6-2, the score being an indication of the difference in class between the two players. In the semi-final Willoughby played his brother William again, and this time beat him 8-6, 3-6, 6-3 (matches were best of three sets until the final, which was best of five sets).

In the final Willoughby beat a Reverend E. Lombard, another player whose first name is unknown. The score is not known either, but it is not likely to have been a close match. The Reverend Lombard, like Dr Effingham MacDowel, was probably someone who took part in a small number of tournaments in the west of Ireland, and for whom tennis was not a very serious pastime. The difference between players like them and a player like Willoughby Hamilton was considerable. However, this is not to detract from Willoughby’s achievement of winning not just the West of Ireland Championships, but also the East of Ireland Championships and the South of Ireland Championships, all in the same year, 1885, and at the age of just 20. This feat was another indication of his great potential.

Willoughby took his first title of 1886 at the Killiney and Ballybrack Lawn Tennis Championship, a tournament held at the end of April in Killiney, on the south side of Dublin. Although small in size, in addition to Willoughby the entrants included Harold Mahony, Manliffe Goodbody, and the elder two of the three tennis-playing Chaytor brothers from Dublin, Charles and Grainger (Tom was the youngest). In time all of these Irishmen would develop into world-class tennis players.

In the quarter-finals of the Killiney event Willoughby Hamilton beat Harold Mahony 7-5, 6-2. One round later Willoughby beat T.H. Griffiths, another very talented Irish player, 6-4, 6-4. In the final Willoughby faced Grainger Chaytor and emerged the winner only after what looks like a titanic struggle, the final score being 12-10, 0-6, 6-3, 5-7, 14-12. It is the type of score which would do justice to a Wimbledon final, not just the final of a modest local tournament.

By 1886 Willoughby Hamilton had become a member of the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Dublin and in May of that year he participated in the Fitzwilliam Club Championship, held in the club’s grounds in Wilton Place. Willoughby reached the final of this tournament where he encountered Eyre Chatterton whom he beat by the score of 9-7, 0-6, 9-7, 5-7, 9-7. It is clear that, as in the final of the tournament in Killiney, this was another titanic struggle, but once again Willoughby emerged victorious.

A week or so later Willoughby entered the Irish Championships in Dublin for the third time and enjoyed his greatest success there thus far by reaching the Challenge Round (at that time some tournaments had a Challenge Round whereby the previous year’s winner was able to “sit out” while the other players competed in what was known as the All-Comers’ tournament, with the winner of the All-Comers’ Final earning the right to play the holder in the ultimate match – the Challenge Round).

Willoughby won four matches on his way to the Challenge Round at the 1886 Irish Championships, beating players such as his countrymen Toler Garvey, Tom Campion and, in the All-Comers’ Final, Eyre Chatterton, in order to reach the last stage. In the title match Willoughby faced the Englishman Herbert Lawford, one of the best players of that era and already three times a runner-up in the singles event at Wimbledon. Lawford was known for a forehand called the “Lawford Stroke” and he used it to good effect in the Challenge Round of the 1886 Irish Championships because he beat Willoughby Hamilton by a score of 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. The score indicates a close match, but the 34-year-old Lawford clearly had experience on his side.

There was some consolation for Willoughby at the 1886 Irish Championships when he and Harold McKay took the doubles title by beating Eyre Chatterton and Toler Garvey in the final. The score was 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.

In the summer of 1886, Willoughby entered the Wimbledon tournament for the first time. On his debut at the Worple Road event Willoughby reached the quarter-finals before falling to Herbert Lawford, his conqueror in the Challenge Round of the Irish Championships a few weeks earlier. This time the score was 8-6, 6-1, 8-6 in the Englishman’s favour.

Later in the summer Willoughby retained his title at the South of Ireland Championships in Limerick, beating T.H. Griffiths 6-3, 6-1, 6-2 in the Challenge Round. There does not seem to have been a Challenge Round in the East of Ireland Championships, held in Howth in Dublin, but Willoughby retained his title there too nevertheless, defeating Toler Garvey 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in the final (this event was handicap only again and Willoughby owed 15 in the final). At the end of August Willoughby travelled down to Sligo again to defend his West of Ireland Championships title. In the Challenge Round he played F. McClintock, possibly from Ulster (Northern Ireland), and won easily, 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

Willoughby’s feat of retaining three of the top Irish titles was very impressive and further proof of his superiority among Irish players. Although a ranking system as such did not exist in those days, it is clear that Willoughby was the Irish number one and, indeed, that he was a better player at this point than most of the players in the British Isles, if not the world, with the exception of the Renshaw brothers and Herbert Lawford.

 

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Part III

One of Willoughby’s first competitive matches of 1887 was in the tie pitting the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club against the Dublin University Lawn Tennis Club. In the first match of this tie Willoughby, representing the Fitzwilliam LTC, beat Harold Mahony, a student at Dublin University at that time. The score was 6-1, 6-0, another indication of Willoughby’s superiority over other Irish tennis players. However, in Mahony’s favour it must be said that he was only 20 years of age at this point. With Willoughby’s help the Fitzwilliam LTC won the tie, which was played on 23 April, by 6 matches to 2 (the venue was probably the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Wilton Place, Dublin).

A month later Willoughby entered the Irish Championships in Fitzwilliam Square for the fourth year in a row. He reached the All-Comers’ Final by winning four matches in straight sets. His victims included Grainger Chaytor, whom he beat in the quarter-finals by a score of 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 and, one round later, A.J. de C. Wilson, whom Willoughby defeated 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. In the All-Comers’ Final Willoughby met Ernest Renshaw, who was attempting to win the singles title for the second time. Although Willoughby put up a good fight, he was beaten in four sets, the score being 6-4, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

This was probably a particularly disappointing loss for Willoughby, given his excellent results since the previous Irish Championships and also given the fact that he was on home ground. However, once again there was a consolation of sorts for Willoughby in the doubles event where he and Tom Campion beat the English pairing of Patrick Bowes-Lyon and Herbert Wilberforce 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 in the final match.

In late June of 1887, Willoughby entered the County Dublin Championships, held at the Lansdowne Lawn Tennis Club in the Irish capital. Although the main men’s singles event at this tournament does not seem to have generally been a handicap event, Willoughby Hamilton was handicapped for his matches, most likely because of his superiority to the other competitors, very talented as some of them were.

In the second round of this event Willoughby played, possibly for the first time in singles, Joshua Pim, the man who was to succeed him as Ireland’s best tennis player. Although Pim had turned 18 only of a couple of months earlier, he put up a great fight against Willoughby before the latter, who owed 15, won 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-9, 6-2. In the final of the County Dublin Championships Willoughby, who once again owed 15, met and beat Tom Campion by a score of 8-6, 6-2, 6-2.

In 1887, the final of the County Dublin Championships was played on Saturday 2 July, the same day on which the Wimbledon tennis tournament began at the All England Club. Although Willoughby Hamilton could have travelled to London immediately after winning in Dublin, and been ready to play on the following Monday, it is clear that he chose not to do so because his name is absent from the lists for the 1887 Wimbledon. What is not clear is why he chose not to participate at Wimbledon this time around. Certainly it was not because of an injury.

The 1887 South of Ireland Championships, where Willoughby Hamilton was the defending men’s singles champion, were scheduled to begin on 20 July, but were ultimately cancelled due to a lack of entries. However, the East of Ireland Championships, held in Howth, Dublin, began in the last week of July and Willoughby was present to defend his title. Since no Challenge Cup was yet on offer in the men’s singles event at this tournament, Willoughby played through like the other participants. In the semi-finals he met Joshua Pim again, and once again Willoughby emerged the winner, by a score of 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1. In the final Willoughby faced Manliffe Goodbody, and Willoughby was leading 6-1, 4-0 when his opponent retired, injured.

In early September of 1887, Willoughby took part in the Dundrum tournament, which was more or less his local tournament because he had grown up and still lived there. Although a modest tournament in most respects, it did nevertheless attract a number of the top Irish players. The main men’s singles event at this event was handicap only. In the semi-finals Willoughby faced Joshua Pim again and this time a reporter from the “Irish Times” newspaper was on hand to record the details of the match. The following report was carried in the newspaper on Monday 5 September 1887:

“A great deal of interest was attached to the match between Mr [Willoughby] J. Hamilton, minus 30, and J[oshua] Pim, minus half 15 for the bisque, which ended in a win for the former, after a splendid exposition of the game. The court was greatly cut up, owing to the rain, but notwithstanding this, the competition treated those who witnessed the match to, perhaps, the most scientific game that has been played in Ireland this year.

“Pim won the first set to three games, and the Fitzwilliam champion took the second to the same score, but the third set was a long one and after ‘[five] games all’ was called Hamilton took a love game, but Pim brought it back to deuce, and they scored alternately till ‘8 games all’ was called, when Hamilton got two consecutive games to 30 and deuce respectively, and thus won the set and the match.

“Pim is undoubtedly a very good player, but he wants more practice in first-class company, without which he cannot hope to succeed (even with the odds he had on Saturday) against a player of the experience and quality of W.J. Hamilton. Pim volleyed exceptionally well, but the champion’s steady play from the back of the court was more than enough for him.”

The final result of the semi-final match was 3-6, 6-3, 10-8. The Dubliner Frank Stoker came through the other half of the draw to play Willoughby, but due to bad weather the final had to postponed until 10 September, when it was held at a different venue, namely the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Wilton Place, Dublin. In the final Willoughby, who was playing minus 30, beat Frank Stoker, who does not appear to have been handicapped, 7-5, 14-12, 5-7, 5-7, 6-3.

It is not clear whether the West of Ireland Championships tournament, which Willoughby Hamilton had won in 1885 and 1886, was held in 1887. However, Willoughby must surely have looked back on 1887 with some pride due to the continued success he had enjoyed, but probably also with some regret because he had yet to win the singles title at the two most prestigious tournaments, namely the Irish Championships and Wimbledon.

As in 1887, one of Willoughby’s first competitive matches of 1888 was in the tie pitting the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club against the Dublin University Lawn Tennis Club, and held at the former club at the end of April. In the first singles match Willoughby beat Manliffe Goodbody, thereby contributing to another victory for the Fitzwilliam LTC, which this time won the tie by the narrower margin of 5 matches to 4.

A month or so later Willoughby returned to Fitzwilliam Square for a fifth attempt at the Irish Championships title. After a bye in the first round of the singles event, Willoughby won two matches in straight sets to reach the semi-finals where he faced the capable English player Ernest Lewis. After a prolonged battle Willoughby emerged the victor by a score of 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 10-8, 6-2. In the All-Comers’ Final Willoughby met Herbert Lawford, who had won the Wimbledon singles title for the first time the previous summer at the age of 36. Lawford was able to offer some resistance only in the third set of their match, which Willoughby won with relative ease, the score being 6-1, 6-0, 4-6, 6-0.

Such a clear-cut win in the All-Comers’ Final must have given Willoughby’s many supporters hope that he would at last win what was his essentially his national title. In the Challenge Round he faced Ernest Renshaw, the less successful of the English twins, but still a formidable opponent. At the end of a very long match there was once again to be disappointment for Willoughby whom Ernest Renshaw beat by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Perhaps there was not much consolation for Willoughby when he and Tom Campion retained their doubles title after receiving a walkover from the English pairing of Ernest Lewis and Ernest Meers.

 

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Part IV

A short while after competing in the Irish Championships Willoughby travelled to Penarth in Wales to take part in the Welsh Championships, which began on 12 June. This tournament had been inaugurated a few years earlier and was to have fluctuating fortunes. However, it did manage to attract a number of the top players, particularly for the men’s events. In 1888, Willoughby won his way through to the Challenge Round at the Welsh Championships, where he faced the holder, his compatriot Ernest Browne. It is clear from the final score of 6-1, 6-1, 6-0 in Willoughby’s favour that he had no difficulty whatsoever in winning his first national championship.

Later in June Willoughby made the journey to Liverpool to compete in the Northern tournament, at that time one of the most prestigious tournaments being held in the British Isles (it was held Liverpool and Manchester in alternate years). Willoughby won his way through to the Challenge Round of the singles event where he faced the holder, Harry Grove, a talented English player. The final score of 6-1, 8-6, 6-1 in Willoughby’s favour speaks for itself and was an indication of the excellent form he took to the Wimbledon a week or so later (in 1888, the Wimbledon tournament began on 10 July).

Twenty-five players entered the men’s singles event at Wimbledon that year and, after two relatively easy victories, Willoughby reached the quarter-finals where he faced arguably the best player in the draw, namely William Renshaw, the six-time former champion. It says a lot for Willoughby’s skill that he was able to beat William Renshaw in four sets, by a score of 5-7, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

In the semi-finals Willoughby faced William Renshaw’s twin brother, Ernest, who had beaten Willoughby in the Challenge Round of the Irish Championships in Dublin six weeks or so earlier. According to the London “Times” of 14 July 1888, it was generally thought that Willoughby would reach the All-Comers’ Final after his victory over William Renshaw. However, Ernest Renshaw ensured that this would not be the case by beating Willoughby 7-5, 7-5, 5-7, 6-3. The set scores indicate just how close the match was, but Willoughby’s inability to win the most important points seems to have let him down once again.

Later in July 1888, the East of Ireland Championships were held again in Howth in Dublin. Since a Challenge Cup was now being offered for the men’s singles event in this tournament, Willoughby was able to “sit out” and wait to see who his opponent would be in the Challenge Round. This final match was postponed until 18 August and when it did take place, Willoughby Hamilton and Joshua Pim faced each other in a singles match for the first time in 1888, with Willoughby winning a much-anticipated encounter by the one-sided score of 6-4, 6-3, 6-1.

In the interim, that is between the start of the East of Ireland Championships and the Challenge Round with which it ended, Willoughby Hamilton had travelled down to County Sligo to take part in the West of Ireland Championships tournament, which he won once again. In the final he beat A.J. de C. Wilson 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2 (this does not appear to have been the Challenge Round; it is possible that no Challenge Cup was offered for the men’s singles event in 1888).

This was probably the last time Willoughby Hamilton participated in the West of Ireland Championships. Like other tournaments its fortunes depended on the quantity of entrants and on their quality, although in those days money was not as crucial factor as it is today where the holding of tournaments is concerned. It is true, nevertheless, that a tournament’s status has always depended largely on the quality of the players who take part in it, and in this sense tournaments such as the West of Ireland Championships, the South of Ireland Championships, the East of Ireland Championships and, in particular, the Irish Championships themselves, acquired their original status because the top Irish and, in the case of the Irish Championships, British, players took part in them regularly. Of course, a number of tournaments whose status was once very high continue to be played throughout the world today, but without attracting the top players.

In 1889, Willoughby Hamilton began the year by winning the Fitzwilliam Club Championship, held at the Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club in Wilton Place, Dublin. He beat H.R. Jones in the Challenge Round, which took place towards the end of April.

The following month Willoughby entered the Irish Championships in Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin, for the sixth year in a row. Willoughby swept through to the All-Comers’ Final in impressive fashion, without dropping a set, indeed only dropping more than two games in a set on two occasions, namely in his second round match against Frank Stoker, from Dublin, whom Willoughby beat 9-7, 6-4, 6-1. In his first round match Willoughby had scored a rare 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 victory over his fellow Irishman C.P.R. James.

In the quarter-finals Willoughby faced James Baldwin, whom he easily beat, the score being 6-1, 6-0, 6-2. Willoughy’s semi-final opponent was his talented compatriot Manliffe Goodbody, then just twenty years of age. There was no disguising the difference in class and experience, with Willoughby running out the winner by a score of 6-1, 6-1, 6-2.

 

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Part V

In the All-Comers’ Final Willoughby faced William Renshaw. At the previous year’s Wimbledon, Willoughby had beaten William in the quarter-finals only to lose to his twin brother Ernest one round later. At the 1889 Irish Championships Willoughby once again emerged as the victor against William Renshaw, this time by a score of 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5. The lawn tennis correspondent of the “Irish Times” was present at this match and filed the following report, which was carried on Saturday 25 May, the day after the contest had taken place:

“The Fitzwilliam Club must be congratulated upon the success which has attended their annual fixture, for notwithstanding the weather in the early part of yesterday was anything but inviting, the afternoon turned out beautifully fine, and if somewhat cooler than on the preceding days, it was in this respect enjoyable. The attendance was as might be expected on the penultimate day of the tournament, very large, and the interest taken in the matches was great, especially in the final of the All-Comers’ singles, which fell to Willoughby J. Hamilton, the Irishman beating William Renshaw by three sets to one.

“During the afternoon, their Serene Highnesses Prince and Princess Edward of Saxe-Weimar, accompanied by Earl Lucan, and attended by Captain H. Ormsby Gore, honoured the meeting with their presence, and the band of the Seaforth Highlanders played a pleasing selection during the evening.

“The match between Willoughby J. Hamilton and William Renshaw in the final round of the All-Comers’ singles was, needless to say, the great event of the day and, indeed, of the week. Owing to the exceptionally brilliant form displayed by Renshaw in his match against Ernest Lewis, the event was generally voted as most likely to end in a victory for the English ex-champion, and it was considered odds on him. However, the result proved how erroneous this idea was, and from the time the ball was set rolling till the finish it was evident that Hamilton would win.

“The Irishman played a really splendid game, and deserves all the greatest credit for his triumph, but it cannot be denied that Renshaw was not playing in the form which he showed against Ernest Lewis on Tuesday. In the first set Hamilton got the first game to deuce and subsequently two games all was called, when Hamilton won three games off the reel. Renshaw got the eighth game to deuce when Hamilton, getting the next, won the set.

“Hamilton got the first two games of the second set, when Renshaw made it two all, and then three, four and five games all were called, when two consecutive games were won by Renshaw to 15 and love, and thus he got the set, which made the score one set all. Hamilton got the first three games of the third set, when Renshaw took a game after deuce had been called three times, but after this Hamilton ran out the set by taking the remaining three games to 15, 30 and deuce, and won the set.

“In the fourth set ‘games all’ was called, when Renshaw got the advantage game to deuce, but Hamilton brought it back to deuce and winning the next two games to 30 and 30 respectively, he won the set and match.”

 

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Part VI

In the Challenge Round Willoughby faced an antagonist of old in the form of Ernest Renshaw, his conqueror in the same round at the same tournament in 1888, and in the All-Comers’ Final in 1887. Would Willoughby be able to gain revenge for those two defeats? The answer was a resounding “Yes!” Willoughby won the Challenge Round match 12-10, 6-1, 6-3 and, as the score, indicates, after a closely-fought first set, Ernest Renshaw, the reigning Wimbledon champion, was able to offer little resistance to Willoughby who was in great form. The lawn tennis correspondent of the “Irish Times” was on hand again to record the event. The following report of the Challenge Round match appeared two days later, in the edition of Monday 27 May 1889:

“The tournament was brought to a close on Saturday in magnificent weather, and in the presence of the largest and most fashionable gathering that ever filled the grounds. Their Excellencies the Lord Lieutenant and the Marchioness of Londonderry arrived at 4.15, attended by Mr Mulhall, Private Secretary, and accompanied by Viscount and Viscountess Gough […]

“Saturday’s proceedings will long be remembered in tennis as being, perhaps, the most remarkable day that ever was, certainly as far as Ireland is concerned. The challenge match for the title of champion of Ireland and possessor of the great Challenge Cup has always been looked upon as second in importance only to the challenge match for the championship of England, played annually at Wimbledon, and often have far more scientific and closer contests characterised the Irish match than that which were associated with the English match.

“The title of Champion of Ireland has been held by Englishmen uninterruptedly for the last ten years though many a plucky effort has been made on the part of our Irish players for the proud title which makes Mr Willoughby J. Hamilton’s victory on Saturday all the more meritorious, and which is again welcomed by the unprecedented fact that he beat the two Renshaws in the same tournament, the one by three sets to one and the other by three sets to love. Much has been said about the superiority of the Renshaws’ play, but the broad fact remains that Hamilton beat William Renshaw on Friday and Ernest Renshaw on Saturday!

“The match commenced at 3.15 on Court 5, which is marked for playing ‘singles’ only, at which time every space was occupied from which a glance of the game could be obtained, as his Excellency remarked after he entered the square a little after 4 o’clock, ‘Oh, what a very large crowd!’ Mr Hamilton won the toss and commenced scoring from the south side of the court, the sun being in his favour; but he commenced badly by sending the first three balls out of court, which made the score love 40. However, he got the next three strokes, which made it deuce, and again deuce was called, ere Renshaw got the game. Hamilton now got three games off the reel, two being won against the sun, and subsequently three games all was called.

“They now scored alternately, till games all was called, each winning a game to love. Deuce and vantage games were now played till the twentieth game, when the set looked a certainty for Renshaw, who only wanted an ace to win, but, notwithstanding he had the sun at his back, Hamilton managed to win it to deuce, and taking the twenty-first game to love and the twenty-second at the loss of only one point, he won the set amidst great applause. It may safely be said that the match mostly depended upon this set, as it was evident to the most casual observer that Renshaw lost heart while Hamilton still played his steady game.

“Renshaw was the striker-out in the first game of the second set, which game he won at deuce, but this was his only assay, as Hamilton ran out the set by winning six games off the reel, which is considered a love set. The first three games of the set were deuce games, but the remaining three Hamilton got at the loss of one point, the fourth and sixth being love games.

“The third set, which was opened by Renshaw winning the first two games, was somewhat closer than the preceding one, five games of the nine played being won at deuce. Hamilton won the third game at 30, the fourth to deuce, the fifth to love, and the sixth after deuce had been called six times, and then Renshaw serving won a game to deuce twice, he getting two aces off his serve, but this was his last effort, and Hamilton, securing the two remaining games to deuce and 30, he won the set and match by 3 sets to love, and the title of Champion of Ireland amidst the greatest enthusiasm.

“Some splendid rallies took place during the match, but there was an absence of hard smashes. The volleying was good, but the most notable feature in the play was a new stroke Hamilton is playing, by which he cuts the ball across the court, dropping it a few inches within the sideline, and about three yards from the net. His running forearm drives were not so strong as usual, though most of the play was from the back of the court. Hamilton won 143 aces and Renshaw 108. Last year, Hamilton, though beaten by Renshaw, only lost the match by one ace. After the match the prizes were presented by Her Excellency […]”

Willoughby Hamilton thus became the first Irishman to win the Irish Championships since Vere Goold from County Waterford, who had won the men’s singles event at the inaugural tournament in 1879. Willoughby’s defeat of William and Ernest Renshaw on consecutive days is also worthy of another mention. Who had ever achieved this feat before against those two great players?

There was another trophy for Willoughby at the 1889 Irish Championships. He and Lena Rice, from County Tipperary, beat the English pairing of Harold Stone and Blanche Hillyard 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the mixed doubles final, which at that time was played over the best of five sets. (In the men’s doubles final Willoughby and his partner Tom Campion lost their title to the English pairing of George Hillyard and Ernest Lewis.)

 

[newmark401]

Part VII

No doubt buoyed by his recent successes in Dublin, Willoughby travelled to Penarth in Wales in mid-June to defend his Welsh Championship title. A Challenge Round was in force in the men’s singles event, so Willoughby, the holder, had to play only one match. In this Challenge Round match he beat Ernest Lewis 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, thereby retaining his title.

It was a similar situation at the 1889 Northern Tournament, held that year in Manchester. In the Challenge Round, Willoughby, the holder, beat his compatriot Harold Mahony by a score of 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. At this point in time Willoughby was probably the best player in the world, but could he remove any remaining doubts in this respect by taking the Wimbledon singles title, the one that counted the most?

The answer was no, and it must have come as a huge disappointment to Willoughby’s supporters to see him once again fail at the All England Club. At the 1889 Wimbledon, Willoughby made his way to the quarter-finals with the minimum of fuss. In that round he faced Ernest Lewis and, after one of those long battles in which Willoughby seemed to specialise, the Irishman emerged the victor by a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. This result was less than convincing, especially given Willoughby’s recent excellent form.

Perhaps it was not a huge surprise when Willoughby lost his semi-final match against a player destined never to win any of the major singles titles, England’s Harry Barlow, by a score of 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. Could it be argued that, on the very biggest occasions, namely at Wimbledon and the Irish Championships, Willoughby Hamilton lacked that extra something which all great champions possess and which enables them to emerge victorious when doing so matters most? Willoughby Hamilton appears to have had the knack of coming agonisingly close to winning the most important matches, only to just fail in the end. This must have been torturous for his supporters – and extremely frustrating for the man himself.

At the end of July 1889, the East of Ireland Championships tournament was as usual held in Howth, Dublin, and Willoughby was there to defend his title. As the holder he was able to “sit out” until the Challenge Round, where his opponent was his brother, William. The score was 7-9, 6-4, 6-3 in Willoughby’s favour when William retired. This was Willoughby’s fifth consecutive singles title at this tournament (1885-9).

Willoughby Hamilton made a good start to the 1890 season by retaining the Fitzwilliam Club Championship at the Fitzwilliam LTC in Wilton Place, Dublin. In the Challenge Round Willoughby beat his compatriot Grainger Chaytor, the most talented of three tennis-playing brothers, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. This match was played on 22 May, four days before the beginning of the 1890 Irish Championships where Willoughby was also the defending champion. This meant that, once again, he would be able to “sit out” before playing just one match, the Challenge Round.

Was “sitting out” until the Challenge Round an advantage or a disadvantage for the defending champion? On the one hand, he was likely to be rested before this most important of matches but, on the other, he might also be short of match practice (however, he would have been able to play in some of the doubles and handicap events while “sitting out”). It is not an easy question to answer.

In the Challenge Round of the 1890 Irish Championships Willoughby Hamilton’s opponent was the Englishman Ernest Lewis, a man who had played five singles matches to get there. However, it was Willoughby who made the better start to the match, taking the first two sets before Lewis began to make a comeback, eventually winning 3-6, 3-6, 9-7, 6-4, 7-5. It was another of those long, hard-fought – and no doubt, nail-biting – contests in which Willoughby tended to become involved. And this time there was no consolation for him in either the men’s or mixed doubles events. At arguably the peak of his form, Willoughby left his native championships empty-handed.

 

[newmark401]

Part VIII

At the 1890 Northern Tournament, held in Liverpool, Willoughby suffered a similar fate in the Challenge Round to that which he had suffered in Dublin. In the title match Willoughby, the holder, faced Joshua Pim, his main Irish rival, and a man against whom he had an excellent record. In the Challenge Round Willoughby led 6-2, 8-6, 5-2 and 40-30, but Pim saved this first match point with some spirited play. Willoughby had a second match point on his “advantage” at 5-4 in the third set, but Pim saved this one too before taking the third set 7-5. Although the remainder of the match was closely contested, Pim eventually won it by the revealing score of 2-6, 6-8, 7-5, 7-5, 6-3.

In 1890, the Welsh Championships were held in late June, after the Northern Tournament. Willoughby retained his title in Wales by beating Charles Sweet 6-2, 6-3, 6-0 in the Challenge Round.

In 1890, Willoughby competed at Wimbledon for the fourth time in five years, having reached the quarter-final once and the semi-final twice on his three previous appearances. He progressed through the first few rounds with relative ease, annihilating the future Wimbledon champion, Arthur Wentworth Gore of England, 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 in the first round, defeating William Taylor 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 in the second round, and easily beating Wilfred Baddeley, another Englishman and future Wimbledon champion, 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 in the third round.

Willoughby’s quarter-final opponent was his old Irish rival Joshua Pim, the man who had beaten him in the final of the Northern Tournament a month or so earlier after a titanic struggle. This time Willoughby gained revenge, by a score of 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 (this match was played on Friday 4 July 1890). A reporter from the sports journal “Pastime” was on hand to record the action, and the edition of 9 July 1890 carried a report on the later stages of the tournament. Here is what the lawn tennis correspondent of “Pastime” wrote of the Willoughby Hamilton-Joshua Pim quarter-final:

“The match between Pim and Hamilton was of a more sensational description, though completed in a much shorter time. At the outset Pim seemed to do what he pleased with the ball, and his placing both off the ground and on the volley was not to be combated even by Hamilton. The result was that he quickly won a love set. This reverse, however, only seemed to put Hamilton on his mettle, and in the next set he played with all his old dash and vigour, while in the matter of accuracy he surpassed his rival, who seemed somewhat hampered by the dampness of the court and the balls (for it had now been raining for some time), and continually threw away chances which he should never have missed. It was chiefly owing to mistakes of this description that Hamilton was enabled to assume the lead early in the set and maintain it throughout.

“From now until the finish of the mach each player endeavoured to force the game to the utmost, and each followed up his service on every available occasion. Hamilton once more took the lead, and scored four more games to his opponent’s one; but in the next few games Pim had the best of the volleying, and it was only by a strenuous effort, during which his accuracy again stood him in good stead, that Hamilton managed to win the set at 6-4.

“In the fourth set the play was as fast as if the match had barely been begun. Hamilton not only volleyed with more effect than ever, but, when forced to defend, passed his active opponent on more than one occasion. The first four games were won by him, and the next two by Pim. A love game to Hamilton followed, and then, after thirty all had been called in the next, Hamilton, by a clever volley across the court, and a well-placed service, which was returned into the net, won the next at 6-2, and the match by three sets to one.

“After the first set, in which Pim proved so irresistible that it was difficult to see how he could probably be checked, a steady improvement on the part of Hamilton both in pace and accuracy was clearly traceable, and he had evidently completely recovered that fertility of resource which he appeared to lack in the later stages of his previous matches this season. Pim, though as brilliant as ever, made more mistakes than usual, and these contributed not a little to the victory of his rival.”

 

[newmark401]

Part IX

In the All-Comers’ Final, played on Saturday 5 July, Willoughby faced Harry Barlow, the man who had beaten him 6-3 in the fifth set in the semi-final of the previous year’s Wimbledon tournament. This time Willoughby emerged as the winner, though only after another tremendous struggle, the final score being 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5. Here is what the lawn tennis correspondent of “Pastime” wrote about this match:

“The final between Hamilton and Barlow was played on Saturday under the most depressing conditions. The court itself, thanks to its tarpaulin coverings, was fairly dry, but the surrounding turf, which had been left exposed, was in a very muddy condition, and it was only after a very lengthy consultation that it was decided to play the match. To make matters worse, rain fell in torrents during the progress of the game.

“In spite of all these drawbacks, the play was a long way above the average, and it can be safely said that a finer match has not been witnessed this season. As on the previous day, the Irishman began somewhat tamely, while Barlow settled down to his work at once, and, after losing the opening game, won five in succession with the loss of but six strokes. Hamilton won the next, but the eighth, the first in which deuce was reached, fell to Barlow, who thus scored the set at 6-2.

“Throughout the set Barlow adopted the same tactics which he had used against [Ernest] Lewis, and volleyed continuously, and in the second set he persevered with this plan. Seeing how matters stood, Hamilton, in his turn, commenced to force the game, and the result was some give-and-take play, which ended in Hamilton’s favour by six games to four.

“Barlow scored the opening game of the third set principally through mistakes on his opponent’s part, and then Hamilton had a run of four, two of which were won to love. Three of the next four games went to Barlow, but in the next his opponent made a well-timed spurt, and with the aid of a couple of good smashes and a neat forehand volley took the set again at 6-4.

“By this time the rain had commenced in earnest, and the greater part of the fourth set was played in a perfect deluge. Hamilton scored the first four games, but all were closely contested, and in fourth especially (a long ‘vantage game) a splendid rest took place in which each player in turn attacked and was driven from his position at the net, until finally Barlow, after making a succession of marvellous returns, scored the ace with a powerful smash.

“It now seemed as if the match was all but over, but Barlow commenced playing in irresistible fashion, whilst his opponent was proportionately disconcerted by this unexpected resistance, and broke down time after time. Excitement ran high as the Englishman scored game after game and eventually won at 6-4, having taken six games off the reel. With the score at 4-2 in Barlow’s favour in the final set, the aspect of affairs was completely changed, but once more the tide turned, and Hamilton attacked with renewed vigour, with the result that he scored three games with the loss of a single stroke. Barlow managed to bring the score to games-all, but this was his last effort, as Hamilton then took two love games in succession, and with them the set and match.

“The encounter from first to last was fought out mainly from the vicinity of the service line, and both men must have been in the very best condition to have been able to volley so continuously, and to follow up the service with such telling effect. The loser has certainly never played such a brilliant game, nor has he ever turned his enormous reach and great activity to better account. His smashing of the overhead balls was faultlessly accurate, and his judgement, except perhaps at the very end, unerring.

“Hamilton, too, volleyed as he has never volleyed before, and supplemented this with that marvellous driving power for which he is famous. It must have been this alone which gave him the victory, for in other respects his play was equalled, if not surpassed, by that of his rival.”

 

[newmark401]

Part X

Thus did Willoughby Hamilton reach the Challenge Round at Wimbledon for the first time. Not surprisingly, his opponent there was one of the Renshaw brothers, William, who had won a seventh singles title the previous year. It would be wrong to say that William Renshaw was at the peak of his powers at this point in his career. However, he was still a redoubtable opponent and, up to that point in time, the greatest man ever to have played the game. It therefore says a lot for Willoughby that he was able to beat William Renshaw, which he did by a score of 6-8, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1. “Pastime” carried the following report of this match:

“Although a little fine rain fell on Monday last when the challenge round was played, the weather, in comparison with that of the previous Saturday, might be described as delightful, and the court was fairly dry. The play throughout was, however, of a very mediocre description, and certainly not up to the standard of the preceding match. It is true that some of the finest strokes ever seen were made, but they were only gained, like most very fine strokes, at the expense of numerous failures, and this was especially so in the case of William Renshaw, whose brilliancy was rendered ineffectual by a most disappointing want of accuracy.

“The opening set was the closest as far as the score of games went, but both men, probably owing to nervousness, were very erratic, and the monotony was only relieved by the conscientious but somewhat indiscriminate applause of the onlookers. Renshaw was the first to reach five games, but Hamilton led at 6-5. Then Renshaw took three games running, and with them the set at 8-6.

“In the next set the play on both sides improved, and Renshaw especially made some marvellous returns. Two games all was called, and then Hamilton, with a run of four games, brought the score to one set all. The majority of the games in this set reached deuce, and so it was a good deal closer than appears from the score.

“In the third set Renshaw was at his best, and, after allowing his opponent to reach 2-1, scored four games in succession with the loss of only seven strokes. Careless treatment of the service gave Hamilton the next game, but Renshaw, with some good volleying, took the next, and the set at 6-3.

“The fourth set opened with a long game, which Renshaw won chiefly by playing to his opponent’s backhand. From this point, however, Hamilton improved greatly in accuracy, while the energetic manner in which he ran about and endeavoured (generally with success) to return everything helped him to score the next six games, only one of which reached deuce.

“The final struggle commenced well for Hamilton, who, by taking the first three games, achieved a run of nine in succession. The sequence was then broken by Renshaw by means of some clever cross strokes, but his good returns were now very few, and seemed to be made, as it were, in desperation. With the score at 5-1 and 40-love against him, he, however, made a splendid resistance and ultimately brought the score to deuce. A long game ensued, in which Hamilton, by forcing the game most judiciously, was ultimately successful, and the Championship passed for the first time into the hands of an Irish player.

“Although his victory in the championship round was by no means his greatest achievement, the winner is nevertheless to be congratulated on having defeated so redoubtable an opponent as William Renshaw, for there is no doubt that a little more certainty, and a little more energy too, would have rendered him as formidable as of old. In comparison with his agile opponent, Renshaw seemed to take matters somewhat easily, and he would almost undoubtedly have done better had he volleyed more. Hamilton’s chief merit lay in his untiring perseverance in endeavouring to save what appeared to be the most hopeless rests. He never appeared to slacken for a singles instant, and was going at top speed the whole time.”

At the age of 25, Willoughby had achieved what for most tennis players is the most important of feats, namely winning the Wimbledon singles title. However, he competed in a very different era from the modern one, when any excessive rejoicing by a competitor during or after a victory would have been considered unsporting and when there was essentially no connection between sporting prestige and financial rewards. It is nevertheless possible to imagine Willoughby celebrating his Wimbledon victory, albeit in a modest manner. At just 25 years of age, he was nearing the peak of his powers, so it is all the more strange that his name disappears forever from the annals of tennis after this greatest of achievements.

 

[newmark401]

Part XI (final part)

According to more than one source, a serious illness terminated Willoughby Hamilton’s sporting career, or at least prevented him from defending his Wimbledon title in 1891 (blood poisoning was said to be the cause). However, it is unlikely that he was ill, seriously or otherwise, for long. There is evidence that he played both cricket and football competitively after his tennis career had come to an end, but it has not been possible to confirm this. In any case, Willoughby lived for another 53 years after his Wimbledon triumph of 1890, so his health cannot have been very poor.

In 1895, Willoughby Hamilton married Sophia Jane Thompson. Willoughby was 30 years of age at this point, while Sophia Thompson was 31. According to the 1911 Census of Ireland, taken when Willoughby was 46 and Sophia 47, they had no children. In the 1911 census form, completed by Willoughby as head of the household, he gave his profession as stockbroker and his religion as Church of Ireland.

Little is known about Willoughby Hamilton’s later years. His parents, Alfred and Catherine, both died in 1897, at the age of 72 and 69 respectively. William Drummond Hamilton, the next best tennis player in the Hamilton family, who also played cricket a number of times for Ireland, died in Oxford, England, in 1914 after a long illness. He was 54.

Blayney Hamilton, the youngest of the nine Hamilton siblings, and another talented tennis player, also represented Ireland at cricket (Francis Cole Lowry Hamilton, a third Hamilton sibling, also played cricket competitively). Blayney was an excellent badminton player too and also played field hockey competitively. He died in Dublin in 1946 at the age of 74.

Interestingly, there was another Willoughby Hamilton, a nephew of the tennis player, who also reached the summit of his main sport, namely badminton. This Willoughby was born in Dublin in 1907 and was the third child of Blayney Hamilton and his wife, Kerie. According to a Will’s cigarette sports card dating from the 1930s, “When the badminton rankings for 1934 were announced by Sir George Thomas, the name of the young Irishman Willoughby Hamilton appeared at the head of the list, thus acclaiming him World’s Champion. He was only eighteen years of age when he made his first appearance in an Irish International team. Since then he has been four times Irish singles champion, three times holder of the Scottish singles and he has won the Welsh title on three occasions.”

The younger Willoughby Hamilton’s sporting achievements must have been a source of some pride not just to his father, Blayney Hamilton, but also to his uncle Willoughby, who lived to see his nephew become the world’s best badminton player.

Willoughby James Hamilton, the tennis player, died in Dundrum, Dublin, on 27 September 1943 at the age of 78.

 

[newmark401]

Willoughby definitely needs a boost, unintentional smileys and all. I don't know why two smileys appeared at the end of what should be "eighteen fifty-eight" in the first part.

 

[Idzznew]

impressed

Wow Mark,

Im really impressed! This is for me the main reason of coming here.
Reading about the great history of our sport. Regardless what the
strength of those players would be in todays game.

I can only humbly add the results I have of Hamilton at tennisarchives:

Stats
Matches in database: 45
Victories in database: 35
Tournaments won in database: 6

Results
1884 Irish championships
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Coffey, E.L. (w.o.)
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Carpendale, M.J. (6-2 6-3 6-3)
Round 3 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Campion, Tom S. (6-2 4-6 6-2 6-0)
Quarterfinals McKay, H.K. d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (6-2 7-5 6-8 6-4)

1885 Irish championships
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Grove, Harry (6-2 6-0 6-2)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Dwight, James (4-6 11-9 6-1 6-1)
Semifinals Chatterton, Eyre d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (10-8 6-8 6-4 4-6 6-3)

1886 Wimbledon
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Meers, Ernest G. (7-5 6-4 8-6)
Quarterfinals Lawford, Herbert Fortescue d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (8-6 6-1 8-6)

1886 Irish championships
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Perry, F.W. (6-3 8-6 6-4)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Campion, Tom S. (6-1 5-7 6-1 6-3)
Semifinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Garvey, Toler Roberts (8-6 7-5 6-2)
Final Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Chatterton, Eyre (?)
Challenge Round Lawford, Herbert Fortescue d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (5-7 6-4 6-4 7-5)

1887 Irish championships
Preliminary Round Hamilton, Willoughby James d. McDougall, R. (6-1 6-0 6-1)
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Bowes- Lyon, Patrick (6-3 8-6 6-2)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Chaytor, D. Grainger (6-3 6-4 6-0)
Semifinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Wilson, A.J. de C. (6-2 6-2 6-1)
Final Renshaw, Ernest James d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (6-4 1-6 6-3 6-4)

1888 Wimbledon
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Meers, Ernest G. (7-5 4-6 6-4 6-2)
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Bowlby, F.A. (6-1 6-1 6-4)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Renshaw, William Charles (5-7 7-5 6-4 6-2)
Semifinals Renshaw, Ernest James d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (7-5 7-5 5-7 6-3)

1888 Irish championships
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Campion, Tom S. (6-1 6-1 6-0)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Meers, Ernest G. (6-3 6-2 6-2)
Semifinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Lewis, Ernest Wool (3-6 6-4 3-6 10-8 6-2)
Final Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Lawford, Herbert Fortescue (6-1 6-0 4-6 6-0)
Challenge Round Renshaw, Ernest James d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (6-4 5-7 6-4 3-6 6-2)

1889 Wimbledon
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Baldwin, James (w.o.)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Lewis, Ernest Wool (4-6 7-5 6-3 5-7 6-4)
Semifinals Barlow, Harry Sibthorpe d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (3-6 6-3 2-6 6-3 6-3)

1889 Irish championships
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. James, C.P.R. (6-0 6-0 6-0)
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Stoker, Frank Owen (9-7 6-4 6-1)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Baldwin, James (6-1 6-0 6-2)
Semifinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Goodbody, Manliff Francis (6-1 6-1 6-2)
Final Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Renshaw, William Charles (6-4 5-7 6-2 7-5)
Challenge Round Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Renshaw, Ernest James (12-10 6-1 6-3)

1890 Wimbledon
Round 1 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Gore, Arthur William Charles (Wentworth) (6-0 6-1 6-1)
Round 2 Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Taylor, William C. (7-5 6-1 6-1)
Quarterfinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Baddeley, Wlifred (6-3 6-0 6-1)
Semifinals Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Pim, Joshua F. (0-6 6-4 6-4 6-2)
Final Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Barlow, Harry Sibthorpe (2-6 6-4 6-4 4-6 7-5)
Challenge Round Hamilton, Willoughby James d. Renshaw, William Charles (6-8 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-1)

1890 Irish championships
Challenge Round Lewis, Ernest Wool d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (3-6 3-6 9-7 6-4 7-5)

1891 Wimbledon
Challenge Round Baddeley, Wlifred d. Hamilton, Willoughby James (w.o.

 

[newmark401]

Thanks, Alex, I'm glad you liked it. I've just found a way to disable the "smilies" which were annoying in the first part, especially since I didn't put them there.

 

[Q&M son]

Great thread Mark, another one.
Thanks.

 

[newmark401]

Great thread Mark, another one.
Thanks.

Glad you liked it. I'm hoping to redo my Joshua Pim biographical piece at some point because Pim was actually a better player than Willoughby J. Hamilton and, in that sense, deserves a longer piece than my original one.

 

[Borgforever]

Newmark401 -- this thread is a gem. Hamilton was much better than people believe understand -- IMO the first modern, complete champion.

True though that peak Pim was, arguably, slighty sharper Willhoughby, but who knows. Kudos to you for your stunning threads on these first giants. I read your threads with the glee of a kid at Christmas. Keep up your brilliant work....

 

[newmark401]

The following extract from an 1886 edition of "Pastime" provides an insight into Willoughby J. Hamilton's schooldays and early sporting activities (I hadn't found this piece when I wrote the original biography):

“His schooldays were spent at Loughborough Grammar School, Leicestershire, where he made his mark in outdoor games and exercise, winning several races each year in the athletic sports, besides gaining a place in the cricket and football teams. During his last year he was captain of both the elevens, and won the bat given as prize for the highest cricket averages. At lawn tennis, for three years, he held the position of champion of the school.

“Leaving school before the completion of his seventeenth year, Hamilton entered a stockbroker’s office in Dublin, in which city he has since remained. During the winter of 1884-5, he played Association football with such success as to be included in the Leinster team against Ulster, and to gain his international cap in the annual engagement with Wales. As a right wing forward he had, at that time, few, if any, equals in the country.

“Finding that he could not spare time to play cricket to his own satisfaction, although he had acquired a high reputation as a splendid field and a very promising batsman, he determined to abandon the game in favour of lawn tennis. From this point his improvement was rapid and consistent…”

 

[KJACK55]

Was wondering what the consensus would be in weighing the "value" of the different tourneys pre 1900 and slightly thereafter. When reviewing Karoly's ebook I am trying to gauge if not playing anything but Wimbledon shouldn't be a penalty as such. At which point, though, in counterpoint, does a tourney qualify as a "quality" venture with a reasonable strong representation to make it worth considering. How much is a win in Ireland worth if one has a decent appearance at Wimbledon. I'm getting ready to do a series of all the tourneys (with available stats) from 1877. I'm not really worried about who was #1 for the year, but, for argument sake I thought the posters on these threads of old tennis could enlighten me with maybe a weighted ranking. We have our modern points awarded and I wonder if I could utilize something similar if I decide to use continuous season play as well as one and done for each tourney in its respective year played.
Thanks for the help.
Kevin
PS Without Karoly's book I'd have no framework from which to work, short of doing all the research myself which got tedious.