Bristol and Clifton Open
The Bristol and Clifton Open was a late 19th century men's and women's tennis tournament first established in 1882 as the Clifton Lawn Tennis Tournament. It was played on outdoor grass courts at the Clifton Lawn Tennis Club, Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire, England. The tournament ran annually until 1897.
History
In 1882 the Clifton Lawn Tennis Club was founded, with Bristol player Mr. Charles Lacy Sweet being appointed honorary club secretary. He became instrumental in the initial success of the Clifton Lawn Tennis tournament. In 1886 the tournament's name was changed to the Clifton Open. In 1895 the tournament had by this time grown in both size and importance it became part of the Western tour circuit, it was then rebranded as the Bristol and Clifton Open.That year the event featured some of the biggest names in British tennis including; Charles Gladstone Allen, Edward Roy Allen, Herbert Baddeley, Wilfred Baddeley, Frank Riseley, Sydney Howard Smith, and Frank Riseley. The men's singles title that year was won by Wilberforce Eaves. There was no women's singles, but did include and mixed doubles featuring players such as Charlotte Cooper, Ruth Dyas, Lottie Paterson, and Alice Pickering.
In 1897 the Gloucestershire Lawn Tennis Association was formed, it had originally staged an unofficial county level event in 1882 in Cheltenham. This year the association decided to officially create the Gloucestershire Championships and decided to move the tournament to Clifton as a replacement for the Bristol and Clifton Open, at which point this tournament was discontinued as a distinct event.