The First-ever County Open Badminton Tournament.
120 years ago, the Middlesex County Badminton Association organised the first-ever County Open Tournament on January 2nd 1905. It was played at the Ealing Badminton Hall, Kenilworth Road, Ealing, London. With its three courts, the hall was privately run and owned by shareholders. The tournament consisted of men’s, women’s and mixed doubles, and a veteran’s handicap men’s doubles section. The tournament was open to all members of badminton clubs affiliated with the Badminton Association. Slazenger shuttlecocks were used.
It said in the February 1st 1905 copy of the Lawn Tennis and Badminton magazine, which was the official magazine of the Badminton Association at that time. “The promoters of the Middlesex County Championships meeting deserve hearty congratulations on the success of their venture. Their liberal and sporting policy in throwing open their prizes to all comers has been greatly appreciated.”
The tournament was supported by all the best players in England, all the winners were All-England champions.
George Thomas
Ethel Thompson.
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The mixed doubles with 11 pairs was won by George Thomas and Ethel Thompson after a close final match with Stewart Massey and Muriel Lucas.
Muriel Lucas and Ethel Thompson.
The women’s doubles event consisted of six pairs and was won by the Devonshire pair of Muriel Lucas and Ethel Thompson without losing a game; the runners-up were Daisy St. John and Dorothea Douglass. Muriel Lucas and Ethel Thompson were an exceptionally strong pairing at that time; It was said they never lost a game in tournament play and won four women’s All-England titles together.
Stewart Massey.
The men’s doubles with eight pairs was won by Stewart Massey and Charles Barnes, with runners-up Dr Henry Marrett and Albert Prebble. Massey and Barnes went on to win the All-England men’s doubles later that year.
The veteran’s doubles failed to attract more than four pairs, possibly because the age handicap was not announced beforehand. The winners were R. Abbatt and A. Cowley.
Men’s and women’s singles were introduced to the Middlesex Championships 1907. The tournament has continued to be played yearly except for the war years and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Click on the images to enlarge.
1908 Middlesex Open Championships.
The Middlesex Open Championships moved from the Ealing Badminton Hall to Hampstead Baths in 1947, including the Hampstead Tournament. It then moved to Orion Hall in 1952. Finally, moving to Hounslow Dome in 1987, when the Orion Hall was sold. The Middlesex Open Championships are still played at the Hounslow Dome and are part of the Badminton England tournament circuit.
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2025 Yonex All-England Badminton Championships
Tuesday 11 March 2025 to Sunday 16 March 2025.
At the Utilita Arena, Birmingham.
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National Badminton Centre
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