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.
^"LAWN TENNIS. BURTON-ON-TRENT OPEN TOURNAMENT. The 10th annual three-days tournament, which commenced Thursday, was continued yesterday brilliant weather. eight events on the programme include the Ratcliff Challenge Cup for gentlemen (value 60 guineas) and prizes value £4". Sheffield Daily Telegraph. Sheffield, Yorkshire, England: British Newspaper Archives. 8 July 1893. p. 3.
^"LAWN TENNIS. BURTON-ON-TRENT OPEN TOURNAMENT. A three day.'The tournament concluded on Wednesday, the following being the principal results; — GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES. S. H. Smith (Holder for past two years) beat E. R. Allen, 6-1. 6-0". Nottinghamshire Guardian. Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England: British Newspaper Archives. 29 July 1899. p. 8.
^"Tennis: The Burton-on-Trent Open Tennis Tournament will held (by kind permission) on the Ind Coope and Co's Cricket Ground on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday July 25th 26th 27th The patrons attending this event are all the leading people of Burton-on-Trent". Burton Daily Mail. Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England.: British Newspaper Archives. 2 July 1898. p. 1.
