Postcard, Tennis in Wallace Park, Lisburn, 1905 (LMILC.2023.115, given by Margaret Hanthorne)
Lisburn’s Wallace Park was the setting for many a tennis match hosted by the Lisburn Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club. One such tournament was held in September 1885. The finalists were E. J. Charley of Seymour Hill and John Preston, manager of the Northern Bank.
The Lisburn Standard noted: ‘the final tie … after a really beautifully played game, in which both players displayed much skill, resulted in favour of the former [Charley] … The interest manifested throughout the entire play was of the keenest character, and the attendance large and most fashionable. The weather was admirably suited for the sport’.
The score of Charley v Preston was 3 to 2 (6 to 8, 6 to 3, 4 to 6, 6 to 1, 8 to 6). Charley was presented with the winner’s trophy by Frederick L. Capron, agent to Sir Richard Wallace.