Spencer Gore (sportsman) facts for kids
Spencer Gore
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| Full name | Spencer William Gore |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Born | 10 March 1850 Wimbledon, Surrey, England |
| Died | 19 April 1906 (aged 56) Ramsgate, Kent, England |
| Singles | |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | W (1877) |
Spencer William Gore (born March 10, 1850 – died April 19, 1906) was an English athlete. He is famous for winning the very first Wimbledon tennis tournament in 1877. He was also a talented cricketer who played for Surrey County Cricket Club.
Contents
Spencer Gore's Early Life
Spencer William Gore was born and grew up in Wimbledon, England. His home was very close to the All England Croquet Club. This club later became famous for tennis.
He went to Harrow School, a well-known school. At Harrow, Spencer was excellent at many sports. He especially loved football and cricket. In 1869, he was even the captain of his school's cricket team.
Spencer Gore's Sporting Career
Spencer Gore was a skilled athlete in both cricket and tennis. He made his debut in first-class cricket in 1874. He played for the Surrey County Cricket Club. In his first match, he scored 17 runs very quickly.
He played for Surrey again in 1875. Spencer also played cricket for a club called I Zingari until 1893.
Winning the First Wimbledon Championship
In 1877, the first-ever Wimbledon lawn tennis championship was held. The club had added tennis two years earlier. Spencer Gore was one of 22 men who paid to enter the tournament. Women did not have their own competition until 1884.
The tournament had 21 matches over five days. The games stopped for the weekend. This was so they would not clash with a big cricket match. The final match was delayed for four days because of rain.
Spencer Gore, who was 27 years old, played very well. He reached the final by only losing two sets. In the final, he played against William Marshall. Spencer won the match easily. The scores were 6–1, 6–2, 6–4. The match lasted only 48 minutes.
Spencer Gore became the first Gentleman's Singles champion. He won a prize of 12 guineas and a silver cup. He is also known for being the first player to use the "volley" technique. This is when you hit the ball before it bounces.
Defending His Wimbledon Title
As the champion, Spencer Gore did not have to play all the matches in the next year's tournament. In the 1878 Championship, he only had to play in the final round. This final round is called the "challenge round."
He played against Frank Hadow, who had won the All-Comers tournament. Spencer Gore lost this match. The scores were 5–7, 1–6, 7–9. After this loss, he never competed in the Wimbledon Championships again.
Spencer Gore's Business Life
After his tennis career, Spencer Gore worked in business. He joined a property company called Pickering and Smith. His father-in-law, Edmund James Smith, was the head of this company.
Spencer became a partner in the firm. The company was then renamed Smiths and Gore.
Spencer Gore's Family Life
On January 9, 1875, Spencer Gore married Amy Margaret Smith. They had four children together. Their children were Kathleen Amy, Florence Emily Frances, George Pym, and Spencer Frederick.
His son, Spencer Frederick, became a famous artist. Another son, George, was a boxing champion. George also played cricket for Durham.
Spencer Gore passed away on April 19, 1906. He was 56 years old. He died in Ramsgate, England, and was buried there.
Grand Slam Tournaments
Spencer Gore played in two Wimbledon singles finals.
Singles: 2 (1 title, 1 runner-up)
| Result | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 1877 | Wimbledon | Grass | William Marshall |
6–1, 6–2, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1878 | Wimbledon | Grass | Frank Hadow |
5–7, 1–6, 7–9 |
Images for kids
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Harrow cricket team of 1869 for the match against Eton. Spencer Gore is in the front row, fourth from the left.
