Vere St. Leger Goold facts for kids
.jpg)
Goold, in 1879
|
|
| Full name | Vere Thomas Goold |
|---|---|
| Country (sports) |  United Kingdom |
| Born | 2 October 1853 Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Died | 8 September 1909 (aged 55) Île du Diable, French Guiana |
| Singles | |
| Career titles | 6 |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Wimbledon | F (1879) |
Vere Thomas "St. Leger" Goold (born October 2, 1853 – died September 8, 1909) was a talented Irish tennis player. He made a name for himself in 1879 by becoming the first singles champion of the Irish Championships. That same year, he also reached the final of the famous Wimbledon tournament. Later in his life, Goold faced serious legal challenges and was sent to a prison colony, where he passed away.
Tennis Career Highlights
Vere Goold grew up in a wealthy family. When he was young, he was skilled in both boxing and tennis. In June 1879, he became the very first Irish tennis champion. He won the final match against C.D. Barry with scores of 8–6, 8–6.
Later that summer, Vere Goold competed in the third ever Wimbledon Championships. He played very well and reached the All-Comers final on July 15. In that final, he was defeated by John Hartley, with scores of 2–6, 4–6, 2–6.
A few months later, he played in the first open tennis tournament held in Cheltenham. He again made it to the final. However, he lost to William Renshaw in a close match: 4–6, 3–6, 6–5, 6–5, 4–6. Vere Goold had a strong lead of 4–1 in the final set but couldn't quite win.
After getting sick, he was unable to defend his Irish title in 1880. He lost in the Challenge Round to William Renshaw again, with scores of 1–6, 4–6, 3–6. After this, Vere Goold's tennis career declined. He stopped playing in major tournaments by 1883.
Later Life and Challenges
Vere Goold married Marie Giraudin in 1891. Marie was a French dressmaker. The couple soon found themselves in financial trouble. They moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1897, where Marie ran a dressmaking business. Later, in 1903, they moved to Liverpool to manage a laundry business.
In 1907, the Goolds went to the Monte Carlo Casino. Marie believed she had a special way to win at the gambling tables. They also brought Marie's niece, Isabelle Giraudin, with them. The Goolds used the titles "Sir" and "Lady," claiming they had the right to do so.
While at the casino, they met a wealthy Swedish woman named Emma Levin. The Goolds soon ran out of money. Madame Levin asked them to repay money she had lent them. On August 4, 1907, Madame Levin went to their hotel to collect the debt before she left Monte Carlo.
After this, Vere and Marie Goold left for Marseille, leaving Isabelle behind. Police later found some concerning items in their hotel suite. The couple was arrested. The trial that followed received a lot of public attention. Marie Goold was initially sentenced to death, but her sentence was changed to life imprisonment. Vere Goold was sentenced to life imprisonment on Devil's Island, a prison colony. He passed away there on September 8, 1909, less than a year after arriving. Marie Goold died in a jail in Montpellier in 1914.
Grand Slam Finals
Singles (1 runner-up)
| Result | Year | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1879 | Wimbledon | Grass |  John Hartley |
2–6, 4–6, 1–6 |
