1950-51 to 1959-60

1950-1951

League Tables 1950-51

Matches were 4 players per team, ranked in merit order. 1 v 1 & 2, 2 v 1 & 3, 3 v 2 & 4, 4 v 3 & 4. 8 sets best of 3 games up to 21. No doubles. 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw.

In April 1951 the champions Tang Hall 'A' (Williams, Dick Shaw, Senior, Morgan) beat The Rest (Jack Senescall, Blacktin (RAF Linton), Eric Bell, Bill Shaw) 5-3. 

1951-1952

League Tables 1951-1952

Match format changed to 3 players per team, each playing each player in the opposing team. 9 sets. No doubles. 2 points for a win.

George E Bagshaw Trophy (19&20/02/1952)
This was not a handicap competition until 1955-56.
Postponed from earlier date due to the death of King George VI.
Semi-finals
Jack Senescall beat W Elvin (St Johns College) 21-12, 21-8
D Telford beat Eric Bell 21-16, 21-17
Final
Jack Senescall beat D Telford 21-16, 23-21

Championship Finals (??/03/1952)
Men’s Singles: Jack Senescall beat Les Senior 21-17, 15-21, 21-16, 25-23
Women’s Singles: Janet Wilson beat Elaine Lodge 18-21, 21-5, 21-17
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & Les Senior beat Dick Shaw & J Ellis 21-19, 21-19, 21-23, 21-8
Women’s Doubles: Jackie Pickering & Janet Wilson beat Elaine Lodge & Betty Senescall 21-13, 18-21, 21-18
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat D Telford & Cynthia Wright 21-15, 8-21, 21-17
Junior Singles: Hugh Greaves beat Denis Martindale 21-19, 13-21, 23-21

Railway Institute (Malcolm Huntington, Denis Martindale, Hugh Greaves) lost to Pontefract in the final of County Junior Clubs Championships. The match was played at Bay Horse, Marygate.

1952-1953

Sadly Eric died a few month later, and an obituary appeared in the Yorkshire Evening Press on 12th December 1952

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/01/1953
This was not a handicap competition until 1955-5
Fina
Jack Senescall beat Les Senior 21-12, 21-12

Championship Finals (??/03/1953
Probably the first time played on one day.
Men’s Singles: Kevin Bramham beat Les Senior 24-22, 18-21, 21-12
Women’s Singles: Cynthia Wright beat Jackie Pickering 21-19, 21-8
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & Les Senior beat Kevin Bramham & George Lodge 21-13, 21-15
Women’s Doubles: Cynthia Wright & Audrey Senior beat Elaine Lodge & Betty Senescall 16-21, 21-19, 21-13
Mixed Doubles: Dick Shaw & Jackie Pickering beat Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall 21-17, 21-19
Junior Singles: Robert Ward beat Denis Martindale 21-11, 21-16

An exhibition by England internationals Johnny Leach and Victor Barna was held at Rowntree Theatre in January 1953.

1953-1954

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/02/1954)
This was not a handicap competition until 1955-56.
60 entrants.
Semi-finals
Jack Senescall beat K Parker 21-19, 21-10
Stan Smith beat K Howley 27-25, 19-21, 21-15
Final
Jack Senescall beat Stan Smith 21-15, 21-15

York Closed Finals (??/04/1954)
Men’s Singles: John Braithwaite beat Jack Senescall 9-21, 21-15, 23-21 (Senescall led 20-17)
Women’s Singles: Jackie Pickering beat Betty Senescall 21-16, 21-19
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & Dick Shaw beat John Braithwaite & Parker 21-18, 21-17
Women’s Doubles: Jackie Pickering & Janet Wilson beat Betty Senescall & Valerie Smurthwaite 21-16, 21-18
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat Dick Shaw & Jackie Pickering 21-16, 22-20
Junior Singles: Ron Coulson beat Barry Featherstone 9-21, 21-13, 21-15

Jackie Pickering and Betty Senescall reached the Ladies’ Doubles final at the Yorkshire Closed.

1954-1955

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1954)
This was not a handicap competition until 1955-56.
Final
Monty McMillan beat Jack Senescall 21-15, 21-19, 21-10
Plate
Malcolm Huntington beat Bernal Miner 21-19, 21-16

York Closed Finals (??/02/1955)
Men’s Singles: Monty McMillan beat Jack Senescall 19-21, 21-19, 21-18
Women’s Singles: Betty Senescall beat Janet Wilson 21-15, 21-13
Men’s Doubles: Monty McMillan & John Braithwaite beat Jack Senescall & Alan Glass 16-21, 21-15, 21-18
Women’s Doubles: Betty Senescall & Valerie Smurthwaite beat Janet Wilson & Hudson 21-14, 21-14
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat John Braithwaite & Valerie Smurthwaite 21-19, 19-21, 21-7
Junior Singles: David Poole beat Barry Featherstone 9-21, 21-15, 21-18

1955-1956

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1955)
The first season played as handicap competition.
Final
JC Littlewood (+25) beat R Harton (+20) 31-26, 31-11

York Closed Finals (??/02/1956)

Men’s Singles: Trevor Foster beat Jack Senescall 21-17, 21-14
Women’s Singles: Betty Senescall beat Janet Wilson 21-10, 18-21, 21-18
Men’s Doubles: Maurice Kendal & D Howe beat Jack Senescall & Malcolm Huntington 21-6, 20-22, 21-16
Women’s Doubles: Betty Senescall & Valerie Smurthwaite beat Mary Ellis & Elaine Lodge 21-11, 21-18
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat Maurice Kendal & Mary Ellis 21-16, 21-18
Junior Singles: John W Lyon beat David Poole 21-9, 21-18
Junior Doubles: John W Lyon & A Stuart beat P Illingworth & G Holmes 23-21, 21-17
Consolation Singles: Ian Farrar beat Robert Plant 21-14, 21-17

1956-1957

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1956)
Final
Jerry Dunnington (+22) beat Trevor Foster (+2) 30-32, 31-21, 31-14

York Closed Finals (??/02/1957)
Played at Terry’s for the first time.
Men’s Singles: Jack Senescall beat Trevor Foster 21-8, 21-19
Women’s Singles: Janet Wilson beat Betty Senescall 21-14, 10-21, 21-18
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & Trevor Foster beat John W Lyon & O’Regan 21-16, 21-16
Women’s Doubles: Janet Wilson & Olive Pottinger beat Betty Senescall & Elaine Lodge 21-19, 16-21, 21-19
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat Janet Pears & Janet Wilson 21-14, 21-18
Junior Singles: John W Lyon beat David Poole 21-15, 18-21, 21-11
Division 2 Singles: Denis Martindale beat K Parker 21-15, 22-20
Division 3 Singles: G Maidment beat G Myerscough 18-21, 21-17, 21-16
Division 4 Singles: Keith Dunn beat J Rudkin 21-10, 21-9

David Poole won the Boys’ Singles and Jack Senescall won the Men's Doubles (with Doug McGarry of Barnsley) at the Yorkshire Closed Championships.

1957-1958

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1957)
Semi-finals
John W Lyon (-9) beat Staples (+7)
David Poole (-8) beat Jack Senescall (-10) 31-29, 31-23
Final
David Poole (-8) beat John W Lyon (-9) 31-26, 31-22

Shepherd Trophy Final (??/03/1958)
Railway Institute D (+16) 5 Railway Institute A (scr) 4 (games 31-up)

1958-1959

League Tables and Players' Averages 1958-1959

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1958)
Final
John W Lyon (scr) beat Jack Senescall 16-21, 23-21, 21-19

York Closed Finals (??/02/1959)
Men’s Singles: Jack Senescall beat Robert Lowe 21-10, 21-8
Women’s Singles: Janet Pears beat Betty Senescall 21-19, 17-21, 21-18
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & John W Lyon beat Martindale & David Poole 21-13, 21-19
Women’s Doubles: Janet Pears & Barbara Hudson beat Betty Senescall & Elaine Lodge 21-11, 13-21, 21-19
Mixed Doubles: Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall beat Denis Martindale & Senior 21-8, 21-16
Junior Singles: Keith Dunn beat M Storey 21-14, 21-19

1959-1960

League Tables and Players' Averages 1959-1960

George E Bagshaw Trophy (??/11/1959)
Final
Douglas Utley (+6) beat Keith Dunn (+5) 31-23, 31-20

York Closed Finals (??/02/1960)
Men’s Singles: Francis Gregoire beat Robert Lowe 16-21, 21-14, 21-10
Women’s Singles: Mary Ellis beat Barbara Hudson 15-21, 21-14, 21-10
Men’s Doubles: Jack Senescall & John W Lyon beat Robert Lowe & David Poole 21-10, 21-17
Women’s Doubles: Betty Senescall & Elaine Lodge beat Mary Ellis & Senior 21-12, 21-17
Mixed Doubles: Robert Lowe & Elaine Lodge beat Jack Senescall & Betty Senescall 21-19, 22-20
Junior Singles: Keith Dunn beat M Davison 21-11, 25-23
Veterans Singles: George Lodge beat T Williams 21-13,21-14

Shepherd Trophy Final (??/03/1960)
Shepherds C (+24) 6 Heworth C (+29) 3 (games 31-up)