HAROLD SEGERSON MAHONY (1867-1905) THE LAST IRISHMAN TO WIN WIMBLEDON, 1896 His 18ct gold winner's medal by Harry Soane, London, awarded by the All England Club to H.S. Mahony 1896. The obverse...

HAROLD SEGERSON MAHONY (1867-1905) THE LAST IRISHMAN TO WIN WIMBLEDON, 1896 His 18ct gold winner's medal by Harry Soane, London, awarded by the All England Club to H.S. Mahony 1896. The obverse with central motif of two crossed racquets above a Tudor rose with legend inscription: All England Club Wimbledon. The reverse showing a laurel wreath with legend: Lawn Tennis Champion, 38mm diameter. Harold Mahony was born into a respected Irish family in Edinburgh in February 1867. His father Richard John Mahony was a wealthy barrister and built a tennis court at their home in Dromore Castle, Co. Kerry. It was here that Mahony learned the game that he was later to master and spent his youth growing up alongside his sister Nora in the Castle's romantic Gothic grounds. He later attended Trinity College, Dublin, where he excelled at his chosen subjects and won a gold medal for Philosophy in 1889. He was a regular on the London tennis circuit by the mid 1890's and a frequent visitor to Wimbledon and the Queen's club. Mahony's most famous victory came in 1896 when he became Wimbledon Champion, defeating the previous year's winner, Wilfred Baddeley, in an exciting five set final (6-2, 6-8, 5-7, 8-6, 6-3). It was the longest title match until Drobny beat Rosewall in 1954. On the way to winning the title, Mahony had defeated Reggie Doherty, the soon to be four-time Wimbledon Champion. Mahony reached the final again the following year and had to face Laurie Doherty, Reggie's younger brother. He came very close to defending his title, reaching match point three times in the fifth set but was finally defeated by Doherty. He was renowned for his strong backhand, overhead shots and being almost unbeatable at the net. He represented the British Isles during the first years of the Davis Cup and earned a winner's gold medal for being a member of the first winning team in 1903. Mahony was described as the most generous heated, casual, irresponsible 75 inches of Irish bone and muscle that ever walked on court. He died when only 38, falling from his bicycle at the foot of a hill near his home in County Kerry.

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