Bertha Thompson

Bertha Thompson was born at Terrington Hall, York and was a member of Scarborough GC (later called Ganton GC), Beverley and East Riding GC and Woodhall Spa GC. She was scratch at all three clubs.

Her first success was to win the first Yorkshire Championship in 1902, having the previous year won the inaugural Yorkshire Challenge Bowl. She was a member of the first County Committee for Ladies.

Bertha Thompson was the first Yorkshire Lady to win the British Championship in 1905. This is a particularly significant meeting as a team of American Ladies competed, led by the Curtis sisters, Margaret and Harriet. This Championship was played at Cromer, and Bertha played through the eight rounds. In the fourth round she defeated Miss L. Dod the holder and in the fifth defeated Margaret Curtis.

In the final Bertha Thompson beat Miss M.E.Stuart (R.Portrush) by 3 and 2.

The following year she defended her title at Burnham and Berrow GC, Somerset. She reached the final after 6 rounds and in the first 3 never lost a hole. She was therefore expected to win her second successive title. However, in the final she was defeated by Mrs Kennion (Brighton and Hove GC) by 4 and 3.

Bertha Thompson continued to enter the British Championship until WW1 and represented England in International matches from 1902 to 1911. She married in 1914 and was Lady Captain of Ganton GC in 1933. In 1936 she still held a handicap of 12.