Thelma Kingsbury

Thelma Kingsbury (1911–1979), (later, in succession: Thelma Scovil, Thelma Welcome, Thelma Lougheed) was an English-born, naturalised American sportswoman who won major badminton titles in the British Isles and then in the US from the early 1930s to the early 1950s.

Badminton career Equally adept in singles and doubles she won two women's singles titles and four women's doubles titles at the prestigious All-England Championships between 1933 and 1937.

In the 1935–1936 season, she achieved a British "Grand Slam" by winning the open singles titles of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. After emigrating from Britain to the US, she won the U.S. women's singles title in 1941 and shared the U.S. women's doubles title with Janet Wright in 1941, 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1950. Though reaching 40 in the early 1950s, she continued to play highly competitive singles matches against such formidable opponents as Ethel Marshall, Margaret Varner, and a teenage Judy Devlin (Hashman). Thelma Kingsbury was among the initial class of players elected to the U.S. Badminton Hall of Fame in 1956.

Personal life Her sister Leoni Kingsbury was also a leading badminton player.

Achievements International tournaments (24 titles, 11 runners-up) Women's singles Year Tournament Opponent Score Result 1931 Welsh International Marian Horsley 11–4, 11–3 Winner 1933 All England Open Alice Woodroffe 7–11, 5–11 Runner-up 1933 Welsh International Betty Uber 1–11, 11–8, 9–11 Runner-up 1934 Irish Open D. Kenny 11–2, 11–2 Winner 1934 All England Open Leoni Kingsbury 4–11, 6–11 Runner-up 1934 Welsh International Alice Teague 11–8, 11–6 Winner 1935 Scottish Open Betty Uber 8–11, 11–5, 11–7 Winner 1935 Welsh International Greta Graham 11–5, 11–4 Winner 1936 Scottish Open Daphne Young 11–3, 11–4 Winner 1936 Irish Open Diana Doveton 11–1, 11–3 Winner 1936 All England Open Betty Uber 5–11, 11–3, 11–2 Winner 1936 Welsh International Greta Graham 2–11, 10–13 Runner-up 1937 Scottish Open Daphne Young 7–11, 6–11 Runner-up 1937 All England Open Diana Doveton 11–0, 11–0 Winner

Women's doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1931 Welsh International Hazel Hogarth Nora Coop Diana Doveton 15–6, 15–11 Winner 1933 All England Open Marje Bell L. W. Myers Brenda Speaight 10–15, 15–11, 15–9 Winner 1933 Welsh International Betty Uber Craddock Leoni Kingsbury 15–8, 15–6 Winner 1934 Irish Open Marje Henderson Marian Horsley Betty Uber 6–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1934 All England Open Marje Henderson L. W. Myers Brenda Speaight 15–8, 15–5 Winner 1934 Welsh International Betty Uber L. W. Myers Alice Teague 15–10, 15–8 Winner 1935 Scottish Open Marje Henderson C. T. Duncan Betty Uber 17–14, 15–12 Winner 1935 All England Open Marje Henderson Betty Uber Diana Doveton 15–5, 9–15, 15–8 Winner 1935 Welsh International Betty Uber Mavis Henderson Marian Horsley 15–6, 15–8 Winner 1936 Scottish Open Marje Henderson Elizabeth Anderson E. W. Greenwood 15–11, 15–6 Winner 1936 Irish Open Diana Doveton Marian Horsley Betty Uber 7–15, 10–15 Runner-up 1936 All England Open Marje Henderson Betty Uber Diana Doveton 15–10, 5–15, 15–7 Winner 1936 Welsh International Marian Horsley Dorothy Graham Greta Graham 7–15, 17–18 Runner-up 1937 Scottish Open Marje Henderson Elizabeth Anderson M. K. Morton 15–6, 15–11 Winner 1937 All England Open Marje Henderson Betty Uber Diana Doveton 18–17, 1–15, 2–15 Runner-up 1955 U.S. Open Janet Wright Judy Devlin Susan Devlin 10–15, 9–15 Runner-up

Mixed doubles Year Tournament Partner Opponent Score Result 1936 Scottish Open Ian Maconachie James Rankin Marian Horsley 15–3, 17–15 Winner 1936 All England Open Ian Maconachie Donald C. Hume Betty Uber 15–18, 8–15 Runner-up 1936 Welsh International Raymond M. White Ian Maconachie Marian Horsley 15–7, 5–15, 15–12 Winner 1937 Scottish Open Ian Maconachie Donald C. Hume Betty Uber 15–6, 15–11 Winner 1937 All England Open Ian Maconachie Ralph Nichols J. W. Stewart 15–11, 15–12 Winner