Mary Kelsey, St. John's
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Mary Kelsey, 2004 |
Mary Kelsey was born on October 17, 1920 in St. John’s,
Newfoundland, daughter of Elsie (Penston) and Patrick Brien, chief accountant
with the Newfoundland Government. She was educated at Littledale School
and completed a commercial course at Mercy Convent.
She was employed at Neil Soper Hardware. In 1948, she married Ron Kelsey
and had seven children.
Littledale School offered one physical education
class weekly, with exercises in drills and marching. Mary learned to play
tennis from her father, when she was six years old. Patrick Brien, Regt.
# 80, had enlisted as a Blue Puttee in World War I, and learned the sport
while stationed in England. Mary initially played at the Bowring Park
tennis courts and later at the tennis courts in Mount Pearl, where her
family vacationed. Mary also played at the Bally Haly courts and with
the Terra Nova Club. She competed in singles, women’s doubles and
mixed doubles matches. In addition to tennis, Mary also enjoyed cross-country
skiing and skating.
Mary Brien enjoyed a very successful tennis career.
She regularly competed in the Avalon Cup Tennis tournament, held at the
Harbour Grace Aero Tennis Club. In the 1946 Tournament, held in Corner
Brook, Mary won both the Double and Singles Championship. In the 1947
Corner Brook Tournament, she won the Lever Cup.
Both Mary Brien and Frances Godden, a playing
partner found the Corner Brook matches a particular challenge. Their competitors
were often the British wives of Bowater’s employees, who had benefitted
from formal coaching. The St. John’s players never had any formal
coaching. Fortunately, this disadvantage did not prevent either Mary or
Miss Godden from winning several matches in Corner Brook.
The matches held on Bell Island were also enjoyed.
In 1948, Mary won the Triple Crown. Following her marriage , Mary retired
from tennis in 1950 to start a family. Mary (Brien) Kelsey was inducted
into the Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
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