[5] In May 1883, he reached the semifinals of the Longwood Bowl in Boston, losing to James Dwight by a walkover.

[7] At the second major tournament of the 19th century the Irish Championships,[8] held in Dublin he reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Herbert Lawford in three sets.

[9] Sears had to withdraw from the West of England Championships held at Bath due to a foot injury but in June he reached the final of the East Gloucestershire Championships held at Cheltenham, losing in three sets to Donald Stewart.

[9] He then traveled to Manchester to compete at the second most important English tournament at the time the Northern Championships where he also reached the quarterfinals, again losing to Stewart.

In June 1885 he won the Middle States Championships in Hoboken, New Jersey, defeating Howard Taylor.