Highland Championships Explained

Highland Championships
Type:Defunct
Tour:ILTF Circuit
Founded:1896
Location:Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland
Venue:Atholl Palace Hotel

The Highland Championships (informally called the Scottish Highland Championships) was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament first established in 1896 as part of the Atholl Hydropathic Open Lawn Tennis Tournament.[1] Also known as the Bell's Highland Championships for sponsorship reasons (1974–1981).[2]

The championships were first held at the Athole Hydropathic tennis courts, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland. The tournament was staged annually as part of the ILTF Circuit until 1981.[3]

History

In 1878, the Atholl Hydropathic was opened. In August 1896, the hotel established its first lawn tennis event, the Atholl Hydropathic Open Lawn Tennis Tournament of which the Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy was played for as part of the gentleman's singles programme.[4] It was part of the Scottish Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) circuit from inception. In 1913, the venue's name was changed to the Athol Palace Hotel. The championships were temporarily suspended during both the first and second world wars. It continued to be held annually as part of the official international ILTF Circuit from 1913. At the 1930 championships 149 players entered the tournament for play.[5]

In 1974, the Scottish whisky company Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd. decided to sponsor the event under the brand name the Bell's Highland Championships. That year, 14-year-old Judith Erskine (future mother of grand slam champion Andy Murray) won all three titles of the Bell's Junior Championship of the Highlands.[6] It ran until 1981,[7] when it ceased to part of the international worldwide tennis circuit. The tournament continues to be staged at the same venue today, now known as the Highland Tennis Championships,[8] or Tennis Championships of the Highlands. The tournament is currently administered by Tennis Scotland.

Venue

In 1874, the Perthshire architect, Andrew Heiton was commissioned to design a Scottish baronial-style hydropathic establishment, with accommodation.[9] In 1878, the building was officially opened and named the Athole Hydropathic.[10] In 1913, its name was changed to The Atholl Palace Hotel.[10]

Finals

Men's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  SLTA Circuit  ↓
Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy
1897 Harry Sibthorpe Barlow Clement Cazaletw.o.
1899[11] Sydney Lawrence Fry Rupert Hamblin-Smith6–1, 6–3, 6–4
1900 Alfred Aitken Thomson Richard Millar Watsonw.o.
Highland Lawn Tennis Championships
1901 Sydney Lawrence Fry (2) James Cecil Parke6–1, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1903 E.G. Whittle C.H. Moss6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2
1905 W.E. McKechnie T.B. Pollard6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
Highland Championships
1938[12] Alfred Eustace Fannin6–4, 3–6, 8–6
1940/1945Not held (due to World War II)
1947 David M. Duncan S.H. Allan6–2, 7–5
1948 John Stewart Ross G.W. O'Connor7–5, 7–5
1949 John C. George Savile Arthur J. Gould8–10, 6–2, 6–0
1950 Tadeusz Slawek[13] John C. George Savile6–1, 6–1
1951 Tadeusz Slawek (2) R.H. Thomson6–3, 6–1
1952 Tadeusz Slawek (3) A.G. Potter6–0, 7–5
1953 A.L. Graeme N.J. Gibson6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1954 John R. Maguire D.B. Dempsey6–3, 6–1
1955 Brian Douglas Ford[14] J.J. Carmichael6–1, 6–2
1956 D.B. Dempsey6–0, 6–3
1957 D.B. Dempsey A. Bloomfield6–3, 6–2
1959 Aaron S. Black D.C. Burrows13–11, 6–1
1960 D.B. Dempsey (2) Aaron S. Black 2–6, 11–9, 6–0
1961 D.B. Dempsey (3) Ken Riley6–3, 4–6, 6–1
1962 John Blizard [15] 6–3, 6–0
1964 J.C. Reynolds T.C. MacNair6–2, 6–2
↓  Open era  ↓
19726–2, 6–2
Bell's Highland Championships
1975 Hugh Thomson[16] 6–3, 6–0
1976 Graeme Notman[17] Ken Revie6–3, 6–2
1977 Jasper Cooper Robbie Rockwell4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1978 K. Reynolds Peter Littlewood6–3, 6–3
1979 K. Reynolds (2) J. McKechnie6–4, 6–3
1980 Mark Powell Keith Kordula[18] 6–3, 6–2
1981 P. Priest N. Carmichaell6–3, 6–3

Women's singles

(incomplete roll)

YearChampionsRunners-upScore
↓  SLTA Circuit  ↓
Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy
1897 Jane Corder 6–3, 6–3
18996–2, 3–6, 6–2
1900 Ruth Dyas Durlacher6–4, 6–3
Highland Lawn Tennis Championships
1903 Alice Maud Ferguson Minnie Hunter6–3, 8–6
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
Highland Championships
1922 Mary Gray Welsh Mary Thom 6–1, 9–7
1928 Winifred Mason Olga Webb 1–6, 6–1, 6–3
1929 Winifred Mason (2) Geraldine Beamish6–0, 6–4
1933 Joan Hartigan6–2, 6–2
1934 Esna Boyd Robertson (2) Kathleen Robertson6-2, 6-0
1935 Esna Boyd Robertson6–2, 6–1
1936 Madge Slaney 6–4, 6–3
1940/1945Not held (due to World War II)
1948 Helena Czolowska Betty Lombard6–2, 7–5
1950 Mrs C.M. Mitchell Chloe Rhodes 6–4, 2–6, 8–6
1952 E. Vlandy 6–0, 7–5
1953 Beryl Bartlett Helena Czolowska6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1961 Ann McAlpine Sally Holdsworth 6–1, 6–4
1962 Alison Stroud 7–5, 6–3
1967 Margaret H. O'Donnell6–4, 7–5
↓  Open era  ↓
Bell's Highland Championships
1975 Joyce Barclay Hume (2)6–8, 6–0, 6–3
1976 Joyce Barclay Hume (3) Jill Cottrell 6–3, 7–5
1977 Jill Cottrell Marjorie Love 1–6, 6–1, 6–2
1978 Jill Cottrell (2) E. Armstrong 6–1, 6–4
1979 G. Armstrong Eleanor Lightbody 7–5, 6–8, 6–3
1980 D. Boothman L. Ristic 10–8, 6–2
1981 L. Reid D. Boothman 6–4, 6–1

Event names

Notes and References

  1. News: Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy: We give a sketch of the Highland championship challenge trophy which to be competed for as part of the Atholl Hydropathic Open Lawn Tennis tournament. . 12 May 2023 . . British Newspaper Archive . 17 August 1896 . Midlothian, Scotland . 4. subscription.
  2. Book: Barrett . John . Tingay . Lance . Flink . Steve . World of Tennis BP Year Book 1979 . 1979 . Macdonald and James Publishers Limited . London . 0354090682 . 286 . British Tournament Results 1978.
  3. Web site: Tournaments: Highland Championships. The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. 21 August 2023. subscription. 15 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230515071923/https://thetennisbase.com/tournaments/. dead.
  4. Edinburgh Evening News (1896)
  5. News: HIGHLAND TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP At Pitlochry Today play commenced in the 25th annual Highland championship tournament at the courts at the Atholl Palace Hotel, Pitlochry. There was a capital entry of 149 players, which is under last year's record. . 21 August 2023 . Dundee Evening Telegraph . British Newspaper Archive . 8 September 1930 . Angus, Scotland . 5. subscription.
  6. News: TENNIS HAT TRICK FOR JUDITH: Crieff, pupil, 14-year-old Judith Erskine of Dunblane was successful three times over in the finals of the Bell's Junior Championship of the Highlands at Perth on Saturday. Also featured is the Bells Highland Championhsips for seniors. . 12 May 2023 . Strathearn Herald . British Newspaper Archive . 17 August 1974 . Perthshire, Scotland . 8.
  7. News: Tennis News: Across the border to Perth and at Bells Highland Championships. . 12 May 2023 . Grantham Journal . British Newspaper Archive . 25 September 1981 . Lincolnshire, England . 24.
  8. Web site: Highland Tennis Championships . Scotland's Spa Hotel . 12 May 2023.
  9. Web site: Atholl Palace Museum: Hotel History & Architectural Heritage . www.athollpalace.com . Atholl Palace Hotel . 12 May 2023.
  10. Atholl Palace Hotel
  11. News: LAWN TENNIS: Highland Championship Tournament . 11 January 2024 . The Courier and Argus . newspapers.com . 14 Aug 1899 . Dundee, Tayside, Scotland . 3 . en.
  12. News: LAWN TENNIS HIGHLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS Two Davis Cup players, J. C. Gregory and A. E. Fannin, contested the final of the men's singles in the Highland Tennis Championship Tournament. . 21 August 2023 . Edinburgh Evening News . British Newspaper Archive . 10 September 1938 . Midlothian, Scotland . 28. subscription.
  13. Web site: Tadeusz Slawek: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 21 August 2023 . London.
  14. Web site: Brian Ford: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 21 August 2023 . London.
  15. Web site: John Blizzard: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 21 August 2023 . London.
  16. Web site: Player Profile: Hugh Thomson . www.itftennis.com . ITF . 21 August 2023 . London.
  17. Web site: Graeme Notman: Overview . ATP Tour . ATP . 21 August 2023 . London.
  18. News: Kordula finally claims his magnificent seventh . 21 August 2023 . . The Herald & Times Group . 1 August 1994 . Edinburgh . en.