Highland Championships

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]

Highland Championships
Defunct tennis tournament
TourILTF Circuit
Founded1896
Abolished1981 (1981)
LocationPitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland
VenueAtholl Palace Hotel
SurfaceGrass

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
Atholl Palace, Pitlochry venue for this tennis event.

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
Harry S. Barlow first men's singles champion c. 1900.

(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  SLTA Circuit  ↓
Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy
1897[3]United Kingdom Harry Sibthorpe BarlowUnited Kingdom Clement Cazaletw.o.
1899[3]Scotland Richard Millar WatsonUnited Kingdom Harry Sibthorpe Barloww.o.
1900[3]Scotland Alfred Aitken ThomsonScotland Richard Millar Watsonw.o.
Highland Lawn Tennis Championships
1901[3]Ireland Sydney Lawrence FryIreland James Cecil Parke6–1, 6–4, 1–6, 6–2
1903[3]United Kingdom E.G. WhittleUnited Kingdom C.H. Moss6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 6–2
1905[3]Scotland W.E. McKechnieUnited Kingdom T.B. Pollard6–4, 2–6, 6–4, 6–2
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
Highland Championships
1938[11]United Kingdom Colin GregoryRepublic of Ireland Alfred Eustace Fannin6–4, 3–6, 8–6
1940/1945Not held (due to World War II)
1947[3]Scotland David M. DuncanScotland S.H. Allan6–2, 7–5
1948[3]Scotland John Stewart RossScotland G.W. O'Connor7–5, 7–5
1949[3]United Kingdom John C. George SavileAustralia Arthur J. Gould8–10, 6–2, 6–0
1950[3]Poland Tadeusz Slawek[12]United Kingdom John C. George Savile6–1, 6–1
1951[3]Poland Tadeusz Slawek (2)Scotland R.H. Thomson6–3, 6–1
1952[3]Poland Tadeusz Slawek (3)United Kingdom A.G. Potter6–0, 7–5
1953[3]United Kingdom A.L. GraemeUnited Kingdom N.J. Gibson6–4, 4–6, 6–2
1954[3]Republic of Ireland John R. MaguireUnited Kingdom D.B. Dempsey6–3, 6–1
1955[3]Australia Brian Douglas Ford[13]United Kingdom J.J. Carmichael6–1, 6–2
1956[3]United Kingdom Alan Ronald MillsUnited Kingdom D.B. Dempsey6–0, 6–3
1957[3]Scotland D.B. DempseyUnited Kingdom A. Bloomfield6–3, 6–2
1959[3]United States Aaron S. BlackScotland D.C. Burrows13–11, 6–1
1960[3]Scotland D.B. Dempsey (2)United States Aaron S. Black2–6, 11–9, 6–0
1961[3]Scotland D.B. Dempsey (3)United Kingdom Ken Riley6–3, 4–6, 6–1
1962[3]United Kingdom Mark CoxAustralia John Blizard [14]6–3, 6–0
1964[3]Scotland J.C. ReynoldsScotland T.C. MacNair6–2, 6–2
↓  Open era  ↓
1972[3]United Kingdom John Graham CliftonUnited Kingdom David Alan Lloyd6–2, 6–2
Bell's Highland Championships
1975[3]United Kingdom David Alan LloydUnited States Hugh Thomson[15]6–3, 6–0
1976[3]Scotland Graeme Notman[16]Scotland Ken Revie6–3, 6–2
1977[3]United Kingdom Jasper CooperUnited Kingdom Robbie Rockwell4–6, 6–2, 6–4
1978[3]United Kingdom K. ReynoldsAustralia Peter Littlewood6–3, 6–3
1979[3]United Kingdom K. Reynolds (2)Scotland J. McKechnie6–4, 6–3
1980 [3]United Kingdom Mark PowellScotland Keith Kordula[17]6–3, 6–2
1981[3]Scotland P. PriestScotland N. Carmichaell6–3, 6–3

Women's singles
Anita Lizana of Chile won 1 singles titles.
Esna Boyd of Australian won 2 singles titles.

(incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
↓  SLTA Circuit  ↓
Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy
1897Scotland Lottie PatersonScotland Jane Corder6–3, 6–3
1899Ireland Florence StanuellScotland Lottie Paterson6–2, 3–6, 6–2
1900Ireland Ruth Dyas DurlacherScotland Lottie Paterson6–4, 6–3
Highland Lawn Tennis Championships
1903Scotland Alice Maud FergusonEngland Minnie Hunter6–3, 8–6
↓  ILTF Circuit  ↓
Highland Championships
1922Scotland Mary Gray WelshEngland Mary Thom6–1, 9–7
1928Scotland Winifred MasonIndia Olga Webb1–6, 6–1, 6–3
1929Scotland Winifred Mason (2)United Kingdom Geraldine Beamish6–0, 6–4
1933Australia Esna Boyd RobertsonAustralia Joan Hartigan6–2, 6–2
1934Australia Esna Boyd Robertson (2)United Kingdom Kathleen Robertson6-2, 6-0
1935United Kingdom Madge SlaneyAustralia Esna Boyd Robertson6–2, 6–1
1936Chile Anita LizanaUnited Kingdom Madge Slaney6–4, 6–3
1940/1945Not held (due to World War II)
1948Poland Helena CzolowskaRepublic of Ireland Betty Lombard6–2, 7–5
1950United Kingdom Mrs C.M. MitchellUnited Kingdom Chloe Rhodes6–4, 2–6, 8–6
1952United Kingdom Joyce ReidUnited Kingdom E. Vlandy6–0, 7–5
1953South Africa Beryl BartlettPoland Helena Czolowska6–3, 4–6, 6–4
1961United Kingdom Ann McAlpineUnited Kingdom Sally Holdsworth6–1, 6–4
1962Scotland Joyce BarclayUnited Kingdom Alison Stroud7–5, 6–3
1967Scotland Winnie ShawAustralia Margaret H. O'Donnell6–4, 7–5
↓  Open era  ↓
Bell's Highland Championships
1975Scotland Joyce Barclay Hume (2)Scotland Winnie Shaw Wooldridge6–8, 6–0, 6–3
1976Scotland Joyce Barclay Hume (3)United Kingdom Jill Cottrell6–3, 7–5
1977United Kingdom Jill CottrellUnited Kingdom Marjorie Love1–6, 6–1, 6–2
1978United Kingdom Jill Cottrell (2)United Kingdom E. Armstrong6–1, 6–4
1979United Kingdom G. ArmstrongUnited Kingdom Eleanor Lightbody7–5, 6–8, 6–3
1980United Kingdom D. BoothmanUnited Kingdom L. Ristic10–8, 6–2
1981United Kingdom L. ReidUnited Kingdom D. Boothman6–4, 6–1

Event names
  • Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy (1896–1900)
  • Highland Lawn Tennis Championships (1901–1913)
  • Highland Championships (1914–1973)
  • Bell's Highland Championships (1974–1981)

References
  1. "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". Edinburgh Evening News. Midlothian, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 17 August 1896. p. 4. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  2. Barrett, John; Tingay, Lance; Flink, Steve (1979). "British Tournament Results 1978". World of Tennis BP Year Book 1979. London: Macdonald and James Publishers Limited. p. 286. ISBN 0354090682.
  3. "Tournaments: Highland Championships". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  4. Edinburgh Evening News (1896)
  5. "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". Dundee Evening Telegraph. Angus, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 8 September 1930. p. 5. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  6. "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". Strathearn Herald. Perthshire, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 17 August 1974. p. 8. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. "Tennis News: Across the border to Perth and at Bells Highland Championships". Grantham Journal. Lincolnshire, England: British Newspaper Archive. 25 September 1981. p. 24. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. "Highland Tennis Championships". Scotland's Spa Hotel. Scotland's Spa Hotel. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  9. "Atholl Palace Museum: Hotel History & Architectural Heritage". www.athollpalace.com. Atholl Palace Hotel. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  10. Atholl Palace Hotel
  11. "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". Edinburgh Evening News. Midlothian, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 10 September 1938. p. 28. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  12. "Tadeusz Slawek: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  13. "Brian Ford: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  14. "John Blizzard: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  15. "Player Profile: Hugh Thomson". www.itftennis.com. London: ITF. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  16. "Graeme Notman: Overview". ATP Tour. London: ATP. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  17. "Kordula finally claims his magnificent seventh". Herald Scotland. Edinburgh: The Herald & Times Group. 1 August 1994. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
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