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.

History

In 1878, the Athole Hydropathic was opened. In August 1896, the hotel established its first lawn tennis event, the Athole Hydropathic Open Lawn Tennis Tournament of which the Highland Lawn Tennis Championship Trophy was played for as part of the gentleman's singles programme.[3] 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.

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.[4] It ran until 1981,[5] 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,[6] 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.[7] In 1878, the building was officially opened and named the Athole Hydropathic.[8] In 1913, its name was changed to The Atholl Palace Hotel.[9]

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. Edinburgh Evening News (1896)
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Highland Tennis Championships". Scotland's Spa Hotel. Scotland's Spa Hotel. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  7. "Atholl Palace Museum: Hotel History & Architectural Heritage". www.athollpalace.com. Atholl Palace Hotel. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  8. Atholl Palace Hotel
  9. Atholl Palace Hotel
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