The Galashiels Open[1] was a men's and women's grass court tennis tournament founded in 1884 early editions of the singles events were called the Galashiels Championship. It was organised by Gala Lawn Tennis Club, and played at the Mossilee Cricket Ground, Galashiels Scotland through till 1920 when it was discontinued as a stand-alone event.

Galashiels Open
Galashiels Championship
Defunct tennis tournament
TourSLTA Circuit (1895-1912)
ILTF Circuit (1913-1920)
Founded1884; 140 years ago (1884)
Abolished1920; 104 years ago (1920)
LocationGalashiels Scotland
VenueMossilee Cricket Ground
SurfaceGrass

History edit

The first Gala Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1884.[1][2] That year it held the first Galashiels Open tournament,[3] that featured three events men's singles and doubles and a mixed doubles event.[1] In 1886 the event featured Wimbledon player George Kerr.[4] The tournament organisd by the Gala Club was usually played at the Galashiels Cricket Club Mossilee Cricket Ground. In 1895 the tournament was held in conjunction with the first Border Lawn Tennis Championships (1895–1965) until the early 1900s. That tournament moved to be played on cinder courts (clay) at Langhaugh Gardens, Galashiels circa. 1905.[5] The tournament continued till around 1920.[6]

Finals edit

Men's singles edit

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1884   Alfred Aitken Thomson   S.C. Knott 6–5, 6–1, 6–2.[1]
1886   Arthur John Neville Story   George Kerr[7] 7–9, 6–4, 6–2, 7–9, 6–0.[1]
1887   Richard Millar Watson   James Hill Conyers 6–3, 6–1, 6–1.[1]

Men's doubles edit

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1884   E.M. Inglis
  S.C. Knott
  Alex Buchanan
 Forrester John Thomson
3–6, 6–3, 6–3, 7–9, 6–4.[1]
1887   Arthur John Neville Story
  Richard Millar Watson
  Kenneth Sanderson
  James Hill Conyers
6–4, 6–3, 6–4.[1]

Mixed doubles edit

(Incomplete roll)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1884   Alfred Aitken Thomson
  Miss. Ness
  W. Smith
  Miss Ash
6–3, 3–6, 6–4.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Tournaments: Galashiels Open". The Tennis Base. Tennismem SL. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Gala Tennis Club: Third Annual Galshiels Open tournament will be held on the new ground at Langshaw, Galashiels, Thursday to Saturday 18th to 18th July". Southern Reporter. Selkerkshire, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 16 June 1886. p. 2. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ Southern Reporter
  4. ^ "G. Kerr (GBR) - Gentlemen's Singles (1885)" (PDF). Wimbledon. AELTC. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  5. ^ "LAWN TENNIS TOURNAMENT AT GALASHIELS. Play was continued in the annual tournament of the Border Counties Tennis Association at Langhaugh Cinder Courts, Galashiels, yesterday". Edinburgh Evening News. Midlothian, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 15 July 1905. p. 7. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. ^ "Lawn Tennis Fixtures: Galashiels Open Lawn Tennis Tournament". The Scotsman. Midlothian, Scotland: British Newspaper Archive. 23 June 1920. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. ^ AELTC