Lobban and Adderley Crowned 2024 National Champions as Newlands Proudly Host Scotland’s Top Players

The 2024 Scottish Senior National Championships, hosted by Scottish Squash in partnership with Newlands Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, concluded on Sunday with Greg Lobban and Georgia Adderley emerging triumphant after an exciting three days of squash in Glasgow. The top seeds were supreme in their respective categories, showcasing their skill and determination on the way to a fourth title for Lobban and third for Adderley.

Marking another successful edition of the prestigious event, the tournament saw a host of top-tier professional squash players competing fiercely for the title, with several promising junior talents in the fold as well. Among the draws were all ten of Scotland’s European teammates, including 2023 National Champion Alison Thomson and World Number 44 Rory Stewart.

Men’s Championship: Greg Lobban Claims Victory

An exciting Men’s final, won 3-0 by the world #20, included a spectacular second game, Lobban and Stewart battling physically while also displaying some world class shot making skills and deftness of touch through long rallies. Stewart had streaked through the tournament until the final only dropping one game, impressing his peers and spectators with his agility and disguised shot making, despite the title proving elusive.

At 31, Lobban once again demonstrated his ability and fitness that have cemented his place among the world’s elite players. “Winning Nationals is never easy,” said Greg. “We have a lot of players fighting for selection for the national team and everyone is gunning to do well. Rory is such a good player and on his day can beat anybody in the world. I’ve managed to hold him off so far but it’s only a matter of time before he gets one over me I’m sure!”

Third place in the Men’s Championship was secured by Alasdair Prott, another of Scotland’s emerging stars and a staple of the National side at the age of 22. Prott saw off a close challenge from his Scottish teammate and fifth seed John Meehan in the playoff, and secured the third place medal for a second consecutive year.

Women’s Championship: Georgia Adderley Regains Top Spot

World number 34 Georgia Adderley was back in the National Championships for 2024 and was proud to face two of Scotland’s young talents before the final – 2023 World Junior Championship teammates Louisa Kaven and Robyn McAlpine.

McAlpine was coming off another strong start to the year in the junior categories, picking up the U19 and U23 titles along with representing Scotland in Bucharest at the U19 European Championships in March. Despite losing to Adderley in the semi-final, a third consecutive bronze medal was secured for McAlpine with a 3-0 victory over third seed Katriona Allen.

The Women’s final featured the two most recent National Champions facing off for the title — Adderley in 2022 and Alison Thomson in 2023 — and it was eagerly watched by the crowd in Newlands, which consisted of several junior fans getting an up-close view of their idols in action. Both players delivered some superb winning shots, Thomson battling back brilliantly in the second game with the score at 9-8 before Adderley closed out.

A beaming Adderley secured the title for a third time (2017, 2022, 2024) and was sure to acknowledge the front row fans at the presentation ceremony. “It’s great to win a third title this weekend at Newlands,” said Georgia. “It was also great to play some young up and coming players in the quarters and semis, and to see a lot of the juniors around the club watching on, hopefully being inspired for the future!”

Host Club Newlands LTC Proud to Deliver Another National Championships

The National Championships not only provided a platform for established and emerging players to shine, but also highlighted the importance and impact of club development. The squash programme at Newlands LTC has been spearheaded by Head Coach Matt Bedwell since 2021, and the last two years of hosting the National Championships have been the perfect opportunity for exposure of the sport in the local community.

“It was a brilliant occasion for squash at Newlands this weekend with many excellent matches on display,” said Matt. “There was a real buzz around the club, with increased interest in the events unfolding from all members, players, and staff. It was also great to see the juniors come down to watch and support as Scotland’s best continue to inspire the next generation of squash players. We extend our thanks to Scottish Squash for all their support as we continue to use these events as a platform to promote and grow squash within our community and the wider region.”

Scottish Squash wish to thank the members and staff of Newlands LTC for hosting the 2024 Senior National Championships and look forward to partnering with the club for future competitions.

You can check out all the photos and media from National Championships via the Scottish Squash Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.