‘The TS Open Tour has allowed me to grow my game’ - Heather Barlow on juggling tennis with studies
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Heather Barlow currently tops the women’s Tennis Scotland Open Tour Leaderboard as the 2024 season enters its final stages.
A second-year student at the University of Edinburgh, Heather studies PE teaching whilst continuing to train within the university’s integrated tennis programme, competing on the TS Open Tour and other British national events.
In Edinburgh, Heather regularly trains at Craiglockhart with the ladies’ first team where they recently won the Scottish Division 1A.
Heather also attended the University of Stirling for a year, where she played an integral part in helping the ladies’ first team finish runner-up in the BUCS Cup as well as earning a bronze medal in the BUCS Doubles Championships.
As we celebrate Scottish Women and Girls In Sport Week, we caught up with Heather for a Q&A on her season so far and hopes for the future.
You’ve won the Scottish Cup for Newlands, won for the West in County Week, and won multiple TS Open Tour titles this season, so how would you describe your year so far?
“It’s been an exciting year so far. I was really pleased with getting to the Grade 1 British Tour semi-final at Giffnock and delighted at winning the East and West of Scotland Opens. However, I have always really enjoyed team events in particular, the Scottish Cup and County Week have been huge highlights of the year.”
How does playing events on the TS Open Tour fit into your university schedule?
“I am going into my second year of PE teaching at the University of Edinburgh. The schedule for this course is busy and it does involve a lot of juggling in order to balance university classes, school placements and tournaments.
“However, it helps a lot that there are now a range of tournaments that are part of the TS Open Tour. These attract high-quality players close to home, which means less travel and time out of university, so it’s ideal for players like me.”
What benefits have you got from competing in a domestic tour such as the TS Open and what are your incentives?
“Whilst the prize money is attractive, it also helps attract higher calibre and a greater variety of players, which in turn helps push the standard of tennis up. It also helps support tennis costs going forward. The TS Open Tour prize money has helped finance my training, transport, tournament entries and going further afield to play Lexus British Tours.
“TS Open events such as the West of Scotland also have a fabulous atmosphere. A lot of thought goes into the events with things like music playing for each player coming out, ball kids and chair umpires, which encourages players to want to participate and be a part of it as well as giving the events a more exclusive feel.
“The Tour has allowed me to grow my game through a consistent high level of competition as the Tour has encouraged players to travel to Scotland to play these events and has improved the game in Scotland too.”
What ambitions do you have moving forward?
“I’d like to continue to balance my tennis and university over the next few years. I want to play high-level tournaments and gain new experiences to develop my game and reach my full tennis potential. Fortunately, we have these higher levels of events in Scotland now so that helps with the balance.”
What is it about sport/tennis that has made you want to teach others PE?
“I have always loved being involved in sport. I played a variety of sports at young age and then focused on tennis from about age 14/15.
“I want to be in a position where I can encourage young people to engage in different sports and develop physically, socially and emotionally. I feel I have used my sport to develop a range of skills for life. I would like to support pupils to be able to do the same.”
Whilst she starts up her third year in Edinburgh, Heather will look to retain her position at the top of the Leaderboard as the TS Open Tour heads into the final stretch of the season.
The remainder of the season will see singles tournaments hosted in Glasgow, Prestwick and Stirling. A number of points are still available for players to qualify for the TS Open Tour Finals and reach the top of the 2024 Leaderboard.
Additionally, Scotstoun wlecomes the 2024 TS Open Tour National Doubles Championships which will take place in November.
