Glenurquhart all set for Highland Games showcase!
All roads lead to Drumnadrochit for the Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games tomorrow, Saturday, August 24!
A rousing celebration of Highland culture and hospitality, Games day is a highlight on the community calendar, bringing locals and visitors together, and many expats too who return home for the event to catch up with family and friends.
Everyone can look forward to a fantastic display of Highland traditional events including the Heavies, piping, Highland dancing, track and field, the ever-popular – and highly competitive kilt race, Achmony hill race and Glen Challenge – mini Games for wee ones, demonstrations and more!
There’s fun for all the family and you’ll enjoy some wonderful hospitality too all in the spectacular setting of Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit.
Here’s what’s happening…
The Games get underway with the Glen Challenge. Walkers, runners and cyclists start at Corrimony Bridge and follow a route through the spectacular Glen Urquhart countryside towards Loch Ness. Start times are staggered with walkers heading off first from 9.30am. The challenge concludes with a final lap around the Games field cheered on by the crowds and pipes.
Inside the arena, from 10.45am, enjoy the rousing skirl of the Loch Ness Pipes and Drums and local organisations parade.
At 11am, the local events (for participants from the local area), junior visitor races, and senior and junior piping events begin. The local events feature the traditional Heavies including tossing the caber and throwing the hammer. The athletics events include relay races, high jump, long jump and sprints. For those under eight years old there is the 80m race, bean bag and obstacle races. The junior visitor events are for those ineligible to compete in the local events and visiting adults can compete in the open competitions in the afternoon.
No Highland Games is complete without piping! There are senior, junior and open competitions in the March, Strathspey & Reel, Jig and Piobaireachd.
Black Dragon Scotland is returning this year with its exciting display of martial arts and techniques at 11.30am.
The first competitors in the Glen Challenge should be back in the arena at around 11.45am before the local Highland dancers start their display at 12.15pm.
The first trophy presentation of the day commences at 12.30pm with prizes and medals for the winners of the local events and participants in the Glen Challenge.
Also at 12.30pm is the mini Highland Games – great fun for wee ones and the not-so-young with splat the haggis and welly hurling among events.
The official opening to the Games starts at 1pm with the unforgettable sight and sound of the pipe bands, before the afternoon competitions start at 1.30pm including the open track and field events, Heavies and Highland dancing displays, with the chanter and under-13 piping events at 2pm.
The popular tug of war is always a fiercely fought ‘best of three’ affair for the competing teams. The first pull is at 2.20pm.
Throughout the afternoon there will be pipes and drums displays at 2.30pm, 3.30pm and at 4.30pm.
A highlight of the Games is the annual Achmony Hill Race at 3pm. This fun, fast and furious 3km race starts in the Games arena, around the track, then along the A82, up (and down!) Achmony Hill and back to the arena. There is pride and prizes at stake here with the Mackenzie Challenge Cup presented to the winner, the Margaret C Fraser Memorial Challenge Cup for the first female finisher, the Nora Mackay Memorial Challenge Cup going to the first local, and the Glen Urquhart Highland Games Quaich presented to the first local juvenile (over 16 and under 19).
From 4.15pm, watch the feats of strength displayed by competitors as they attempt to toss the caber in one of the most anticipated events at the Games.
The afternoon trophy presentations take place at 4.40pm before the Glenurquhart Games draw to a close in traditional style with the Auld Scottish Race where kilts must be worn to complete one lap of the Games arena!
Welcoming all to tomorrow’s Games is new chairman, Iain Fulton, who has taken over the reins from Russell Fraser.
"I'm delighted, as new chairman, to be working with all the dedicated members of the committee and the vast numbers of community volunteers to ensure the Games go ahead this year.
“After being washed out by terrible weather last year our focus all year long has been on ensuring the Games go ahead in 2024 as it truly is a highlight of the year showcasing our wonderful community.”
Mr Fulton also paid tribute to the dedication and support from committee members and volunteers (almost 150!), and this year’s chieftain, Ken Fraser.
A community stalwart, Ken has a long-standing connection with the Games as a volunteer, he has served on the community council and on the committee for Glenurquhart Shinty Club.
On the Games committee, Duncan Overmeer has also taken over from Susan Griffin as new secretary.
This year a new but familiar voice will be keeping visitors and competitors informed throughout the day with announcer Graeme Allan.
A former Games athlete and champion, Graeme is now involved in sports education and coaching, and does commentary work for UK Athletics, Strongman competitions and broadcast work for Channel 4.
Mr Fulton added: “I'd like to thank everyone involved as the amount of work that goes on behind the scenes from our long-standing committee members and our new secretary is humbling and, without such a talented and tireless group, the Games would not be nearly the high calibre event that it is."
Gates open at 10am.
For more information about Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games including admission visit www.glenurquhart-highland-games.co.uk/