Nairn Highland Games 'getting close to the gold standard' as hundreds attend town's top event
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The Nairn Highland Games were back yesterday for their 144th edition, with hundreds of people gathering in the area around the Links on a sunny and windy Saturday.
From 10am to 4pm revellers could witness performances of all kinds, from running to dancing, piping to caber tossing as well as have a close encounter with Wookiees, Stormtroopers and other popular sci-fi characters.
The Games have been a regular feature of the Nairn calendar for 156 years (the only interruptions being for World War I and II and during the Covid pandemic).
This year was the first for Games Convener Hugh Allison in the role after taking over from Sandra Ross.
He said: "The Nairn Games always delivers in terms of the range of events. We have the usual track and field and the Highland dancers quite literally dancing their socks off!
"We had Nicholas Ralph giving out the awards presentations for piping – and it's lovely to have a guest of honour who is actually from the town.
" Last year was very difficult for everyone all over the country, getting back into the everything after the pandemic - but this year everybody settled right back into the very best of what we did pre-pandemic, and I think we are getting close to the gold standard."
He added that the committee is looking for new volunteers to help organise the games in future years.
"As with any organisation, age profile is important," he said. "We work very very hard at the age profile of the committee. So, if you are under 100 and willing, come along and if you are over 100 and willing, come along too!"
Chieftain Lord Cawdor was also there on the day to perform the opening ceremony.
He said: "I think it's a fantastic day, everybody had a great time!
"I think it's going to be a tremendous day. It's such beautiful setting, if you just just look over that bank you can see the Moray firth, and I couldn't think of a more beautiful setting for the competition
"It's a big homecoming for a lot of people.
"These games have been going on for a long time and there are a lot of talented and committed people who ensure it's a as successful as it can be and I am sure it's a wonderful occasion, being Nairn's premiere sporting event."
