PICTURES: Roaring success as Nairn Highland Games return to the Links for 147th edition
A crowd of around 8000 gathered at the Links on Saturday for the return of Nairn Highland Games.
Convener Hugh Allison, said: “There was a great atmosphere on the day. The massed band parade saw more than 180 pipers and drummers marching through Nairn.
“We estimate that between 7000 and 8000 people attended on the day – they were a loyal and solid crowd and stayed throughout the day.
“We had a really good number of entries from across the board, from athletics to dancing to the heavies, and all ran according to plan.”
One unexpected inconvenience was also promptly solved thanks to an admirable bit of forward-thinking on the part of one of the tug-of-war teams.
Mr Allison said: “The story of the day was the moment when, mid-event, the tug-of-war rope broke in the middle!
“Luckily, we discovered that tug-of-war teams have great foresight, and although it was our rope that broke, one of the members of the two teams ran over to a sack and pulled out a replacement rope, as if by magic!”
This happened under the supervision of Lord Lieutenant George Asher, who was standing in for Lord Cawdor as chieftain on the day.
“He was the one judging and running the tug-of-war when the rope broke,” Mr Allison said.
“So, when that happened he said: ‘Goodness me, Lord Cawdor gives me one job and look what happens!’”
The event also ran smoothly thanks to the support given by armed forces charity the SSAFA whose volunteers took on a range of stewarding and other duties.
“It’s a good few years that it has been difficult - whilst not impossible - to get volunteers from the general public,” Mr Allison said.
“We’ve had some lovely and sterling volunteers but numbers are low, so yesterday was really quite different having SSAFA’s support.”
Sinclair Patience was the overall heavies winner for the second year running, while Robert Flipsen from Grantow-on-Spey won the overall heavy junior competition.
Mr Allison thanked everyone who attended on the day and event sponsor Royal Brackla for its support.
