Nairn Highland Games return with more than 10,000 people attending to watch heavies competitions and massed pipe band march
The Links hosted a crowd of more than 10,000 people last weekend as the biggest event on Nairn’s calendar returned for its 148th edition.
On a sunny and warm Saturday the Nairn Highland Games were back on track bringing thousands to the beautiful seafront venue to enjoy a day of traditional sports, music and crafts.
Nairn Games Convenor Hugh Allison said: “The 148th Nairn Highland Games was the end result of a year of very hard work by my friends and colleagues on the Games Committee.
“The turn-out has been estimated at between 10,000 and 15,000 people, and, to my eyes, every one of them smiling. What an end result that was. The sun shone; the temperatures rose, the smiles widened and then the march of the Massed Pipe Bands began.
“As they marched down the A96 the crowds grew, and the atmosphere fairly crackled. When we turned onto Marine Road the applause of the crowd rippled along with us, and I could finally see Nairn Links.
“That was when three thoughts hit me - a sense of deeply satisfying accomplishment at what the Games Committee had achieved by the end of a very challenging year; a delight in the way that so many people from all parts of our remarkable community rallied round and pitched in, in different ways, to make this such a successful day; and finally a pride and a thankfulness at being able to help bring home Nairn’s ‘day of days’.”
The event saw Sinclair Patience dominate in the heavies competition, taking home the Bob Gordon Memorial Trophy for putting the Nairn Stone and the Cuach Nan Cuiraidh (Cup of the Strong Man) as overall winner.
Robert Flipsen was the winner of the overall junior heavies, and the Tug of War was won by the Elgin team.
The dancing event saw Alice Newlands as the overall winner, taking home the Elma Dawson Memorial Trophy, and Anna Kummerlöw was senior overall champion in the piping competition.