Sponsored Content: Glenurquhart Highland Games celebrates its 75th anniversary
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The 2022 Glenurquhart Highland Gathering and Games celebrates a very special milestone this year as it will be the 75th anniversary of the event.
Taking place tomorrow, Saturday, August 27 at Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit, the all-day extravaganza features everyone’s favourite traditional Heavies events, the Glen Challenge, the Achmony Hill Race, track and field events for adults and children, solo piping, pipe bands and drums, Highland dancing displays, tug of war, fabulous food and drink, and trade stalls.
Games committee chairman Russell Fraser said everyone involved is looking forward to a fantastic day that will bring the community, families and friends together once again.
“The Games are traditionally referred to as the highlight of the calendar year in Glen Urquhart. For homecoming as well as visitor numbers we’re expecting it to be very busy. I know there are people travelling home from Australia and from Florida. With the pandemic, people haven’t seen family for a long time so people are coming home to see their families on Games day. The Glenurquhart Games are one of the highlights on the Highland Games calendar for many of the competitors too. We have local competitors and from overseas. Last time, we had our first female Heavies and they are continuing this year which is a real bonus.”
A word from our sponsors and supporters
Susan Clark, secretary of the games committee is also delighted to welcome new main sponsors for the Games, M&D Green, who have recently acquired the pharmacy in the village.
M&D managing director Martin Green said: “The Great Glen Pharmacy in Drumnadrochit, part of the M&D Green Group, is proud and delighted to have the opportunity to support and be the main sponsor of the Glenurquhart Highland Games and Gathering. In its 75th year of this event and having not taken place for a few years due to Covid restrictions this will truly be a great event. We are excited to be part of this special occasion. Since acquiring the pharmacy in June 2021, the local community, residents and businesses have welcomed the new pharmacy team and along with the existing pharmacy team, certainly made the pharmacy feel an integral part of the local community in Drumnadrochit and the surrounding area.
“We are looking forward to seeing everyone on Saturday and the pharmacy will be open until 6pm on the day to help with any pharmaceutical needs.”
Interhome is sponsoring the Glen Challenge Cycle. Dan Hodgson, Interhome’s purchasing manager Scotland said: “After two years of cancellations and postponements due to the pandemic, we are delighted to be sponsoring the Glenurquhart Highland Games this year, especially as it is the 75th anniversary. This is one of the biggest events for Drumnadrochit, and a great chance for the community to come together. The people of Drumnadrochit have welcomed myself and Interhome into the community and we are proud to be a part of such an historic event showcasing the unique Highland games and talent.”
Alex Farquhar, managing director of Fionnar Springs, which is also sponsoring the Games, added: “Since my first experience of the Glenurquhart Games as a competitor 60 years ago, I have looked forward every year – not now competing of course – to meet up with many friends, and to watch the current athletes compete. It is so good to see the Games returning after the problems of the last two years, and I am sure that the performance of all the competitors is well heightened with the intake of the local spring water, Fionnar. We are pleased to have water coolers and Fionnar spring water available for all at the Games, and to sponsor this marvellous occasion.”
Director at Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition in Drumnadrochit, David Bremner, added he was delighted the event was returning, especially on its historic 75th anniversary.
“After Covid it is vital to the local area that these types of events take place and bring a real community spirit back to the village. Hopefully the sun will shine and we will all enjoy a fantastic day of competition and fun.”
The morning programme
Games day begins with the Glen Challenge at Corrimony. The walkers, runners and cyclists take a spectacular route through Glen Urquhart towards Loch Ness, following quiet tracks, farms and forests with beautiful views.
As they approach the finish in the Games Field, they are welcomed by the skirl of the pipes as they complete one lap of the field. The Peter English Memorial Trophy will be awarded to the first runner, the 10 Glens Glen Challenge Shield is presented to the first cyclist, and the first female cyclist receives the McWhirr Glen Challenge Trophy. All finishers will receive a commemorative medal.
Walkers start at Corrimony at 9.30am, cyclists at 10.45am and runners at 11am. In the Games Arena at 10.45am, the event gets under way with the Loch Ness Pipes and Drums, and local organisations before the start of the local events and junior visitor races at 11am.
Local events
The local events are for anyone who was born or resident (for more than one year) in the Abertaff, Glenmoriston, Glenurquhart, Kiltarlity, Kilmorak, Abriachan, Strathglass and Kirkhill areas, and any child under 16, who attends a school within these areas can also take part.
For those out with the local area, there are junior visitor events for youngsters, and adults can compete in the afternoon open competitions.
For those 16 years and over the local events include Heavies and athletics. There are no Heavy events for the under-16s, and for the under-eights there’s the 80m run, bean bag race and obstacle race. The visitors’ race will be decided on the day.
Piping
There are piping events in the morning and afternoon. The senior and junior piping events start at 11am with competitions in the March, Strathspey & Reel, Jig and Piobaireachd, with cash prizes for the senior and junior events including the under-13 piping. Chanter and under-13 piping starts at 2pm. Medals and cash prizes will be awarded in the junior Chanter events, and the Major’s Cups will be awarded to the best local piper and the runner-up. Registration for senior and junior piping closes at 10.30am, and for Chanter and under-13s it is 1.30pm.
Black Dragon Scotland
At 11.30am, the multi-style martial arts and self-defence club, Black Dragon Scotland, will give a demonstration of the skills and disciplines achieved by its members. The club holds classes at Cannich Hall and Glenurquhart Public Hall, teaching disciplines including Hap Ki Do, Ju Jitsu, and Tai Chi. Highland dancing displays will take place throughout the day.
The Mini Highland Games
Among the most popular events on Games Day is undoubtedly the Mini Highland Game which guarantees fun for all the family – from wee ones to the young at heart!
Have a go at the caber toss, splat the haggis, welly hurling, hurl the hay sack, and the tug of war. The Minis take place from 12pm to 3pm on the all-weather pitch. It’s free so come along and test your strength!
Also at 12.30pm, the trophies for the Glen Challenge and local events will be presented.
Games sponsors include:
- M&D Green – main sponsor
- Compass – Tug of War
- McInnes Group – Heavies
- Loch Ness Gifts – Athletics
- Springfield – Piping
- Fiddlers – The Hill Race
- Interhome – Glen Challenge Cycle
- Plant & Fixings – Glen Challenge Run / Walk
- RJ Mcleod – Highland Dancing
- Cobbs – Tea Tent
- HIS
The afternoon programme
The afternoon programme gets under way at 1pm with the official opening of the Games and the march of the pipe band.
The Games welcome the pipes and drums of the Royal British Legion (Scotland), Inverness Branch.
The Royal British Legion Pipe Band has been an attraction at the Games for over 50 years. They will be led on to the Games Field by Pipe Major Gordon Straube and Drum Major Bill Coyne.
The pipe band will be performing at 2.30pm, 3.30pm (pipes and drums), and 4.30pm.
There will also be a performance at the village hall from 5pm where Glen Urquhart shinty club will be running a bar throughout the day. From 9pm, band, The Impact, will provide the evening’s entertainment in the hall.
Back in the arena, at 1.30pm the track and field events get under way including the men’s and ladies’ events and events for under-15 boys and girls.
The Heavies
One of the biggest attractions at the Games are the Heavies! From 1.30pm, these men and women display amazing feats of strength and skill as they attempt to conquer the big five – 22lb shot putt, throwing the 28lb weight for distance, throwing the 16lb hammer for distance, throwing the 56lb weight over the bar and finally, tossing the caber, starting at 4.15pm.
This year, the Games welcomes back female competitors in the Heavies.
The ever-popular tug of war starts at 2.20pm with teams of eight competing in a “best of three” to decide the winners.
Achmony Hill Race
At 3pm the Achmony Hill Race begins. This is a fast and furious three-mile race from the Games Arena, around the track, along the A82, up (and down!) Achmony Hill and then back to the arena.
The afternoon trophy presentation takes place at 4.40pm.
The Games draw to a close in traditional Highland style with the Auld Scottish Race where kilts must be worn to complete one lap of the Games arena!
Our Chieftain Andrew Macdonald
The Chieftain this year is Andrew Macdonald who has had a long connection with the Games.
A native of Balbeg, Glen Urquhart, Mr Macdonald successfully competed in the local Heavy events in the late 1960s and early 70s, and he won the Borlum Cup on two occasions. He has maintained his association with the Games helping out with the organisation of the local youngsters’ competitions and he has been ever present with the tape at the finishing line of the Achmony Hill Race for over 40 years.
Thanks to our volunteers
Games committee chairman Russell Fraser said: “The Games are very much about people. The people that volunteer to run it, the community benefiting from them, any funds we make from the event gets put back into the community, and there’s quite a number of people who have been involved in the Games for a very long time.
“Colin Baillie is our MC and this will be his 50th year which is quite incredible. And we have quite a number of volunteers who have been helping out at the Games for 40 years plus. It’s kudos to all of them that the Games are still in existence.”
He added: “Everybody I speak to says they are coming home for Games this year and that’s a phrase that can be attributed to wherever they may be in the UK or equally if they are overseas. Everyone just looks forward to it.”
On the day
The gates open at 10am with local events at 11am and open events at 1pm.
Admission is cash only, £6 for adults. Family tickets (two adults and two children) are £15 (additional children £1). OAPs (65 and over) / Children (five-16) are £3. Under fives and car parking are free.
For the full programme, event listings and registration details, visit www.glenurquhart-highland-games.co.uk
