WATCH: Thousands of Highland residents and visitors enjoy return of Nairn’s Highland Games
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THE sheer joy of the return of the Nairn Highland Games was evident by the large turn-out at the links last Saturday, with thousands enjoying the sunshine and some keen competition in all events.
It was retiring convener Sandra Ross’s last year in charge and she was presented with a posy of flowers and thanked for her valued services by Games chieftain Lord Cawdor.
“It was very emotional,” said Sandra, who has been convener for 20 years and was a past chairwoman of Nairn and District Amateur Athletics Club.
“But it was such a pleasure to see the sun shining and the banks of the Links full of spectators and the families enjoying themselves as the massed bands march round the arena.
“We have missed the Games for two years because of Covid and I think everybody enjoyed being back.”
An earlier controversy about the rerouting of the parade of the pipe bands took a twist at the end of the games when it took its traditional route along Marine Road and crossed the A96, finishing in the town centre.
The Games committee had been told they would require a traffic management team to close the road for the March from Viewfield, costing £2000.
Instead a permit was sought from Highland Council to march from Viewfield to the links, but this presented its own problems with traffic and parked vehicles.
At the close of the games the parade marched along Marine Road and across the A96 with volunteers stopping the traffic.
A spokesman for the Nairn Games stressed: “This was done without the authority of the committee.”
As well as a full athletics programme in the dancing classes a new trophy in memory of Jocelyn Cameron was presented to the winner of the 13-14 years class Catriona McAlpine by Jocelyn’s husband Hendrik Ronsch, whose family were in attendance from Germany.
The adult class overall winner of the Steph Smith Cup was Molly Smith and top local dancer was Isla McGillivray from Croy.
Overall heavy champion was Sinclair Patience of Tain.
Andrew Murphie dominated the junior heavy events winning the Hamish Davidson Cup and the MacDonald Fraser Quaich for the junior championship. A keenly contested tug o’war final was won by Achagour A.
Half marathon winners: male, Shaun Cumming (Highland Hill Runners) 1:09:40; female, Jessica Haworth (unattached) 1:37:59
Drum Major competitions: best turned out, Duncan MacDonald, Skye Pipe Band; marching, Derek Dean, Huntly District Pipe.
Overall piping champions: senior, Greig Conning, Kirkcaldy. Under 15s, Grace Kelman, Inverness. Under 18s, Cameron Boner, Canada.
