The 53rd Glengarry Highland Games took place on Saturday, 5th July 2025, under the rare blessing of mostly dry skies. Despite yellow weather warnings across the Highlands, the Invergarry Shinty Field stayed largely rain-free — a welcome surprise that, according to Chieftain Gregor Donald, has only happened three times in the past 27 years.

During the opening ceremony, Gregor Donald—who led the Glengarry Games for 25 years before stepping down and returning to Lochcarron—was formally honoured for his years of service. Anne Stewart gave a heartfelt tribute to her late father, Neilie Stewart, a stalwart of the Games' history, before presenting the Cromagh to Gregor in recognition of his lasting contribution to the event. Throughout the day, John Hutchison provided entertaining and informative commentary, keeping both spectators and competitors well-informed and engaged.

This year’s Games welcomed nearly 1,000 visitors, marking continued growth for the event and a record number of competitors in the Heavy Events, with 11 athletes performing under the watchful eye of Head Judge Charlie Murray.

Winners included:

Men’s Overall Champion: Sean Burns (Las Vegas, USA)

Women’s Overall Champion: Meghan Porterfield (East Kilbride)

Best Local Athlete: Aaron Tressider (Fort William), who became the youngest ever to win this title after dominating the new Junior Races category with two wins and two second-place finishes

Hill Race Winner: Esmond Tressider (Fort William), continuing the family tradition of excellence in hill running

The day was filled with diverse entertainment, including the Skye Circus Skills troupe who premiered their new Peter Pan-themed performance, and the ever-popular Highland African Beats, offering energetic drumming workshops. Visitors of all ages enjoyed axe throwing, Highland cows, a bouncy castle, and a host of market and food stalls.

Returning strongman Stuart Whyte captivated crowds with demonstrations of strength, including his famous Atlas Stones and a never-before-attempted van deadlift – a highlight of the day.

The ever-charming Dog Show, judged by Roger Philby and sponsored by PetStop, raised awareness for Ewen’s Room, a Lochaber-wide mental health charity that supports young people through education, counselling, and workshops. Learn more at www.ewensroom.com.

As always, none of this would be possible without the tireless work of our volunteers, many of whom travelled long distances to help before, during, and after the event. This year saw a record number of helpers, thanks in part to support from SSE and dozens of friends and families, who lent a hand to ensure everything ran smoothly.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the many supporters who made this year’s Games possible. We are especially grateful to the Fort Augustus Community Company for running the shuttle bus, the Glengarry Trust and SSE Renewables for their ongoing support, and Highland Coffee Co. for sponsoring the children’s races. Thanks also to Sunbelt for providing essential equipment including track mats, barriers, and fire extinguishers, and to Black Sheep Adventures for bringing both axe throwing and Highland cows to the field. We appreciate the Aberchalder Estate for use of the event ground, and the Glengarry Castle Hotel for hosting our chieftain. Leac Farm once again supported the Hill Race, while Hilltop Construction helped prepare the field. The Shinty Club generously allowed use of the playing field, and the RSHGA is currently considering our membership. We thank Highland Shutters for capturing the day in photographs, the Glengarry Community Council for providing access to the car park, and Steve White Electrician for ensuring all electrical elements were safely certified.

As the Games continue to grow, new volunteers are warmly welcomed. Whether you're interested in helping organise, running events, or even training to compete in Heavy Events, we’d love to hear from you. With more hands, we could expand competitions or run pre-Games training sessions for aspiring athletes.