The 52nd Glengarry Highland Games took place on the Invergarry Shinty Field this Saturday. Despite struggling for volunteers and organisers earlier in the year, members of the community rallied and came together for another successful year of Heavy Events, Races, Highland Dancing and Performances.

After being challenged by heavy rain and wind for several years in a row, the Glengarry Highland Games opened to a dry and relatively still day, but would soon be drenched in heavy showers throughout the day. Once again, stretch tents provided shelter not only for the members of the public this year, but to the Highland Dancers - who put on a splendid display; a number of stalls and the Fort William Highland African Drummers who kicked off the day with a performance and workshop that left no one in earshot able to stand still.

Across the shinty field, visitors were treated to attractions and performances of all kinds. The Lochaber Pipe Band performed at the Opening Parade and then throughout the day, culminating in their playing in the Hill Runners as they arrived back on the track in the afternoon. A bouncy castle and Rodeo Bull offered entertainment for energetic youngsters, and the patient Highland Cows provided many fantastic photo opportunities. Fort William based Strongman Stuart Whyte returned once again with a troupe of remarkable athletes to display log presses, tyre lifts and the Atlas Stone Circle.

A high point of the day was the return of the Glengarry Lifting Stone. Lifting Stones can be found in many communities throughout the Highlands and Islands and were, in the past, used as a measure of fitness and strength. The Glengarry Lifting Stone made a last recorded appearance nearly 80 years ago and was then largely forgotten at the previous location of the Highland Games, the Invergarry Castle Hotel. Having been found by Stuart Whyte, the stone was officially returned to the Glengarry Games this year where Tom Baillie became the second person, after Stuart himself, to make a recorded lift of this 130kg boulder at the Glengarry Games.

Feats of strength were also displayed in the Heavies Arena, where for the second year both men and women competed in traditional Highland Games. The “Eric McKenzie Trophy for Best Woman in Heavy Events” once again went to Elizabeth Elliott from Glasgow who broke three of her own records at Glengarry this year in the Hammer, the Shot and the Weight over the Bar. The best local athlete was also won in the women’s competition by Alex Humphries. The Best Man in Heavy Events went to John McCloud from Lochinver. Sadly the soggy weather meant that no Tug O’War could be held this year.

The race track was busy once again with runners from all over Lochaber, but nonetheless the men’s races were dominated by Matthieu Double, a visiting volunteer from France, who took home the first prize in all of the Highlandclub flat races - and that after he had helped with setting up the event the day before and volunteered during the Games as well. In the Leac Farm Hill Race the Tresidder family dominated, with Aaron Tresidder unseating 2-year champion David Rodgers as fastest Junior Hillracer. The women’s Hill Race was won by Olivia McRae. The fastest overall Hillrace was run by Matthew Jones.

The competition was strong not only among humans but also amongst their best furry friends in the Dog Show. The Games’ chieftain Lady Janet Ellice was once again presented with the difficult task of judging, amongst others, the dog with the most beautiful eyes and waggiest tails. She praised all the dogs for behaving impeccably and complemented their owners for keeping everyone calm and well behaved in the busy arena. Overall, the dog show raised £130 for the Dogs Trust. Thank you to PetStop in Fort William for generously donating the prizes and all the helpers during the preparation and judging of the Dog Show.

Overall, the 52nd Highland Games were a resounding success with all involved feeling happy with the event. It would not have been possible without the generous support of Fred Olson, the Fort Augustus Community Company who put on a Shuttle Bus throughout the three Glens for the first time this year, The Glengarry Trust and Sunbelt whose track mats made the parking field accessible. The parking was overseen almost entirely by SSER volunteers. Arena Strength and Fitness and Iron Therapy Strength and Fitness put on a fantastic strongmen show. Helen Liddle designed all our graphics, posters and programme and Highland Coffee and Crepe Co. for sponsored the Fun Kids Races. The Nevis Range in Fort William loaned us chairs and picnic tables. Hilltop Construction and Black Sheep Adventures mowed and maintained the games field and the parking field for us. And lastly we’d like to thank the Aberchalder Estate for once again giving us generous access to the fields that the Highland Games take place on.

The Glengarry Highland Games is run entirely by volunteers, and we welcome anyone who is interested in contributing to the planning and execution of future events. We’d also love to hear from anyone local who might be interested in competing in Highland Games in the future as we consider setting up a more regular training club.