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Inverness Highland Games |
| Review of the Inverness Highland Games, 2000 | |
| The first
Inverness Highland Games of the 21st Century can sit proudly with any
Inverness Highland Games of any century. This may seem like lavish praise but it is well deserved and all credit must go to the Highland Council and the volunteers on the Games Organising Committee for providing the Capital of the Highlands with such an enjoyable, well-organised and spectacular event on Saturday (July 22). The crowd inside Bught Park Stadium was well up on last year and in the region of 5000. Early estimates suggest that a further 5,000 visited the free attractions in Bught Park during the course of the event making this one of the best-attended Games in modern times. The day started in glorious sunshine with the Royal British Legion Pipes and Drums Band marching from the town centre to Bught Park after performing outside Eastgate Centre. The parade from town was revived this year and it was truly a marvelous sight as the band and so many folk proudly wearing the kilt walked along the banks of the River Ness followed by hundreds of tourists and townsfolk. The shorter Children's Parade led by Cally the Crocodile from Inverness Sports Centre and Aquadome to the Games was also an impressive sight and the happy smiling faces of the little youngsters and parents behind the friendly green giant were really something to see. Dominating an immaculately prepared Bught Park when the parades arrived was the 150 high Terrorslide, which was raising funds for Children's Charity NCH Action for Children Scotland. |
Almost
200 brave souls took the plunge from the top of the crane during the day
and it was rumoured that the Games Committee had moved the piping tent
to drown out the screams of the riders. Some of the young Highland Dancers were given the honour of marching on to field to greet the Chieftain of the Games, Provost William Smith, with the band at the opening ceremony. The Provost thanked the generosity of the Games sponsors, which included the Inverness Courier, Tomatin and the Express by Holiday Inn, Inverness and many others. A youngster representing the competitors who had participated at the Mini Highland Games the previous week then tossed a foam caber to signal that it was time for the Games beautiful black and gold flag to be raised and to thunderous applause the Games were officially opened in glorious sunshine. The Games Highland Dancing Competition were truly spectacular this year thanks to the work done the organiser Elizabeth Fraser and the legions of proud parents who took over the west end of the stadium can be very proud of their youngsters. Throughout the day the applause of the dancing spectators echoed across the arena and the dancers were thought by all to be simply magnificent. Special mention must go to the tiny four years olds who brought tears to the eyes of many a proud parent as they took to the stage for the first time. |
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