Just a quick note before we start to thank Fiona Duncanson (Administration Team Queen), Mike Mcleod (Head Groundsman), Andi Candoo and Christus from Lithuania (A million jobs over the week and some reminders to eat), Craig Duncan (Limelights Event Services), Every single one of the boys in the Council's Lighting Department, Angus Dick (Games Committee Chairman and Clerk of the Course and Head Encourager for me), Kenny Macdonald (Our Senior Judge) Ben and Juliette Chisholm-Broomfied (Clan Gathering), Don Smith (Solo Piping), Monica Macpherson Lee (Chinese Lion Dancers), Alan Melrose (Press and Journal), Duncan Chisholm (Moray Firth Radio), Margo Maclennan(Traditional Music Tent), Ken and Steve (Inverness on Line), John and Mark Sutherland and Ken and all the gang at Ace City Security), Jim and Audrey Grant (at Grant Tent Hire), Elizabeth Fraser (Highland Dancing) Don Smith (Solo Piping)Linda Niven(Pipe Bands, Charles Horne (Funfair), Army, Navy, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, 202 Squadron, Leon Milne (Quality Catering), Jim McTaggart (Aerobatics), Ben Hesling, Lowtide Revelry and The Jyrojets, the Inverness Youth Forum, Matthew McIver (Shinty World Cup Final), Malcolm Cleghorn (Heavies Recruitment), Angela Hall (for a million problems solved),Charlie Forbes (Disabled Sports), Michael Elsey (for keeping us right) Ian Burnett(for everything) and last but not least, my wife Mari (who knows what it takes)

Thanks to you all (and all the people I have missed)
Gerry
Games Secretary

Inverness Highland Games preview (17/07/08)


Thousands of visitors and locals are expected to converge on Bught Park Arena on the Banks of the River Ness to see The Inverness Highland Games this weekend.

Dominating the half a million square metre site will be a giant blue tent that will house the final event of Games weekend on Sunday evening, the final concert of The Proclaimers World Tour.

A huge programme of entertainment which has been organised by the Games Committee to delight visitors is one of the most diverse in the 186 year history of the event.

The Games will start with one of the most spectacular Opening Ceremonies ever seen and will feature Chinese Lion Dancers, Cheerleaders, a Mass Highland Fling and the Golden Lions Parachute Display Team. Also performing high above the park will be Scotland’s top aerobatics pilot Jim McTaggart and the Royal Air Force’s 202 Squadron will make an appearance while taking aerial photographs which will be used to help the Games Committee design the field for the Masters World Championships in 2009.

While traditional events are at the heart of everything that will happen at The Inverness Highland Games, visitors will be able to find music all over the field this year. On Saturday the Tulloch Traditional Music Tent is guaranteed to be bursting at the seams before it is turned over on Sunday for use by the Inverness Youth Forum who have created a mini Rock Ness for everyone to enjoy. Top local DJ Andi Candoo will introduce two of the Highland Capital’s most popular bands Lowtide Revelry and The Jyrojets to bring the Games to a close.

Then 5 minutes later, the gates will open and the gig that some folk really are walking 500 miles to attend (in aid of the Highland Hospice) will be only moments away.

Games Chairman Angus Dick said: “We are really looking forward to two of the most exciting days in the history of our Games and I am sure that everybody who joins us will experience something they will never forget. Head Groundsman Mike Mcleod and his team have produced one of the most immaculate Games arenas I have ever seen and I know that all the track, field and heavy competitors are going to love performing on this surface.”

With Tug of War hosts Cawdor pulling in Grampian League action, there will be no official Tug of War competition at this year's Games. Of course with two excellent ropes available dont be suprised to see a return of our International Spectators Tug of War events! You have been warned!

The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association Northern Branch have announced details of the draw for the competition that will take place at this year's Games.

The competition with start at 1pm with the Grade 4 competition which will feature Badenoch and Strathspey, Fraserburgh RBL, Portlethen and District, Oldmeldrum RBL and Northern Constabulary.

The Grade 3 competition will start at approximately 2pm and feature Beauly Firth & Glens, Fraserburgh RBL and Northern Constabulary

The Grade 2 competition will start at 2.30pm approximately and Beauly Firth & Glens are the only entrant to date.

The Drum Majors Flourish will take place at approximately 3pm.
C.Shepherd has entered the Juvenile event and M.Leitch, D.MacDonald and M.Tough have entered the Adult event.

We discovered the Highland Slot Car Club (nobody mention scalectrix) at the Gairloch Highland Gathering last weekend and we are delighted to announce that they will be joining us for the first time at this year's Games.

The club members are planning to erect a 5 lane race track so if you fancy taking part in the first Inverness Highland Games Grand Prix - you know were to go!