Strathmore Highland games go online and reach new heights

STRATHMORE Highland Games made a successful return to action as crowds enjoyed the Glamis Castle spectacle for the first time in three years.

Decent weather helped to bring the spectators out in force yesterday and they were treated to a full lineup of traditional games events.

The heavies competition and track events were hotly contested, alongside a busy Highland dancing competition and local food and drink producers had an area of their own on the field to showcase the best of Angus.

Glamis Castle is celebrating 650 years of history in 2022 and the games crowd was a truly international mix.

For the first time, games tickets had been offered for sale online and the organisers hailed it a great move.

Advance bookings were made from across the world as tourists enjoyed the bonus of being able to plan out their visit to the famed landmark to coincide with the games taking place.

The honour of officially opening the games fell to 2022 chieftain Willie Oswald, from Carnoustie.

Mr Oswald’s association with the event stretches back more than half a century to when it was the Forfar Games at the town’s Lochside Park.

Willie worked with aggregates firms Enstone Thistle and then Breedon and the Strathmore committee invited him to be chieftain in recognition of his long and unstinting support.

It was a busy weekend for the Strathmore committee.

Ahead of the main event, it staged a junior Highland games at the castle on Friday for local primary children.

Strathmore launched a programme to encourage grassroots development of the sport in 2015 and around 300 pupils from the Kirriemuir cluster of primaries thoroughly enjoyed their day.

Adrian Pyne winning the Junior 14lb hammer.

Visitors were invited to try out the track.