Highland games season ending on a high note Pitlochry gathering is this Saturday
The Highland games season draws to a close this weekend with the Pitlochry event.
Held on the Highland Perthshire town’s recreation ground, the games on Saturday, September 8 are the last to be held in the region during 2018.
Visitors and locals alike have been enjoying Highland games across the area since Blackford Highland Games on the last Saturday in May.
The day starts tomorrow with the annual parade of pipe bands down the main street at 11.40am, when competing pipe bands march down to the recreation ground on Ferry Road.
Throughout the day there will be piping (individual and band) competitions, Highland dancing, heavyweights, athletics and cycling track events and the tug o’ war championships.
There will also be a drum majors’ demonstration at 4.45pm, before the massed pipe bands in the main arena and the prizegiving ceremony
Stuart Anderson from Lochearnhead is leading the way in the Perthshire Heavyweight League as the Highland games season draws to a close at 5pm. This year will see a pipe band travel all the way from Switzerland to take part in Pitlochry Highland Games.
Scotch Watch, set up by Glasgowborn Damian Bell (52) in 2013 will be just one of the bands entertaining the crowds tomorrow.
The band are from the canton of Neuchatel in Switzerland and will wear the iconic Black Watch tartan.
Damian explained why he set up the band, and why he called it Scotch Watch: “I received a lot of help and encouragement from Allan Craig and the lead drummer of Lomond and Clyde Pipe Band.
“Allan works for Ballantine’s whisky where the guard duty was carried out until recently by geese who were called the Scotch Watch and that gave us the Scottish connection.
“Because the valley where we live in Switzerland is the world’s leading area for precision watch and clock making that gave the name an additional connection.
“And for good measure our coat of arms has two heads of geese facing each other forming the St Andrew’s cross. Our goal is to have fun while playing music from the Highlands but also to entertain our audience.”
The band currently has 14 players and plays at grade 4B level, giving lessons in bagpipes and percussion to residents living in Neuchatal.
The Swiss band will also be able to enjoy some Scottish hospitality at the games’ overseas tent, which will be welcoming foreign visitors for refreshments and wine.
Local food and craft producers will also have stalls dotted around the main arena as well for guests to enjoy.
The Perthshire Heavyweight League title will also be decided at Pitlochry.
The current standings are: 1 Stuart Anderson, Lochearnhead; 2 Pete Hart, Glenisla; 3 John Neill, Perth; 4 David Colthart jnr, Blair Atholl; 5 David Colthart snr, Blair Atholl; 6 Christian Ramsay, Alyth.
Entry to Pitlochry Highland Games costs £8, children under 16 £2 and car parking £2, payable on the gate, with events starting at 10.30am.