Record crowds enjoy their day
6000 at Pitlochry Highland Games
A record breaking number of visitors basked in the sunshine at Pitlochry Highland Games.
The games, which were the last in the Highland games season for 2018, saw 6000 visitors from across the globe enjoying the action.
Thousands descended on the town’s recreation ground on Saturday, September 8 to witness the heavyweights, Highland dancing and track events.
The day began with the annual street parade through Atholl Road to the recreation ground, led by the town’s Vale of Atholl Pipe Band, who ended up winning the street parade trophy.
Many of the bands performed impressive choreographed routines during the street parade,
Pitlochry’s Vale of Atholl Pipe Band lead the annual street parade Picture by Ian Flett which included teams reel and jigs competitions. from across Scotland and There was the Scotch Watch from disappointment however Switzerland. for local tug o’war team
Elsewhere in the pipe Strathardle, who despite bands competition, having a successful Burntisland and District Highland games season won the novice grade were beaten in the British competition, with Isle of tug o’war competition in Skye winning grade four and Pitlochry, which was won Lanark and District winning by Elgin. grade three. Stuart Anderson from
Piper Brian Lamond Lochearnhead once again impressed the judges on the entertained the crowds individual piping, winning in the heavyweights the march, Strathsprey and competition, winning the local 16lb shot putt (43’4’’) and the local 28lb weight for distance (81’6’’).
And Lukasz Wenta, who has been performing well all season, broke the course record for the 56lb weight over the bar with 15’11’’, after judges took the unusual decision to allow all competitors a fourth try.
A number of locals also performed well on the Highland dancing stage.
Pitlochry’s Luisadh Leck won the overall under 13 confined dancing, with Lauren Dingwall from Perth victorious in the overall under 16s confined competition and Lyndsey Douglas from Birnam winning the overall adult confined competition.
But it was not just locals performing well – Hamish McInnes from Queensland, Australia took home the overall adults prize on the dancing stage.