Countdown on for Highland Games
Lochearnhead venue for traditional event
Lochearnhead is set to be taken over by strongmen and music on Saturday as the annual Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games takes place.
The traditional games includes track and field, heavy events such as caber tossing and weight throwing, piping and a pipe band, and the ever-popular Highland dancing competitions.
Lochearnhead Games Field is the venue for the gathering which starts at 10.30am with the heavies and the Highland dancing competitions beginning at noon.
Children are encouraged to take part in the fun caces which will be free to enter and for which prizes will be awarded.
At 1pm the Badenoch & Strathspey Pipe Band will lead the Clan March onto the field accompanied by 2017 Games Chieftain, Sandy Stewart of Ardvorlich, Games President and officials and Clan Chieftains and representatives.
Track and field begins at 1.30pm and are open to anyone. The jumping events, also open to anyone, gets underway at 2pm.
The Tug O’War and Pull of the Clans will take place at 3.45pm.
At 4pm the three mile hill race starts. This race requires entrants to register on the day at the starter’s tent, and prizes will be awarded for the first three male and female racers.
From 4.30pm a traditional folk band will play in the beer tent with the Badenoch & Strathspey Pipe Band performing from 5pm.
The games will come to a close at 8pm.
Games secretary and treasurer, Alex Gargolinski said: “We have been very blessed with good volunteers who have been helping us prepare for the games.
“The week leading up to the games we always have one eye on the weather and the forecast tends to change quite a bit.
“It looks like it’s going to a showery day for it but we usually get a very good turnout and we have free parking in the area so hopefully that still encourages people to come out and enjoy the day.”
The games were resurrected in 1947 by Ewen Cameron and the Ewen Cameron Cup is still presented every year for the best competitor in the ball, hammer and caber events.
Ticket prices are £6 for adults, and £4 for children aged five to 16 and for senior citizens. Children under five get in free.