SKIRL OF THE PIPES MARKS GAMES
Cancelled event is not forgotten
Sunday should have seen Market Park bursting with activity, music and tradition for Crieff Highland Gathering’s 150th anniversary.
And, although the pandemic put a halt to the Strath capital’s biggest event of the year, the momentous milestone did not go unmarked.
CHG directors gathered at the home of Scotland’s premier games for a ceremonial raising of the CHG flag.
Pipe Major Mark Stewart from the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band wrote a tune for the occasion, which he performed as the Lord-Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross Stephen
A Highland games heavyweight is giving an insight into what is required to become a heavyweight competitor and capture a little bit of the spirit of Highland Gatherings.
Pete Hart is a familiar figure on the Market Park field at the annual Crieff Highland Gathering. He is also the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games heavyweight events convener.
Along with other volunteers from Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games, Pete has produced a series of short videos online to try to encourage young people in particular to find out more about the heavyweight events.
The move comes after this year’s Highland Games fixtures were cancelled due to restrictions imposed as part of efforts to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic.
In the short films, Pete takes viewers through each discipline, with demonstrations from young competitors currently being coached in the age-old tests of strength.
The videos were filmed in Glenisla, where Pete lives and trains the young athletes throughout the year in preparation of a full summer of games.
Pete said it was understandable but disappointing that events had been cancelled this year. He commented: “We therefore wanted to do something to help in any way that we could and thought that Highland Games spectators might be interested in finding out more about the events, their history, the techniques involved and what the judges are looking for on the day.
“I have been coaching youngsters for a few years now as part of a wider initiative to help ensure the future of the next generation of heavyweight competitors and some of those young people featured in the videos.
“With the videos we hope we have shown some of the techniques involved so that when we can all get back in an arena for the next Games season, hopefully next year, our spectators will get even more out of the experience - and maybe some of them will even be inspired to have a go themselves!
“And in the meantime, hopefully these films will be a wee reminder of the wonderful cultural and heritage traditions of the Games.”
The videos can be viewed online at www.blairgowriehighlandgames. co.uk