We are the champions: Clan Ossian takes the school title
All hail Clan Ossian – the winners of Oban High
School’s own Highland games.
It was the first time the clan has won the games in the five years that they have been running.
Torrential rain on Friday August 24 failed to dampen the enthusiasm of students who marked Clan Ossian’s win with roaring cheers but record numbers of pupils were absent due to illness from recent poor weather and a Duke of Edinburgh trip to Kerrera, said head teacher Peter Bain on his official school blog.
The day got off to a fine start with a gathering of the school clans on their own sports pitch before they were piped to Mossfield Stadium, where all the marquees, pavilions, piping and dancing platforms had been left up from the Argyllshire Gathering the day before.
‘To rent such facilities and give our games the same look and atmosphere as the real thing would cost thousands. Thanks very much to the Argyllshire Gathering and the games committee. Thanks too to BID4Oban and MacQueens for additional resources. We are very grateful,’ said Mr Bain.
Mr Bain’s opening speech was kept short because of the rain before pupils dashed off in different directions to take part in the athletics, the heavy contests, cake and art competitions.
As well as inflatables, bacon rolls and burgers, other highlights included live music, a ceilidh, giant dominoes and cards, beat the goalie and a coconut shy. ‘There is something for all tastes. We even have a game called the Great Escape, where some of our youngsters use the sheer size of the venue to look for escape routes over and under fences, while avoiding the patrols of teachers, in an effort to avoid taking part. The teachers (guards) usually win,’ said Mr Bain. He added: ‘The games did conclude with the presentation of the silverware to roaring cheers, culminating with the biggest cheer of all for Clan Ossian which accumulated the most points overall and won the games for the first time. Sadly, some of our youngsters didn’t make it to the games as the poor weather of late affected many with a degree of illness that led to record numbers being absent on the day. Others missed the games because they were participating in a Duke of Edinburgh expedition.’