Fun for all at Kyleakin Gala
The 2018 Kyleakin Gala kicked off on Saturday afternoon at the end of the record-breaking Skye Bridge 10K.
This year’s annual road race saw Jenny Bannerman of Inverness Harriers coming in at 35.55, smashing the 16-year record of Anne MacPhail by 68 seconds.
There was an excellent turnout of residents and visitors to the village green where families were treated to a wide array of entertainment, including displays by the Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band and dancers from the Lorayne McLucas Performing Arts Academy.
Children spent the afternoon enjoying the activities with fun runs, Body Zorbing and bouncy castles for the energetic and face painting, target sports, a coconut shy and displays by the emergency services adding to the enthusiastic atmosphere of the day. In the marquee, Kyleakin’s charities and community groups manned stalls to raise awareness of their work, while a bar, raffle and refreshment and food stalls kept the adults happy all afternoon.
Calum Nisbett, chairman of Kyleakin Gala committee, said: ‘We were very pleased to see the gala was so well attended this year.
‘It was great to see so much support from the local community as well as visitors.
‘We tweaked the format this year by having a family bingo night on the Friday in place of a dance, and it worked brilliantly with a tremendous turnout in the marquee. The children’s disco held prior to the bingo was also a great success.’
Mr Nisbett added: ‘While the final tallies are yet to come in, we expect to have raised enough to donate to local groups who were vital to the running of the gala, as well as go out to the community in search of a worthy fundraising project following the success of the Kyleakin Community Minibus.
The gala is only made possible by the involvement and support of the community and huge thanks go out to all those who donated their time and energy to make the weekend possible, as well as to everyone who came along to support all of the events.’
The gala celebrations ended with a dance in the marquee to the music of one of Perth’s most successful bands, Red Pine Timber Company.