Heavyweights, athletes and Highland dancers turned out in force this weekend for the 86th Oldmeldrum Games.
Thousands of spectators enjoyed an afternoon of traditional Scottish entertainment, which included a tug of war, caber tossing and featured the talents of local pipebands.
The games were opened by well-known radio personality, Robbie Shepherd MBE, with the massed pipe band also taking to the field.
With each of the individual groups – Oldmeldrum RBL, Inverurie, Lonach, Ellon, Kintore and Buckie – getting their own chance to shine in the arena throughout the afternoon.
There was also a performance from the Garioch Fiddlers in the Marquee and crowds were able to enjoy a variety of trade stalls and the Breast Cancer Now food fair.
Opening the games, Mr Shepherd said it was a privilege to return to the games.
He said: “I have been commentator here since 1968 and in the latter years I was asked a few times to do the opening ceremony but I kept saying no because I felt I was only the commentator, it wasn’t for me to do I didn’t think, I’m not a celebrity.
“However, when I retired last year from that post I received a very, very persuasive letter asking me to do it and so here I am and it is a real honour. I’m very proud and privileged to do it.”
Chairman of Oldmeldrum sports and highland games, Douglas Petrie, said: “The weather has been horrendous this week throughout the north-east, but we were determined to get it done, there’s a bit of mud but it was going to take a lot more than that to stop us today.
“And we were definitely more determined to go ahead because it was Robbie who was going to be opening the games.
“We always felt a little like he was our commentator and no one else’s so we are delighted to have been able to keep the weekend going ahead.
“For everyone who has helped the weekend go ahead, it has been a testing week because of the weather but everyone really came together and I’m overjoyed that we have been able to pull through.”
It was estimated that approximately 3000 people attended the games over the weekend, with families coming from as far as Huston, Texas in the United States.
The games also attracted many returning visitors, including long standing members of local pipe bands.
Leading the massed pipe band on Saturday was Bert Summers.
Mr Summers has been attending the games for over 40 years and is the current drum major for Turriff and District and the lead major for the mass band.
Mr Summers said: “This must be around my 40th time at the Meldrum games and I’m thrilled that today has been able to go ahead after Aberdeen games was sadly called off due to the weather.
“It’s been great to see everyone turn out today to enjoy the events and I think it has been an excellent day for the games and for Oldmeldrum.”
Also returning to the games was Lonach pipe major, Alastair Laing.
Mr Laing followed in his father’s steps becoming a pipe major and has been attending the games for over 25 years.
He said: “We’ve been very fortunate that we have been able to go ahead today, especially after other games have already been cancelled this season.
“The Lonach pipeband has been coming to the games for many, many years now, we do feel like we are part of the fittings really.
“I love coming to the games, just the atmosphere of the whole day is fantastic and they really do manage to cater to everyone here.
“Personally I have been coming to the Meldrum games for 25 years and every year I really enjoy it and I think everyone who puts it together does a fantastic job.
“My dad was a pipe major before me and I have now been in the band for 57 years, and have been pipe major for around 20 years and over my time being able to perform at the highland games is always a highlight.”
A number of records were broken at the weekend, with one man in particular dominating the heavy weights.
Twenty-four-year-old Kyle Randalls made two personal bests on Saturday afternoon. He threw a 42 pound weight over the bar first before competing in the distance throw where he tossed a 28 pound weight, which travelled more than 17 feet.
He also won the title of over-all winner in the qualifying round.
Being the first in his family to take part in highland games activities, Mr Randalls has been participating for just over five years.
He said: “The 28 pound weight I’m really pleased about because I hadn’t been throwing it all that well recently so glad it worked out for me in the competition.
“And with the 42, the pole stands don’t actually go any higher so I was pretty happy with that too.
“This is my sixth year at the games but I am also the only one in my family that has taken part in highland games.
“It started with me doing athletics at school and my coach had been involved in highland games so asked me to come along and that was it and I have been competing ever since and hope to carry on in the future.”
Following on from the weekend, all profits made during the games will be dispersed among local charities.
