A significant crowd visited Inveraray Highland Games yesterday – and were treated to one of the biggest field of competitors at the event for many years.
The good weather helped attract plenty of spectators, with the attendance at the games well up on last year, as crowds flocked into the grounds of Inveraray Castle.
The day started at 10.30am, with a dram at The George Hotel, prior to a brace of award-winning bands – the Royal Marine Band and Inveraray Pipe Band – marching from the main street towards the castle.
Leading the procession was Torquil, Duke of Argyll, who followed Inveraray Pipe Band along with several of the games organisers.
Inveraray Castle is the seat of the Clan Campbell – and has been the location of many films, in addition to being featured in the 2012 Christmas episode of Downton Abbey.
An international turnout for the Highland Games competitions featured a full programme of dancing, and there was a good local field for the athletics events which included cycling and bare-knuckle wrestling events.
There were also plenty of stalls, including ice cream maker Jane Issacson, from Benderloch, with her ice cream made from her Highland cattle. This proved a popular treat on such a warm day.
Inveraray Coastguard Rescue Team were also on hand informing people about the organisation’s work, and on the look-out for volunteers to join the ranks.
But for many, it was the sheer number of heavy weight competitors – 23 in total from all over the world – that really provided excitement.
The Games traditionally hosts the World Caber Tossing Championship and, over the years, it has attracted some of the strongest men on the planet to participate.
This year proved no different, with competitors arriving from as far afield as the Netherlands, Poland and America to test their mettle against their formidable rivals.
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The star prize went to Lukaz Wenta, of Poland, a well-known figure on the Highland Games circuit who has previously won the event on numerous occasions.
He managed to toss the caber in an upright 12 o’clock position as the prelude to it falling straight onto the ground.
The final of the event subsequently took place with six competitors and the redoubtable Mr Wenka won the competition in the very first heat.
The adjudicator was Brian Robin – who is in his 45th year of competing and running events throughout Argyll.
