The sport of panto horse racing is alive and kicking in Cromarty.
The challenging activity was a popular feature at the Cromarty Gala on Saturday.
Locals battled it out until Alasdair Clunas and Liam Bancroft were named champions following several heats in the Victoria Park.
The organising committee decided to introduce panto horse racing after seeing a similar event in Shetland.
Ingrid Rochford, chairwoman of Cromarty Gala Association, was instrumental in bringing the gala back to Cromarty after returning to the area and being shocked it no longer took place.
Years ago, the gala day was part of a week-long festival.
Mrs Rochford said: “This was our third year. It was incredibly well attended, there were a couple of cruise liners in at Invergordon. Some of the passengers came to Cromarty without knowing the gala was on, so we had some unexpected visitors.
“The sun shone all day. We have been very lucky to have had good weather for three years in a row. Various local groups and charities raised money by having stalls at the gala.”
The gala day was opened when last year’s gala queen named Paige Shepherd, 19, as this year’s queen. Gala princess this year was Abi Cameron, seven, and her prince was Dean MacKay, 10.
Paige then performed her first official duty as gala queen by judging the fancy dress parade.
In the evening, music was provided in the Victoria Hall by Edinburgh-based Blondie tribute act Dirty Harry and by DJ Steesh from Ardrishaig in Argyll.
Among the groups raising funds at the gala were the RNLI and senior citizens group Fourways, which raffled bottles of whisky, including one donated by the actor Sean Connery.