A popular Highland Games has been hailed a huge success by organisers after attendance surged by nearly a fifth on last year – producing the biggest crowds since 2011.
The population of Nethy Bridge shot up on Saturday with about 3,650 people turning out to watch or compete in the Abernethy Highland Games.
Torrential rain the day before had flooded the field but by Saturday the water had disappeared, producing ideal conditions.
And a shot putt games record was smashed by Aberdeen-based Czech athlete Vlad Tulacek, who threw a distance of 56ft 10ins to beat the second place finisher by a margin of 9ft 10ins.
Mr Tulacek also achieved a games record by throwing the 56lb weight over a bar set at 15ft 10ins in height.
Abernethy Highland Games Association chairman, Neil Sutherland said: “It was a very successful games. The weather was perfect and we had visitors numbers up by 17% on last year, so I am very pleased with that. It’s the largest attendance we have had for several years.
“We like to be known as the friendly games, and it seemed to turn out that way. Everyone had a great time and it went smoothly.”
Mr Sutherland said the Nethy Bridge event always draws former residents back to the village for reunions with family and friends.
But he said they also attract a number of international competitors and spectators from around Europe and across the Atlantic.
Mr Tulacek won the overall heavies competition on Saturday afternoon, but Nethy man Conan Quinn also put in a fine display by winning the shot putt event for local competitors in record breaking fashion by throwing a distance of 40ft.
The athletics contest once again showed a strong field in the younger age classes reflecting a new generation of youngsters gaining experience in these disciplines.
In the piping, Ed MacIlwayne of Vancouver, Canada, won the Pibroch competition and Alan Clark, of Aberdeen, won the most points in the senior piping competition.
In the junior piping section, the winner of the David Grant Blyth Cup for the most promising piper aged 17 and under was Kyle Cameron of Rosemarkie.
Mr Sutherland also reflected on a highlight of the event, in which more than 220 pipers and drummers playing together in a massed band.
There were a total of nine pipe bands playing at the games – from as far as Banff and Huntly – and the pipe band competition itself was won by Portsoy Pipe Band.
