The “ultimate” chainsaw carving competition returns to the Highlands for its 16th year boasting an international line-up and stellar locals.
Carve Carrbridge is considered a major event and each year attracts top sculptors.
This year a Guinness world record holder will take part alongside six newcomers to the scene that have travelled from near and far to take part.
Set to take place on September 1, the thousands of visitors to the event are expected to quadruple the population of the village.
Competitors from Poland, USA, Czechia, Slovakia, Germany, Canada, Ireland, Wales, Netherlands and Argentina will perform before a panel of six judges for the Claymore Trophy.
Leading the field locally is the competition’s only woman Alice Buttress who is an artist and potter.
She competed as a carver for the first time eight years ago and has returned again to represent the village.
Another local is North Kessock’s Iain Chalmers who has been a regular at the event with this being his 14th year.
Joining them will be Scotland’s Pete Bowsher who has won seven out times in the last 13 years.
John Hayes from Ireland recently got into the Guinness Book of Records by carving a 23m long Viking sword from a single tree.
The design John produced was of a wooden Viking sword engraved with the tale of the Norman warriors first arriving in Ireland and the tales of their battles since and is the largest timber sculpture made from a single piece of wood in the world.
Those from farther afield include Adrian Bois from Argentina – the first South American entrant who last year helped carve an ice hotel in Sweden.
Carve Carrbridge organiser Gavin Gerrard said: “The Carve is a massive event for Carrbridge and would not be possible without the dedicated band of volunteers, who work tirelessly to ensure everyone has a great day, and the many local and national businesses which sponsor it.
“The standard of the competition and the variety of carvings just gets better each year and after last year’s stunning win by new entrant Raimondas Uzdravis I am really excited to see how this year’s newcomers do on the day.”
The event opens to the public at 10am with carving getting underway at 10.30am with all carvings created on the day being auctioned off at the end of the event following the prizegiving.
