Over 6,000 people were in attendance when the Dufftown Highland Games marked an historic milestone on Saturday.
The event was the 125th year of the town’s flagship festivities – with the spectator numbers smashing last year’s total of 5,500.
With visitors including families from Denmark, Canada and New Zealand – and as far afield as Trinidad and Tobago – the event attracted visitors from all over the world.
Organiser Linda Brown said: “It was just fantastic to see so many people coming to join us – we had to do two races for our overseas visitors, because we had so many.”
“We had a fantastic crowd, and the attendance was well up on last year.”
It was a scene of kilts and tartan as the huge crowd gathered to celebrate Scotland’s traditional sporting events.
Those among the throng were treated to impressive feats of strength as the competitors lifted and hurled enormous weights.
Events were held for the young heavies – competitors aged between 18 and 25 – and the more senior heavies – anyone above that age.
The heavy champion of the day was Lorne Colthart from Blair Atholl, who came out on top in seven of the day’s eight events.
A break from the heavy lifting was given in the form of massed pipe bands, highland dancing and hill races.
Visitors were enthralled by the drone of bagpipes – with 12 pipe bands made up of about 250 pipers and drummers providing a soundtrack for the afternoon.
As well as the day’s traditional events, there were plenty of opportunities for people of all ages to get involved in sporting competition.
Children from across the country took part in a series of races to determine who was the fastest in every age group.
And older athletes took part in a track and field competition.
Bruce Donald of Macduff came out on top in six of the day’s eight disciplines, which included jumping events and sprint races.
Tourists were encouraged not only to watch the event, but to take part in the overseas visitor race.
And it was Marisa Lambert from Malta who finished first in the women’s race and Owen Sakapaji from Abu Dhabi who triumphed in the mens’ race.
The gathering also included a gruelling 14-mile hill race over Ben Rinnes, a challenge which was taken on by 98 participants – a figure which was well up from 80 in the previous year.
