Abernethy Highland Games Association
Nethy Bridge
Inverness-shire
PH25 3DA
Scotland

Enquiries to Games convenor

Events and competitions

The Massed Pipes and Drums

If one pipe band makes a stirring sound then think what 6 or 7 are like. All our participating bands come from towns and villages within easy reach, with bands from Elgin, Dufftown, Buckie and Keith being regular visitors. Originally formed in the British Army as bands in the Highland Regiments, most bands are now made up of dedicated and skilled volunteers who enjoy playing together and maintaining this colourful tradition.

The Bands play three times during the afternoon, as well as in the Opening Parade, and several Bands take part in a competition for the Abernethy Highland Games Shield, a unique trophy created for the Games by George Bain, one of Scotland’s greatest exponents of Celtic Art.

Piping

If you wish to hear the classical music of the great Highland Bagpipe, this is the place to come. In front of the critical eyes and ears of the judges, competitors play Strathspeys, Marches, Reels, Jigs and Pibroch, the ancient and most complex form of pipe music.

Highland Dancing

Some of the Games’ youngest competitors take part in the Dancing competitions, but their skill and lightness of foot is always a pleasure to watch. Dances such as the Highland Fling, Sword Dance and the Reel of Tulloch, which originated near to Nethybridge, celebrate the warlike past of the Highlands and their people.

Athletics

The sprints, middle distance races and high jump attract a keen and competitive field, and there is always the chance of a record being broken to heighten the excitement.

Road Race

Uniquely, for almost all of its 10 miles, the Road Race passes through the ancient Abernethy Forest, now a nature reserve owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds who kindly sponsor the race. The runners don’t have much time for bird watching though and the return of the race leaders into the Games Field is always a moment of high excitement.

Heavy Events

The most distinctive sports in the Games, the five disciplines that make up the heavy competition have their origin in the traditional work activities of the croft and hill.

• The caber, where the object is to toss the heavy log end over end so that it falls in a straight line away from the athlete
• Scots hammer
• Weight thrown for distance
• Weight thrown over the bar
• Shot putt

The Tug of War brings the afternoon’s sport to an end.

10 mile Road Race

Shot put

Weight for distance