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

Enquiries to Games convenor

Who needs the Olympics when you have the Abernethy Highland Games!

A date for the diary - The Abernethy Highland Games and Clan Grant Gathering 2012 will take place on Saturday 11th August, when once again, Nethy Bridge will resound to the thrilling sound of the pipes and drums.

The 2011 Abernethy Highland Games were highly successful with over 3,700 people attending in good weather. Many visitors commented on the welcoming and happy atmosphere around the field where 2 Scottish records were broken and we had a record 8 bands in the massed pipe-band display. The quality of the competition, and the enthusiasm of the spectators and competitors alike, made it a memorable day. No one will forget Kyle Randall's spectacular throws, smashing his own Scottish record for Junior 44lb weight over the bar, clearing a magnificent 17'3".

We are now well ahead with plans for The Games in August of this year. Competitors can download the application forms from the links above which also give the full results of all the competitions from last year.

As well as a fair ground with rides and bouncy castle, there will be many stands selling all manner of souvenirs, clothing and accessories. With the accent on quality, there will be locally made ice-cream, good quality coffee, food stalls and fish and chips - and of course a Beer Tent. And MUCH more!

Do come along - maybe take the historic rail trip from Aviemore on the Strathspey Steam Railway and then the free bus from Broomhill Station to the Games Field. There is an extra train later than usual to take you back to Aviemore.

Here's hoping for another Great Games with Great Competition and Great Entertainment

For the 2011 Games, competitors and visitors alike were impressed by our smart new marquee, the Secretary's Tent, which provided vastly improved changing facilities as well as more spacious registration, sales and administration areas. The Association was able to purchase this with financial assistance from the Scottish Government and the European Community (Cairngorms Local Action Group) Leader 2007-2013 Programme, together with the Highland Coucil. We are most grateful to them for enabling us to make this important investment in the Games which of course will be available again this year

Abernethy Highland Games Association
a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation
registered charity number SC 042969

This photograph of the Massed Pipe Bands was taken to mark the Abernethy Highland Games support for this worthy cause. Retired Sergeant John McGlinchey was the driving force behind the Games association with Help4Heroes. Those that attended the Games gave generously, and £900 was achieved.

See Games Report and Results:

Our Twins in New Zealand - Turakina Highland Games
Turakina is a small village in the western Rangitiki district of New Zealand, midway between Wanganui and Palmerston North. The Maori explorer Hau named Turakina on his journey south when he felled a log to cross the river [from "Turaki" - to fell]. The first European settlers arrived from Scotland by ships into Wellington and later walked 150km up the beaches to Turakina, following the land purchase negotiated by Sir Donald McLean, from the Ngati Apa people in 1849. At its peak in the late 1880's, Turakina and the surrounding area boasted 3 churches, several schools, businesses, industries, 2 railway stations, 4 hotels and an illicit whisky distillery. At that period it was a prosperous and busy township and the Annual Highland Games was established in 1864. They are New Zealand's oldest on-land sporting event.

A committee member of the Abernethy Highland Games, who lived his youth in the district, visited the Turakina Highland Games in 2004. He was warmly welcomed and subsequently it was agreed that 2 of the oldest Games, 125 and 140 years respectively, located at opposite ends of the world, would twin.

The next Turakina Highland Games will take place on Saturday 26 January 2013. www.turakinahighlandgames.co.nz

Abernethy Highland Games
13 August 2011

Raffle prizes:

1. Grants of Dalvey – Voyager Clock

2. CairnGorm Mountain – family ticket for Cairngorm Highland Fling Ceilidh Night

3. House of Bruar – £50 Gift Voucher

4. Cairngorm Brewery – 4 gift packs of a variety of beers

5. Balmenach Distillery – bottle of Caorunn gin

6. Dalwhinnie Distillery – bottle of 15 Year Old Single Malt

7. Glen Grant Distillery – bottle of Glen Grant whisky

8. Glenfarclas Distillery – bottle of 10 year old malt whisky

9. Spey Valley Smokehouse – 500gmm pack of smoked salmon

10. Diageo – bottle of Bells whisky

11. Bottle of Old Pulteney 12 year old malt whisky

Congratulations to the Winners!

The Abernethy Games Committee would like to record their thanks to the aforementioned organisations for generously contributing these prizes in support of the Games.