2007 Games Report
Whilst the weather was not kind on Saturday, over 3000 spectators were
treated to an excellent day of colour, music and action on the field.
Paid admissions fell short of last year’s numbers, but the quality of
the competition and the enthusiasm of the spectators more than compensated.
The morning programme of children’s fun events has gone from strength
to strength, and attracted a large and vocal crowd of all ages, both
participants and spectators, which contributed to the happy atmosphere
of a rather grey, but dry, morning.
The opening parade saw the massed pipes and drums of six bands march
on to the field followed by the members of the Clan Grant led by the
Chief of Grant, Lord Strathspey. After an amusing, and inspiring address,
partly delivered in Gaelic, Games Chieftain David Green OBE formally
declared the Games open.
Seventy-six competitors took part in the track and field events. Numbers
were up on last year, notably through the introduction of the inter
village Tug o’ War competition that proved a real highlight on the field.
The Nethy Bridge Trophy, awarded in the new Tug O’War competition, went
to Carrbridge, in a well-fought contest between Nethybridge, Carrbridge,
and Boat of Garten. The ladies of Grantown beat the “Nethy Numpties”
although the latter won the £50 “best dressed” prize.
Nine competitors took part in the heavy events including local athlete
Brian Harrold and top Scottish heavy Alistair Gunn, who swept the board
in the open competition as well as taking home a special prize of a
bottle of whisky for having successfully tossed Abernethy’s extra heavy
caber.
It’s worth recording that in 2008 Abernethy Highland Games will be hosting
the Scottish Heavy championships and this event is sure to attract even
more notable competitors.
In the RSPB Abernethy Forest 10 Mile Race a good field of 75 runners
participated, enduring quite difficult conditions, with wet & muddy
tracks, resulting in rather slower times than last year. In the Team
competition, however, Moray RR came in at 4 hr 12 min 25 sec, beating
the Games Record of 4 hrs 23 min 58 sec set in 1998 by Nairn District
AAC. Simon Pride of Forres Harriers, now a veteran, was first home once
again, in a time of 55 min 28 sec.
On the Dancing stages, Gemma MacIver won all 4 categories in the 5
yrs Primary Class, and in the Premier Class, both Melissa Fife in the
9 yrs, and Katie Wright in the 11 yrs and under, made a clean sweep
of all 6 dances. Best overseas competitor, Colleen McGregor followed
her successes of the last 3 years by winning the 15 yrs Premier Class.
Dancing numbers were well up; 78 dancers competed, reversing the downward
trend of the past few years, and many compliments on a well-organised
event were received from dancers and their families.
Piping numbers showed a substantial 27% increase on last year with
Graham Wallace again taking the David Grant Blyth Cup for the most promising
youngster. Hamish Munro of Llanbryde took the Gordon Cup, as overall
winner of the Senior Competition.
Six bands participated in the spectacular parade of massed pipe bands,
with 2622 Squadron RAAF Band from Lossiemouth taking home the Pipe Band
Challenge Shield. The band very generously donated their prize money
to local charity, the Badenoch & Strathspey Transport Co.
Chairman of Abernethy Highland Games Association Neil Sutherland commented
after the Games “Our reputation as the Friendly Games is reinforced
by the very positive feedback I’ve had from competitors and spectators
alike who commented on the welcoming and happy atmosphere; the afternoon
rain did not dampen the spirit of the day and a good time was had by
all. This success was achieved thanks to the hard work of a great number
of volunteers, local businesses and organisations from the community
of Nethybridge and surrounding area.”
REBIRTH OF STRATHSPEY INTER-VILLAGE TUG O’ WAR.
The 2007 Games saw the rebirth of an inter-village Tug o’ War competition.
Teams from Boat of Garten, Carrbridge, Grantown and Nethy Bridge turn
out to compete. All non-professional teams, just local lads and lassies
ready to ‘give it a go’ with unbounded enthusiasm.
The 2 ladies teams were the Nethy Numpties led by Minnie Jack and the
Grantown Ladies under Alana Clark. In a very hard fought contest in
the best of 3 ends the Grantown Ladies came out on top 2 to one. The
men’s competition was a three way contest fought between Nethy under
Graeme Grant, Boat led by Bobby MacKenzie and Carrbridge directed by
Ian Grant. 2 end pull-offs decided who went through to the final. Carrbridge
pulled decisively for their place, with a much closer contest between
Nethy and Boat. After an extra pull Boat came out on top. The final
was won by Carrbridge in a decisive 2 end victory. However none of the
ends were easy for any of the teams as borne out by the sweat, bruises,
sprains and rope burns.
The wet weather certainly did not dampen the teams’ enthusiasm. The
competition was held in a great spirit of friendly inter-village rivalry.
Carrbridge may have walked away with the Nethy Bridge Trophy this year,
but during the after Games drinks there were dark mutterings of practice
sessions before next year’s event. The Nethy Numpties did however take
away the ‘Best Dressed’ team prize. Prize money totalling £425
was gratefully received by the competitors. In fact both Nethy teams
have pooled their winnings and will donate £200 to the Nethy Primary
School.
Our thanks must go to Cairngorm Brewery and the Heatherbrae Hotel for
their support throughout the build-up to the competition with most excellent
beer and sandwiches. Richard Eccles plans to talk to all team captains
to decide the future format for this competition. All those interested
should contact him on 01479 821 370
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2007 Results
Dancing
Highland Dancing: Judges were Arlene Penny from Ellon and Serena Wilson
from Peterhead. Pipers: Ian Fraser of Grantown and Riona Morgan of Moray,
assisted by Richard Anderson.
Primary 5 yrs: Pas de Basque: Gemma MacIver. Pas de Basque and H/Cutt:
Gemma MacIver. Highland Fling: Emma MacIver. Swords: Gemma MacIver
Primary 6 yrs: Pas de Basque: Benna Runcie. Pas de Basque and H/Cutt:
Lauren Moore. Highland Fling: Benna Runcie. Swords: Lauren Moore.
Beginners 11yrs & under: Highland Fling: Lexie Reid. Swords: Lexie
Reid. Seann Truibhas: Lindsey Jacobsohn. Flora MacDonald’s Fancy: Lexie
Reid. Scottish Lilt: Fiona McGowan. Reel of Tulloch: Lexie Reid.
Class Winner; Lexie Reid
Best Overall Beginner (AHG Highland Dancing Trophy): Lexie Reid
Novice 10 yrs & under: Highland Fling: Heather Bain. Swords: Heather
Bain. Seann Truibhas: Lorena Weepers. Flora MacDonald’s Fancy: Heather
Bain. Reel of Tulloch: Heather Bain. Scottish Lilt: Heather Bain.
Class winner: Heather Bain
Novice 11 yrs & over: Highland Fling: Cameron Jacobsohn. Swords:
Donna MacKenzie. Seann Truibhas: Cameron Jacobson. Reel of Tulloch:
Donna MacKenzie. Flora Mac Donald’s Fancy: Donna MacKenzie. Scottish
Lilt: Gemma Homer
Class Winner: Donna MacKenzie
Best Overall Novice (Jessie Watt Scroll): Heather Bain
Intermediate 10 yrs & under: Highland Fling: Veronica Duthie. Swords:
Veronica Duthie. Seann Truibhas: Veronica Duthie. Barracks Johnnie:
Veronica Duthie. Irish Jig: Veronica Duthie. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Megan
Dale.
Class Winner: Veronica Duthie.
Intermediate 11 yrs & over: Highland Fling: David Inverarity. Swords:
David Inverarity. Seann Truibhas: David Inverarity. Barracks Johnnie:
David Inverarity. Irish Jig: Rhona Stark. Sailor’s Hornpipe: David Inverarity.
Class Winner: David Inverarity
Premier 9 yrs: Highland Fling: Melissa Fife. Swords: Melissa Fife.
Seann Truibhas: Melissa Fife. Barracks Johnnie: Melissa Fife. Irish
Jig: Melissa Fife. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Melissa Fife.
Class Winner: Melissa Fife
Premier 11yrs and under: Highland Fling: Katie Wright. Swords: Katie
Wright. Seann Truibhas: Katie Wright. Barracks Johnnie: Katie Wright.
Irish Jig: Katie Wright. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Katie Wright.
Class Winner: Katie Wright
Premier 13 yrs & under: Highland Fling: Stephanie Duthie. Swords:
Stephanie Duthie. Seann Truibhas: Jade Summers. Barracks Johnnie: Lauren
McGregor. Irish Jig: Stephanie Duthie. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Stephanie
Duthie.
Class winner: Stephanie Duthie.
Premier: 15 yrs & under: Highland Fling: Rebecca Fraser. Swords:
Rebecca Fraser. Seann Truibhas: Colleen McGregor. Barracks Johnnie:
Colleen McGregor. Irish Jig: Colleen McGregor. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Colleen
McGregor.
Class Winner: Colleen McGregor.
Best Premier, Highland (Abernethy Games Trophy): (joint) Lynne Lawrence
& Rebecca Fraser.
Best Premier, National (Clan Grant Society Cup): Colleen MacGregor.
Best Premier, Overall (Elsie Ross Trophy): (joint) Stephanie Duthie
& Lynne Lawrence
Adult: Highland Fling: Wendy Buchan. Swords: Lynne Lawrence. Seann
Truibhas: Lynne Lawrence. Barracks Johnnie: Lynne Lawrence. Irish Jig:
Lynne Lawrence. Sailor’s Hornpipe: Nicola Lowdon.
Class Winner: Lynne Lawrence
Best Local 11 yrs & under (Kimberley Trophy): Jordan Neil
Best Local 12 yrs & over (Culreach Challenge Cup): Nicola Lowdon
Best Overseas Competitor (James Philpot Trophy): Colleen MacGregor
Most Successful Dancing School (Spey Vale Challenge Trophy): Clair Bryce
Piping
An enthusiastic line up of 123 talented pipers produced a high standard
of playing and keen competition. Judges, Jim Hamilton, Duncan
Watson and Sandy Spence gave both generous praise and useful critical
feedback to competitors, in all events.
Chanter, 12 years and under (Craiglynne Centenary Cup): Rhona Convery.
Local: March, 14 years and under: Graham Wallace. March, 15 – 18 years
(Bank of Scotland Trophy): Gavin Tulloch. March Strathspey and Reel
(McGillivray Cup): Grant Gammie
Junior Open: four-part March: Gavin Tulloch. Strathspey and Reel (George
Centenary Trophy): Christopher Hyndman. Jig: Gavin Tulloch. Most promising
Piper (David Grant Blyth Cup): Graham Wallace.
Senior Open: Pibroch (Lord Strathspey Cup): Ed McIlwaine. March: Hamish
Munro. Strathspey and Reel (Banks Bros Centenary Cup): Pamela Whyte.
Jig (Ibbertson Memorial Cup): Pamela Whyte. Overall winner (Gordon Cup):
Hamish Munro.
RSPB Abernethy Forest 10 mile Road Race
First overall & First Veteran: Simon Pride, Forres Harriers 55
min 28 sec. First Lady: Megan Mowbray, Hunters BT 1h 6 min 17 sec. First
Local: Bradley Carrol 1h 38 sec.
First Local Lady: Louise Sutherland (vet) 1hr 29 min 59 sec.
Team winner: Moray RR 4 hr 12 min 25 sec – new Games Record (Reeve 59.47,
Raymond Hardie 60.53, Gareth Jenkins 61.41, Elspeth Laird 70.04)
Men
1st Simon Pride (vet) Forres RR 55.28 2nd Phil Mowbray Hunter BT 56.11
3rd Ross Houston Central RR 56.13 4th Douglas Ross (vet) Mansfield 58.04
5th Tom McWilliam Inverness 59.45 6th Steve Reeve (vet) Moray RR 59.47
7th Bradley Carrol Cairngorm 60.38
Ladies
1st Megan Mowbray Hunters BT 66.17 2nd Julia Henderson (vet) Moray RR
67.55 3rd Karen McLeod Inverness H 69.27 4th Clair Waterhouse (vet)
Central RR 69.48
Full results07 (PDF)
Full results 06(PDF)
Athletics
The track and field events were judged by Ian Tasker, George Bethune,
Denis Shepherd, Margaret Cooke, Marion Allan & George Wright.
The Heavy competition was ably run by Kenny Macdonald (chief judge),
Jimmy Lawther, Mike Scott, Sheila Grant, Elspeth Allan, Neil Allan,
Rob Ritchie, Des McPherson and Fred Davidson.
Event No 1 Local Heavies (shot putt)
1.John Cameron 10.59
2.Jim Blackhall 10.13
3.Russ Barker 9.79
Event No 2 Local Heavies (28lb weight for distance)
1.John Cameron 16.52
2.Jim Blackhall 16.15
3.Russ Barker 13.71
4.George Cameron 13.56
Event No 3 Local Heavies (Scots hammer)
1.Jim Blackhall 30.41
2.Brian Harold 28.34
3.John Cameron 27.43
4.George Cameron 11.57
Event No 4 Local Heavies (weight for height)
1.Jim Blackhall 30.41
2.Brian Harrold 28.34
3.John Cameron 27.43
4.George Cameron 26.55
5.Russ Barker 24.60
Event No 5 Local heavies (caber)
1.Jim Blackhall 1200
2.John Cameron 1200
3.Brian Harrold 1201
4.George Cameron 11.57
5.George Cameron 0.80
Event No 6 Junior heavy (shot putt)
1.James Blackhall 10.27
Event No 7 Open Heavy (shot putt)
1.Alistair Gunn 14.03
2.Russ Barker 12.94
3.Brian Harrold 12.80
Event No 8 100yds under 13 boys
1.Lewis Lyall 13.1
2.John Lockwood
3.Bobbie Buxton
Event No 9 100yds under 13 girls
1.Hollie Keanie 14.3
2.Ashley Patterson 15.4
3.Katie Guest 15.9
Event No 11 100yds under 15 girls
1.Rebekah Lowe 13.1
2.Sarah Millican 13.5
3.Charlie Guest
Event No 12 100yds under 17 boys
1.Donald Fergusson 11.8
2.Alan Hunter
Event No 13 100yds U17 girls
1.Sarah Smith 12.6
2.Chelsea Ross 14.1
Event No 14 100yds U20 Men
1.Donald Fergusson 11.7
Event No 15 100yds handicap Ladies
1. Sarah Smith 12.2
2. Chelsea Ross 13.9
3. Charlay Rae 16.5
Event No 16 High Jump (ladies handicap)
1.C Ross 1.53
2.S Millican 1.35
3.S Smith 1.20
Event No 17 High Jump (men’s handicap)
1.I Coghill 1.58
2.D Hare 1.55
3.D Macaskill 1.40
Event No 19 28lb weight for distance (open heavies)
1.Alistair Gunn 19.47
2.John Cameron 17.26
3.Jim Blackhall 16.90
4.Russ Barker 12.83
5.George Cameron 12.29
Event No 21 100yds (Men)
1.Donald Macaskill 12.4
2.Stewart Attinson 12.9
3.S Reeve 13.5
Event No 22 800m ladies handicap
1.R Lowe 2.26
2.S Smith 3.10
Event No 23 800m men’s handicap
1.Christopher Fife 2.20.3
2.S Atkinson 2.29.2
3.A Hunter 3.10.0
Event No 24 200m under 15 boys
1.I Coghill 29.3
2.Lewis Lyall 30.2
3.R Millican
Event No 25 200m under 15 girls
1.R Lowe 32.3
2.H Keanie 33.7
3.S Millican 35.1
Event No 26 Putting the shot (ladies)
1.S Smith 5.90
2.S Ross 5.52
3.C Ross 5.43
Event No 27 200m open ladies
1.S Smith 41.29
2.R Bryan 44.25
Event No 29 200m Men
1.D Fergusson 25.1
2.C Fyfe 26.0
3.S Atkinson 29.5
Event No 31 Scots hammer open heavy
1.Alistair Gunn 34.92
2.Brian Harrold 32.00
3.Russ Barker 29.81
Event No 33 1,500m Men
1.S Atkinson 5.12.1
2.C Fyfe
3.S Reeve
Event No 34 400m handicap ladies
1.S Smith 69.4
2.C Ross 88.1
3.A Paterson 93.4
Event No 35 400m handicap men
1.Donald Fergusson 53.6
2.C Fyfe 56.1
3.S Atkinson 63.5
Event No 36 44lb weight for distance junior heavy
1.James Blackhall 12’6
Event No 37 56lb weight for distance open heavies
1.Alistair Gunn 12’0
2.Jim Blackhall 11’6
3.Russ Barker 11’6
4.David Hart 11’0
5.John Cameron 10’0
Event No 39 tossing the caber open heavies
1.Alistair Gunn 11.59
2.Jim Blackhall 70
3.David Hart 60
4.Brian Harrold 50
5.John Cameron 45
Tug 'o War
Event No 40 Tug o War (men)
1.Carrbridge
2.Boat of Garten
3.Nethy Bridge
Event No 41 Tug o War (women)
1.Grantown
2.Nethy Bridge
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