Badenoch games day was a ‘blast from the past’ say joyous organisers

Tom would have loved it.

Sadly, apologies had been received on behalf of ‘Mr Newtonmore Games’ Robertson before Saturday’s huge programme had got under way with the local heavies battling it out on The Eilan to the delight of the early crowds.

Tom, who had overseen the event for 38 years as its chairman - having already served his ‘apprenticeship’ on the committee - missed the inaugural presentation of the trophy in his name which will forever be awarded to the first lady down from the Creag Dhubh Hill Race.

How many thousands saw Sarah Hodgson hurling herself across the finish line to claim the honour is anyone’s guess. It’s not easy working out precisely how many spectators, volunteers, assistants, officials and competitors filed through or round the gates, but nobody would argue with the estimate that it was well over 3,000.

“That was also our initial calculation,” said acting secretary Rod Frazer.

“What is not up for debate is that this was the biggest attendance of spectators and participants we have had for many years.

“Saturday felt like a blast from the past with a real buzz around the arena.

“So many visitors arrived early and stayed all day to enjoy the huge variety of events.

“There's no doubt the weather played its part as well, as it makes a huge difference when folks can sit around soaking up the sun like that.”

Mr Frazer and his dedicated team were in celebratory mood late on and with very good reason.

“It's always great to meet so many overseas visitors - and we had lots of competitors from all over the globe, including the U.S. Germany, France, Holland, Australia and of course south of the border.

“There's always a big range of ages as well, from the under six years sprint to the over 70s category in the hill race!

“And it was soo good to see such a great variety in the heavies too, from our under 15s to a veteran heavy from Tennessee US. Joe Debrohun was competiting at 63!”

Another, even more noticeable, contribution - hugely welcomed by the spectators - came from the growing number of ladies in the arena competing for heavyweight honours.

“We had more than ever this year and they are now a firm fixture at the games, which is fabulous.

The women came from a wide area including the Midlands, Yorkshire, Glasgow, Perth and even Brazil!

As Liz Elliott, of Helensburgh, said: “We are taken very seriously now at so many events. This year we’ve already competed at a dozen games and shows and we have at least another eight on the schedule.

“We love it. And we love the fact that more and more are getting involved. We will certainly be back next year because this is a particularly friendly games.”

The heavies were well supported across the board - open, local, ladies, juniors - and as ever produced some outstanding performances.

The caber produced a sensational result of four perfect “12 o’clock” tosses which couldn’t separate the winners. Astonishingly, not among them this time was Grantown’s own Andrew Murphie, the 18-year-old prodigy who recently broke the world record for the number of cabers tossed within three minutes.

He told the Strathy he was enjoying the day as always and, instead, rose to prominence in the hammer event.

The annual hill race was another huge success this year and co-ordinator Manny Gorman told the Strathy: “We had an absolutely excellent turnout, with over120 runners from as far afield as Germany, Sweden, Malawi, France, USA.”

He celebrated: “They enjoyed near perfect conditions, which allowed Central AC's Jamie Crowe to come home in a winning time of 28.10, to claim the famous Salvesen Trophy.

“Highland Hill Runner Sarah Hodgson was first to get her hands on the spectacular new Robertson Trophy with a winning time of 34.55.”

The atmosphere in the ground never paled. Even when chieftain Angus Macpherson was welcoming the clan chief and his ‘army’ of marchers to the head of the arena, the glorious row went on all about them - roaring heavies straining for the best heights and distances, two different pipers, either side of the field, painstakingly playing their pibrochs to impress the judges; warm breeze fluttering all the flags, children chattering, the beat of the shows gently thumping over in the far corner, the starter’s gun cracking away at regular intervals to keep the track events on schedule…

Clansmen and women could hardly hear the time-honoured signal barked from their pipe major: “Creag Dhubh!” But together they got their roar heard, all three times.

Pictures: Strathy and D.Frazer.

RESULTS 2024

HILL RACE

Men: 1 Jamie Crowe 28.10 Central AC; 2 James Espie 29.04 Deeside Runners; 3 8 Huw Oliver 30.52 Lochaber Athletic Club; 4 Ralph McInally 31.05 Strathearn Harriers; 5 Ryan MacKay 32.01 Lochaber Athletic Club’; 6 Kerr Mackinnon 32.11 Perth Road Runners.

Ladies: 1 Sarah Hodgson 34.55 Highland Hill Runners; 2 Mugnier Alice 36.27 CUP Pau; 3 Bridget Harley 36.41; 4 Georgia Tindley 37.16 Highland Hill Runners; 5 Ellen Patton 39.27 Dark Peak Fell Runners; 6 Hannah Sharp 41.55.

Local Male: 1 Peter Young, Newtonmore 34.44; 2 Dougal MacEwan 34.46 Drumguish Dogging & Jogging Club; 3 Alasdair Anthony 35.13 Drumguish Dogging & Jogging Club; 4 Joseph Horne 35.39 Drumguish Dogging & Jogging Club.

Local Female: 1 Helen Watson 37.16 Highland Hill Runners; 2 Aila Schafer 57.04 0; 3 Julie Ellis 67.37.

DANCING

Beginners 6-7 yrs 1 Beth Munro, Dingwall; 2 Eilidh Beaton, Ross-shire. 8 yrs 1 Anya Ferguson, Turriff; 2 Jessica Rose Gair, Dingwall; 9 & over 1 Carys Rodgers, Roy Bridge; 2 Mirren Silver, Inverness.

Intermediate 11 & over 1 Eilidh Wainwright, Inverness; 2 Jess Kenny, Inverness; 7 - 10 yrs 1 Molly Robertson, North Kessock; 2 Blair Fisher, Inverurie.

Novice 10 -11 yrs 1 Tilly Nelson, Inverness; 2 Olivia Grace Gair,Dingwall; 12 & over 1 Ruby Ross, Dingwall, 2 Megan Watson, Dingwall; 7-9 yrs 1 Aryhel Santiago, Kircaldy, 2 Anya Skowronski, Dingwall.

Premier 11-12 yrs 1 Alexa Bianconcini, Fortrose, 2 Eilidh Guthrie, Glenrothes; 13-14 yrs 1 Serena Bianconcin, Fortrose; 13-14 yrs 2 Catriona Lamont, Glenrothes.

Premier 15-16 yrs 1 Paulina Smith, Monifieth; 2 Amy Macrae, Ballingry. 18 & Over 1 Isla Mitchelson, Fortrose, 2 Melissa Lumsden, Monifieth; 8-10 yrs 1 Gracie Whyte, Monifieth, 2 Sophie Strachan, Monifieth.

Best Male Rowan Waddel, Forfar; best Highland Region 1 Amy MacRae, Fortrose, 2 Anabelle Murray, Munlochy, 3 Iona Browne. Dingwall.

HEAVIES Open

Shot Putt Senior 1 David Melnick, Aberdeen; 2 Brian Doherty, Clydebank; 3 Conon Quinn, Nethybridge; 4 Harry Zagorski, Alnes.

Weight for Distance 1 David Melnick; 2 Neil Elliot, Glasgow; 3rd 3 Harry Zagorski; 4 Conon Quin.

Weight over the bar 1 Harry Zagorski, 2 David Melnick, 3 Andrew Murphie, Grantown; 4 = Jason Young, Tain and Neil Elliot.

Scots Hammer 1 Andrew Murphie, 2 Harry Zagorski, 3 Jason Young, 4 Brian Doherty Clydebank.

Caber 1 = (all 12 o’clock) Jason Young, Neil Elliot, Conon Quinn, David Melnick.

HEAVIES Local

Shot 1 Conon Quinn Nethybridge; 2 Theo Pilkington Grantown; 3 Harry Hancock, Boat of Garten; 4 Ruaridh Flipson Grantown.

Weight for distance 1 Conon Quinn; 2 Ali Davidson, Kingussie; 3 Theo Pilkington; 4 Harry Hancock.

Weight over the bar 1 Conon Quinn; 2 Theo Pilkington; 3 Ali Davidson; 4 Harry Hancock Ruaridh Flipson, Boat of Garten.

Scots Hammer 1 Conon Quinn; 2 Ali Davidson; 3 Stuart Boon, Aviemore; 4Theo Pilkington.

Caber 1 Conon Quinn; 2 Ali Davidson; 3 Theo Pilkington; 4 Ruaridh Flipson.

HEAVIES ladies

Hammer 1 Jules Ramsay Alyth; 2 Kaitlin Hicks, Stokesley N Yorks; 3 Liz Elliott Helensburgh; 4 Jenn Little, Perth.

Weight for distance 1 Jules Ramsay; 2 Kaitlin Hicks; 3 Liz Elliott; 4 Jenn Little.

Shot 1 Jules Ramsay; 2 Kaitlin Hicks; 3 Liz Elliott; 4 Hermione Allan, Rushden.

Weight over the bar 1 Jules Ramsay; 2 Liz Elliott and 2 Kaitlin Hicks; 4 Jenn Little.

Caber 1 Jules Ramsay; 2 Liz Elliott; 3 Jenn Little; 4 Kaitlin Hicks.

PIPING

Overall junior Fraser Hamilton, Paisley; overall senior Norman Gillies, Ullapool.

Open junior March, Strathspey & Reel 1 Fraser Hamilton; 2 Peter Mackay; junior Pibroch 1 Fraser Hamilton; 2 Peter Mackay; senior March 1 Norman Gillies; 2 Ben Duncan, Edinburgh; 3 Josh Chandler, Australia; 4 Angus Macphee, Inverness; Strathspey and Reel 1 Ben Duncan; 2 Cameron May, Lesmahagow; 3 Norman Gillies; 4 Josh Chandler; jig 1 Norman Gillies; 2 Ben Duncan; 3 Angus Macphee; 4 Cameron May

Overall: 1 David Melnick; Pibroch 1 Norman Gillies; 2 Liam Nicolson; 3 Ben Duncan; 4 Eireann Mackay, Burrelton.

TRACK AND FIELD

U6 Boys 50m 1 H. Gilling, Ronny Fraser, 3 M MacKintyre; 127 1 A Smith, 2 C Brown, 3 K MacKintyre.

U8 Girls 80m 1A Kidd, 2 A Peterson, 3 A Wright; Boys 1 H Armin, 2 A Morgan, 3 M Mcnutt.

U11 Girls 80m 1 E Macrackan, 2 S Tongeren, 3 Clover Blathwayt, U11 Boys 80m 1 Carl Guillas, 2 Bear Marres, 3 A Freshwater; U13 Girls 100m 1 N Newman, 2 I Barber, 3 Rogers; Boys 100m 1 G Kidd, 2 O Barbour, 3 S Laing.

U15 Shot Putt 1 Dan Newman, 2 William Stoddard

U15 Girls 100m 1 L Ward, 2 D Fergus; Boys 100m 1 L Barbour, 2 B van Tongenen, 3 D Rogers.

U17 Women 100m 1K Anderson 14.4, 2 N Padmanabhan 15.2, 3 A Henderson 15.3; Men 100m 1 John Scott Forres 12.6, 2 F Muir 12.8, 3 T Courtney 13.7; Women 1 K Anderson 14.5, 2 A Coeutzig 16.2, 3 Marion Rodewald Germany 16.9.

100m Men 1 James Thompson, Dunkeld 13.2= P Marres 13.2, Maas Hwere Holland 13.2.

U17 800m Women 1 Charlotte Burton, Inverness 2.47, 2 L Ward 2.53, 3 N Padmanabhan

2.56; Men 800m 1 L Ward 2.3, 2nd= A Basquill 2.33, John Scott Forres 2.33; 800m Women 1 Charlotte Burton Inverness 2.47, 2 L Ward 2.53, 3 I Swann St Giles, England 3; Men 1 M Mcnutt 2.14, 2 55 2.16, 3 212 2.17.

U13 Girls 200m 1 N Newman 37, 2 I Simon 37.7, 3 K Rogers 38.3; Boys 200m 1 E Pantry 13.9, 2 G Kidd 35.6, 3 G Quinn 36.4.

U15 Girls + B 200m 1 L Barbour 31.8,

2nd 160 B van Tongenen 32.5 3 G Kidd 39.2, 4 L Ward Girl 41.5.

Mens High Jump 1 J Thompson 1.35, 2 Isobel Swann 1.15, 3 Cathy Anderson.

Local High Jump 1 Ruaridh Flipson, 2 Ali Davidson, 3 Conon Quinn.

1500m Men 1 Chris Richardson Aberdeen 4.42, 2 Euan Connery Kingussie 4.43.

200m Men 1 J Thompson 27.9, 2 8 H Oliver 28.3, 3 P Marres 29.5; 200m Women 1 Cathy Anderson 31.6, 2 G Tindley 36.4.

U17 women 200m 1 K Anderson 31.6, 2 Charlotte Burton Inverness 32.4, 3 L Ward 36.7; Men 1 John Scott Forres 27.4., 2 T Courtney 28.4, 3 Toby Burton Inverness 29.7.

U17 Men 400m 1 John Scott Forres 70.3, 2 T Burton 71.04; women 1 Charlotte Burton Inverness 74.5, 2 L Ward 78.8, 3 J MacMann.

400m Men 1 Euan Connery Kingussie 62.7, 2 David Cooper Edinburgh 64.7, 3 James Thompson 68.9; Women 1 L Ward 81.6.

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