Newtonmore Games prove to be hot stuff!
Glorious weather welcome thousands to Newtonmore on Saturday (August 3) for the start of the strath's Highland Games season.
At times it was almost oppressive, with temperatures at mid-day hitting 25C, but eventually the breeze asserted itself through the Eilan, beautifully turned out for the big day, and at one point a crowd estimated at 3,000 was massed to hear five pipe bands parade and to applaud the arrival of the famously colourful Macpherson Clan Rally.
There was great excitement in the arena as no less then 300 runners gathered for the Creag Dhubh hill run – to be seen off by King of the Hill himself, legendary fell runner Joss Naylor who at 83 told the Strathy he was still running regularly, especially for charitable causes: "But I'll not be running today. I'm just here to fire the gun!"
And what an effect he had on the runners massed for the final of the British Hill Running Championship.
The event produced a new record time after no less than 22 years - full details and pictures of the games will be appearing in Thursday's Strathy.
