History of the Inveraray Games

When Mary Queen of Scots visited her half sister, the Countess of Argyll in 1563, the young men of the district showed off their athletic prowess before the Queen and her entourage. This was to be the catalyst for the Inveraray Highland Games.

An association known as the Inveraray Regatta and Sports Club held a meeting on the 20th September 1890 and the Inveraray Highland Games rules were put to paper. The club was funded by local wealthy families and business men. The patrons were listed as the Duke of Argyll and his son the Marquis of Lorne, the secretary was Charles Guthrie a local baker and the treasurer was David Stewart whose great grandson is a member of the present games committee.

In 1893 gate money was charged for the first time and the following year the rules were printed on the bills and programmes. The main attraction of 1898 was a display by the Band and Social Drill Unit of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, who were transported to the games by free passage on the Lord of the Isles paddle steamer and marched from the pier to Stable Park. Seats in the Grand Stand cost 1 Shilling and the standing area accommodated 600 people.

1908 saw a detachment of the Home Fleet sail into Inveraray on Games day consisting of H.M.S. Sentinel and 3 destroyers. The Bills that year announced a 'Grand Navy Display' and the sailors were allowed free entry to the Games and a special fancy dress race was arranged for them as part of the day's events.

The Games stopped at the start of the second World War and did not recommence until 1958 when a group of enthusiasts headed by the late Provost Alexander MacIntyre formed a new Games committee. Stable Park was not considered a suitable venue at this time and the Duke of Argyll offered the use of Winterton Park, an offer which was gratefully accepted and it is here that the Games continue to be held on the first Tuesday of the Glasgow Fair each Year.

Caber World Championship Inveraray Games

The most spectacular event of any Scottish Highlands Games is the ancient and unique sport of tossing the caber (Gaelic cabar, a pole or beam). The caber is a large wooden pole, similar to a telephone or power pole. This sport has been practised from the very earliest days and the general rules and character of the event have remained unaltered over the centuries. The Caber World Championship is contested this year at the Inveraray Highland Games. The caber typically between 5-6metres / 16-20feet tall and weighs between 35-60Kg / 80-130pounds. It is not unusual for a caber to break in the course of a competition.

First the caber is lifted upright and held balanced at the tapered end. The tosser runs to gain momentum, then skilfully flips the caber. He tries to make it execute a perfect 180 degrees turn in the air, land on its opposite end and in line pointing directly away from him.

The object is not the distance of the throw. A perfect score is a "twelve o'clock" toss. Points are deducted if the caber points to the left or right of the "twelve o'clock" position. If the caber does not complete the end over end manoeuvre, no points are scored. Skill is as important as strength, and the caber's length and balance are greater obstacles than its weight.