Tuesday 16th July 2013
World Caber Championships
highland games
The games start with a pipe band parade at 10.45am from the town centre. Admission prices are Adults £8, Seniors £5 and Children £3. Family Ticket £18. Free parking at Winterton Park. The games are well sign posted to Inveraray.
dancing
Highland dancing consists of three dances; the Highland Fling is said to mimic Red Deer on the hill, the Sword Dance and the Seann Triubhas which is a celebratory dance for the reintroduction of the kilt after its prescription following Culloden in 1745.
piping
Bagpipe music has come to symbolise the highland games and indeed Scotland itself. As well as the solo piping competition which runs the whole day, pipe bands play many crowd-pleasing favourites.
heavy & light events
The heavy events are the highlight of any highland games and the Caber World Championship will be contested again this year at Inveraray. Other events include the hammer throw, weight throw, weight over the bar and the stone putt. Light events include running, cycling, long jump, high jump and wrestling.
welcome
We look forward to welcoming you to the grounds of Inveraray Castle, the venue of the Inveraray Highland Games. The Games celebrate our rich culture and heritage with field and track events, piping and Highland dancing competitions and 'heavy events' including the world championships for tossing the caber. You will also find a good selection of local Scottish food and drink stands as well many trade and charity stalls. There is also childrens entertainment.
inveraray
Inveraray & district is where you will find the very best of Scotland. It is the traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, who founded the town in 1745, alongside his new dwelling, Inveraray Castle.
There is lots to do and see in Inveraray, the gateway to the Highlands and Islands. It offers access to national parks, mountains, glorious gardens and beautiful islands.
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.
Friends of the Inveraray Games
Help support this popular Traditional Highland Games. Friends of the Inveraray Games support, care and enjoy one of the oldest traditional Highland Games in Scotland. By joining us and lending your financial support, you can be part of the long-term future of the Games.
To become a Friend of the Inveraray Highland Games please print and complete the standing order form. CLICK ME
Friends are entitled to free admission and a Souvenir Programme on games day. Thank you for your support.
Treasurer, Inveraray Highland Games, Royal Bank House, Church Square, Inveraray, Argyll PA32
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Inveraray Games Piping Entry Forms
2012 ushered a new piping team at Inveraray Highland Games. With the sad passing of
Robert Stewart 2011, Jimmy Beaton accepted the role of Piping Convenor, and after
many years as Piping Secretary Agnes Liddell retired from the piping tent and
Robert's granddaughters Eilidh and Emma Carmichael agreed to become joint Secretaries.
If you have any queries please contact the team at
piping@inveraray-games.co.uk
All entry forms must be received by the Piping Secretaries no later than 14 June 2013, no late entries will be accepted.
Grade B & C competition is limited to the first 25 entries received, a draw will take place after the closing date and
if required a reserve list will be used. Competitors not picked in the draw will be notified and refunded through PayPal.
Entry Fees
Chanter £1.00
Junior events £3.00
All other events £5.00
Piping Competition Rules
1. Entry to the competition includes form and payment. Competitors will only be entered into their chosen event(s) once completed form and full payment have been received.
2. Any competitor who is unable to attend the competition after entry must notify the Secretaries at the very latest on the day before the competition. Failure to do this without reason may result in refusal of entry in subsequent years.
3. Competitors must report to the Secretaries tent on arrival to register. Once registered competitors will be requested to confirm their attendance with the designated platform steward.
4. Competitors must be in attendance no later than the advertised reporting time or other notified time, failing which they will only be allowed to play at the discretion of Secretaries and Piping Convenor.
5. The order of play will be adhered to as far as is possible, but the committee reserve the right to alter this if in the opinion of the Piping Convenor, circumstances so require.
Failure to observe any of these rules or instructions of the stewards may result in disqualification and/or refusal or entry in subsequent years.
While every effort will be made to ensure that the competition runs as detailed above, the Piping Convenor reserves the right to
make any changes necessitated by unforeseen circumstances.
Please note on the day of the competition the following number of tunes must be submitted to the Judges:
Competitors Number of tunes
Junior 2 Piobaireachds, 2 Marches and 2 Strathspeys and Reels
Grade B & C 3 Marches, 3 Strathspeys and 3 Reels
Grade A & P 4 Marches, 4 Strathspeys and 4 Reels
To enter the piping competition at Inveraray Games please click on relevant link below
to be taken to the appropriate entry form:
Junior Piping Entry Form
Grade B & C Senior Piping Entry Form
Premier & Grade A Senior Piping Entry Form
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