Monday 12th July 2010
Crowds of approximately 10,000 to 15,000 are expected to attend the 43rd Loch Lomond Highland Games, as it returns for the second year running to Moss O Balloch, at the southern end of Loch Lomond on Saturday 17th of July, from 9.30am till 5pm.
Started in July 1967, The Games are a traditional Highland Games but the only one to host a Triathlon which consists of swimming cycling and running, plus The Official Scottish Highland Games Association World Heavyweight Championship.
Competitors travel from Australia, Poland and New Zealand to win up to £15,000 and trophies for the Local and Open Events. It’s no wonder that the crowds turn up in their thousands.
Busy organiser, Duncan Macleod explains: “We all work hard to get everything done, but we are confident that it’s a world class event with world class competitors."
Chieftain, James Macrae form Gartocharn agrees: “We are one of the top 3 big ones in Scotland, along with Halkirk and Braemar.”
The current champion for The Official Scottish Highland Games Association World Heavyweight is Melbourne born Aussie, Aaron Neighbour, who will be defending his 2009 World Heavyweight title. With eight different disciplines in this event, it is a very challenging competition.
Throwing the 16 and 22 pound stones for distance, the 16 and 22 pound Scotch Hammer for distance, the 28 pound ball and chain for distance, 56 pound weight for distance, another 56 pound weight is tossed over the bar and last , but not least is the crowd pleasing tossing the Caber!
Other coveted trophies are the Scottish 80 Metres Running Championship, The Scottish Backhold/Cumberland Style Wrestling British Championship, Highland Dancing, Solo Piping, the Pipe Band and Drum Majors competition (Under R.S.P.B.A.), track events, cycling and the Tug o’ War.
West Dunbartonshire Provost Denis Agnew, “This is one of West Dunbartonshire Council’s major events and attracts an ever increasing number of visitors to Balloch, which benefits from the positive impact events such as this have on the economic, cultural and social well being of the local and wider area.”
“The Loch Lomond Highland Games features many of the sporting, historic and musical threads which are woven into both the ancient and contemporary fabric of Scottish culture. The games are a salute to traditional games and past-times, handed down over many generations. The games is the arena where the strong, the quick, the skilled and the talented compete against each other in pursuit of personal and team glory. The games, above all else, is an opportunity for us all to come together and celebrate many of the best and most famous aspects of our heritage at one of the world’s best known and most beautiful locations.”
Programme of events - http://www.llhgb.com/html/programme.html
Get the picture - http://www.llhgb.com/html/gallery.html
