Had a day out at the
Brodick Highland Games on the Isle of Arran yesterday. It was partly a
'working day' as I'd agreed to help one of the stallholders,
but I still had plenty of time to see what was going on.
Arran is just off the
Ayrshire coast, and I'd arranged to get the 7:00 ferry. As the
Highland Games was being held about a 15 minute walk from the Ferry
terminal in Brodick, I left the car in Ardrossan (just next to
Saltcoats on the map.)
Arran is a particularly
scenic island, very popular with hillwalkers and cyclists. I would
estimate that they made up about 70% of passengers of what was the
earliest ferry.
The crossing only takes
about an hour, so I was soon at the Games and helping to put up a
stall.
Once the stall was up I
was free to wander round the games, checking occasionally on the
stall in case they needed anything.
For those that don't
know, Highland Games consist of a group of very large men in kilts
who do a series of events, mostly involving throw large metal objects
as far as they can. Only exception to this is 'Tossing the Caber'
which involves throwing a large wooden object.
First, and easiest(!),
is the shot put.
They move onto throwing
things as far as they can – a metal ball attached to a short chain
with a handle, a 'hammer' - a large ball attached to a long stick,
and throwing a 56 pound (25 kg) squarish weight. There are a number
of events where they throw the weights in differing styles, but the
most spectacular (and potentially dangerous) is swinging the 56 pound
weight between their legs, then throwing it backwards over a high
jump type bar. Winner is the person who throws the weight the
highest, (and doesn't have it land on their head!)
They then move onto
'Tossing the Caber'. The object of this is to throw a long
wooden pole so it land on its upper end then falls away from the
thrower. The winner is the person who can throw it so it lands
closest to a straight line away from the thrower.
They had 2 sizes of
caber, and some of the competitors couldn't throw the bigger one so
that it fell away from them.
While all of this was
going on, various other events were taking place. There were four
pipe bands, including one from my village, who performed both singly
and together.
There were also a large
number of races, mostly for children and arranged by age group.
Starting at 25 metres for 3 and 4 year olds, to 1500 meters for 15
and 16 year olds.. There were also 'adult' races for anyone over 16.
There were Highland
Dancing demonstrations and even a children's fancy dress competition.
Around the Games area
there were lots of stalls, some commercial and some raising funds for
local charities and community bodies. Plenty of places were selling
food and drink, many from Arran's local 'craft companies'. I would
personally recommend Arran's superb ice cream!
At the end of the
afternoon I helped take the stall down and pack everything into a van
before making my way to the ferry terminal. There I saw another treat
– a 1913 Darracq.
Imagine how cool it is
for the children to be taken out in a 100 year old car!
The ferry was very busy
with day trippers heading home, but everyone seemed to be very happy
after their day out.
If you're ever in the
area, Arran is well worth a visit – more info.
Looking at that car. Is anyone else thinking, "Chitty Chitty Bang-Bang"?
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought when I saw it!!!
DeleteBeautiful car. For the games, all I can say is "How do you spell hernia...?"
ReplyDeleteAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
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