The sun shone as Fife’s first Highland games of 2017 brought the skirl of pipes and the beating of drums.
Crowds filled John Dixon Park for Markinch Highland Games, which includes Scotland’s oldest pipe band contest.
The popular event included a full programme of traditional competitions, including track and field athletics, heavy events, cycling, Highland dancing, piping and a drum major contest.
There was also a series of fun races for children and adults, funfair rides, trade stands and stalls.
People travelled far and wide to attend the games, although few further than the mayor of Canada’s Markinch.
Bob Fenwick, mayor of Markinch in Saskatchewan, came more than 3,700 miles to preside over the event with chieftan, local piper Sandy Imrie, bringing some locally-branded souvenirs to hand out.
His connection with the village began when he visited during a trip to the UK in 2014, having previously been interviewed by the local radio station Kingdom FM.
Games organisers thanked him for his attendance with a salute to he and the chieftan in the march past of massed bands which provided the finale.
Attention turns to Cupar and Strathmore as they host their Highland Games next, the former at Duffus Park on Saturday and the latter at Glamis Castle on Sunday.
Others this month include Newburgh, at Robbie’s Park on June 17, and Ceres, at Bow Butts on June 24.
RESULTS
[ATHLETICS]
OPEN
90m-Marcus Archer, Aberdeen AC 9.94 2 Kieran Reilly Lasswade AC 3 Kyle Potts Hawick.
200m-1 Kieran Reilly 20.38 2 Marcus Archer 3 Kyle Potts.
400m-1 Ewan Bradley, Inverness 49.08 2 Ben Grant, Pitreavie AC 3 Rory Anderson, Hawick.
800m-1 Sarah Ross, Pitreavie AC 1:53.97 2 Ewan Bradley 3 Matt Dougall, Gala
1600m-1 Aiden Thomson, Central AC 4:21.65 2 Greg Walker, Hawick 3 Derek Scott, Hawick.
3200m-1Aiden Thomson, Central AC 9;46.93 2 Rebecca Burns, Edinburgh AC 3 Greg Walker, Hawick
90m Open Invitation -1 Marcus Archer 10.002 Kieran Reilly 3 Ross Borthwick, Hawick
90m Veteran Invitation 90-1 Willie Bates, Tullibody 10.42 2 Colin Christie, Livingston 3 Walter Hunter, Falkirk.
90m Women’s Invitation-1 Rianna Sterricks, Leithenburn 10.53 2 Natasha Turnbull, Peebles 3 Samantha Turnbull, Peebles.
YOUTHS
90m-1 Sam Archibald, Leithenburn 10.23 2 Struan Wells, Leithenburn 3 Nairn Wells, Leithenburn.
200m -1 Struan Wells 23.37 2 Sam Archibald 3 Samantha Turnbull, Peebles.
400m- 1 Rouben Thomson, Aberdeen 47.97 2 Aaron Glendinning, Leithenburn 3 Erin McFarlane, Pitreavie AC.
800m-1 Edward Lecrivain, Abereen 1:54.53 2 Caleb McLeod, Pitreavie AC 3 Gaspard Lecrivain, Aberdeen.
1600m -1 Edward Lecrivain 4:36.34 2 Kyle McFarlane, Pitreavie AC 3 Caleb McLeod
90m Youth Invitation-1 Sam Archibald 10.66 2 Struan Wells 3 Sean Bates Tullibody
CYCLING-OPEN
800m Fife Championship-1 Steve Jackson, Glasgow 2 James Melville, Dumbarton 3 Charles Fletcher, Grantown-on-Spey.
8000m SHGA Championship-1 Charles Fletcher 2 Steve Jackson 3 James Melville.
DEIL TAK THE HINDMOST-1 Charles Fletcher 2 Gavin Shelley, Dumfries 3 James Melville, Dumbarton.
YOUTHS
800m- 1 Jamie Penny, Newport 1:17.75 2 Ross Birrell, Dalgety Bay 3 Alex Ball, Lothian
1600m- 1 Rouben Thomson, Aberdeen 2:40.50 2 Gregor Freeman, Lothian 3 Alexander McLeod, Aberdeen
HEAVY EVENTS
16lb SHOT-1 Lukasz Wenta, East Kilbride 59′ 1” 2 Lorne Colthart, Blair Atholl 3 Scott Rider, London
22lb SHOT – 1 Lukasz Wenta 46′ 4” 2 Scott Rider 3 Lorne Colthart, Blair Atholl
28lb Weight for Distance- 1 Scott Rider 90′ 1” 2 Sinclair Patience 3 Lukasz Wenta
16lb Hammer -1Scott Rider 140′ 3” 2 Lukasz Wenta 3 Lorne Colthart
22lb Hammer – 1 Lorne Colthart 113′ 3” 2 Lukasz Wents 3 Scott Rider
56lb Weight for Height – 1 Lukasz Wenta 16′ 6” 2 = Scott Rider & Curtis Durocher, Canada
Caber -1 = Scott Rider & Lukasz Wenta 3 Lorne Colthart
PIPE BANDS
Grade 1 – 1 MacKenzie Caledonian
Grade 2 – 1 McKenzie Caledonian 2 The Highlanders [4 Scots] 3 Portlethen & District.
Grade 3 – 1 Portlethen & District 2 The Highlanders [4 Scots] 3 Wallacestone & District
Grade 4/Novice Juvenile A – 1 Bowhill & District 2 3rd Batallion Royal Regiment of Scotland 3 Kirkcaldy & District
Grade 4/Novice Juv B 1 Grampian & District 2 Kelty & Blairadam 3 Camelon & District
Adult Drum Majors- 1 Graham Wilson, City of Edinburgh 2 Michael Binder, Stockbridge 3 Kenny Forbes, Vale of Atholl
Junior Drum Major- 1 Eve Llewyn, Camelon & District 2 Leah Harrower Cassell, Royal Burgh of Stirling.
SOLO PIPING
Senior Pibroch-1 Brian Lamond, Dunfermline 2 Edward Gawl, Dundee 3 William Rowp, New Zealand
Senior MSR – 1 Ben Duncan, Edinburgh 2 Brian Lamond 3 Dan Nevans, Glasgow
Junior Pibroch – 1 Lewis Kumsell, Livingston 2 Hazel Whyte, Larkhall 3 Brodie Watson-Massey, Edinburgh
Junior MSR – 1 Robbie Mac Isaac, Falkirk 2 Lewis Russell, Livingstone 3 Brodie Watson-Massey
