A large contingent of visitors from Winnipeg, Canada, on a tour of Scotland enlivened Strathardle Highland Gathering at Bannerfield, Kirkmichael, on Saturday.
The young visitors entered the Highland dancing competitions and featured in the prize list. The adults took part in other events, bringing their welcome enthusiasm and sense of fun to the tug o’ war contests. They also entered teams in the ladies’ tug o’ war.
A spokesperson for the Winnipeg group gave her assessment as: ”Awesome, It was all just awesome!”
One or two dark clouds flirted with the area but the rain stayed away and conditions for the morning agricultural show and afternoon games were almost perfect.
Games Chieftain Sir Michael Nairn described the event as an outstanding success.
”Throughout the afternoon the active participation of local people and visitors showed their great enthusiasm for sports and this greatly contributed to a great day,” he said.
Local heavyweight games were held before the traditional march over the bridge to Bannerfield led by Sir Michael, and Coupar Angus Pipe Band led by Pipe Major Kevin Douglas. The Bannerfield Standard was carried by Alec Rattray, vice-president.
The Robertson Cup local tug o’ war contest between teams representing Blackwater and Strathardle was not held this year due to differences in the interpretation of residential qualifications, it is understood.
The afternoon programme of competitions and entertainment continued with Highland dancing, heavyweight and piping events, and races for children and young adults.
Trophies and awards won in the agricultural and industrial sections were handed over by Mrs Morag Lang who was presented with a floral arrangement by Holly Webster.
The extra numbers taking part meant the gathering lasted much longer than planned but it was an indication of the success of this year’s event that there were still several hundred spectators at the ground when the gathering was brought to a close at 6.15pm with musical cars for the Robert Sample Trophy.
Results – Heavyweights, Local: 16 lb Shot – 1 Pete Hart (31ft 2 in.); 2 Andrew Richardson; 3 Christian Ramsay. 16 lb hammer – 1 Pete Hart (106 ft 4 in.); 2 Andrew Richardson; 3 Christian Ramsay. 28 lb weight for distance (Jock Ritchie Trophy) – 1 Pete Hart (55 ft 3 in.); 2 Andrew Richardson; 3 Christian Ramsay. Caber (Jim Petrie Memorial Trophy) – 1 equal Pete Hart and Andrew Richardson (12 o’clock); 3 equal Oliver Ramsay and Christian Ramsay.
Best local heavyweight (Geordie Rodger Trophy) – 1 Pete Hart; 2 Andrew Richardson; 3 Christian Ramsay; 4 Oliver Ramsay.
Heavyweights, Open: 16 lb hammer – 1 Sinclair Patience, Tain (128 ft 8 in.);
2 Roy Valentine, Auchenblae; 3 Jamie Gunn, Halkirk. 22 lb hammer (Clark’s Agricultural Contractors Trophy) – 1 Sinclair Patience (102 ft); 2 Roy Valentine; 3 Pete Hart. 22 lb shot – 1 Sinclair Patience (41 ft 6 in.); 2 Jamie Gunn; 3 Dale Walker, Fettercairn. 28 lb weight for distance – 1 Sinclair Patience (75 ft 10 in.); 2 Jamie Gunn; 3 Scott Clark. 56 lb weight for distance – 1 Sinclair Patience (43 ft 5 in.); 2 Jamie Gunn; 3 Pete Hart.
56 lb weight over the bar – 1 Sinclair Patience (15 ft 1 in.); 2 equal Pete Hart and Jamie Gunn. Caber – 1 equal Jamie Gunn, Sinclair Patience, Pete Hart (all 12 o’clock). Best open heavyweight (Aldchlappie Cup) – 1 Sinclair Patience (49 points); 2 Jamie Gunn (37 pts); 3 Pete Hart (31 pts).
Tug o’ war (open) – Mount Blair A beat Strathardle 2-0. Ladies’ tug o’ war (Ivy Bailey Trophy) – Strathmore Girls; 2 Strathardle; 3 Dream Team; 4 Winnipeg Girls.
Races. 100 yards boys, 7 years and under – 1 Cameron Galloway, Glenshee; 2 Lochlan Stewart, Glenshee 3 Arrian Pine, Balnald. 100 yards, boys, 8-11 years – 1 Archie Dayman, Dover; 2 Angus Robertson, Pittenweem; 3 Jack Milne, Perth. 100 yards, boys 12-15 years – 1 Rupert Halford, London; 2 Archie Crawford, Blairgowrie; 3 Alasdair McNay, Glenshee.
100 yards, girls, 7 years and under – 1 Bella Dunphie, Cloquhat; 2 Lottie Dunphie, Cloquhat; 3 Kate Robertson, Pittenweem. 100 yards, girls, 8-11 years – 1 Molly Robertson, Pittenweem; 2 Anna, Czech Republic; 3 Hannah Haddow, Australia. 100 yards, girls 12 years and over – 1 Maria McNay, Glenshee; 2 Polly Goodman, Kirkmichael; 3 Ann Kerr, Auchtermuchty.
100 yards open – 1 Dr Niku Dhillon, Dundee; 2 Paul Dearie, Shotts; Magin Swaltz, Germany. 440 yards open – 1 Hugo Halford, London; 2 Paul Dearie; 3 Dr Niku Dhillon. 880 yards open (Jim Thomson Cup) – 1 Dr Niku Dhillon; 2 Sam Houis, France; 3 Alistair Dean, Persie. Best light athlete (Dan Webster Trophy) – Dr Niku Dhillon.
Obstacle race, teams of four – 1 Ninjas; 2 Fab Four; 3 Balnald Bunch. Pillow fight, 12 years and under – 1 Angus Robertson, Pittenweem; 2 Molly Robertson, Pittenweem; 3 Mason McLeod. Pillow fight, 13 years and over – 1 Victor Mills; 2 Sam Houis, France; 3 Flo Brooke.
Dog race – 1 Marra; 2 Coco; 3 Piza. Highland dash, heavyweights – 1 Paul Dearie; 2 Jamie Gunn; 3 Sinclair Patience. Round Bale Rolling – 1 Stephen Bradley and son, Durham. Tilt the bucket – 1 Niku and Mia Dhillon, Dundee; 2 Robert Winton and Riff Gaskell, Kirkmichael; 3 equal Archie and Ian Crawford, Blairgowrie; and Rollo Granger and Alistair Dean, Persie.
Vintage tractors: Restored- 1 Robert Wilkinson, Bridge of Cally (Massey Ferguson 35); 2 Garry West, Ballintuim (International B419); 3 Greig Wilkinson, Bridge of Cally (Ford 4000). Working tractors – 1 Asty Hynd, Hillfoot (Massey Ferguson 65); 2 Fraser Wilson, Ashintully (Grey Ferguson petrol/paraffin); 3 David Croal, Parkhead (Ford 4610). Vintage car – 1 Dave Paterson, Middle Mause (1935 AC).
Musical cars (Robert Sample Cup) – 1 Jamie Gray (runner) and Luke Hayfield (driver); 2 Gordon Duncan (runner) and Jo Rattray (driver); 3 Rhuairidh Duncan (runner) and Mathew Michie (driver).
Piping. Open. March – 1 Craig Muirhead, Stirling; 2 Kevin Douglas, Coupar Angus. Strathspey and reel – 1 Craig Muirhead; 2 Kevin Douglas. Jig – 1 Craig Muirhead; 2 Kevin Douglas. Senior piper with most points (Tayside Grain Cup) – Craig Muirhead. Junior. March – 1 Luke Kennedy, Strathaven; 2 Robbie Smith, Blairgowrie. Strathspey and reel – 1 Luke Kennedy. Jig – 1 Luke Kennedy. Junior piper with most points (Robert Wallace Shield) – Luke Kennedy.
HIGHLAND DANCING
Highland dancing competitions are always popular at Strathardle and provide the perfect backdrop throughout the day. This year there was a large contingent of dancers in a touring group from Winnipeg, Manitoba, as dancers from Australia and America, as well as many from throughout Tayside.
The judge was Marian Lawson. The convener was Linda Tosh, and the steward was Linda Grant.
The winner of the Isobel Ferrier Trophy for the overall premier winner was Alanna Soutar from Kirriemuir.
Trophy-winners: Beginners – E Crookston, Edinburgh. Novice – C Cairns, Perth. Overall Intermediate winner (Piob Mhor Trophy) – TL Motion, Edinburgh. Overall Premier winner (Isobel Ferrier Trophy) – H McCole, Airlie. Victor Wesley Rosebowl – I Crichton, Winnipeg, Canada.
Primary: Pas de Basques – 1 O Buchan, Glenrothes; 2 E Rockett, Edinburgh; 3 L Taylor, Buckhaven. Pas de Basques and High Cuts – 1 E Rockett; 2 O Buchan;
3 L Taylor. Highland Fling – 1 E Rockett. Sword Dance – 1 E Rockett; 2 O Buchan.
Beginners: Nine years and under. Highland Fling – 1 E Crookston, Edinburgh;
2 S Campbell, Gilmartin; 3 G Nixon, Alyth. Sword Dance – 1 M Mitchell, Crieff; 2 E Crookston; 3 C Ferguson, Leven. Seann Truibhas – 1 E Crookston;
2 M Mitchell; 3 C Ferguson. Reel – 1 S Campbell; 2 E Crookston; 3 G Ferguson, Leven. Flora Macdonald – 1 G Ferguson; 2 A Macklin, Winnipeg; 3 S Campbell. Lilt – 1 G Ferguson; 2 M Mitchell; 3 E Crookston. Age group winner – E Crookston, Edinburgh.
Beginners: 10 years and over. Highland Fling – 1 K Lamond, Alyth; 2 G McClement, Blairgowrie; 3 S Lamond, Alyth. Sword Dance – 1 K Lamond; 2 L Tosh, Blairgowrie; 3 M Forster, Pitlochry. Seann Truibhas – 1 L Tosh; 2 K Lamond; 3 M Forster. Reel – 1 E McClement, Blairgowrie; 2 K Lamond; 3 M Forster. Flora Macdonald – 1 M Forster; 2 K Lamond; 3 L Tosh. Lilt – 1 L Tosh; 2 M Forster; 3 K Lamond. Age group winner – K Lamond, Alyth.
Novice: 10 years and under. Highland Fling – 1 C Mackie, Banchory; 2 L Leck, Pitlochry; 3 C Guild, Forfar. Sword Dance – 1 C Guild; 2 P Taylor, Buckhaven; 3 L Leck. Seann Truibhas – 1 J Chablin, Winnipeg; 2 S Stubbard, Winnipeg; 3 R Tracey, Blairgowrie. Reel – 1 C Mackie; 2 P Taylor; 3 R Tracey. Flora Macdonald – 1 L Leck; 2 S Stubbard; 3 C Guild. Lilt – 1 C Guild; 2 J Chablin; 3 R McLeod, Winnipeg. Age group winner – C Guild.
Novice: 11 years and over. Highland Fling – 1 C Cairns, Perth; 2 K Nixon, Alyth; 3 A Munro, Pitlochry. Sword Dance – 1 L Tolmie, Alyth; 2 A Munro; 3 P Fotheringham, Alyth. Seann Truibhas – 1 L Tolmie; 2 K Nixon; 3 A Scott, Cumnock. Reel – 1 C Cairns; 2 L Tolmie; 3 A Scott. Flora Macdonald – 1 I Reid, Alyth; 2 C Cairns; 3 K Nixon. Lilt – 1 A Munro; 2 C Cairns; 3 A Scott.
Age group winner – C Cairns, Perth.
Intermediate: Highland Fling – 1 C McLean, Forfar; 2 TL Motion, Edinburgh; 3 H Blundell, Australia. Sword Dance – 1 TL Motion, 2 F McGregor, Blairgowrie;
3 L Tracey, Blairgowrie. Seann Truibhas – 1 TL Motion; 2 C McGregor; 3 C McLean. Reel – 1 T Motion; 2 L Tracey; 3 C McLean. Jig – 1 TL Motion; 2 F McGregor; 3 E McDonald. Hornpipe – 1 H Blundell; 2 F McGregor; 3 E McDonald.
Age group winner – TL Motion, Edinburgh.
Premier: 12 years and under. Highland Fling – 1 F DeGernier, Forfar; 2 L Laird, Forfar; 3 E Closs, Methven. Sword Dance – 1 E Closs; 2 J Laird; 3 C Roy, Winnipeg. Seann Truibhas – 1 J Laird; 2 E Closs; 3 F DeGernier. Reel –
1 E Closs; 2 F DeGernier; 3 J Laird. Jig – 1 F DeGernier; 2 E Closs; 3 A Wilson. Hornpipe – 1 E Closs; 2 J Laird; 3 F DeGernier. Age group winner – E Closs, Methven.
Premier: 15 years and under. Highland Fling – 1 H McCole, Airlie; 2 B Laird, Forfar; 3 C Meager, Blairgowrie. Sword Dance – 1 H McCole; 2 C Watson, Winnipeg; 3 C Meager. Seann Truibhas – 1 H McCole; 2 B Laird; 3 C Meager.
Jig – 1 H McCole; 2 C Meager; 3 T Wood. Hornpipe – 1 C Meager; 2 H McCole; 3 C Watson. Age group winner – H McCole, Airlie.
Adults: Highland Fling – 1 D Bagshaw, Winnipeg; 2 T Scott, Lochgelly; 3 E Lind, Winnipeg. Sword Dance – 1 O Crichton, Winnipeg; 2 A Kasjiw, Winnipeg;
3 E Lind. Seann Truibhas – 1 O Crichton; 2 A Kaskiw; 3 D Bagshaw. Reel – 1 T Scott; 2 O Crichton; 3 G Foster, Winnipeg. Jig – 1 E Lind; 2 O Crichton; 3 D Bagshaw. Hornpipe – 1 A Kaskiw; 2 T Scott 3 T Watson, Winnipeg. Age group winner – O Crichton, Winnipeg.
