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Historic photographs displayed at Eastgate Shopping Centre recall past Highland Games


By Hector MacKenzie

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An ex-serviceman's race at the Northern Meeting Games, Inverness, in the 1920s.
An ex-serviceman's race at the Northern Meeting Games, Inverness, in the 1920s.

Historic photographs from the Inverness Highland Games are being displayed in Inverness to celebrate the return of the event on Saturday.

The images, provided by the Archive Centre in conjunction with High Life Highland, will be displayed at the Eastgate Shopping Centre’s community gallery throughout July.

Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair and Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Shopping Centre manager, take at look at the images.
Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair and Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Shopping Centre manager, take at look at the images.

Jackie Cuddy, centre manager, said the exhibition would generate interest among locals and tourists and hopefully encourage people to visit the Inverness Highland Games.

“The games are a real family event with something for everyone,” she said.

The Members' Stand at the Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, 1920.
The Members' Stand at the Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, 1920.

The Highland Games in Inverness date back to 1947 but have run in different forms dating back to 1837 when the first “official” Games, organised by the Northern Meeting, were held on the Longman and open to the public.

Events included heavy and field, wrestling, wheelbarrow and sack races with the main event a musket shooting at a 36in target at 100 yd.

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Champion hammer thrower, Edward Anderson from Dundee, at the 1927 Northern Meeting Games, Inverness.
Champion hammer thrower, Edward Anderson from Dundee, at the 1927 Northern Meeting Games, Inverness.

Such was the success, they quickly evolved to include pony races, hurdles and a steeplechase.

In 1848, a year after a royal visit from Prince Albert, the event moved to the Inverness Royal Academy school yard in Academy Street and in 1863 moved to Bell’s Park – now the bus station.

A year later, in 1864, they moved to a purpose-built arena, the Northern Meeting Park in Ardross Street following an argument with Academy directors over rent money.

A selection of old photo on the Community Gallery wall at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness.
A selection of old photo on the Community Gallery wall at the Eastgate Shopping Centre in Inverness.

The games continued until the 1930s when their popularity waned and eventually, they stopped.

The Inverness Highland Games returned in 1947, a fresh creation by the North of Scotland Amateur Athletic Association, allowing anyone to take part.

Since then, they have been run by the Inverness Amenities Association, Inverness District Council, Highland Council and now High Life Highland.

With the Inverness Highland Games set to return this weekend Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair and Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Shopping Centre manager, take a look at images captured from the past.
With the Inverness Highland Games set to return this weekend Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair and Jackie Cuddy, Eastgate Shopping Centre manager, take a look at images captured from the past.

Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell-Sinclair said: “This year’s Games promise to be a fantastic fun day out for our residents and visitors and we can’t wait to showcase the very best the Highlands has to offer.”

Go to Invernesshighlandgames.com for tickets and further information.


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