WATCH: Luke Stoltman gives advice to competitors ahead of Inverness Highland Games
It was dreich outside as everyone gathered into a tent in Bught Park to drum up excitement for the Inverness Highland Games.
Taking place this Saturday (July 13) the weather is thankfully expected to improve!
Pre-sales for tickets have gone well and many more are meant to go on the day.
Featuring the most amount of traders to date, there are currently 10 women and 10 men registered for the heavyweight games.
Luke Stoltman was on hand at the press event to give his advice to those taking part.
He said: “Enjoy it. Let out [your] inner primal instinct - use the energy from the people and the crowd and push yourself to do what you can do!”
Chairman of the Inverness Highland Games committee Angus Dick has been involved with the event for over 24 years and told people what to expect.
“A really good day out for a start.” he said.
“All the normal events for Highland Games will be on show on the day. We’re hoping to have a good crowd of spectators and a large number of athletes.”
However, Mr Dick also reflected on the number of ageing volunteers who help make the event happen and hopes that more will step up to officiate in the future.
McGregor’s Bar will be running the Big Top Tent bar with live music planned throughout the day with a ceilidh in the evening.
Bruce McGregor, owner of McGregor’s Bar said: “You need a good space for a ceilidh dance and it’s absolutely ideal.
“Throughout the day we’ve got some of the local talent you might have seen. We’ve got RuMac, who was at the Black Isle Belter. He’s performing. We’ve got young Michael Lewis who is just one of the most incredible talents. He’s only 16 years old from Newtonmore.
“He sings in the style of Frank Sinatra but what a voice! He’s going to be an absolute superstar!
“We’ve got Davy Holt, Kenny from Schiehallion , and a lot of the local bands. It’s going to be traditional music and lovely band called Northward who will bring a ceilidh to life!
“Into the evening people have an hour or two to get ready and then it’s ceilidh from 7pm to 11pm!”
Inverness Provost Glynis Campbell Sinclair thanked all those who make the Highland Games happen each year.
She said: “The Inverness Highland Games relies a lot on volunteers and particularly the Inverness Highland Games committee and councillors on the working group.
“However, we wouldn’t be able to do any event in Inverness if it wasn’t that Inverness had a really good Common Good Fund and this event has always been supported by it.”
