Inverkeithing Highland Games 50th Anniversary Family Events

After an absence of two years, Inverkeithing Highland Games will return to the Ballast Bank on Saturday 6th August

Some of the attractions this year will be:

- Heavyweight contest, always a popular event with the crowd

- Highland Dancing, with up to 200 competitors expected

- Track Cycle racing, with three separate Scottish Championships at stakeThe crowd love these events, as the speed and skill of the cyclists are on view at all times on this 400metre trackMany, well known, international cyclists began their career at Highland Games; Kate Archibald (Olympic medallist) and Evan Oliphant (Commonwealth Games competitor) are two who have competed at Inverkeithing
The "Dei'l Tak the Hindmost" race is especially popular, with the last cyclist at the end of each lap being removed from the race, until only six remain for the final sprint to the finishThis often means that each lap has a desperate sprint as cyclists fight to remain in the race

- Track Athletics, which often has in excess of 100 athletes competing from clubs throughout the UK and abroad
As with cycling, many, well known, International, athletes began their careers at their local Highland GamesGemma Nicol (Commonwealth Games team member), Chris O'Hare (Olympic medallist) and, of course, Laura Muir, have all competed at Inverkeithing in the past

- Pipe Bands will also feature strongly this year, with the Games Finale being the Bands "Salute to the Chieftain" always a great spectacle

- Craft Stalls will surround the competitive arena; their key attraction being "something to suit everyone"Street food stalls will also be available to satisfy any hunger pangs you may experience

- Local children's races will also feature, with the aim of generating interest in competitive sport and Highland Games in particular
Inverkeithing is one of the oldest of the Royal Burghs of ScotlandThe Highland Games and Lammas Fair (or Lambmas Fair) appear in the Burgh Records of 1652, when, on the first day of August, it is stated that all kinds of merchant goods and livestock, horses, cattle and sheep were on sale in the Main StreetAnother record of this date, states that this was a great day for "Fun, Frolic, Fit Races, Ale and Drunken Folks gentle and simpleThe Fair and Highland Games seemed so popular that folk came from near and far to enjoy themselves"

Having now emerged from two years of Coronavirus lockdowns, people are keen to, once again, get outdoors and experience the colour and excitement of a fill Highland Games and Inverkeithing aims to provide that very experience this year

The Highland Dancing is scheduled to start at 10:30 am, the first track events at 12:30pm, with The Games scheduled to finish at 5pmThis promises to be a great day out for all the family

Category: Attractions | Attractions and Days Out

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