Ardrossan Highland Games

[cessna152towser]

Let's visit the Ardrossan Highland Games.
Ardrossan is a sea port on the Firth of Clyde. From my house it was 116 mile drive each way to the games ground. I had not been to these games before and I wanted to distribute some leaflets for next week's Hawick games.
As the games venue is on the edge of Cunningham country I wore my Lady Chrystel boxpleat in Weathered Hunting Cunningham.

Chieftain of the Games Cecilia Templeton and Chairman Alan Pettigrew

Royal Burgh of Renfrew Pipe Band, wearing Royal Stewart tartan. There were twelve bands, with competitions in grades 2, 3 and 4 and juvenile.

Irvine & District Pipe Band.
Tartan is McLean of Duart.

Ayr Pipe Band

Mauchline and District Pipe Band wearing Weathered Scott tartan.

Troon Blackrock Pipe Band, wearing Modern Davidson tartan.

Members of Inverclyde Juvenile Pipe Band, wearing the Inverclyde tartan.
More to follow shortly.

[cessna152towser]

Neil Elliot clears the 56lb weight over the bar at thirteen feet one inch.

Gary Hagan throws for height

Gary Hagan in the caber tossing event, shirt off in the Scottish heat.

Laura Falconer, winner of the ladies heavies.
There were six entrants for the men's heavies and two competitors in the ladies' heavies.
Neil Elliot won the overall prize in the men's heavies, a trophy plus £200 plus a bottle of single malt whisky.

Kilted Sprint

Highland dancers, airborne as the seagulls above

Highland dancing

More Highland Dancers
More to follow.

[cessna152towser]

Portrait of a Kennedy

Youngsters at the drum majors tent.
Note advertsement for Cunninghame Housing Association in the background.

Young lass with owl and Black Watch skirt.

The Prizegiving

The massed bands play Highland Laddie at the traditional final salute to the Chieftain.
That's all folks.

[DeWayne Ross]

Very nice. One day I plan taking holiday and seeing the land of my forefathers.
Thanks for posting the pics!!

[Standard]

Thanks for posting the photos for us. It's always nice to see how much the games here in the States resemble the games in Scotland, not just in the events, but in the way the majority of the folks attending dress. Looks like a good day at the games.

[BoldHighlander]

Great photos as always Alex!
How do you keep up the energy?

Thanks for posting the photos for us. It's always nice to see how much the games here in the States resemble the games in Scotland, not just in the events, but in the way the majority of the folks attending dress. Looks like a good day at the games.

Indeed

...and its nice to see that we're not the only ones to fly the Royal Standard when the Queen isn't present!

[Darkislander]

Nice one Alex

[BoldHighlander]

Let's visit the Ardrossan Highland Games.....As the games venue is on the edge of Cunningham country I wore my Lady Chrystel boxpleat in Weathered Hunting Cunningham.

Alex,
given that we constantly hear that the box pleat, (once a very common style until the late 19th century), is reportedly little seen (or known) in Scotland today, I'm curious what kind of reaction (if any) do you get to your kilt?

[Jock Scot]

Alex,
given that we constantly hear that the box pleat, (once a very common style until the late 19th century), is reportedly little seen (or known) in Scotland today, I'm curious what kind of reaction (if any) do you get to your kilt?

I would be surprised, amazed even, if any comment was uttered, as I doubt that anyone noticed.

[sp00ky]

Nice pictures....

My family hails from Ayr... my Grandfather emmigrated to Canada when he was 8, all the family I have been able to trace back for the past 220 years came from the three towns

Ancestors in Kilwinning, Saltcoats, and Stevenston...