Gourock Highland Games

**tulloch** · 10th May 10, 03:02 PM

Very nice photos. Thank you for taking the trouble to post them.

**McClef** · 10th May 10, 03:06 PM

Another great set of photos of events Alex. You are our roving reporter.

**Downunder Kilt** · 10th May 10, 04:19 PM

Thanks for the photos Alex, looks like a great day out with tons of piping and dancing entertainment. Our games season has ended in my part of the woods and it's great to be able to see pics from games in other parts of the world
Thankyou

**Alan H** · 10th May 10, 04:28 PM

THe Kempock Stone event....verrrrrrry interesting. Is this event, or something like it, common in Games in Scotland?

**denmcdough** · 10th May 10, 04:57 PM

Alex, great pics! I especially loved all the pipe band shots. Glad to see the sun comes out in Scotland. Where's all the volcanic ash???

**cessna152towser** · 11th May 10, 01:45 AM

THe Kempock Stone event....verrrrrrry interesting. Is this event, or something like it, common in Games in Scotland?

The Kempock Stone is unique to Gourock but many other Scottish games have similar events of their own. You get points for first, second, third etc. in the stone event in the same way as points are awarded for weight for height, weight for distance, hammer throwing, shot putt and caber tossing.
In most of the games held in the Scottish lowlands there is not usually a sheaf tossing competition as part of the overall heavies events. There were nine heavies contestants at Gourock. Many of the smaller games only have six contestants. As there are prizes for first to sixth, this effectively means that the heavy competitors receive appearance money for attending the smaller games, payment being weighted by performance.

**cessna152towser** · 11th May 10, 01:49 AM

Where's all the volcanic ash???

I think it is staying over Iceland at the moment, I noticed there were at least three Icelandair planes at Glasgow Airport when I drove past on my way to the games. Icelandair have been using Glasgow as a temporary hub to connect their European and Trans-Atlantic flights. Iceland's main international airport at Keflavik has been closed but there's a turbo-prop plane shuttling back and forth between Glasgow and Akureyri.

**English Bloke** · 15th May 10, 09:42 AM

Cheers Alex. A grand thread. I must try and get up to some of the games this year.

**northernkilter** · 15th May 10, 11:06 AM

looks good alex, sorry I couldnt make it that week

**A Hay** · 15th May 10, 11:58 AM

Looks like a grand day Alex. Wish I could have been there to hear all the bands.

I missed one of the events in Germany this year. It happened while I was in the States, but there is another coming up the first weekend in July that I will attend.

Thanks for posting the pictures.

Tom
(I've been in touch with Bartley about a sporran, thanks)