Thousands at the Eilan hark back to the great days of Newtonmore Gathering
In blissfully perfect conditions, Newtonmore Highland Games attracted its biggest crowd for many a long year on Saturday to kick off the strath’s games season.
The actual attendance figure is still being calibrated, say the committee, but there is no doubt that 2024 will be go down as one of the great years.
Thousands filed onto the Eilan - all ages, all nations, both to spectate and to participate in one way or another.
The Strathy will have a full report and results on Thursday when all the details are finalised, but we can report today that there was a festive air in the secretary’s tent as everything fell into place beautifully, with well attended shows, stalls and seating all around the park for the whole day.
The only disappointment was the unavailability of games legend Tom Robertson, who this year passed the baton on to the younger brigade after four decades of stalwart service to the event.
A trophy in his name was handed over to the first lady back on the Creag Dhubh hill race - Sara Hodgson, from Inverness, put in a huge effort to claim the trophy with a brilliant performance which ended in her being sick with the thrill - literally - as she threw herself over the finish line.
“I’m OK,” she assured the Strathy as she straightened and got her breath back. “It was a tough run but I made it!”
Her name goes into history as the first winner of the Robertson Trophy.
More on Thursday…
