It's games on at Mey next month
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THE Mey Highland Games is taking place next month under new a leadership team who say "it's full steam ahead" and are pleased to have the support of Prince Harry’s Invictus Foundation this year.
After the resignation of former organiser Captain Richard Otley in March a new committee was set up a few weeks later chaired by Wick and East Caithness councillor Andrew Sinclair.
Councillor Sinclair said: "People always comment on the special atmosphere of the games, which celebrate incredible sportsmanship but with a firm sense of fun and the famous Scottish hospitality.
"This year’s event is shaping up to be the best yet, and we are looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors to what will be a fantastic day celebrating the unique culture of the far north."
The new committee also includes north MSP Gail Ross (vice-chairperson), Councillor Nicola Sinclair (secretary), Keith Nicholson (treasurer) and Henry Gunn (games convener) who are busily organising the John O'Groats-based event for August 3.
Prince Charles, the Duke of Rothesay, is expected attend in his capacity as chieftain of the games, which has enjoyed royal patronage since its foundation by the Queen Mother in 1970.
Last year, the Mey Games became the first event of its kind to include an adaptive element – inviting para-athletes to compete. Help for Heroes and Uncle Sam’s Highlanders will return in 2019 following their memorable debut in 2018 which saw two world records broken.
A new addition for 2019 will be special ladies' events and the Military Wives Choir – who will sing as part of a series of musical performances co-ordinated by Lyth Arts Centre. The usual favourites will be featured, including running, heavy events, tug of war, solo piping, Highland dancing and the popular Ardblair Stones event. Tanya Horne's School of Highland Dancing will grace the stage once again and Wick and Thurso pipe bands will play traditional tunes.
There will be dozens of stalls on the day selling local delicacies, drinks, crafts and gifts and a food tent will provide a sheltered seating area for visitors.
Captain Richard Otley had previously commented on how the games had gone "from strength to strength" under his leadership and how he expected 10,000 to attend this year's event.
“A few years ago, the Mey Games was dying and we were only attracting a few hundred visitors – it was more like a village fête," he said in February.
“We decided to try something new and got para-athletes involved to hold Scotland’s first adaptive and gender inclusive Highland Games – which drew a crowd of almost 3000."
His resignation in March, for family and work commitments, may have thrown some doubt on the future of the games but he stated he had done "all the necessary work" in advance to make sure the games ran smoothly this year.
"All is where it should have been at the time of my resignation and I'd even secured sponsorship from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority [NDA] before I left. I wish the new committee all the best."
The new committee has been quick to spell out the fact that the sponsors and partners for the Mey Games 2019 are all on board and how the event "could not go ahead" without them. Apart from NDA, sponsors include Beatrice Offshore Windfarm Limited, Scottish Highland Games Association, Invictus Games Foundation, Help for Heroes, Legion Scotland, Together Travel, Highland Council and High Life Highland as well as numerous local corporate sponsors supporting individual competitive events.
The Mey Games website can be found at www.meyhighlandgames2019.wordpress.com and the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/johnogroatsshowground/
