Records tumble in the sunshine at Halkirk Games
IT was a record-breaking day at Halkirk Highland Games at the weekend. The gathering attracted a crowd of 2850 – up 750 on last year, and the highest in the past six years – and gate takings of £15,500, an increase of £2367 on 2018.
Spectators basked in glorious sunshine as records tumbled in the heavy and track-and-field competitions at Recreation Park on Saturday afternoon.
In the former, Vlad Tulacek from the Czech Republic was involved in an intriguing tussle with Scott Rider from Kent. Tulacek, the reigning heavy world champion, was in great form and set a ground record in the 56 lb weight for height with a throw of 17ft, beating the previous record of 16ft 11 inches which he created in 2018.
He failed in four attempts at the world record of 17ft 3in, established by Lukasz Wenta at Inveraray in 2017, but had the consolation of winning five of the nine events. He came out on top in the 16 and 22 lb hammers, the 16 lb ball, the 22 lb Halkirk Stone and the 56 lb weight for height.
However, Rider, who won the world title when the contest was held at Halkirk for the first time in 2016, took the honours in the 28 lb and 56 lb weight for distance and tossing the caber.
They were tied on points going into the final event – tossing the 16 lb sheaf. Young Jamie Gunn from Gerston beat them both but Rider was runner-up and narrowly defeated Tulacek to take the overall heavy title.
Ground records were also set in the track-and-field contests with Allan Hamilton from Edinburgh extending by one-and-a-half inches his own record from last year in the hop, step and leap with a jump of 47 feet and five inches on his way to the open track-and-field title.
He was delighted with his performance. "It is always nice to get a record," he said. "The weather was good, there was a large crowd here, and the atmosphere was great.
"I will definitely be coming back next year."
Fellow Edinburgh competitor Allan Smith narrowly beat Hamilton's record by .3 of an inch in the high jump with a leap of 6ft 2.3 inches (1.90 metres).
Smith, who was making his first appearance at Halkirk, was unsuccessful in his attempt to beat the Scottish record of 6ft and six-and-a-half inches.
"I was disappointed not to break it but happy to get the ground record on my first visit here," said Smith, who represented Scotland in the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast in Australia last year. He narrowly missed out in the medals but would like to be part of the team at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022.
Local competitors also were among the record-breakers with Jamie Gunn from Gerston beating his and the Caithness record of 35ft 2in by four feet two inches in the 22 lb Halkirk Stone event.
Kevin Macgregor smashed the Caithness record in the Farmer's Walk competition. He carried the heavy stones 25ft 6in, easily beating the previous record of nine feet.
Twenty-year-old Finn Crockett from Strathpeffer dominated the open cycling, winning six of the seven events, losing only the 3200 metre handicap race to retain the championship he won last year.
"This has been my best performance at Halkirk and I am delighted to have retained my title this year," said Crockett, who has taken part in the Scottish open championship and is a member of the Wheelbase road racing team based in the Lake District.
The junior section was won by Reuben Thomson from Aberdeen who won three of his four races, being beaten only in the 2400 metre race by his sister Heidi.
The open Highland dancing title went to Hamish MacInnes from Australia, while the open champion in the 13 and under-16 category was won by Tashy Cormack, Thrumster. The 12 and under title went to Abbie Harrold from Wick.
Hollie Fulton from Halkirk – joint winner in the 12 and under Caithness competition – was awarded the Peter Murchison Memorial Trophy. It was presented for the first time by the family of Mr Murchison, who was a stalwart of the games for almost five decades.
He was involved for 48 years and was a past president of the games committee. He died last November.
His great-grandson, Archie Bremner from Halkirk, was the overall winner of the baby show.
Treasurer Carol Robertson was "absolutely delighted" with the size of the crowd and the gate takings.
"The weather was fantastic, the crowd came in early and stayed all afternoon," she said. "Records have been broken and an attempt made on a world record. All in all it has been a great day."
RESULTS
Heavy events – champion, 28lb and 56lb weights for distance and tossing the caber: Scott Rider, Kent.
16 lb and 22 lb hammers, 16 lb ball, 22 lb Halkirk Stone, the 56lb weight for height and Farmer's Walk: Vlad Tulacek, Czech Republic.
Tossing the 16lb sheaf: Jamie Gunn, Gerston.
Track and field – champion, 85 metres, long jump, hop step and leap, 200 metres: Allan Hamilton, Edinburgh. 400 and 800 metres: Stephen Mackay, Inverness. High jump: Allan Smith, Edinburgh.
1600 metres: Finlay Murray, Tain.
Track and field under 16 years– champion, 85 metres, long jump, 200m, high jump, 400m: Thomas Main, Dunblane.
Cycling – champion, 800 metres, 1600m, 2000m, De'il Tak the Hindmost, 2400m, 4800m: Finn Crockett, Strathpeffer. 3200m: Kyle Cartmell, Duffus.
Under 16 years – champion, 800m, 1200m, 1600m: Reuben Thomson, Aberdeen. 2400m: Heidi Thomson, Aberdeen.
Highland dancing (confined to Caithness) – champion 16 and over, Highland fling and Sean Trubhais: Lorraine Sinclair, Wick. Thirteen and under-16 champion, Highland fling, Sean Trubhais: Tashy Cormack, Thrumster. Twelve and under champion shared by Hollie Fulton, Halkirk, who won the Highland fling, and Abbie Harrold, Wick, who took the honours in the Sean Trubhais.
Highland dancing open – 16 and over champion, sword dance, Sean Trubhais, Hullachan and Sailor's Hornpipe: Hamish MacInnes, Australia. Highland fling and Irish jig: Rachael Walker, Fettercairn.
Thirteen and under 16 – champion, Highland fling, sword dance, Sean Trubhais, Irish jig: Tashy Cormack, Thrumster. Sailor's Hornpipe: Keira Gunn, Wick.
Twelve and under – champion, Sean Trubhais, Hullachan, Irish jig and Sailor's Hornpipe: Abbie Harrold, Wick. Highland fling: Hollie Fulton, Halkirk. Sword dance: Hollie Miller, Wick.
Senior piping – champion, march, strathspey and reel, march and hornpipe: Willie Rowe, Kintore. Piobaireachd: Iain Ruari Finlayson, Kyle. Slow air and jig: Alan Clark, Aberdeen.
Junior piping, 15 and under 18 years – champion, march and jig: Anna Magee, Bettyhill. Strathspey and reel: Lauren Mowat, Melvich.
Under 15 years – champion, march, strathspey and reel and jig: Hector Finlayson, Kyle.
Clay-pigeon shooting – 10-bird and aggregate: Don Mackay, Thurso. Fifteen-bird shoot: Rory Matheson, Thurso. Re-entry: Magnus Norquoy, Orkney.
Under 18 years – 10-bird shoot: S Dillon, Thurso.
Children's races – boys four and five years: Ian MacDonald. Girls four and five years: Emilia Sutherland. Boys six and seven years: Hamish Gunn. Girls six and seven years: M Carberry. Boys eight and nine years: Matthew Cook. Boys 10 and 11 years: Scott MacDonald. Girls 10 and 11 years: Kayla MacDonald. Boys 12 and 13 years: Ben Main. Girls 12 and 13 years: Emily King.
Novelty events – Sack race, under nine years: Aaron Blackwood. Nine and under 12 years: K Gunn. Twelve and under 16 years: Reuben Thomson. Three-legged race, under nine years: Jake and Aaron. Nine and under 12 years: Gabriel and Elliot. Twelve and under 16 years: Chloe and Lauren. 200 metres kilted race over 16 years: Allan Smith, Edinburgh.
Baby show – champion and mixed boys and girls, six months but under 13 months: Archie Bremner, Halkirk. Mixed under six months: Charlie Stone, Preston. Mixed, 13 to 19 months: Lachlan Wann, Wick.