The heavies are coming! Mey Games attracts record number of competitors this year
The Mey Highland Games, one of the most inclusive Highland games in the world, is set to attract a record number of competitors this year with entries for heavyweight events along with piping and dancing competitions surpassing expectations.
With King Charles III as chieftain, the games, held in John O’Groats on the first Saturday of August, is a fantastic showcase of skill, perseverance, and determination, with world records and personal bests up for grabs.
An increased number of sponsors this year means the event continues to gain popularity. The sponsors for 2024 are led by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Wolfburn Distillery, with various local sponsors offering much-valued support, including NRS Dounreay and Achairn Windarm.
Over 90 dancers will compete in the Highland dancing competition, organised by Tanya Horne School of Highland Dancing. The piping competition has grown significantly, with over 50 performances expected.
Mey Games chairman, Andrew Sinclair, said: “The Mey Games has undergone a rebranding this year. Wolfburn Distillery have been a great help, they’ve come on board as a new major sponsor and have worked closely with us to make the games the best they can be. We’re grateful to them for all their help.
“The Mey Games is a special event in the local Highland games calendar. We’re extremely fortunate to have His Majesty the King as chieftain of the games. He has always been so supportive of Caithness.
“We have a packed programme, with all our traditional heavyweight events, as well as the ladies and adaptive heavies too.”
Games ground convener, Henry Gunn, added: “We are looking forward to this year’s event, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. We are expecting a very competitive tug o’ war competition, with teams competing for charities and good local causes. We’re also welcoming back the adaptive team of Wounded Highlanders, drawn from serving and former military personnel.
“There really is something for everyone and we look forward to a great day on Saturday”.
In addition to the heavyweight events, there will also be track and field events, children’s races and the popular Mey Games fun dog show, which is always a family favourite. There are athletes coming from across the United Kingdom, as well as some from abroad.
The heavyweight events include the caber toss, hammer throwing, shot put, and weight throwing. The Tug o’ War Competition was introduced last year to celebrate the King’s Coronation and sees local charities battle it out for a chance to win the Chieftain’s Cup, first presented last year by His Majesty to the victorious Caithness Rugby Club, which will be hoping to retain the title this year.
Wick and Thurso Pipe Bands will entertain the crowds at regular intervals throughout the day. Over 50 traders, stallholders and local charities will be in attendance, and there will be lots of local traders with crafts and goods to buy.
The Mey Highland Games is a member of the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association, with the president, Charlie Murray, serving as the main judge at the event.
The first modern Mey Highland Games were said to have been held in the summer of 1970, whilst HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was in residence at the Castle of Mey. Locals decided to celebrate her birthday with a mini Highland Games, and the event has become a regular fixture ever since.
More details about the games can be found at: www.facebook.com/MeyHighlandGames and www.meyhighlandgames.com
Gates are open to the public at 9:30am. Adaptive and Ladies Heavyweight events start from 10am and Highland dancing from 10:30am.
