Highlandhomecomingbrochure

Welcome to Highland Homecoming in InvernessOn behalf of the City of Inverness

and Highland Council, it gives me great pleasure to welcome

you to the Highland Homecoming Celebrations in the Highland capital.

Our two-month festival is sponsored by the Inverness Common Good Fund and is being staged with much appreciated support from Event Scotland, the Highland business community, Highland Council and numerous community organisations, performers and volunteers.

In the weeks ahead you and your family will have the opportunity to experience and enjoy some of the very best moments that the Highlands has to offer this year.

We welcome the return of major events such as the Royal national MOD, the Camanachd Cup Final, the Loch ness Marathon and the Masters World

Championships, as well as new events like The Highland Military Tattoo, The Parade of the Highland Clans, the Highland Strength Festival and the Inverness Craft Fair.

Some events are unique to Inverness – such as the historic Kirking of the

Council, The northern Meeting Piping Festival, the BID Street

Theatre Festival and our Halloween Show on the ness Islands. Over the course of the past four years, Highland Homecoming has grown from being a vision to

becoming one of the signature festivals of Scotland’s Year of

Homecoming 2014. I hope

you and your family will enjoy discovering and experiencing some very special events in the Highland Homecoming Celebrations.

Councillor Alex Graham,

Provost of Inverness.

Ist September to 31st October 2014 For a full list of events visit: www.invernessfestivals.com

yOUR gUIDE TO

2 Highland Homecoming Scotland 2014

TELEVISION presenters Kirsty Wark and Sally Magnusson will

appear as part of a shelf-load of events, including award-winning crime writers Malcolm Mackay and Ann Cleeves, journalist Peter Ross, travel writer Kapka Kassabova, and gardening expert Kenneth Cox.

Cookery fans will savour talks from Carina Contini and Catherine Brown. There’s music from the Scottish Tango Ensemble, Tim Kliphuis’s Jazz Trio, a performance from original members of Jock Tamson’s Bairns, and Highland Connection.

Kids’ Day offers free admission to film, storytelling and workshops, with everything from drumming to magic. Comedy night features Paul Tonkinson – fresh from touring with Michael McIntyre.l www.nairnfestival.co.uk

Handlers from 25 countries will be competing, including, for the first time, spain and south africa. Over 700 sheep are ready to put the 240 dogs through their paces. There will be attractions and entertainment around the fields for all the family. l www.worldsheepdogtrials.org

IT’S the oldest and most prestigious competition for solo pipers in the world.

Every ambitious piper dreams of winning the Gold Medal for piobaireachd at The Northern Meeting.

Only players deemed eligible are invited to compete, and the total number is restricted to around 90 – with a third of these coming from abroad.

The piobaireachd is unique to the Highland bagpipe and to Scotland. Three medals are awarded for this “classical” music of the bagpipe: the coveted Gold Medal, a Silver Medal and the Gold Clasp for previous winners of the Gold Medal.

Then there are the competitions for what’s considered light music: the marches, Strathspeys and reels, hornpipes and jigs.

Last year Stuart Liddell from Inveraray took the title of overall winner in the senior competitions, winning the Northern Meeting Quaich, as well as the celebrated Gold Clasp, Former Winners March, Strathspey and Reel.

He will be defending his titles at this year’s competition. The overall winner of the B grade events was

won by Graham Drummond from Bathgate. He, too, will be playing again this year.

Following the senior event on Saturday there’s the chance to hear the talent of the future in the junior competition for those aged up to 18.

Around 40 of the best young

players participate. Most are from Scotland but some competitors travel from much further afield. Some are as young as 11.

Held in Inverness since 1841, the Northern Piping Competition plays an important role in preserving Scotland’s place as the

international centre of piping and ensuring the long-term survival of a national art form.

Tickets to hear the pipers compete are available on the day – no reservations are necessary. l http://piping.northern-meeting.org

Graham Drummond, last year’s winner of the Gold Medal and 2nd Clasp, B grade, with Provost Alex Graham.

Last year’s winners with Inverness Provost Alex Graham.

Stuart Liddell, left, who will be defending his titles at this year’s competition, with Provost Alex Graham.

SEPTEMBER 3-6. WORLD ShEEPDOg TRIaLS.

fEaRn faRM, TaIn

SEPTEMBER 2-7. naIRn BOOk anD aRTS fESTIvaL

TV presenter Kirsty wark is among the festival guests.

SEPTEMBER 4-6. nORThERn MEETIng PIPE COMPETITIOn. EDEn COURT ThEaTRE, InvERnESS

The celebraTions sTarT on 1st september

3 A Scottish Provincial Press supplement

The highland Military Tattoo promises to be a dazzling display. held at the largest

historic military fort in the UK – the location alone is spectacular.

The evening begins with an RAF Typhoon flypast – subject to operational requirements. Jetting over the fort at lightning speed, this will be one of many highlights of the homecoming Scotland event.

The presenter each evening is Alasdair hutton, who has been the voice of the Royal edinburgh Military Tattoo for 23 years. he will introduce a packed programme of military, international and local acts.

The best of traditional and contemporary highland culture will be celebrated with fiddlers and pipe bands, highland dancers and Gaelic singers, including award-winning singer songwriter Fiona J Mackenzie.

Military history takes centre stage with soldiers from the Royal Regiment of Scotland acting out vignettes depicting the building of Fort George, the raising of the Seaforth highlanders, and the recruitment, training and departure of highland soldiers to fight in the First World War.

One of the Allied forces’ greatest assets in WW1 –a replica Se5A biplane will also provide a soaring display. handmade and flown by Neil Geddes from Bridge of Weir, the wooden plane is a regular visitor to air shows. The Se5A was one of the fastest aircraft of its time and first joined the war over the Western Front in June 1917.

One of the most famous military bands in the USA – The hellcats from West Point Academy – perform at the Tattoo for the first time.

The hellcats have played an influential role in American military life since the War of Independence between 1775 and 1783.

Military Tattoo producer Major Bruce hitchings spotted the band at the New York Tattoo earlier this year

and is delighted to bring them from America to Ardersier.

Other performers will not have as far to travel: the Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch 3rd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland are stationed at Fort George. They will take part in one of the most stirring

sights of the evening – the fanfare and massed pipe bands. All

participating bands will come together to bid

a fond farewell to the audience, while the Lone Piper, award-winning 17-year-old Sandy Cameron from Roy Bridge (left), will play the last notes of the day.

For a sensational finale, a fireworks display

will light up the skies over the fort and firth.All profits from the event

will be donated to Armed Forces charities.

Performances are from 8pm to 9.30pm. Tickets, priced from £10 to £30 are available on the Ticketmaster Scotland website or call 0844 844 0444. Booking fees apply. l www.highlandmilitarytattoo.com.

Left: The best of traditional and contemporary Highland culture will be celebrated with fiddlers and pipe bands, Highland dancers and Gaelic singers.

SEPTEMBER 5-7. highland MiliTaRy TaTToo. foRT gEoRgE, aRdERSiER, nEaR invERnESS

The West Point Military Academy Hellcats – one of the most famous military bands in the USA – will perform for the first time in the UK at the tattoo.

Right: Presenter Alasdair Hutton (right) with Highland Military

Tattoo director Major General Seymour Monro.

Picture: SPP

The Pipes and Drums of The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland will be performing.

A replica SE5A will be flown by Neil Geddes who also built the wooden plane.

Picture: Ross Forsyth


SEPTEMBER 5-13. BLAS

Blas celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with another exciting programme

of Gaelic and traditional music showcasing the talent and culture of the Highlands and Islands.

The festival takes place in venues large and small across a part of the world known for its beauty, inhabited by people famous for their hospitality.

among the many highlights this year is a new commission interpreting Duncan Bán MacIntyre’s epic poem Moladh Beinn Dòbhrain in Mìorbhail nam Beann, and a special concert celebratìing the success of the community-based Fèis movement.

This year, complimentary food tasters will be served to audiences at these events.l Buy tickets for all events at www.blas-festival.com

September 5, Blas Commission 2014 Premiere supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Mìorbhail nam Beann by Iain MacFarlane, with Hamish Napier, Ewan Robertson and Ewen Henderson. Great Glen House, Inverness.

Duncan Bán MacIntyre’s In Praise of Ben Dorain is thought to be one of the greatest nature poems composed in the Gaelic language.

The poem is the focus of a new bilingual commission from renowned fiddler Iain MacFarlane using music, images and words to explore the past and present relationship between people, land and culture.

September 6, Suabhachas: Blas 10th anniversary celebration. Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.

Prepare to party with Blas friends old and new. acclaimed Irish- folk group Cherish the ladies make a welcome return.

They are joined by BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award winners The Mischa MacPherson Trio; acclaimed virtuoso pipers Ross ainslie and Jarlath Henderson on scottish bagpipes and Irish Uilleann pipes; the young musicians of Coisir G, and poet and novelist Martin MacIntyre.

September 7, Celtic Praise with Gaelic Choirs. St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness.

September 11, Do Bheatha Dhan Dùthaich – Highland Homecoming. The Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.

Enjoy a warm welcome home with a modern twist on folk traditions with top bands Macanta and Mànran.

Expect to be blown away by celebrated pipers angus Maccoll snr and angus Maccoll Jnr from Benderloch near Oban, who represent a piping heritage that spans generations.

They will set the pace for the Cheryl Heggie Dancers. BBC Radio scotland’s Travelling Folk will broadcast live from this event.

September 12, Glòir nan Caman – Home and Away, featuring Hugh Dan Maclennan, Gary Innes, Linda Macleod, The Macgillivrays Of Calrossie and Calum Alex Macmillan. One Touch Theatre Eden Court, Inverness.

Celebrating shinty’s influence world-wide and marking the impact of World War I on the game and its communities, Home and away brings together some of the finest musicians, images and singers to celebrate the game of the Gael.

Centre stage will be an historic set of bagpipes which have been played on the Brazilian beaches at Copacabana and the Grand Canyon, having survived the rigours of the First World War.

Home and away will also feature the story of the MacGillivray Cup, one of shinty’s most prized trophies.

September 13, Blas Grand Finale – Ceòl nam Fèis. Empire Theatre, Eden Court, Inverness.

Celebrating the Fèis movement, this concert will feature young people from Fèisean across scotland working alongside some of scotland’s best-known traditional musicians who have taken part in Fèisean themselves.

since its inception Blas has made a virtue of ensuring young people are involved in the festival.

In its tenth year it is fitting that the young people from the Fèisean are centre stage. These showcase concerts have been extremely popular in the past, so get your tickets early.

Angus Mccoll snr.

Ewen Henderson.

Ewan Robertson.

Hamish Napier.

Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson.

Renowned fiddler Iain MacFarlane.

The Mischa MacPherson Trio.

The Macgillivrays.



SEPTEMBER 12-14. MASTERS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS. BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS

The biggest event on the international highland Games circuit – the Masters

World Championships – will cross the Atlantic to take place at Bught Park in Inverness.

For those unfamiliar with the growth of highland Games outside Scotland in recent years, it should be noted that when the Masters was first held in Arkansas in 2001, only 30 athletes took part, and the competition lasted for just one day.

This year, thanks in part to the Year of homecoming, increased overseas interest and the fine job the Inverness highland Games Committee did hosting the event in 2006 and 2009 means the committe is looking forward to welcoming a world-record of 180 competitors from 13 countries this time around.

Originally it had been intended that the event would be staged in Northern Meeting Park as part of the celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of the world’s oldest highland Games stadium. But once the entries started flooding in, committee members realised they were going to need a bigger venue and more time. So the decision was taken to move the event to Bught Park and introduce a third day of competition.

The format of this year’s event has been designed to enable each of the competitors to participate in a number of additional activities and get the most of their visit to Inverness.

While each competitor will take part in eight events over the course of the three days, the committee has ensured athletes and their families can take part in the Parade of the highland Clans on Friday, watch the Camanachd Cup Final on Saturday, enjoy the Kirking of the Council on Sunday and take part in the Tomatin Toss on the Sunday.

The programme has also been

designed to enable many of the

male competitors to attempt the Inverness

highland Games’ famous 252 pound Stonemason’s Stone. For female competitors, the 176 pound Inverness Ladies’ Stone awaits.

The action will start at 9am on both Friday and Saturday and at 11am on Sunday.

It is planned that each competitor will complete seven events by Saturday evening, which means Sunday could be one of the most exciting days ever seen on a highland Games field.

As each of the competitors steps on to the field to throw, what needs to be done to secure each of the 13 World Championships at stake will be clear for spectators.

Admission to the event and the Tomatin Toss World Simultaneous Caber Tossing World Record Attempt is free. l Spectators wishing to enjoy the Camanachd Cup Final on Saturday afternoon will need to pay at the gate as normal. All pictures by Lynn Boland Richardson


SEPTEMBER 12. PARADE OF THE

HIGHLAND CLANS. INVERNESS

CITY CENTRE

SEPTEMBER 13. HIGHLAND CLANS EXHIBITION. INVERNESS TOWN HOUSE

The inaugural Parade of the highland Clans looks like being one of the highlights of the highland homecoming Festival and should

be a spectacular sight as the torchlight procession makes its way through Inverness city centre to Northern Meeting Park.

The parade is being organised by highland Council and the Association of highland Clans and Societies, and this year’s parade will feature a number of special guests, with the St Andrews Society of Central Illinois USA Pipe Band joining the Inverness British Legion Band for the evening.

Over 200 Masters World Championship competitors and judges from 14 countries will join the representatives of the AhCS member clans.

The chieftain of the parade will be the earl of Cromartie, John Mackenzie, and to honour the chieftain, members of Clan Mackenzie will lead the parade. highland sports fans will recognise one famous face at the head of the Mackenzies – Olympic silver medallist and world champion athlete Kriss Akabusi.

he will be made an honorary member of Clan MacKenzie in a special ceremony in Inverness before the Parade, in recognition of his work for charity.

Kriss jointly leads a programme in Bedfordshire which aims to inspire disadvantaged young people, encourage them into the workplace and give them hope and faith in their future.

Kriss named the programme Project Mackenzie after his mentor in the army, Sergeant Ian Mackenzie, who believed in him and encouraged him onto athletic greatness.

The Parade of the highland Clans will pass Inverness Town house at 9.15pm.

No homecoming would be complete without a family get-together. And

the clans gathering for Highland Homecoming are looking forward to welcoming everyone “home” in a special exhibition.

With displays of clan tartans, crests, flags and memorabilia, each participating Highland clan will have information on its origin, history and culture.

organised by the Association of Highland Clans and Societies (AHCS), this exhibition aims to spread of knowledge about the nature and history of clans in the Highlands – the important cultural and social role they once had and still have.

As AHCS chairman Graeme Mackenzie explained, Highland clans are not just for tourists.

“Clan societies in the Highlands are active bodies, meeting regularly to organise social events such as ceilidhs and dinners.

“They raise money for charities associated with their clans. Macmillan Cancer Support fis an example. The charity provides the much loved Macmillan Nurses and was founded in 1911 by a Bard of the Clan MacMillan Society.

“Clans also provide information for visitors at Highland Games.

“It’s great to have this chance to meet people in the heart of the Highland capital to tell them more about what we do and how much fun we have doing it.” More than 30 Highland clans have signed up as members of AHCS since it was formed

in 2013 – to celebrate their differences and promote their common heritage.

If your surname is not

represented among the clans in the exhibition, find out if you belong to a sept or have an affiliation with a Highland clan

and discover your extended “family”. You can “meet the clans” from 1-4pm. Entry is free.l www.highlandclans.org

ALL over the world, every week, free, timed runs are held in local parks by community

volunteers. Called parkrun, the event is

designed for all ages and all abilities.

It doesn’t matter how fast or fit you are, it’s about taking part. And the most northerly parkrun in the world is held every Saturday at Bught Park in Inverness.

Local runners on the 5K timed

circuit have, on occasion, been joined by parkrun enthusiasts from across globe on holiday in the area.

But on September 13 Inverness parkrun will be sharing the course with a record-breaking 200 heavies

taking part in the Masters World Championships.l To join the Inverness parkrun and get your weekends off to a flying start visit http://www.parkrun.org.uk/inverness/

World Champion athlete Kriss Akabusi (left) with his mentor, former army sergeant Ian Mackenzie who will join Kriss to lead Clan Mackenzie in the Parade of the Clans.

The AHCS tent at Inverness Highland Games gave visitors the chance to meet the clans and discover their history and culture.

SEPTEMBER 13. INVERNESS PARKRUN. BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS



SEPTEMBER 13. SCOTTISH

HYDRO CAMANACHD CUP FINAL.

BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS

Shinty’S BiG day out comes home to inverness as part of the Scotland’s biggest

year for sport and the national homecoming celebrations.

two top teams, Kingussie (bottom right) and Glen Urquhart, will compete for the Scottish hydro Camanachd Cup, shinty’s most prized possession and one of Scotland’s oldest sporting trophies.

Join thousands of spectators to witness the thrill of Scotland’s all-action indigenous sport.

Dating back over a century, the Camanachd Cup tournament is the national knockout competition for senior shinty clubs and is played over six rounds.

A key date in the national sporting calendar, this year’s final promises to be an epic encounter between two giants of the game.

Kingussie have a long history as winners of the trophy, whereas Glen Urquhart have the chance to lift the cup for the first time in the club’s history.

this year’s final is one of highland homecoming’s flagship events and also forms part of the Blas Festival.

As well as the main match, there is the chance to see shinty’s stars of the future at two under-14 national finals: the MacMaster Cup Final and the Scottish hydro Development trophy. there will be live music performances from Blas Festival musicians, trade stalls and a range of the finest local food and drink to enjoy.

throw up is at 2.30pm with tickets now on sale from Eden Court theatre.l www.shinty.com


SEPTEMBER 14. THE TOMATIN TOSS, WORLD RECORD-BREAKING ATTEMPT.

BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS

SEPTEMBER 14. KIRKING Of THE COUNCIL, INVERNESS TOWN HOUSE AND OLD

HIGH STREET ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH

The Kirking of the Council is a tradition which happens in many Scottish

towns and cities, and in Inverness its origins can be traced back some 400 years. The colourful ceremony is a highlight of the city’s year, marking the close of the summer festival season.

The day begins with a parade from the Town house, including pipe bands, uniformed youth organisations and representatives of various aspects of the life of the city, including the University of the highlands and Islands and schools.

They accompany the Provost of Inverness and members of the City of Inverness Area Committee, many of them in traditional robes.

Also taking part in this year’s procession will be competitors from the Masters World Championship, which coincides with Kirking weekend.

The Kirking service takes place in the Old high Church on St Michael’s mount. It’s the oldest church in Inverness dating from 565AD, when St Columba of Iona brought the Christian message to the Pictish King Brude.

The Provost and councillors, together with other representatives of civic life, are invited to join the congregation for the morning service led by the minister of Old high Church, the Rev Peter W Nimmo.

The service seeks the blessing of God on the work of the council and the life of

the city. It is a time to reflect on the responsibility of us all to promote the common good of our life together in our city. There is always an ecumenical element to the service.

The Kirking celebrations are open to everyone who wants to

attend, of all faiths and none, so all can enjoy the spectacle of the Kirking parade and join the congegation for the service.

The parade starts at Inverness Town house from 10.45am and the service begins at 11.15am.

Of all the events being staged as part of the Highland Homecoming

festival there can be little doubt which one looks set to become a YouTube sensation – the Tomatin Toss.

Thanks to the folks at Guinness World Records, simultaneous caber tossing has come a long way since it first appeared in the USA as a crowd-pleasing way of grabbing media attention and publicising or ending Highland Games.

At one time it was simply enough to get dozens of cabers into the air at the same time and count them. Things got a lot more serious when Guinness announced that simultaneous

caber tossing recorded attempts needed to have some rules. They announced that every caber had to be at least 14ft 9ins long, had to weigh at least 55lbs and that at least 50 cabers had to be turned in a scoring manner for Guinness even to consider them as a world record.

In 2013 the fergus Ontario Highland Games in Canada made six attempts at the record and turned 49 cabers. Last month they finally managed to establish a record by turning 52 cabers.

And on Sunday, September 14 at 7pm, Bught Park in Inverness is going to be the scene of a world record attempt

that could be the craziest thing many of us will ever see.

When it emerged that the Masters World Championships had attracted a world record number of Heavies to compete in Inverness, the opportunity for the Inverness Highland Games to attempt this record was too good to miss.

David Garman on the Revack Estate near Grantown has spent over six months preparing the biggest pile of cabers anyone has ever seen. It should take Inverness just 10 seconds to turn those cabers and establish a world record that may never be broken. It will be quite a night on the banks of the River Ness.

Inverness Provost Alex Graham and Dave Garman with Danny the Clydesdale, which has been helping haul out the cabers needed for the world record attempt.

The parade through the city.

The Kirking party gathered outside the church. Pictures: Ewen Weatherspoon



SEPTEMBER 21. HIGHLAND TRADITIONAL STRENGTH FESTIVAL. NORTHERN

MEETING PARK, INVERNESS

SEPTEMBER 20-21. INVERNESS cRAFT FESTIVAL. INVERNESS TOwN HOuSE

Building on the success of last year’s Highland’s Strongest Man

competition, and the reaction to the Highland Strongwomen event staged at July’s inverness Highland games, the inaugural Highland Traditional Strength Festival is set to attract a bumper crowd.

Previously strength events staged in inverness have been restricted to competitors who were based in the Highlands. But the rules have been changed by organiser gavin laird to give local competitors the chance to face the very best strength athletes from around the uK.

Among the stars heading to the northern Meeting Park to compete are Scotland’s Strongest Man finalists Stephen Cherrie and Tom Stoltman. Their clash with English Strongest Man finalists James Clayton and Paddy McMahon will feature two of the most difficult challenges seen on Scottish soil: a strength-sapping 400kg (880lb) Yoke Carry, followed by a daunting 300kg Farmers Walk.

Competitors will also face a single lift competition to discover who is Scotland’s Strongest deadlifter, before attempting one of the oldest challenges in Scotland’s Highland games: lifting the famous 252lb Stonemason’s Stone over a five foot bar – a feat that can trace its roots back to 1822.

Peter Macdonald-Brown Highland’s Strongest Man in 2013 won’t be competing this year as he will be looking after his newborn baby son – so the field is wide open.

The festival will also include

a strongwoman contest, with Highland’s Strongest Woman 2014 Michelle Smith and second place finisher Karen Sutherland among those stepping up to take on Britain’s Strongest Woman, the incredible donna Moore.

By popular demand, a female version of the 114kg Stonemason’s Stone, the 176lb Highland lady’s Stone, will make its debut. it will be very interesting to see if any of the competitors can write her her name into the record books by lifting it over the 4ft bar.

Completing the programme for an unforgettable afternoon of traditional Scottish sport will be the first staging of the new Highland Backhold Wrestling Championship.

Reigning European Champion Frazer Hirsch will be the event favourite, but with a number of the Mixed Martial Arts fighters based at the Forge gym in inverness making their Backhold Wrestling debuts, anything could happen. The festival starts at 2pm and admission is free. don’t forget your camera.

As part of the Year of Homecoming 2014, the contemporary craft event

group, Exclusively Highlands will be hosting the Highlands’ first Inverness Craft Festival.

Exclusively Highlands is a group of passionate and professional crafters from all over the north of scotland who make a wide range of contemporary, high-end crafts and food.

The festival has been created to include as wide a range of exclusive items as possible: several different kinds of jewellery – silversmithing, glass and resin; a colourful selection of both felted and Harris Tweed items; original watercolours by local artists, pottery and photographs.

Hand-made and hand-crafted foods include jams, preserves and chutneys and wonderful cakes and confectionary from renowned Inverness baker Kevin Macleod of Leachkin Bakery.

The idea behind the festival is to showcase the depth of skill and expertise in the Highlands. Isabel stewart from Exclusively Highlands has been arranging popular craft events across scotland for over eight years, but this is the first dedicated craft festival.

“The inaugural Inverness Craft

Festival promises to show that the contemporary craft industry in the Highlands is both dynamic and exciting,” Isabel said.

“As event organiser I have carefully selected the best examples of different crafts that we have in abundance in the Highlands and I’m thrilled to arrange this festival.

“We are all delighted and honoured to be part of the Homecoming celebrations and I know the festival will be a huge success.” l The Inverness Craft Festival is open between 10am and 4pm on both days and entry is free. Top: George Reid and Robert McCrum in the backhold wrestling.

Above: Michelle Smith from Culloden gets set for a lift and (inset) Peter Macdonald-Brown, last year’s strongest man winner.

Sumptuous cupcakes by Kevin Macleod from Leachkin Bakery in Inverness. A fused acrylic cuff by Natalie Aird Glass.

Beach-scape jewellery by Janet Casey from Nairn Glass.

Felted hand puppets by Ulrike Muehle-Macdonald from Wooly Felt Designs.


SEPTEMBER 28. BAXTERS LOCH NESS MARATHON AND FESTIVAL OF RUNNING. BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS

THE race takes one of the most scenic marathon courses in the country. Following the shores of

Loch Ness, the 26.2 mile route includes views guaranteed to take your breath away.

This year’s marathon will also host the Scottish Marathon Championships for the fourth year in a row, and with the chance to win a prestigious national medal, along with a £1,500 prize for the first man and woman, it’s likely to attract many of the country’s top runners.

As well as the long distance route there’s the Baxters River Ness 10K, a 10K corporate challenge for teams, the River Ness 5K fun run and the 400m Wee Nessie for “little monsters” aged five and under. So there really is something for everyone and every ability.

This year, as part of Homecoming Scotland, a call has gone out to all clans. All runners in the marathon and 10K have the option to register their allegiance to a clan and wear tartan for the Clan Challenge 2014.

Race director Malcolm Sutherland hopes proud Scots from all over the world will take part and wear a touch of tartan on their running kit.

He said: “We are urging Scots at home and abroad, or anyone with an affinity to Scotland, to come and help push their clan to victory. We want to find out which clan is the most heavily represented in the races and which clan has the fastest feet. The results of the Clan Challenge will be based on number of runners from each clan who successfully complete either race. At present we have around 1,800 entrants in the Clan Challenge across all events. Entries are still coming in thick and fast and we expect this to continue right up to the closing date on September 8.”

More than 9,100 people took part last year, with runners travelling to the event from all over the UK and from more than 30 overseas countries. They generated an estimated £803,096 for charity.

Even if you’re not running there’s plenty to see in the Event Village at Bught Park, with free entry.

The Baxters Food and Drink Fayre will offer a range of mouthwatering hot

and cold food to keep spectators and runners fully fuelled.

Baxters will also be holding tastings and cooking demonstrations.

For kids, activities range from super jumper trampolines to a bouncy castle, inflatable slide and merry-go-round.

A pipe band will play at various points throughout the day

and there will be acoustic entertainment on Saturday and Sunday to add to the festival atmosphere.

The Sports Expo includes a huge range

of performance running products and offers from

leading brands. The expo will also be open on Saturday, along

with pre-race registration – and the Pasta Party. Guaranteed entry for the marathon closed on July 1, although charity, club and overseas runner places are still available. Entry for all other races is open until September 8. l To sign up or for info visit www.lochnessmarathon.com

When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Runners make their way round the scenic course last year and left, Kate Hardcastle, who took part in the Wee Nessie Run.

The start of last year’s 5K race.Picture: SPP



SEPTEMBER 30 To ocToBER 2. ToMATIN SINGLE MALT HoMEcoMING PRo-AM GoLF ToURNAMENT. cASTLE STUART GoLF LINKS,

RoYAL DoRNocH GoLF cLUB AND NAIRN GoLF cLUB

Just two days after the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in september, another

strong contingent of European golfers will arrive in the Highlands to compete for a prestigious prize.

A field of 280 players from across the uK and from as far as Italy, France, Denmark, Belgium and America have lined up to take part in the tomatin single Malt Homecoming Pro-Am – Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) tournament.

One of the anticipated 70 teams playing will be captained by former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher. He played in eight Ryder Cups and was captain three times, leading his team to victory at Oak Hill in 1995. Money raised during the tournament will support a nationwide campaign Gallacher launched in December to make automated external defibrillators (AEDs) widely available at golf clubs and driving ranges in the uK and Ireland.

Now in its third year, the 54-hole competition is open to teams from anywhere in the world consisting of three amateurs (ladies or gentlemen) plus a professional of their choice. teams that do not include a pro are allocated a leading player from the Professional Golfers’ Association scotland Order of Merit.

Brian Mair, secretary of The PGA in scotland said: “In this momentous year for scottish golf, the tomatin Homecoming single Malt Pro-Am will be a fitting event to follow the Ryder Cup, a real celebration of all that is great in scotland – great golf and wonderful whisky.”

All three courses played

are part of Highland Golf Links (HGL) – a group which promotes destination breaks in partnership with local hotels.

Castle stuart Golf Links hosted the scottish Open for three successive years, and the competition returns to the course again in 2016. Despite only opening in 2009 it is consistently placed among the top 100 courses in the world by prestigious golf magazines. This year Royal Dornoch’s Championship Course was ranked the 6th best in the world by Golf Digest. The Nairn Golf Club hosted the Walker Cup in 1999 and the Curtis Cup in 2012. It will also be home to the Home Internationals competition in August 2016.

Fraser Cromarty, CEO at The Nairn Golf Club and chairman of HGL, said: “The tomatin Pro-Am is now in its fourth year and it’s shaping up to be the biggest yet. It’s a good, fun event which showcases three of the best links courses in the country.

“We are indebted to tomatin for its continued support for the tournament which this year will be extra special with the involvement of such a respected and charismatic figure as Bernard Gallacher and coming so soon after the Ryder Cup in scotland.”l There are still vacancies for amateur teams to take part in the tournament. Anyone wishing further details should contact Fraser Cromarty on 01667 458930 or [email protected]

Entry is £1,700 per team of three, which includes three rounds of competition golf with a prize fund of £60,000, a post-tournament gala dinner and the opportunity to tour tomatin Distillery.

The clubhouse at Nairn golf course.

The beautiful seaside setting of Royal Dornoch golf course.

Phil Mickelson sinks a 10-foot putt at Castle Stuart.


OCTOBER 10-18. Am mòd NàisEANTA RìOghAil. ThE ROyAl NATiONAl mòd. EdEN COURT, iNVERNEss

scotland’s biggest Gaelic cultural festival returns to Inverness this autumn for the first time

since 1997. organised by an comunn Gàidhealach, the annual competitive showcase of Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage gives people of all ages a chance to perform across a range of disciplines, including Gaelic music and song, Highland dancing, instrumental, drama, sport and literature.

It will attract thousands of competitors and spectators from throughout scotland, the UK and all corners of the globe, including the Usa, australia and canada.

as well as the competitions and concerts there’s an exciting programme of Mòd Fringe events, with ceilidhs and live music in venues across the city.

Mòd manager James Graham said: “The bread and butter of the Mòd itself are the competitions – there are more than 200. But the competition side is not for everyone, so the Fringe has become really important.

“It helps us open up the Mòd and bring Gaelic culture to a different audience – Gaels and non-Gaels come together to celebrate talented musicians from around the world.”

on october 10 the Mòd’s opening ceremony will light up the city with an atmospheric torchlight procession. starting from Inverness castle, The Parade of the Gaels will march through the town accompanied by pipe bands before arriving at Eden court – the main venue for this year’s Mòd – for the opening concert.

This showcase event features foot-stomping, authentic Highland tradition with a contemporary twist from skipinnish, and award-winning tunes from up-and-coming, all-girl scottish folk band Gria, who are joined by piper and whistle player Kyle Howie.

The Mòd Fringe also includes a Fiddlers’ Rally hosted by Bruce MacGregor, a special concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of World War one, groundbreaking Gaelic street theatre from

ariel Killick and contemporary music from cruinn, Willie campbell, and skerryvore.

as well as the competitions, the main highlights of the traditional Mòd programme include: the shinty Mòd cup at Bught Park, a clàrsach concert, the Rural choir concert, the convener’s cèilidh and the fiercely fought competition for the lovat and tullibardine shield – the premier regional choir trophy. In a grand finale, the Mòd will end on october 18 with a spectacular march of massed choirs.

any willing singers are welcome to add

their voices to the choirs, who will be joined by winning conductors from the Mòd and led by the Royal British legion Pipe Band.

The procession starts in the crown area from 11am and makes its way through Inverness city centre to the castle Esplanade, where the Royal national Mòd banner will be handed over to next year’s hosts – oban. l For the full Royal national Mòd programme and Fringe events visit www.ancomunn.co.uk

All girl folk band Gria.

Skippinish will get the feet tapping at the opening concert.

Skerryvore and Willie Campbell, inset above, will provide contemporary music.



OCTOBER 11. nORTh Of SCOTland highland

danCing ChampiOnShipS. invERnESS lEiSuRE, BughT

lanE, invERnESS

OCTOBER 16-18. invERnESS STREET ThEaTRE fESTival. viCTORian maRkET, EaSTgaTE ShOpping

CEnTRE and high STREET, invERnESS

it’s three days of madness and mayhem in Inverness City Centre

– and everyone’s favourite grannies will be revving back into the city centre on their souped-up tartan shopping trollies. One of the most popular acts in the Inverness street Theatre Festival, Granny turismo have entertained the crowds with their trollied dance routines every year since the event began five years ago.

It’s just one of eight different street performance acts from across the country expected in the city centre over the three days of the festival.

Local talent will also hit the city streets. For the third year running, the festival is working in partnership with Eden Court to enable people of all ages to develop a performance act to be staged alongside the professionals.

The festival is funded by Inverness BID, Eastgate shopping Centre and the Common Good Fund and this year has also attracted funding from Event scotland as part of Homecoming scotland.

Craig Duncan chairman of Inverness BID said: “Inverness street Theatre Festival is a fantastic event and continues to bring increased footfall into the city centre. A survey we held last year of people watching the street performances revealed that 72 per cent had come specifically for the festival and would not have come into the city centre otherwise.”

Zooming grannies and other zany sights will be frolicking in the city centre from 12.30-4pm each day. The fun is free!l www.invernessbid.co.uk

There’s everything to dance for at the annual North of scotland (NOs)

Championship – the penultimate scottish Official Board of highland Dancing championship of the year.

The best dancers in the area not only have a chance to gain titles and trophies but could also win the honour of representing Inverness and the region at the scottish area finals – the only highland dancing team competition held in scotland – in May 2015.

This year, both Inverness and North of scotland teams secured title placings – an amazing achievement as they compete alongside some of the biggest dance schools in the country.

There are various events at the NOs championships throughout the day. The confined championships for dancers from the area, and intermediate competitions start at 9am. Pre-championships begin around 11am with national dances from 12.15pm and the open championship – for dancers from throughout scotland – at 2.30pm.

Two hundred and fifty dancers of all ages will take to the stage and compete in the highland

Fling, sword Dance, sean Truibhas and reel and perform four national dances including the highland Laddie and Blue Bonnets.

With two pipers providing all the music for every competition, it’s not just the dancers who will be put through their paces.

Organiser and former title-winning competitor Wendy Buchan said: “It’s wonderful to see the new wave of young dancers just starting out, as well as those competing for senior champion titles.

“Watching them progress keeps this local traditional form of sport alive. It a true festival of highland Dancing and it relies on the support of local dancing teachers, parents and volunteers who are there from 7am to help set everything up and ensure it all goes smoothly.

“Whether acting as a steward or typing all the results in, our team of volunteers do it all – for the love of dancing.”

The event is open to anyone wanting to watch amazing highland dancing. Tickets for the day are £5, sold at the door.

For updates, find North of scotland highland Dancing Championships on Facebook.

Last year’s winners.

Left: Kelsey, Dean and Lee MacLean meet Hodman Dodmanott from The Flying Buttresses.

Above: Caitlin MacRae watches Ella Bella of Cats Choir in the Victorian Market.

Granny Turismo race up the High Street. Pictures: SPP


With historic landmarks at every turn, a great atmosphere and a chance

to raise money for Chest, heart and Stroke Scotland, it’s easy to see why the Culloden Run was the outright winner of the Best Sporting Event award in last year’s highlands and islands tourism Awards.

The legendary Culloden Battlefield provides the stunning setting for this race, which last year attracted more than 700 runners from all over the UK and beyond. This year one lady is travelling from Canada to take part.

There’s a choice of two race routes. The traditional 10K is a relatively flat race which skirts around Culloden Moor. The 17.46k race pays homage to the Battle of Culloden in 1746

and includes views of Clava Cairns, the River Nairn and the historic rail viaduct, as well as the battlefield.

Both races start and finish at the National trust for Scotland’s battlefield visitor centre, which hosts event facilities and provides the chance to see its stunning, state-of-the-art exhibition, take a guided tour and walk the hallowed battlefield ground.

ChSS fundraising manager for the north of Scotland Paul Corrigan said: “it’s a fantastic atmosphere. Battlefield staff get dressed up in historic costume to cheer on the runners.

“There are usually bagpipes playing in the background and lots of people to cheer competitors on. it’s a great

place to run.” At the end of each race, every battle hardened runner gets a huge welcome back at the centre and is rewarded with a well-earned goody bag and event medal.

The Culloden Run is open to anyone over 16 and spectators are warmly welcomed with ample free car parking and lots to do at the visitor centre, which is only five miles east of inverness.

Organised by Chest, heart and Stroke Scotland, all proceeds from the event go to the charity, which works to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by chest, heart and stroke illness. A donation of £1 from every entry fee is also donated to support NtS Culloden.l www.thecullodenrun.com

SCOtlANd’S indigenous all-action sport of shinty meets ireland’s hugely popular equivalent, hurling, to contest the Marine

harvest Shinty/hurling international. Join hundreds of spectators and witness the clash of the ash between these two ancient sports.

The Shinty/hurling international Series provides the opportunity for Scotland’s top players to challenge their irish (hurling/camogie) counterparts in a unique game played under combined rules.

Selection for Scotland’s national shinty team represents the pinnacle of the sport’s player development pathway, and is the only opportunity for players to represent their country playing their sport.

The links between the Camanachd Association and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) stretch back over a century, and to recognise the shared history, close language and cultural links, there will be a celebration of Gaelic language and culture, live music performances from Scottish and irish groups and local produce on offer.

This includes support from Colmcille and Fèisean nan Gàidheal and the talented young traditional musicians taking part in the event.

The return leg of the series, played in Newry on October 25, will also see Scotland’s under-21 national shinty squad take on their counterparts and Scotland’s women’s shinty squad take on a Camogie select side.

ORiENtEERS competing in this homecoming Scotland event will have a chance be part of the

training camp for the World Orienteering Championships taking place in the highlands in August next year.

in that event, the highland, moorland and forest habitats of darnaway and Glen Affric will be navigated for the long, middle and relay races, while a mix of Moray coastline and urban areas in Forres and Nairn will be used for mixed sprint relay, sprint qualifiers and the sprint final.

Physically and technically demanding, the natural terrain will provide a fitting challenge worthy of world champions!

The World Championships have only been staged twice before in the UK – in Aviemore in 1976 and inverness in 1999. And it’s rare for the championships to be held in the same region twice.

So inverness is delighted to welcome the return of the event from August 1-7 2015. The World Championships will be held in tandem with the Scottish 6 day event from August 1-8. So the expected 5,000 competitors in the 6 day event

will be able to watch the world’s best orienteers in action, then run in their footsteps over the same exciting terrain.l www.woc2015.org

OCTOBER 10-19. RACE THE CASTLES ORIENTEERING

FESTIVAL. EDINBURGH, STIRLING AND ROYAL DEESIDE

OCTOBER 26. CHEST, HEART AND STROKE SCOTLAND CULLODEN RUN. CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD, INVERNESS

OCTOBER 18. MARINE HARVEST SHINTY/HURLING INTERNATIONAL. BUGHT PARK, INVERNESS

Scotland’s Finlay Macrae has to deal with the challenge from Ireland’s Conor Woods in last year’s contest at Bught Park, Inverness. Picture: Neil Paterson

The start of last year’s 10K run. Picture: Callum Mackay



OCTOBER 30-31. HALLOWEEN HOMECOMING. NESS ISLANDS, INVERNESS

OCTOBER 31 TO NOVEMBER 9. INVERNESS CURLING FESTIVAL.

INVERNESS ICE RINK

The highland homecoming Festival will end with an event that has quickly established itself as a much-loved

tradition in Inverness – the family-friendly halloween showdown on Ness Islands.

Organised by Arts in Motion, eden Court Creative and highland Council’s lighting department, this year’s show will feature an assortment of ghostly visitors the likes of which Inverness has never seen before.

The reason for the spookiness reaching new heights is simple. As soon as the highland homecoming Festival was announced, Blackbeard the Pirate decided that Ness Islands deserved its own homecoming Festival, and before anyone could stop him he invited every ghost that has visited Ness Islands in the past 200 years to attend or walk the plank.

With ghosts, ghouls, aliens, pirates, vampires and surprises lurking around every corner, or standing quietly behind you in the darkness, you may wish to take a friend who doesn’t scream too loudly and has no chance of running as fast as you can.

The Ness Islands halloween Show is open from 6.30pm – 8.30pm and admission is free. Car parking is limited around the site so please use broomsticks where possible. ThIS year we have witnessed

success at the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, passion at

the World Cup, sportsmanship at the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

highland homecoming has seen the return of the Masters World Championship to Inverness, the clash of the ash for the Camanachd Cup, the Baxters Loch Ness Marathon and the Tomatin 54-hole Pro-Am golf competition.

The highlands can round off the year with a showcase of another national sport. The Inverness Curling Festival is a new event.

Over nine days more than 200 athletes will compete, showcasing the range of curling through different ages and abilities with adults, juniors and wheelchair curlers taking part in three different

competitions. The Inverness Skins Curling Competition celebrates its 12th year and now forms part of the Goldline Scottish Curling Tour, which attracts curlers from across Scotland and beyond. Now its third year, The

highland Wheelchair Curling Triples competition also

attracts curlers from all over Scotland.

Last year the home rink took the title and will be looking to defend it this year. The highland Junior International has been

running for 33 years and

last year, for the first time, formed

part of the Royal Caledonian Curling

Club’s Asham under-21 slam. Inverness welcomed a boys’

rink from Poland last year and it is hoped more entries will come from abroad this year.l www.inverness-ice-centre.co.uk


Published by Scottish Provincial Press, New Century House, Stadium Road, Inverness. Printed by Highland Web Offset, Dochcarty Road, Dingwall.

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