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Fife all set for Highland Games double-header
preview of the weekend action by SHANE FENTON
Fife is on it's marks to stage a double-header weekend on the Highland Games circuit.
The 164th Thornton Highland Gathering will take place in the towns Memorial Park on Saturday with Duffus Park the venue for the rescheduled Cupar Highland Games the following day. The latter was originally pencilled in to take place on the 10th June but was cancelled owing to the water-logged state of the ground.
Thornton features a full programme of running, cycling, heavy events highland dancing as well as pipe band contest for grades 3 & 4. The youth running events have been boosted by an entry of a dozen young athletes from Leithenburn, the Borders club have been good supporters of the Fife games the past few years. The senior ranks are also set to be enhanced with a strong contingent from the West of Scotland Clyde Valley AC set to take part.
Both Open & Junior cycling events are on the card, unfortunately this Saturday is one of the few occasions when two games with cycling events takes place on the same day, with the Luss Highland Games also taking place. Thankfully for both Games the bikers always come to an agreement to try and equally split themselves to support both venues.
With July being a five weekend month Cupar were fortunate to find a free day to reschedule their games which was a victim of the heavy rain earlier in the month. The first Sunday in July used to always be the date of the games. The change to this Sunday appears to have benifited with a bigger entry for events than there was for the original date.
One interesting entry in the cycling events is that of Katie Archibald MBE, over the past few years Katie has risen to the top in the cycling World claiming World,European and Olympic titles. She is no stranger to grass track riding having begun her career on the Games circuit in 2011, winning the 1600 metres at the Alva Games that year. Cupar also stages a full track running programme for Open and Youth competitors as well as heavy events, highland dancing, junior highland games and childrens events.
Across the other side of the country the Luss[Loch Lomond] Highland Games takes place.Again a full programme of traditional events is scheduled, running,jumping,wrestling,cyling,heavy events,highland dancing and solo piping. The games also feature a hill race and the Scottish 5 man Tug O War Championship.
Published: 2017-06-29 16:28:05
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