'Patchy showers didn't dampen our spirits' – welcome return for Mey Games and Wounded Highlanders along with Prince Charles a real draw for the public at Groats venue

The sun may have failed to have materialise for Saturday's Mey Highland Games 2022 but the event broke new ground with adaptive events and Prince Charles (HRH Duke of Rothesay) was warmly welcomed to the field as the Games Chieftain after a three-year hiatus due to Covid restrictions.

Before Prince Charles arrived games convenor Henry Gunn said all had gone well to set up the field for the games. "In 2019 we had scorching sunshine but it could have been a lot worse today with the weather.

"I'm sure a bit of rain isn't going to deter people's enjoyment. It's good to be back and with the Wounded Highlanders too."

The Wounded Highlanders (WH) is a non-profit organisation and its members were delighted to be involved as competitors at the event. One of the WH veterans who took part and won awards for adaptive field events was David Dent who was wounded by a surface-to-air-missile in Bosnia in the 1990s. "It's a great community of people and we've been made so welcome coming here," said David. "Disability doesn't mean that you're not strong and don't compete hard." David went on to win a shot put award for a special seated adaptive category.

WH team member Dave Williams from Swansea had been at the Mey Games before and said he was very happy to have made a "personal best" in shot put on Saturday. The conditions on the day may not have been the best but many of the athletes spoke of attaining personal bests in their categories.

The Highlanders put their all into the final event of the day when they beat a police team at the tug of war contest and received their prize money along with a case of beer from Prince Charles.

Mey Highland Games is aimed towards supporting adaptive sports for veterans but there were track events for children along with musical competitions galore and a special song from the Inverness Military Wives Choirs for Prince Charles and the other visitors in the royal tent.

Chairman of the Mey Games, Andrew Sinclair, escorted HRH throughout the event and said afterwards: "After having to cancel the games in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic the whole committee was delighted the event was able to go ahead this year. On the whole we were all very pleased with how the day went. Unfortunately, we can’t decide the weather, but we certainly didn’t let the patchy showers dampen our spirits."

The chair continued: "The Wounded Highlanders were a real draw for the public, and the team really enjoyed their trip up to Caithness. Events like the afternoon Tug O’ War competition never fails to entertain the crowds.

"His Royal Highness the Duke of Rothesay was in very good form and appeared to greatly enjoy meeting the various traders, taking time to appreciate some of the work on display by local craftspeople.

"We have a good organising committee, who all work very well together. No sooner has one games ended when our preparations begin for the next year. We can’t wait to do it all over again, we’re already looking forward to our 2023 games."

Keith Nicholson, treasurer of the Mey Games committee said: "It's great to be back after two years. We're the first Highland games in the world to have adaptive athletes and also women in heavy events. It's broke new ground being the most inclusive Highland games in the world."

Charlie Murray, vice president of the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA), worked his way around each event to adjudicate as he has done in previous years. "The games were as normal. You just accept what comes down from the heavens – if it's sunshine it's sunshine, if it's rain it's rain."

Charlie has been involved in Highland games since 1978 with his special area of expertise being tug of war. He was invited up to help redevelop the Mey Highland Games several years ago in his role working with the RSHGA. "It wasn't much more than a roadside picnic back then when I first came up. We were very fortunate that the Mey Games bought into the principle of adaptive games."

Charlie admitted that the weather did "put a damper on things" but the enthusiasm and competitiveness of the athletes won out on the day. Talking about the visit of Prince Charles to the John O'Groats site, he said: "I think the fact that he comes down, gets involved and speaks to the athletes, along with all the people here – that interaction is changing the face of the games. He just loves this place and visiting his grandmother's house. He's really connected here."

Charlie praised well-known Scottish entertainer and broadcaster Robert Lovie, who was part of the royal party on Saturday, for his input in transforming the Mey Highland Games over the last few years. "Robert Lovie was tremendous in helping and engaging with His Royal Highness."

Unlike the last two Mey Games when the sun shone during the royal visit, a steady drizzle was the order of the day but that did not deter HRH from doing his usual walkabout tour of the field at Groats to meet the athletes, local traders, voluntary groups and members of the public.

Prince Charles seemed very relaxed and members of the public were able to chat away informally with him and remarked how easy going he was. Louise and Sean Hirst were at the event with their son Noah and dog Tilly. The family were travelling the NC500 and just came upon it by chance. "We just turned up and saw him [Prince Charles]. It's made our holiday," said Louise. "I was shocked and really didn't expect him to be here," said Sean.

The first Mey Games was held in the village of Mey to celebrate the late Queen Mother's 70th birthday. As guest of honour on the day, she declared the event a success and encouraged its organisers to make it an annual event. Over 50 years later the Mey Highland Games continues.

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