'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
HRH has a laugh with some spectators at the games on Saturday. Picture: DGS
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.
Henry Gunn, convenor of the Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGS
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."
Wounded Highlanders athletes at the Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGS
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.
David Dent thrown a winner to set a shot put record in the adaptive class. Picture: DGSDavid Dent flings another weight. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSDavid Williams from Swansea throw a personal best on the day.. Picture: DGSWounded Highlander athlete Mark Tonner with his dog Rosie . Picture: DGSWounded Highlanders athlete Jim Holborn. He said he lost out to Mark Tonner in the weight over bar event but recalled how he had beaten him at the previous Mey Games in 2019. Jim said he holds a couple of world records for his adaptive class and won a record at the heavy hammer event on Saturday. Picture: DGSAnother fine throw. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSThe athletes set various records and personal bests over the day. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSDavid Dent takes a break. Picture: DGS
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.
The prince adjudicated at the tug of war between Wounded Highlanders and the police team. Picture: DGSChair of the games, Andrew Sinclair, watches as Prince Charles adjudicates at the tug of war. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSPrince Charles consoles the police team after they lost the tug of war against the Wounded Highlanders. Picture: DGSThe police tug of war team. Picture: DGSPrince Charles shared many a laugh with all those he met on the day. Picture: DGSMembers of the Wounded Highlanders receive a case of beer from Prince Charles. Picture: DGSCompere Willie Mackay conducted matters with his usual jovial nature. Picture: DGSWounded Highlanders at the Mey Games. Picture: DGS
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.
Prince Charles congratulates the Military Wives Choir for their song. Picture: DGSInverness Military Wives Choirs sing for the prince. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSPrince Charles sits next to Lady Thurso. Picture: DGSThe Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness, Lord Thurso, escorted Prince Charles throughout the event. He said: 'It's wonderful to have the games back after three years off and to see so many people enjoying themselves. I'm sure His Royal Highness is having a fabulous time.' Lord Thurso added that HRH particularly enjoyed the choir and dancers and would not have been unduly bothered by the rain. Picture: DGS
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."
Chair of Mey Highland Games 2022 was Andrew Sinclair. Picture: DGS
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."
Andrew Sinclair, left, with HRH Prince Charles and Robert Lovie. Picture: DGS
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."
Keith Nicholson is the games committee treasurer. Picture: DGS
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 Murray, president of the Scottish Highland Games Association, worked his way around each event to adjudicate. Picture: DGS
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."
Prince Charles speaks to athlete David Dent. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSPrince Charles congratulates David Dent for his triumphs over the day. Picture: DGS
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."
Robert Lovie of the Prince's Trust has been praised for his role in helping transform the Mey Games. Picture: DGS
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."
Prince Charles shares a joke with the Wounded Highlanders team. Picture: DGSVeteran David Dent set a new record at Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGS
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.
400m ladies race winner Iolanthe Cooper arrives at the finishing line. Picture: DGSIolanthe Cooper (left) and sister Adah. Iolanthe won the 400m ladies' race and her sister came in second. Picture: DGSAnother kids' running event is underway. Picture: DGSWill Hamilton with his son Pablo who was in the three-legged race. Pablo said he won some Haribo sweets. Picture: DGSCompere Willie Mackay with his wife Glynis at Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSRev Lyall Rennie with his wife Isobel. Rev Rennie retired three years ago but said he would be back at Canisbay Kirk to meet Prince Charles the following day at a special royal service conducted by Rev Janet Easton-Berry. Picture: DGSDenny Swanson from Wick was collecting for the RBLS. Picture: DGSSandy and Susan Manson run a stall for Wick Rotary Club. Picture: DGS
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.
Compere at the event Willie Mackay was delighted to receive an engraved set of silver spoons. Picture: DGSCompere at the event Willie Mackay was delighted to receive an engraved set of silver spoons. Willie is well known for his spoon playing skills and played a tune minutes after receiving his gift. Picture: DGSSome of the spectators who braved the rain at Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSThe Ferguson family who have just taken over the Castle Arms Hotel stand next to James Wright, at left, who works at the Castle of Mey. Picture: DGSRBLS volunteers at Mey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSVeterans inside the royal tent. Picture: DGSPipe bands from Wick and Thurso provided entertainment. Picture: DGSThe royal tent interior. Picture: DGSPrince Charles looks askance at the rain. Picture: DGSWW2 veteran Richard Polanski from Dunbeath in the royal tent. Picture: DGSTanya Horne dancers put on a display at the royal tent. Picture: DGSRachel May and Charley Sutherland put on a dance display for HRH and the royal party. The dance was a choreography specially commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Mey Highland Games. Picture: DGSPrince Charles congratulates the girls afterwards and said it must have been difficult to learn all the steps for the newly devised routine. Picture: DGSCharley Sutherland (left) and Rachel May from the Tanya Horne dancing school put on a specially commissioned piece of choreography. for the royal party. Picture: DGSPrince Charles made good use of his brolly throughout the event. Picture: DGSNDA/Dounreay bosses who sponsored the event with the pipe bands of Wick and Thurso. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGSPrince Charles chats to some visitors at the event. Picture: DGSLouise and Sean Hirst with their son Noah and Tilly the dog. The family were travelling the NC500 and just came upon the event 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. Picture: DGSConvenor Henry Gunn wears the new Mey Highland Games tartan. Picture: DGSConvenor Henry Gunn wears the new Mey Highland Games tartan. Henry said that a length of the fabric has been given to the prince and it is hoped he will wear a kilt fashioned from it at the next games. Picture: DGSMey Highland Games 2022. Picture: DGS
Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.