Bathgate Highland Games

[cessna152towser]

Let me be your guide to the Bathgate Highland Games 2009.
Held at Bathgate, which is a town half way between Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland's central belt, these games only started as recently as 1972, and are not among the most famous of the Scottish Games.

Our recent spell of summer weather brought out the crowds, and having queued almost half an hour to gain admission to the grounds the next problem was going to be getting to the front of the crowd to see what was happening in the arena.

The commentator announced that the temperature was 27 celsius, or 80 fahrenheit, which is about as warm as it gets during the Scottish summer and there was already a long queue for the beer tent.

Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band

Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band

George Watson's College Pipe Band

Denny and Dunnipace Pipe Band
More to follow shortly.

[English Bloke]

You're looking pretty cool on a hot day there Alex.

[cessna152towser]

Sword Dancing

Sword Dancer

I spy a Lightning Bolt Kilt Pin from 21st Century Kilts. Like myself, the wearer had obtained it at last year's Edinburgh Kilt Walk and his dark shadow tartan kilt was not a Howie masterpiece.

It had been several years since I last attended the Bathgate Games and last time I had competed in the running event.

Stan Pike in action with the Scottish Hammer

Scottish Hammer - Stan Pike

The Heavy Squad
More to follow shortly

[cessna152towser]

Weathered Marr tartan by Lochcarron

Black Watch kilt and muckle sporran.

My view of Stan Pike tossing the caber was partly blocked by other heavies.

I took another shot when Stan made his next toss, this time a guy rose up in front of the camera and appears to get the caber impaled on the back of his head!

Mark MacDonald lands the caber almost in the twelve o'clock position.

The massed bands begin to assemble at the end of the Games.

Look over there, here come the bands!

A parting shot on my way back to the train station. Mason's Bar in Bathgate. The old guy in the MacKenzie kilt is wearing it way too long but this hasn't prevented him winning the affection of the lass in the denim shorts.
That's all folks!

[ghostlight]

Excellent photos, sir! Thank you for sharing them with us.

[JolyStNicholas]

Looks to be a grand games indeed, with fun to be had by all.

Thank you for sharing you photo's and you outing with us. Well done laddie!

[KFCarter]

Another great tour! Thanks yet again.

btw, what tartan is the Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Band wearing?

[peacekeeper83]

Quality tour guide, thanks so much. I really enjoy your pictures and stories.

[Mael Coluim]

Looks like a great turn out. Not a cloud in the sky! Thanks for sharing!

[SFCRick]

very nice turn out of pipe bands