A 50 year legacy

1809 - Glengarry Games are established

The 1st Highland Games were held to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of King George III. People competed in various sports and races on the banks of the river Garry. This makes the Glengarry Games the Oldest Modern Highland Games on Record.

1819 - The Society of True Highlanders take over the running of the games

The Inverness Journal reports of a spectacular Fete that year, as a newly found society took on the organisation of the games. Preceded by a great hunt, the games with their many disciplines went on late into the night with bagpipes, whisky and celebrations being fondly remembered. If you are interested in helping with the organisation of the games, get in touch with us here.

1820 - Two sets of Games were held

In this year two games were held. One for the locals and one to showcase the Games to Prince Gustavus of Sweden. They included Hammer, Caber, Stone and Running matches.

1841 - Games were revived for the first time

The games appear to have had a small hiatus between 1822 and 1841. The Lord Ward presided over the revived games and sponsored many prizes as well as entertaining his guests at the competition and fete. The games would have another small break between 1898 and 1905.

1913 - Last Games for 59 years

The Games were held for the last time on Home Farm. While they did contain a full programme of events, there was very little reporting on them. Consequently, no games were held for 59 years.

1948 - Glengarry Games begin in Ontario, Canada

Between 1783 and 1853 several groups of settlers from Glengarry made the journey across the Atlantic and settled in what is today Ontario, Canada. They decided to revive the tradition of their Scottish ancestors more than a century after arriving and set up a traditional cultural and sporting event which is still going strong. Learn more about these games here.

1972 - Revival of the Glengarry Games

After a long absence the Glengarry Highland Games were revived. Russel Ellice donated the field at Craigard, Invergarry. Highlight of the event was the Tug O’War which was won by surprise team Invergarry A against all expectations. This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Games’ revival.

2020 & 2021 - Covid Pandemic

The Games were paused during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 and 2021, but were much missed. In 2022 we are celebrating not just the 50th anniversary of the Games, but also a return of them in post-pandemic times.

2023 - Glengarry hosts its first Ever Women’s Heavy Event

Five talented female competitors from across Scotland showcased their strength and agility in a series of challenging disciplines, including Hammer, Weight for Distance, Weight over the bar, shot put, and caber toss. Elizabeth Elliot, hailing from Glasgow, emerged victorious and was honoured with the Eric McKenzie Award for Best Lady in Heavy Events.

2024 - The Return of the Glengarry Lifting Stone

Lifting Stones can be found in many communities throughout the Highlands and Islands and were, in the past, used as a measure of fitness and strength. The Glengarry Lifting Stone made a last recorded appearance around 1900 and was then largely forgotten at the previous location of the Highland Games, the Invergarry Castle Hotel. Having been found by Stuart Whyte, the stone was officially returned to the Glengarry Games this year where Tom Baillie became the second person, after Stuart himself, to make a recorded lift of this 130kg boulder at the Glengarry Games.

2027 - The 100th recorded Games at Glengarry

Since 1809, 99 Highland Games have been held at Glengarry. In 2022, we celebrated the 50th consecutive Games since the Games’ revival in 1972. In 2027, we are celebrating the 100th Games ever held in our beautiful Glen since their first inception.