The Highland Games returned to Grande Prairie on Saturday, with thousands embracing all things Scotland.
“It’s been a very good turn out, especially being as we had no Highland Games last year,” says volunteer coordinator James Fletcher.
As always, the main event for many was the heavy athletic events, which included a new field record of over 112 feet in the hammer throw. Washington State born Damien Fisher, who only got into the act in 2014, says his success can actually be traced back to his wife’s love of Celtic music.
“My wife has loved bagpipes as long as I’ve known her, and she happened to find there was a Celtic festival near our hometown… [I] saw people throwing things and said ‘I’m good at throwing thing’. Somebody mentioned if you’re good enough, you could get paid for it.”
Fisher says it was his first trip up to Grande Prairie, and he already wants to plan the trip back next year, as the crowds brought an extra level of energy.
“It’s exciting to see a lot of people come out, especially with a year off. I think it’s encouraging to see the crowd come out, see all the families here, and hopefully, we can put on a pretty good show and have people come back next year.”
The games were held in the field outside the Montrose Cultural Centre.