It’s a tradition for exiled Nairnites to book their holidays for the Nairn Games weekend and with 2009 having been declared the Year of Homecoming in Scotland we are expecting to see more visitors this year than ever before. I’ve no doubt former school pupils at Nairn Academy and Millbank and Rosebank Primary Schools are busy preparing their reunions as we speak.

The Games Committee too is beavering behind the scenes so we can make it as special an event as possible.

After the bad weather in 2006 and 2007 the Games bounced back with a day of glorious sunshine last year and it was one of the best attendences for a long time. Our march of the massed pipe bands through the town has proved to be a real winner with the spectators and we cannot say how much we appreciate all the bands for their support.

This year the march will be enhanced to mark the Year of Homecoming and we are hoping Nairnites from over the world will bring some flags of other nations with them to go on the march and fly them proudly on the parade.

Hugh Allison, one of our committee members has extended an invitation to all towns named Nairn around the world to make their way to Scotland and join in our celebrations. I don’t know if there will be any take up of that offer which includes hospitality on Games Day but it certainly gave us some valuable publicity in one local newspaper in Canada.

Local reporter Donald Wilson has been helping us out with publicity and he is planning to make some improvements to our games programme this year with some special features so look out for that.

Before I go all you road runners out their, get your running shoes on and get training for the silver anniversary of the Nairn Games Half Marathon. This popular road race actually began in 1984 so it’s in its 26th year but the first race was not quite the full half marathon distance. Its founder Danny Bow tells me the first race was organised by himself and his wife Liz and there were nine runners.
Danny of course and the Nairn Road Runners have turned it into one of the spectacles of the games with sometimes over 150 runners taking part . The event draws runners from far afield and many Nairnites make a special effort to take part and their families turnout in force to cheer them on as they leave then return to the arena.

Let’s hope we can all make this year’s Homecoming Games one of the best ever. See you there!

Sandra Ross
Convener

Email: info@nairnhighlandgames.co.uk

The Macallan Nairn Highland Games Committee:Image
Chieftain: Lord Cawdor
Convener: S Ross
Vice-Convener: S MacArthur
Committee Secretary: E Somerville
Treasurer: G Forbes
Athletics / Entries Secretary: S Ross

E.Mann, T.Marshall, R.Wilkinson, J.Gallacher, Cllr L.Fraser, L.Rutter, D.Morrison, H.Allison, D.Wilson, M.Oag,L.Macaulay

For more information you can contact:

General Enquiries
Call Gordon Forbes on 01667 452422 (For trade stances phone E.C.S. on 01463/703615)

Pipe Band Enquiries
Call Lyn Rutter on 01667 451075

Half Marathon
Call Alister Stewart on 01667 462173