Forres Highland Games 2009
The
Chieftain for this Year’s Forres Highland Games
was
Mr
Brian Ross
of Inverness. As in the past, Brian follows
a long tradition of past Chieftains, being a Highland Games enthusiast who has
had a long association with our Games. Brian first competed in the 1958
Forres Games, where he competed in the Message Boys Cycle Race and the open
athletics Mile race on the track.
After many years of competing, Brian went onto become an athletics official, qualifying as a Judge in 1980. His first officiating duties at our Games took place in 1982. Such was his dedication to judging, Brian was selected to Officiate at the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. In the early Nineties Brian went on to become a Starter and has fulfilled this role at many Athletics meetings since, throughout the North of Scotland.
Like last year we were once again blessed with fantastic weather which encouraged both spectators and competitors to attend the 2009 Forres Highland Games and Australian Athletics Coach Neville Sillitoe was once again visiting our Games with a young squad of talented athletes from Melbourne.
The massed Pipe Bands always prove popular and this year was no exception, with nine bands in attendance producing a magnificent spectacle throughout the afternoon's proceedings.
Forres Harrier Ben Livesey was the man to beat at the longer distances; where he won the 3000 Metres North Of Scotland Championship then immediately after this race he lined up on the start for the 10K Road Race which he also won leading the Harriers to the 10K team trophy in process.
Jason Young was the clear winner of the Heavies Championships after some magnificent performances, winning 4 of the 5 events.
The Cycling also proved a popular attraction with Kyle Gordon winning the North Of Scotland 6000M Grass Track Championships. There was also the popular Message Bike Races; which is open to both Locals and Visitors, certainly provided a number of exciting races.
In the Tug O War we had 4 teams competing and once again it was defending champions Elgin who proved worthy winners of an intriguing contest.
