The Helmsdale and District Highland Games is an annual event that brings together the local community, and welcomes visitors from all over the world, to showcase a full day of traditional Highland Games events. Established in 1981, the event has grown and developed over the last 4 decades to be one of the biggest in the Helmsdale social calendar.
From caber tossing to Highland dancing, alongside the spectacular sound of the Massed Pipes and Drums, washed down with a dram of whisky - our Highland Games are the heart of Scottish culture. Whether you're a seasoned competitor or a first-time spectator, we invite you to come and experience the warmth and hospitality that have become the hallmark of the Helmsdale and District Highland Games.
VOLUNTEERS
Other ways to help include assisting with setting up the marquees in the week before the Games, and helping to dismantle them after the event. Keep an eye on our socials for more information on timings.
You could also help by becoming a Sponsor or Patron.
The Helmsdale Highland Games is organised entirely by volunteers. If you would like to join our friendly committee please contact us for more information. Our AGM takes place in January or February each year.
a history of the helmsdale highland games
ln 2022 we celebrated our 40th modern Highland Games, but the history of highlanders competing against one another in feats of strength and speed go back a long, long way. Helmsdale Castle was built here in 1488 and you can imagine it being a meeting place for centuries where warriors would muster and train. The earliest recorded Highland Games in our written record is from 1872, one hundred and fifty years ago this year. In 1871 the railway came to Helmsdale and to celebrate this the Duke of Sutherland gave prize money of £5 for a Highland Games event to be held in Helmsdale. That first Games had the same struggle with the weather that we often have. The morning was very wet so conditions under foot were slippery. The athletic events included ‘a long race’, a ‘running long leap’, a ‘short race’ and a ‘three legged race’ among others. The strength events were ‘putting the light stone’, ‘putting the heavy stone’ and one we still do today ‘tossing the caber’. No Games would be complete without it.
A few years later in 1880 another reference to the Highland Games is made in the newspaper, The Northern Ensign. This time locals organised and financed the Games which were held on the 19th of January each year, they were hardy back then! A full programme of events took place with a prize pot of £8. The record that day for throwing the heavy hammer was recorded at 85 feet and 11 inches by John S Matheson. The current ground record for the same event is 115 feet 1.5 inches held by Alistair Gunn from Halkirk.
The Games continued in Helmsdale until there was a break for the Great War as it was known in 1914-1918. The Games returned between the wars where there were often special trains run on Games Day to transport spectators and competitors. The Games finally stopped for the 2nd World War and didn’t start again until the team took up the challenge in 1981.
The Games only take place from the efforts of a group of volunteers and hopefully will continue for many years to come. The modern revival of the Helmsdale Highland Games was started by a small group in 1981. The first committee of Mary Dudgeon, Jean Rodger, Lorna Sangster, Kirst Logie, Kate Mackay, Christine Macpherson, Michael Dudgeon, Donnie Fraser, J.O.F MacKay, Hector Macpherson, George Murray and Iain Sinclair started with little more than an idea, a few kilts and some enthusiasm.
Due to Covid restrictions, there were no Helmsdale Highland Games held in 2020 and 2021.
The 40th Highland Games should have taken place in 2020 but little did we know, when the Games were cancelled that year that it would be another two years before we were back.
The 40th Helmsdale Highland Games were celebrated in 2022. In this very special anniversary year the committee decided to do things a little differently. Rather than have a singular Chieftain as convention would have it, this year there were 15.
All of the local children who were just a twinkle in the eye of the first Games spectators in 1981 were selected as joint Chieftains that year.
So fifteen of the primary one ‘class of 85’ who would have been 40 in our 40th year, kindly agreed to take on the role in 2022.
PREVIOUS chieftains
29 August 1981 Frank MacPherson
4 August 1982 Robert Macleod
20 August 1983 Anderson Murray
18 August 1984 Dr S H MacIntosh
17 August 1985 J.O.F Mackay
16 August 1986 Hugh Macpherson
15 August 1987 Sir Anthony Nutting
20 August 1988 Lt. Col A.S Christian
19 August 1989 Alexander Innes
18 August 1990 Jimmy McGregor
17 August 1991 Dennis Macleod
15 August 1992 James B Cowie
21 August 1993 Jemmima MacRostie
20 August 1994 R.R MacDonald
19 August 1995 Edward Mackay
17 August 1996 Nessie Murray
16 August 1997 Robin Campbell
15 August 1998 Donald S Fraser
21 August 1999 Sir Michael Wigan
19 August 2000 Dr Sheila Thorpe
17 August 2001 Donald Polson
17 August 2002 Hector MacPherson
23 August 2003 Tommy Traill
21 August 2004 Rita Finlayson
20 August 2005 Nancy Sinclair
19 August 2006 Andy Sutherland
18 August 2007 George Murray
16 August 2008 Colin MacKenzie
15 August 2009 Bobby McLeod
20 August 2010 Edwyn Collins
20 August 2011 Christine Cowie
18 August 2012 Christine Sutherland
17 August 2013 Ian Sinclair
16 August 2014 Kathleen MacTaggart
15 August 2015 Deirdre Mackay
20 August 2016 Michael Jamieson
19 August 2017 Julien Innes
18 August 2018 Alan Macrae
17 August 2019 Michael Gill
20 August 2022 Group Chieftains
Class of ‘85
19 August 2023 Iain Whitehead
17 August 2024 David W D Mackay