Perth Highland Games one of the most popular events to be held in the city is to attract a sizeable crowd on Sunday.
This year’s games chieftain will be Brigadier Michael Jameson, Lord Lieutenant of Perth and Kinross. He will preside over a full programme of traditional Highland Games competitions, along with special performances by a visiting Norwegian brass band.
Visitors to the games will be able to enjoy scores of events, including heavyweight competitions and a track programme that will see Scottish Championships medals being awarded in the 90m foot and 1,000m cycle races.
Solo piping will start at 10am and there will be junior and senior classes for light music, as well as piobaireachd competitions at C, B and open grades.
Meanwhile, the games has a new Highland dancing co-ordinator this year: Jacqueline Aird from Fife. She already has 120 pre-registered entries, with more likely to enter on the day.
There are 46 pipe bands from 10 nations signed up to play 73 performances in six grades of competition. Bands are coming from Scotland, Austria, Australia, Canada, Jersey, Malaysia, New Zealand, Oman, South Africa, Switzerland and America.
There will also be 13 adult and two juvenile participants in the drum major competitions.
The Perth Highland Games will also have a special guest appearance by the School Brass and Percussion Band from Stabekk, near Oslo, which is touring Scotland to celebrate its centenary this year. The band was adopted by King Hakkon’s Private Guard in 1954 and many of its members have since gone on to serve in the King’s Guard Band.
Perth Highland Games secretary Monica Straughan said: “We are absolutely delighted to have such a large number of entries in all our competitions, and honoured that the Lord Lieutenant has agreed to be our chieftain.
“We hope people from Perth and beyond will come along on Sunday to enjoy the skirl of the pipes, swing of the kilt and the excitement of watching the very competitive track races, heavyweight events and Highland dancing contests.”
There will also be 27 trade stands and an amusements area. Gates at the North Inch will open at 9am and competitions will begin at 10am. Admission is £8 for adults, £4 for children/senior citizens and free for children aged under five.