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Best pictures from Blackford Highland Games

Blackford has been hosting Highland Games since 1870 and this year's event proved as popular as ever.

Blackford Highland Games. Image: Kim Cessford/DC Thomson

By Morag Lindsay, Katherine Ferries, Kim Cessford

June 1 2025, 12:20pm

June 1 2025, 12:20pm

All roads led to Blackford on Saturday as the Perthshire village held its famous Highland Games.

Founded in 1870, the gathering is one of the oldest in the country.

It’s one of the earliest on the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association’s calendar and visitors poured on to the games field to enjoy a packed programme of entertainment.

Highlights included the ever-popular heavyweight competitions, including the Scottish Junior Heavyweight Championships.

Adding to the flavour were track and field events, Highland dancing and piping, all presided over by this year’s chieftain Alan Watt.

The newest Perth and Kinross councillor has a long association with Blackford and its Highland games.

Courier photographer Kim Cessford was there to capture some of the best pictures from Blackford Highland Games 2025.

chieftain of the games, Councillor Alan Watt — The chieftain of the games, Councillor Alan Watt.

The Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band play — The Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band.

A pipe band arrives at Blackford Highland Games — The Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band arrive at Blackford Highland Games.

A pipe band member plays a drum — A drummer from the Blairgowrie, Rattray and District Pipe Band.

The queen of the games, Isla Leisk, with her attendants Emily Forsyth and Lara Reid — The queen of the games, Isla Leisk, with her attendants Emily Forsyth, left, and Lara Reid, right.

Jamie Gunn throws a hammer. — Jamie Gunn in action in the Heavies Hammer competition.

Mace Paterson competes in the Shot Putt competition — Mace Paterson competes in the Junior Heavies Shot Putt competition.

Rebecca Maeule competes in the caber tossing competition.

Jack Devanny competes wearing a kilt — Jack Devanny competes in the Junior Heavies 28lb weight competition.

Juilet Ramsay throws a hammer — Juilet Ramsay throws the hammer in the Ladies Heavies competition.

Liz Elliott throws a hammer at Blackford Highland Games — Liz Elliott throws the hammer in the Ladies Heavies competition.

The shot putt competition — The Junior Heavies Shot Putt competition.

Games official Euan MacPherson — Euan MacPherson is one of the game’s officials.

Andrew Murphie competes in the Shot Putt competition — Andrew Murphie competes in the Junior Heavies Shot Putt competition.

Jack Devanny competes in the Highland Games — Jack Devanny competes in the Junior Heavies 28lb weight competition.

A cyclist taking part in the two-mile cycling race. — Taking part in the two-mile cycling race.

two cyclists racing — Action from the two-mile cycling race.

Three men compete in a cycling race — Blackford Highland Games features a two-mile cycling race.

Two cyclists racing — The two-mile race at the Blackford Highland Games.

A cyclist racing — Action from the two-mile race.

Cyclists take part in the two-mile race at the Blackford Highland Games. — Taking part in the two-mile race at the Blackford Highland Games.

Four racers in a cycling race — The finish is in sight for these cyclists.

From left, Orla, Kyran, Steven and Leo Ross.

Spectators watch the Games — Blackford Highland Games park.

Cyclists racing at the Games — Cyclists take part in a race.

Robert Lovie was the commentator for the Blackford Highland Games.

Games official Euan MacPherson. — Euan MacPherson is one of the officials at the event.

People try axe-throwing — Trying their hands at axe-throwing.

The crowd at Blackford Highland Games — The annual event drew a decent crowd.

medals for the winners — Medals for the winners.

Young Highland dancers on stage — Young Highland dancers.

Caoimhe Wilton won a Highland dancing trophy — Caoimhe Wilton was the overall beginner’s winner.

Highland dancers on stage — Highland dancers in action.

Highland dancers on stage — Highland dancers on stage at the Perthshire event.

Highland dancers wait to go on stage — Highland dancers wait for their turn to compete.

Crowds watch the Blackford Highland Games. — Crowds watch the games.

Spectators watch the action at Blackford — Spectators at Blackford Highland Games park.

Children running a relay race — The primary school relay race.

Children pass the baton in the relay race. — Passing the baton in the primary school relay race.

Adults running a race at Blackford Highland Games — Blackford Highland Games’ adult sprint heats.

Young people running a race — The youths 90m heats.

Adults running a race — Adult sprint heats at the Perthshire event.

Three men run a race — The final of the 90m sprint race.

Children running a race — The youth 90m sprint final.

Finalists run in a race — Finalists in the 90m sprint.

A woman running in a one-mile race. — The one-mile race.

Crowds watching the competitions.

Hamish Stephen playing the bagpipes — Hamish Stephen chose to play The Little Spree for his entry in the Junior Solo Piping competition.

Hamish Stephen piping — Hamish Stephen in the Solo Piping.

Shaun Webster and Nathaniel Green — Shaun Webster and Nathaniel Green were two of the piping competition stewards.

Bagpipers practising — Pipers practise ahead of their solo competition.

Michael Ubiobor was second in the triple jump — Michael Ubiobor was second in the triple jump.

Allan Hamilton takes part in the triple jump. — Allan Hamilton in action during the triple jump.

Allan Hamilton after his jump — Allan Hamilton.

Stuart Whiteford leaps in the triple jump. — Stuart Whiteford leaps high in the triple jump.

Stuart Whiteford lands after a jump — Stuart Whiteford.

Michael Ubiobor clears the bar in the high jump.

Stuart Whiteford on the high jump.

Stuart Whiteford clears the bar in the high jump.

Allan Hamilton in the high jump competition.

The crowds at the Blackford Highland Games in Perthshire — Were you at the event?

Edie McCulloch on a funfair ride — Edie McCulloch enjoys one of the funfair rides at the Perthshire event.

Children on a funfair ride — The funfair rides were popular at Blackford Highland Games.

A funfair ride — Flying high at the Perthshire games.

Children smiling on a funfair ride — Smiles all round at Blackford Highland Games.

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