A transatlantic bond between a Perthshire highland games and an American event has been further strengthened.
Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival, the sister games to Crieff Highland Gathering, has this year awarded their highest honour to CHG chairman Ian Stewart by choosing him as their chieftain for this their 40th anniversary year.
It was back in 2008 that a proclamation was signed by officials from both highland games to become twin/sister games.
Ever since then delegates from both games have travelled to each others’ event on a bi annual visit, sharing ideas and forging strong friendships.
“I consider it a great honour to be chosen as chieftain for Ohio Scottish Games especially in this their 40th year,” said businessman Mr Stewart, 52.
“Ohio SG is such a fantastic and prestigious event in the USA highland games calendar and I am looking forward to what will be an enjoyable and proud day in my ‘highland games career’.”
The Ohio games takes place on June 24 this year and Mr Stewart will be one of a group of four from Crieff making the trip.
Crieff Highland Gathering, known as one of Scotland’s top highland games can of course boast of its own famous chieftain as HRH the Earl of Strathearn Prince William, accepted the honorary title in 2013.
This year’s chieftain is local man Jim McGregor, a former director and long-time supporter of Crieff Highland Gathering who follows his famous actor son Ewan as a chieftain of the games.
Although a traditional highland games, Crieff has also looked to modernise its event and now runs a music festival alongside the games with previous acts such as Skipinnish, Skerryvore, Breabach and Clanadonia being some of the names to grace the stage.
This year sees Radio 2 folk awards best duo Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton take to the stage alongside four piece band Tide Lines and “pipe rock” band the Rollin Drones.
Crieff Highland Gathering takes place this year on Sunday August 20.
