Once again, crowds flocked to the Bow Butts in Ceres for Scotland’s oldest free games.
After last year’s dreich weather, it stayed warm and dry for Ceres Highland Games, helping to make the event dating back to the Battle of Bannockburn a resounding success.
Among the highlights of the day was a visit from the Knox Pipe Band, who have flown over from Australia to tour Scotland. Events included an individual piping competition, track and field contests and wrestling.
Games president Brian Henry said: “The games were extremely successful. We were very busy and there was a record turnout of runners.
“The tug of war was a real crowd-pleaser. St Andrews and District Pipe Band as usual opened the games and were splendid as they always are.
“The Knox Pipe Band came here with all their piping gear, kilts and jackets. They’re touring Scotland and they thoroughly enjoyed it.”
According to legend, Sir Robert Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland, instructed the men of Ceres in the use of the bow prior to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
This instruction is believed to have taken place on the village green now known as the Bow Butts, where the games are held.
Robert Bruce himself gave the people of Ceres the charter to hold the games in celebration of the victorious return of local men who fought at Bannockburn.
With the exception of the war years, games have been held in some form on the Bow Butts each year since the battle.
One of the high points of the day used to be the “greasy pole”. Competitors would try to climb a fir tree which had been stripped of bark and coated with soap to reach a prize, usually a ham, at the top.
Photo by David Wardle