A benefactor has stepped up to pay new charges which organisers said were putting at risk the future of a historic Fife Highland games.
Markinch Highland Games committee assistant secretary Shane Fenton who also sits on the general committee of the Scottish Highland Games Association said that following a Courier article on Saturday, someone has come forward to sponsor the police charges.
Organisers were told by police to stump up £600 to pay for officers’ attendance. Following a social media backlash, police offered an 80% discount and said they would charge £147 instead, amid fears the long-term future of the games could be in doubt.
Mr Fenton said: “Since Saturday’s article and since the recent social media campaign highlighting the introduction of police charges on the Markinch Highland Games for the first time ever, the committee are happy to announce that another ‘friend of the games’ has stepped forward to foot the police bill as part of a sponsorship. There have also been inquiries from others looking to sponsor events at the games.”
Mr Fenton said the Markinch Highland Games to be held at John Dixon Park on June 7 will give athletes an early-season boost by staging a series of four lucrative 90m invitation races.
The £1,000 90m Male Invitation which has a first prize of £500 is thought to be the biggest monetary prize offered for an athletic event anywhere in Fife. There will be three-figure sums for both the runner-up and third-placed athlete.
The winner of the 90m Youths Invitation (10-15 years) will carry off a prize of £100.
Both the 90m Vets and Women’s Invitation races will have prize money of £40, £25, £15, £10, £10, £10.
To qualify to run in any of the invitation races, athletes must be entered in the handicap sprint races.
All the usual events for athletes are scheduled to take place, including open: 90m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1,600m and 3,200m, with the youths events being the same with the exception of the 3,200m.
The 90-metre track at Markinch is the only one on the Highland games circuit still using the Chariots of Fire-type stringed lanes.
Entries will close on Sunday. Telephone Adam Crawford on 01592 753439 or email adam.crawford@hotmail.com for details.