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Five athletes well known to Braemar crowds: Alastair Macfarlane, Alan Simpson, Stuart Hogg, Bob Swann

The Braemar Games had been held on a Thursday for over a hundred years until 1968 when it changed to a Saturday ‘to enable more people to see and take part in it’.   It was the 151st meeting not on the second Thursday in September.   There had never been any doubt about the quality of the athletes involved or its attractiveness to English athletes at the end of their career – throwers such as Arthur Rowe and Geoff Capes, distance runners like Alan Simpson, Gordon Pirie and Derek Ibbotson were happy towards the end of their careers to enjoy the fun of competing at the Games and to win themselves some money forbye.   All the above were Great Britain representatives too, and all were former Olympians.   Then there were those from outwith Britain such as Jim Hogan from Ireland and Tommy Smith from USA.   The change to a  Saturday maybe increased the number coming north – it certainly helped the number of Scots taking part.   

1970 saw the sports take place on a brilliantly sunny day before a crowd of 20,000 including the Queen and Prince Philip with their four children, accompanied by Princess Margaret and her two children.    Incidents to entertain the crowd such as the perfect caber toss from Arthur Rowe, followed by Bill Bangert who rushed forward to catch it when his fell backwards: a bit foolhardy and dangerous and had the crowd holding its breath before he changed direction and dodged to one side!

The results of the athletics:

100 yards handicap: 1. R Swan, Glenrothes; 2. S Hogg, Kirkcaldy; 3. M Berger, Ladybank

100 yards scratch: 1. S Hogg; 2. R Swan; E Berger

220 yards: 1. S Hogg; 2. R Swan; 3. E Berger

Half Mile: 1. T McBeath, Dunbeath; 2. I Whyte, Glenrothes; 3. A Kydd, Glenrothes

Mile: 1. I Whyte; 2. T McBeath; 3. A Kydd

Two Miles: 1. I Whyte; 2. A Kydd; 3. G Syme, Kelty

Throwing 16lb Weight: 1. B Anderson; 2. A Rowe; 3. J McBeath

Putting 16lb stone: 1. A Rowe; 2. B Anderson; 3. B Bangert

Putting 28lb stone: 1. A Rowe; 2. B Anderson; 3. B Bangert (New record pf 39′ 5″)

Throwing 22lb Weight: 1. B Anderson; 2. N Anderson; 3. A Rowe

Throwing 22lb hammer: 1. B Anderson; 2. A Rowe; 3. J McBeath

Tossing Caber:   1 (equal) Anderson and Rowe; 3. Charles Simpson

Throwing 56lb Weight over Bar: 1 (equal) Anderson and Rowe; 3. A Gray   (New record of 14′ 10″)

High Jump: 1. G Balfour, Duns; 2. J McBeath; 3. T McBeath

Long Jump: 1. J McBeath; 2. C Lambshead, Clyde; 3. G Balfour

Pole Vault: 1 (equal) I Ward, Market Drayton and M Brown Egremont, Cumberland; 2. A Melvin, Lumphanan

Note the ‘new’ Two Miles race with the distance specialists of Whyte, Kydd and McBeath; McBeath was also in the high jump with his brother who did both jumps and the hammer.   The sprint specialists were familiar to all professional supporters – Stuart Hogg and Bob Swann being ‘kent faces’.

Arthur Rowe, Brian Oldfield, Bill Anderson

The 1960 Gathering held the Games on a dull but dry day when a huge crowd of 30, 000, biggest for several years, watched the spectacle and the sports.   The Queen, Prince Philip, Queen Mother and Princess Margaret were all present along with the royal children, Prince Charles and Princess Anne.   Charles wore a kilt in the Balmoral tartan designed by Prince Albert over 100 years ago.   Eleven pipe bands took part in the march past.     The royal family was there in big numbers, the spectators were there in numbers, the pipers and marchers were there and the rain stayed away.    That left the athletes to do their thing.   This time the star was Bill Anderson.   

The Glasgow Herald reports: – 

“THREE RECORDS BROKEN BY W ANDERSON.   W Anderson, a farmer of Banchory-Devenick, was the outstanding athlete in the heavy events at the Braemar Highland Gathering yesterday, breaking three of his own records for the meeting.   Anderson, who set up two records at the Aboyne Games on Wednesday, threw the 16lbs Hammer 130′ 7″, improving on his 1959 record by 3′ 10″.   He also beat his record for the 22lbs hammer by 6′ 8″   with a throw of 109′ 3″, and in putting the 16lb stone 46′ 10″ he surpassed the record he set up last year by 1′ 4”.   J Jamieson (Arbroath) broke the pole vault record with a jump of 11′ 10″, one inch higher than C Webster’s 1959 record.”

More about Anderson below but first, the results.

100 yards: 1. W Atkinson (Brampton); 2. M Brough (Wolmingham); 3. W Jamieson (Dunfermline) 10.1 seconds

220 yards: 1. C Forbes (Drumoak); 2. E Nicholson (Penrith); 3. L Hutchison (Dunfermline) 23.2 seconds

440 yards: D Bell (Dalston); 2. I Gilbert (Banchory); 3. C Forbes.   53 seconds

880 yards: 1. J Tinnion (Dearham); 2. M Glen (Bathgate); 3. J Glen (Bathgate) 2:05

Mile: 1. J Tinnion; 2. J Balmain (Fife); 3. M Glen.  4:33

Putting 16lb Stone: 1. W Anderson (Banchory-Devenick); 2. A Sutherland (Ardross); 3. J Scott (Inchmurrin) 46′ 10″

Putting 28lb Stone: 1. W Anderson; 2. J Scott; 3. A Sutherland. 38′ 7″

Throwing 16lb Hammer: 1. W Anderson; 2. W Aitken; 3. JA Sutherland; 130′ 7″

Throwing 22lb Hammer: 1. W Anderson; 2. A Sutherland; 3. MA Gray (Alford) 109′ 3″

Throwing 28lb Weight: 1. W Anderson; 2. HA Gray; 3. A Sutherland. 70′ 10 1/2″

Throwing 56lb Weight over bar: 1. MA Gray; 2. (equal) J Scott & A Wallace (St Andrews) 

Tossing the Caber: 1. HA Gray; 2. (equal) W Anderson, A Sutherland & A Wallace

High Jump: 1. J Scott (Inchmurrin); 2. R Aitken; 3. J Smith.   5′ 9 1/2″

Long Jump: 1. I Gilbert; 2. (equal) A Jamieson (Culter) & R Hunter (Culter) 21′ 5″

*

Lots of very good athletes there – Tinnion in the middle distance races, Gray and Sutherland among the heavies and of course Scott in everything.   But Bill Anderson was top man in the throws.    One of Scotland’s best ever Highland Games competitors – and not just in the heavies.    Scottish Games spectators and aficionados in the 1950’s and 60’s were spoiled with athletes like Jay Scott and Bill Anderson to see in action.   Then when English champion and record holder, Olympic athlete to boot, Arthur Rowe came to Scotland to try his luck there were many, many superb duels.     The 1960’s was the decade when the Rowe v Anderson duels (with guys like Henry Gray, Sutherland and others interupting their progress) attracted crowds to the Games across Scotland.     Geoff Capes, another Olympian who came and contested the heavy events in the Games, reckoned that as an amateur Anderson would have been an Olympic medallist – not just a competitor but A MEDALLIST.   Have a look at these results at Braemar and remember that they were competing pretty well every week of the summer season, often more than once in a week.   In 1961 at Braemar, Anderson won the Silver Cup as the leading heavy after he had won the 16lb ball putting, the 28lb ball. the 61lb Hammer, and the 22 lb hammer, all on the day after dominating the Aboyne Games.   Rowe arrived in 1962.   Rowe on the left in blue, Anderson on the right in black, only wins at the Gathering included..

There were lots of marvellous duels fought out – as often as not when one won, the other was second.   At one meeting both men tossed the Braemar Caber – 19′ 9′ long and 132 lb.   In 1969 Anderson and Rowe were given first equal for the Caber and for the Weight over the Bar.   There will be more about Anderson in future posts, especially in 1987 when competed for the last time.

By 1955, the Gathering had its fourth monarch attending the Games.   Starting with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, they were succeeded by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth and now the reigning monarch was Queen Elizabeth with her consort Prince Philip and her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne.   The meeting itself had changed too – from being a small local sports meeting attached to a week long Gathering of nobility and assorted gentry with its parties and parades when the Royal Family made its annual autumn journey north, to a meeting in its own right with competitors from all over Scotland, from Appleby, Penrith and other towns and villages in England.   The crowds also came from further afield by car, bus and trains for years and now there was to be a helicopter landing area in a nearby field.   It had long been covered by newspapers and then radio and was now being filmed for cinema newsreeals and for local audiences.   And of course as befits such a meeting, there were more photographs of athletes too.   

There was a crowd of 30,000 and no fewer than seven pipe bands, from Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee as well as the Black Watch, marched to the stadium, and the royal party stayed for almost two hours enjoying the spectacle.      Results of athletics events, followed by comments amd George Clark’s announcement of his imminent retiral:

100 Yards Handicap: 1. A Spence 9.6 seconds; 2. W Worsey; 3. W Findlay

100 Yards Scratch: 1. A Spence 10 seconds; 2. W Worsey; 3. J Scott

100 Yards Hurdles: 1. J Scott 15 seconds; 2. T Scott; 3. R Esson

220 Yards Handicap: 1. W McMillan 22.12 seconds; 2. J Thomson; 3. I Ewing

440  Yards: 1. J Simpson 54.5 seconds; 2. D Watt; 3. M Glen

Half Mile (Scratch): 1. M Glen 2:02.12; 2. J Simpson; 3. W Howe 

Mile Handicap: 1. M Glen 4:23.25; 2. R Anderson; 3. W Howe

Putting Heavy Stone (28lb) Braemar style: 1. E Cameron 29′ 11 1/2″; 2. J Scott; 3. R Shaw

Putting 16lb Stone: 1. J Scott; 2. J MacLellan; 3. E Cameron

Throwing 16lb Hammer: J MacLellan; 2. H Gray; 3. LJ Stewart

Throwing 22lb Hammer: 1. J MacLellan 97′ 6″; H Gray; 3. E Cameron

Throwing 28lb Weight: 1. J MacLellan 64′ 4″; 2. G Clark; 3. H Gray

Throwing 56lb Weight: 1. G Clark 34′ 0″; 2. J MacLellan; 3. H Gray

Tossing the Caber: 1. H Gray; 2. E Cameron; 3. LJ Stewart

Cumberland Wrestling (Heavyweight): 1. E Cameron; 2. G Clark; D Wallace.

High Leap: 1. J Scott 5′ 10 1/2″; 2. R Esson; 3. (equal) W Findlay & T Scott

Long Leap: 1. R Esson 21′ 3″; 2. J Scott; 3. W Findlay

Pole Vault: 1. J Scott 10′ 9″; 2. (equal) T Scott, J Watt, and J Dodds

There are several points of interest in the 1955 sports, largely because we know the competitors taking part.   First there is more evidence of Jay Scott’s talents.   He won the 100 Yards hurdles, putting the 16lb stone and the Pole Vault and the High Leap.   Victories in each discipline and in addition he had two seconds and one third place.   The athletes he defeated (eg Ewan Cameron in the throws) were quality opponents who had to be respected.   Second there is the running in the middle distance races of Mike Glen winning the handicap mile and the scratch mile in respectable times on grass.   Third George Clark was still going strong 30 years after he had started on the Games circuit.   Unfortunately this was going to be his last year as he said in the intervew quoted below:   

“The skirl of the pipes, the blending of tartans of gathered clans and a brilliant sun beating down on the colourful setting of the Aboyne Games, formed just the right background for my meeting with a veteran champion and a rising star of the world of Highland Games heavyweight events this week.   George Clark who intends to retire this year from thirty years of record-breaking throws with Hammer and caber, was in great form.   In the quieter moments of his repartee I learned that he is married, has two young daughters and is now a hotel keeper in Kinross-shire.   I used to do training, but gave it up some time ago.   No – there is no dieting necessary for a heavyweight,” he said.   George who wears the Sinclair tartan kilt, says there is no falling off in the number of young men coming forward at the Games, and commends it as a sport at which a young man can make money.

The same article continues ….

Henry A Gray (picture at top of page)a shy young farm worker from Leochel-Cushnie, whose father and grandfather were also “strong men”, told me he only took up the sport six years ago.   “I tried some events at a Tarland show for the fun of it.   That day the late Lady McRobert of Douneside told me she would make me the gift of a kilt if I’d try Aboyne”, he told me.   That’s why Henry swings a red Robertson kilt when he tosses a caber at about twenty Highland Games each year.   He’s a bachelor, this ruggedly handsome 17-stone Highlander but it’s not because he has no time for women.   He confessed that his interests in that direction are in the lightweights.   You would have made an ideal “Geordie” for the film on Highland Games heavyweights, I told him. “Och, they asked me at the Aboyne Games the other year to do it, but I was too scared.” confessed this husky giant; and went on, “I’ll never forget my first year at Aboyne, I was so shy – I felt like creeping out of the arena.”

1956

The 1956 Games were held in brilliant sunshine and the favourites from the previous year were again in evidence.   Henry Gray won three heavy events, A Sutherland from Alness who was competing at Braemar for the first time won two but Jay Scott (pictured), who had won 5 events at the Strathallan Gathering in August) won four.   The Queen and Prince Philip were there with several family members including Princess Margaret were there. the pipers, dancers, wrestlers were all there too with a crowd that, while down a bit on 1955, was still sizeable at 20,000.   The Glasgow Herald short report said: “J Scott (Inchmurrin), who was the outstanding competitor at the Aboyne Games on Wednesday, had another run of successes yesterday at the Braemar Gathering.   He broke the 23 year old high jump record of 5′ 11 1/2″ with a jump of 6′ 0 1/2″, won the long jump and the 16lb shot events, and shared first place in the pole vault.   HA Gray (Alford) had a triple success in the heavy events, and A Sutherland (Ardross), who was competing for the first time at Braemar, won the 16lb hammer and 28lb stone titles.   Winners:-

100 yards: A Spence (Blyth) 9.9 sec; 220 yards: W Findlay (Erroll) 22.4 sec; 440 yards: R Russell (Newcastle) 54.8 sec; 880 yards: M Glen (Bathgate) 2 min 04 sec; Mile: J Friel (Lanark).

High jump: J Scott (Inchmurrin) 6′ 0 1/2″; Long Jump: J Scott (Inchmurrin) 21′ 0 1/2″; Pole Vault: J Scott, T Scott (Inchmurrin) and A Jamieson (Drumoak) equal 10′ 6″

16lb Hammer: A Sutherland (Ardross) 115′ ; 22 lb Hammer: HA Gray (Alford) 91′ 0 1/2″; 16lb stone: J Scott 41′; 28lb stone Braemar Style: A Sutherland (Ardross) 29′ 2″;  28lb Weight: HA Gray (Alford) 12′ 3/4″; Caber: LK Stewart (Fort William)

Michael Glen (second from right) at Braemar

The Games were by now well established as one of the major competitions on the circuit and often had their own coverage in the Press less integrated with the numbers and details of high society – although the royal connection still flourished.   Press photos now included some, like the one above, of the athletes in action or, at least, of a member of the royal family talking to an athlete, dancer or piper.   

By 1950 the War was well over, and the numbers attending were bigger – partly because of the publicity generated by the royal family, partly because of the athletes taking part and because travel was much easier.   Given that the Games were held in September in the north of Scotland, the weather was always a factor for everyone attending and the forecast in 1950 from the Met office was for ‘strong west to south-west winds in that area, showers and fair periods.   Temperatures as normal.’   In fact the rain stopped as the royal party arrived at 3:00 pm, a rainbow appeared, and as the royal limousine drew up at the pavilion, another shower started.   It was a showery afternoon.   Nnevertheless they stayed until 5:00 pm having enjoyed the afternoon’s entertainment.   The crowd was estimated at 30,000.   Just as an earlier Games had been broadcast live by the BBC, they were there again in 1950, this time there was a public showing of colour film of the Games, the film having been made by Norman Brown of Dundee in Edzell  and then shown in Auchterarder and other spots as part of talks given by Mr Brown.   

The hero of the afternoon’s athletics was again George Clark.   The Press & Journal described some of his heroics thus.   “George Clark, the well-known Scottish athlete, a mighty figure of a man in the kilt, and winner of the caber tossing competition was presented to their majesties.   The King observed that he had seen Clark often at Braemar and was informed by the athlete that he had been performing there for 25 years.   It was announced by loudspeaker that Clark would attempt to throw the famous Braemar heavy caber which has never yet been thrown.   It measures 21 feet and is of corresponding weight.   With the royal party standing by, Clark had two attempts.   Each time the caber almost reached the perpendicular but fell back in the wrong direction, the sympathetic groans of the crowd telling that the caber has yet to be successfully tossed.”   

The only record set in 1950 was by a deerstalker from Corpach, LK Stewart, when he threw the 16lb Hammer 121′ 10″ which was 2′ 10″ better than the existing record.   Shortly before that, he threw the 22lb Hammer in excess of the previous record (distance not specified) by 1′ 1 1/2″ but on the follow-through his fingertip touched the stop board before the Hammer touched the turf – a foul throw.   He still won with his second best attempt of 96′ 3 1/2″.   

100 Yards Scratch: 1. J Urquhart; 2. J Geddes; 3. JH Gillespie

100 Yards Handicap: 1. J Shepherd; 2. J Urquhart; 3. J Findlay

220 Yards (Local): 1. K Macrae; 2. R Maclean; 3. J Gregor

220 Yards Handicap: 1. J Kennedy; 2. J Malcolm; 3. J Shepherd.

440 Yards (Local): 1. K Macrae; 2. C Campbell; 3. W Anderson

440 Yards Scratch: 1. J Brough; 2. J Geddes; 3. JS Lindsay

Half Mile Scratch: 1. J McIntyre; 2. J Usher; 3. AS Woodhouse

Mile Handicap: 1. W Jack; 2. Craig; 3. J Thomson

Girls Race (Under 16): 1. Elizabeth Briggs; 2. Hazel Anderson; 3. E Anderson

Boys Race (Under 16): 1. R Maclean; 2. J Bruce; 3. N King

16lb Ball: J Hunter 41′ 3″; 2. G Clark; 3. A Stewart

28lb Weight: 1. G Clark 67′ 9″; 2. A Merchant; 3. H Fraser

56lb Weight: 1. G Clark 35′ 2″; 2. H Fraser; 3. J Hunter

Heavy Stone: 1. 1. J Hunter 30′ 7″; 2. G Clark; 3. A Stewart

16lb Hammer: 1. LK Stewart 121′ 10″; 2. G Clark; 3. J Fraser

22lb Hammer: 1. LK Stewart 2. G Clark; 3. J Fraser

Tossing the Caber: 1. G Clark; 2. J Hunter and S Anderson (equal)

Wrestling Cumberland Style: 1. G Clark; 2. J Hunter; 3. R Shaw  

Running High Leap: J Davidson; 2. J Scott; 3. J Scott

Running Long Leap: 1. J Scott; 2. HM Herd; 3. J Scott

Vaulting with Pole: 1. HM Hood; 2. J Dodd; 3. I Davidson

George Clark in 1947

The Evening Telegraph of 2nd September had the above notice tucked away at the bottom of the front page – a front page which had headlines like “WORLD AWAITS RESULT OF BRITAIN’S LAST WARNING,”   “HITLER LEAVING BERLIN TODAY”, ” EUROPEAN STATES NEUTRALITY”   There would be no more Games until 1946.   What could have been expected at Braemar in a normal year?   We can see by going back a year to 1938 and seeing what was happening there.

First of all the King and Queen were there, as per usual, it was a day of bright sunshine, many people (70) fainted because of the heat and were treated by the Aberdeen branch of the British Red Cross Society, there was a big crowd (20,000 in the ground by 11:00 am), it was a cosmopolitan crowd with visitors from all over the British Isles, Europe and this year there was a party from China, there were pipe bands (six in total), the clansmen marched and of course there was the Games.

The athlete of the meeting had to be Jim McLellan of Delny, Invergordon, referred to as the World’s Champion athlete, who twice broke George Clark’s record in the 22 lb Hammer.   First he went a full six inches over Clark’s record of 94′ 2″ in the event, then after Clark had equalled the distance, he threw 95′ 5″ to win.   The performance and competition of the day without a doubt.  But look also at the result of Throwing the 16 lb Hammer – only one half inch separated the first two.   Results of the meeting.

100 Yards Scratch Race: 1. W McFarlane; 2. W Gray; 3. J Kennedy; J Millar

100 Yards Handicap: 1. W McFarlane; 2. W Gray; 3. J Kennedy; 4. J Millar

220 yards Final: 1. J Kennedy; 2. W Gray; 3. J Millar; 4. W McFarlane

440 Yards Handicap: 1. J Millar; 2. W Gray; 3. J Kennedy; 4. R Louden

Half Mile: 1. J Bolton; 2.P Kennedy; 3.  J Usher; 4. D Gunn

One Mile Handicap: 1. W Donaldson; 2. P Kennedy; 3. F Annandale; 4. D Gunn 

Girls Race: 1. J McAndrew; 2. M Innes; 3. M Wright

Boys Race: 1. G Richmond; 2. G Gillespie; 3. Gordon Gillespie; 4. HT Gordon

Putting 16lb pound Ball (Society): 1. R Shaw 42′ 1″; 2. T Grant 36′ 8″; 3. H Fraser; 4. D Smith

Putting 16 lb Ball: 1. JH Anderson 45′ 2″; 2. R Shaw 44′ 0″; 3. A Stewart; 4. G Clark

Putting Heavy Stone:  1. G Clark 32′ 10″; 2. R Shaw 30′ 7″; 3. JH Anderson 29′ 10 1/2″; 4. A Stewart 29′ 0″

Throwing 16lb Hammer (Local): 1. R Shaw 107′ 10″; 2. F Grant 103′ 4″; 3. 

Throwing 16 lb Hammer: 1. G Clark 116′ 5 1/2″; 2. J Anderson  116′ 5″; 3. J McLellan; 4. AJ Stewart

Throwing 22 lb Hammer: 1. J McLellan 95′ 5″ * record; 2. G Clark 94′ 8″ *record; 3. J Anderson

Throwing 28 lb Weight: 1. G Clark 68′ 4″; 2. AJ Stuart 64′ 7″; 3. J Anderson 61′ 2 1/2″; 4 H Murray

Throwing 56 lb Weight: 1. G Clark 36′ 3 1/2″; 2. AJ Stuart 32′ 4″; 3. (equal) J McLellan and N Murray 29′ 10″

Tossing the Caber (Society): 1. R Shaw; 2. D Richards; 3. F Grant; 4. H Fraser

Tossing the Caber (open) 1. J Millar; 2. W Gray; 3. J Kennedy; 4. R Louden

Running Long Leap: 1. H Banks 20′ 4″; 2. W Beattie 19′ 8″; 3 and 4 (equal) J Bolton and A Wilkie

Running High Leap: 1. J Wilkie and H Banks (equal) 5′ 7″; 2. Ogilvie and Marshall (equal) 

Vaulting with Pole: 1. J Muir; 2. JL Spooner; 3. A Marshall; 4. TW Spooner

Wrestling Cumberland Style: 1. G Clark; 2. J Anderson; 3. NH Murray; 4. R Spoode

… and most of the ‘heavies’ took part in the Cumberland style wrestling.

22 events in total; Boys and girls, men from the locality and in the open category there were competitors from all over Scotland as well as from the North of England.   It had been a very good day’s sport in brilliant weather, see the photograph below, with no hint about what was to come the following year or that there would be no more Braemar Gatherings until 1946.   

The Gathering and the Games continued through the 1920’s with the sport gradually increasing its share of the Press’s attention.   The obstacle race, shown above, had been incorporated to add some jollity to the day – and in 1930 the jollity was needed.   The weather was really bad with so much rain that the King and Queen, although staying Braemar at the time, did not come to the sports, sending Lord and Lady Carnegie in their place.   The photographs below show what the weather was like.

Given the dirty weather, and the absence of the ‘real’ royalty can go straight to the results as printed in the Scotsman on the Friday.   No doubt about the star of the show 0 George Clark was the man and this time the times, heights and distances for the first three in all events is shown.

220 yards race (Local & Society): 1. I Christie; 2.  R Milne; 3.  W Croll; 4. D Munro

440 yards Race: 1. J Edwards; 2. J Duffy; 3. J Bolton; 4. C McCallum

Quarter Mile Race: 1. J Christie; 2. D Munro; 3. J Gilbert; 4. W Croll

Half Mile Race: 1. J Bolton; 2. A Scally; 3. C McCallum; 4. J Duffy

One Mile Race: 1. A Scally; 2. A Chalmers; 3. J Bolton; 4. D Munro

Clansmen’s Race: 1. J Duncan; 2. W Bremner; 3. W Paterson; 4. C Grant 

Obstacle Race: 1. W Livingston; 2. J Christie; 3. W Stewart; 4. J Gilbert

Putting the Stone (Local): 1. Ian Grant 26’0″; 2.R Shaw 23′ 10 1/2″; 3. P Davidson 23′ 6 1/2″; 4. F Grassick

Putting the Stone (Society) 1. Ian Grant; 2. R Shaw; 3. P Davidson; 4. F Grassick 

Putting 16 lb Ball (Local): 1. R Shaw 38′ 11″; 2. I Grant ; 3. W Duguid 31′ 8″; F Grassick 31′ 7″

Putting the 16 lb Ball: 1. G Clark 42′ 11 1/2″; 2. R Shaw 40′ 4″; 3. B Spode 37′ 8 1/2″; 4. G Mitchell 36′ 11

Putting 28 lb Stone: 1. G Clark 29′ 11″; 2. R Shaw 26′ 0″; 3. J Graham; 4. G Mitchell

Throwing 28 lb Weight: 1. G Clark 69′ 1 1/2″; 2. AJ Stewart; 3. R Shaw; 4. G Mitchell

Throwing 56 lb Weight: G Clark 36′ 1 1/2″ *record; 2. AJ Stewart 28′ 9″; 3. J Nicholson 28′ 0″; 4. G Mitchell 27′ 9″

Throwing 16 lb Hammer (Local): 1. R Shaw; 2. I Grant; 3. P Davidson; 4. J Farquharson

Throwing 16 lb Hammer (Open): 1. G Clark 117′ 3″; J Anderson 2. 108′ 9″; 3. AJ Stewart 109′ 4″; 4. G Mitchell 105′ 4″

Throwing 16 lb Hammer (Society): 1. R Shaw; 2. I Grant; 3. P Davidson; 4. J Gilbert

Throwing the 22 lb Hammer: 1. G Clark 94′ 2″ * record; 2. G Mitchell; 3. J Anderson; 4. AJ Stewart

Tossing the Caber (Society): 1. R Shaw’ 2. I Grant; 3. P Davidson; 4. F Grassick

Tossing Caber: 1. J Anderson; 2. G Clark; 3. J Nicholson; 4. G Mitchell

Long Leap (Local) 1. W Croll 16′ 10″; 2. A Fraser; 3. J Wilson; 4. W Cameron

Long Leap (Open): 1. R Dodds; 2. J Edwards; 3. R Shand; 4. J Masson

High Leap (Local): 1. A Fraser; 2. J Gillespie; 3. J Wilson; 4. W Cameron

High Leap (Open): 1. G Masson 5′ 6″; 2. J Masson; 3. J Edwards; 4. J Gilbert and A Melvin

Hop, Step & Leap: 1. J Masson; 2. G Masson; 3 W Livingston; 4. J Edwards

Vaulting with Pole: 1. J Muir and C Dunn (equal) 10′ 0″; 2. WJ Chalmers, J Gillespie and A Melvin (equal)

+ Wrestling Cumberland Style: 1. J Nicholson; 2. G Mitchell; 3. G Clark; 4. J Anderson

There was an article in the paper before the meeting on what the athletes in former days had to do, there being no or very little motorised traffic, to get to and to perform at their best at the Games.    It is well worth a read – chaps walking 25 miles to compete, doing several events and doing 25 miles back again to be at their work the next morning.   Just click on the link.   It does not in any way demean what these athletes in 1930 did – George Clark set two records on the day, took part in five more events, winning them all, and then competed in the wrestling!   Looking over the results, I’m not sure what the difference was between the 440 yards race and the quarter mile event but the results were different!   And the heavy merchants had a putting the 28 lb stone and also a throwing the 28lb weight with 40 feet difference in the distances thrown.   

It was another good meeting despite the weather and the absence of the King and Queen and the Braemar Games had started on another decade.

The cutting above tells the story.   The Games celebrated their centenary in September 1926 and the King and Queen were there to see it.   The weather was not at its best, but as the headline says, the crowds turned out in force.   The Press pointed out that Braemar was once a local event but the motor car changed that.   Among the vehicles spotted were Rolls Royce, Daimler, charabanc, motor cycle and combination, plus of course ‘the humble push bike’.   The village itself was described by one local as a huge parking place.   Everywhere in the village there were visitors trying to buy souvenirs, even the Post Office was full.   A stall selling a book on the history of the Games was sold out very quickly.   

The Games themselves went off well with events that were confined to locals, confined to members of the Society and open events.   There were many athletes with multiple successes:

J Maitland won four events; F Grassick and J Edwards won three events; R Milne, B Smith, R Starkey and Ian Grant won two events each.   But many athletes competed in a whole plethora of events.   eg. Starkey took part in a total of 7 events, all throws, but he didn’t stop there.   He also took part in the Cumberland style wrestling where he was beaten for first place by J Nicholson and had George Clark behind him in third place.  Ian Grant also did seven.  F Grassick was in action five times in the course of the afternoon. And many more athletes had similarly demanding schedules.

The Invercauld Highlanders marching in to the arena

The results of the Games Events, there were 10 races, 14 Heavy events and 5 Jumps (29 in all):

Girls Race: 1. Bella McIntosh; 2. Lizzie Young; 3. Alice Armstrong.  Boys Race: 1. Jas Christie; 2. Alex Thain

Obstacle Race: 1. JM Morrice; 2. DJ Edwards; 3. J Aitken; 4. W Gray

Boys three legged race: A Thain & J Christie

Sack Race (Local and Society): 1. R Milne; 2. J Gillespie; 3. J Gilbert; 4. J Munro

Sack Race Over Hurdles: 1. R Milne; 2. J Morrice; 3. J Lenie; 4. J Christie

Clansmen’s Race (Over 55 years of age): 1. J Duncan; 2. G Beddie; 3. D Grant; 4. C McIntosh

200 Yards Race: 1. J Edwards (22 sec); 2. G Taylor; 3. R Bennet; 4. J Drummond

Quarter Mile Race (Local and Society): 1. W Gray; 2. W Croll; 3. R Milne; 4. J Gilbert

Half Mile Race (Open): 1. B Smith 2 min 05 sec; 2. R Bennet; 3. J Drummond; 4. J Edwards

Two Miles Race: 1. B Smith; 2. R Bennet; 3. F Tate; 4. Hector

Heavy Stone (Local): 1. Ian Grant 24′ 5″; 2. F Grassick 23′ 5″; 3. A Innes 21′ 9 1/2″; 4. G Simpson

Heavy Stone (Society): 1. BK Michie 25′ 2″: 2. J Davidson 24′ 6 1/2″; 3. Ian Grant 24′ 5″; 4. F Grassick 23′ 5″

Putting 16 lb ball (Local): 1. F Grassick 35′ 2″; 2. Ian Grant 34′ 5″; 3. A Innes 31′ 5″; 4. G Simpson 30′ 6″

Putting 16 lb ball (Society): 1. R Starkey 40′ 8″; 2. M Michie 89′ 8″; 3. J Graham; 4. J Maitland

Putting the Stone 28 lb: 1. R Starkey 28′ 2. J Graham 27′ 5″; 3. J Nicholson 27′ 1″; 4. M Michie 26′ 9 1/2″

Throwing 18 lb Weight: J Maitland 62′ 8″; 2. R Starkey 61′ 9 1/2″; 3. WW Fergueon; 4. Graham 55′ 6″

Throwing 56 lb Weight: 1. J Maitland 32′ 1″; 2. WW Ferguson 31′ 3″; 3. R Starkey; 4. J Nicholson

Throwing 16 lb Hammer (Local): 1. Ian Grant 95′ 1″; 2. F Grassick 88′ 4″; 3. W Innes; 4. W Jamieson

Throwing 16 lb hammer (Society): 1. J Davidson 100′ 11″; 2. J Kennedy 99′ 4″: 3. J Gilbert 95′ 6″; 4. Ian Grant 95′ 1″

Throwing 16 lb Hammer (Open): 1. J Maitland 112′ 10″; 2. R Starkey 105′ 10″; 3. G Clark 104′ 1″; 4. WW Ferguson 101′ 2″

Throwing 22 lb Hammer: 1. J Maitland 90′ 6″; 2. R Starkey 83′ 7″; 3. G Clark 83′ 4″; 4. WW Ferguson

Tossing the Caber (Local): 1. F Grassick ; 2. Ian Grant; 3. A James; 4. A Jamieson

Tossing the Caber (Society): 1. F Grassick; 2. DH Michie and Ian Grant equal; 3. J Davidson

Tossing the Caber: 1. 1. J Nicholson; 2. R Starkey; 3. Maitland and Michie (equal)

Running Long Leap (Local): 1. W Croll 15′ 7″; 2. J Munro 15′ 5″; 3. G Gillespie 15′ 1″; 4. 15′

Hop, Step and Jump: 1. J Edwards 41′ 2″; 2. W Lenie 41′ 3″; 3. Hector 39′ 10″; 4. Cruikshank 38′ 7″

Running High Leap (Local): 1. G Thomson 5′ 1″; 2. J Gillespie 5′ 0″; 3. G Simpson 4′ 11″; 4. W Croll 4′ 9″  

High Leap: 1. J Edwards 5′ 6″; 2. W Lenie 5′ 5″; 3. G Aitken; 4. J Gilbert

Vaulting with Pole: 1. J Cameron and A Sinclair (equal) 10′ 3″; D Tulloch and A Lawson (equal) 10′ 1″

Braemar was 100 years old and in the course of that time it had made many innovations – some worked (as with the boys and girls races) and some were dropped after several years (such as the hurdles race over 13 hurdles and ending with a swim over the river).   Centenary Year was significant for the fact that the BBC was there broadcasting the event to the nation.   The picture above is evidence of that.   The programme was on the radio from 2:45 to 4:00 pm.

The photograph below is of cars waiting their turn to get over the Devil’s Elbow on their way to the Games – we are told that it was just as difficult for the  on the way home 

The Games were still up and running!

The above article was published in the Courier the week before the 1930 Games.

Above we see the Royal Party arrive at the Games on Thursday, 9th September 1920, at the second Gathering after the Great War.

The Gathering and the Games had started up again in 1919 with the King and Queen present at a wonderful day of sport at a time when life was not really so pleasant for the population.   The event had lost none of its attractiveness to sports enthusiasts or to socialites – with the latter probably dominant.   An estimated crowd of 10,000 according to the P & J but 15,000 according to the Courier, special trains from Aberdeen to Ballater; the first two cars arrived at twenty minutes to six in the morning having travelled from South Perthshire having travelled through the night; altogether 4655 motor vehicles of all kinds were said to be there – motor cars, motor cycles, char-a-bancs in big numbers were all there.   There were at least 50 ordinary business motor trucks from which the bodies had been removed and the chassis had temporary wooden flooring with rows of benches on it.   The Highlanders were of course present representing their own clans but marching together to the Park.   There were 38 Balmoral Highlanders, 60 Duff clansmen and 50 Farquharsons bearing claymores.   The Royal family enjoyed the afternoon with the Queen asking for an encore of the Juvenile Highland dancing.   

From the Leven Advertiser & Wemyss Gazette, 2nd September

Below, from Aberdeen Daily Journal, 2nd September

But what of the annual Games?   Many of the names are familiar, some will continue to appear as the 20’s roll by, just note the  all-round ability of McHardy and Michie, or the heavy events work done by Grassick.   

But here below are the results of the 1920 version as printed in the Glasgow Herald of 10th September 1920.

Whether you accept the 10,000 spectator number or the 15,000 figure it was a successful meeting amid the difficulties that the country was facing socially and politically.   How would 1921 treat the Gathering?

By 1921, when the Games were held on 28th September, they were back in full swing as though there had been no interruption at all.  See the picture above.  The King and Queen were absent but the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York and Prince Henry were all present and warmly welcomed by the crowd.   Spectators were down in number on the previous two years, somewhere between 8000 and 9000, as was the number of motor cars which were estimated at betwenn 800 and 900 com,pared with over 1000 in 1920.   The Gathering however was reported to a resounding success both socially and as an athletics meeting.   The opening event was the march of the highlanders – the Balmoral, Duff and Farquharson Highlanders – therough the town to the Games Field with each man carrying his pike, Lochaber axe or claymore.   

The Games started at 11 o’clock with the usual two classes – open and confined to locals.   The guests started to arrive and among them in 1921 was Sir Harry Lauder.   The Princess Royal arrived at approx 2:45 and five minutes later came the three Princes.   The Party stayed until about half past four, when they departed driven through two lines of Highlanders to the patriotic cheers of the crowd.   Once they had gone, most of the motor cars left too; their principal attraction gone.   More than five entire columns of the broadsheet Aberdeen Daily Journal were given over to the names of dignitaries present, both local and from further afield, and more than a column of that was descriptions of the women’s attire ‘by our Lady Representative.’   eg Mrs Ireland had a black coat frock, and a black straw hat with a white osprey and a black skunk fur.

The Games had 26 athletic events including a Clansmen’s Race confined to competitors aged 55 and over.   There were also races for boys and girls and all-in-all it was a very ‘inclusive’ meeting.   None of the prize lists that we saw had the actual times, heights or distances unfortunately.   The main thing thoug, is that the Games were back – and the royal patronage continued.