Hopefully the
weather will improve as the 2008 Highland Games season gets underway as
holding any event in the open-air in Scotland, at any time during the year,
is always at risk of adverse weather. Last Saturday was probably the best
day of the year but Markinch Highland Games on Sunday (1 June 2008) was
struck with heavy rain. Fortunately the Games were already underway before
the arrival of the rain and the large crowd saw the programme successfully
carried out, although the Highland Dancing had to be transferred to the
nearby Town Hall. Markinch Games stage the oldest pipe band contest in the
country and these were successfully concluded in spite of the weather with
the grade one title going to one of the newest pipe bands – the recently
formed Fife Constabulary band.
Many of the
places holding Highland Games, such as Markinch in Fife, are of course far
from the Highland Line but are popular venues for all that, as the great
turn-out on Sunday proved. The whole community gets behind their local games
regardless of where they are in Scotland. Games and sport have been held in
Scotland for over a thousand years and were originally organised to find the
best runners to provide communications over our rugged countryside. Many
Highland Games still echo this original purpose with the incorporation of a
Hill race eg The Binn Race at Burntisland Highland Games (21 July 2008).
Hopefully, unlike in 2007, Burntisland Games will not be cancelled owing to
heavy overnight rain.
Pipe Band Competitions, Solo Piping and Highland Dancing all add colour
to the modern Highland Games, along with the Heavyweight Competitions
and Track and Field events. No visit to Scotland during the Games season
would be complete without attending a Highland Gathering to enjoy the
spectacle.
Highland
Dancing is one of the major attractions at the Games and a popular dance
inspires this week’s recipe – Highland Fling. A combination with a
Scottish traditional dance and her favourite tipple must be a winner!
Highland
Fling
Ingredients:
1 oz Scotch Whisky; 1 oz Blue Curaçao; ½ oz Orange Bitters; Soda
Method:
Serve the spirits in a large goblet, topped with soda. Decorate with a
slice of starfruit and kiwi.
