THIS weekend Peebles Highland Games will celebrate its 50th anniversary at Hay Lodge Park.

After an almost three-year-long hiatus due to the pandemic, the games will be back tomorrow (Saturday, September 3) with a bang.

This year the Games will feature its three main events – Pipe Band Competition, Heavy Events and Highland Dancing.

A spokesperson from the Games said: "In addition to the three main attractions of the Pipe Band Competition, Heavy Events and Highland Dancing, there are various stalls around the arena including children’s fairground rides and a craft area.

"Other events have been added over the years including the ever popular Haggis Hurling and the Peeblesshire Primary Schools Picture Competition.

"One of this year’s Heavy Events competitors, Garry McClay, recently broke the world haggis hurling record with an impressive hurl of 187 feet so there will be a lot of interest to see if he can go even further with one of Forsyth’s finest mealy puddings at Hay Lodge Park this weekend."

One change to the Games this year is that award-winning dance teacher Fiona Henderson – owner of the Fiona Henderson School of Dance – will take over the Highland Dancing competition.

The Games hope more local dancers will join and more young people and the wider community will be encouraged to attend.

Peeblesshire News: The Pipe Band Competition at the 2019 Games. Photo: Peebles Highland GamesThe Pipe Band Competition at the 2019 Games. Photo: Peebles Highland Games

This year’s ceremonial Chieftain of the Games is former committee member and Ex-Cornet William Porteous.

Peebles Ex-Servicemen’s Pipe Band will lead Mr Porteous in the Chieftain’s Walk from the Tontine Hotel on the High Street to Hay Lodge Park leaving at 10:40am.

Mr Porteous will be installed by 2019 Chieftain Andy Currie from Glasgow.

After being installed Mr Porteus will declare the Games ‘open’.

The first Highland Games were held in 1972 at Whitestone Park where they remained until the Gytes was built on the site in the 90s.

Since this time Hay Lodge Park has been home to the Games, except in 2008 when they were temporarily held in Victoria Park, and in 2013 when the Games were cancelled to allow for the pitches at Hay Lodge to be re-laid.

The Highland Dancing and Pipe Band competitions start at 9.30am and 11am respectively and run throughout the day while the Heavy Events, including the Scots’ hammer and Caber take place between 1pm and 4.30pm.

The presentation of prizes will start at around 4.30pm.

Entry is £8 for adults and £5 for concessions (OAPs, Children aged 5 to 16, and Students with valid ID). Children under 5 go free.

Over 1,800 tickets have been distributed via the eight local primary schools for free child entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

For more information visit the Games' website: www.peebleshighlandgames.com or Facebook page @peebleshighlandgames.