World champion heads for Cumnock

Aug 20 2010 by Yonnie McInnes, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

WORLD champion Aaron Neighbour – last year’s Cumnock Highland Games winner – will return to the fifth annual gathering this Sunday, at Broomfield Park and he’ll be defending his title against a field of international talent.

During 2009, the 32-year-old Australian was crowned Scottish Highland Games Association world heavy events champion and International Highland Games Association world heavy events champion.

Along the way he claimed the honours at Cumnock with an outstanding overall performance in all events including caber, hammer, shot put, stone put and the 28lb and 56lb weights for distance.

This year, Aaron will be joined at Cumnock by Jason Young from Tain (Cumnock’s champion in 2008 and six times Cowal champion); Neil Elliot from Helensburgh (nine times Scottish shot putt champion); Sinclair Patience from Inverness (2009 World Amateur champion); Garry Hagan from Clydebank (most improved athlete this year); plus Hans Dietor Dorow, Daniel Dorow and Andre Bonne all from Germany.

There will also be an international flavour at the Highland Dancing competition with youngsters from as far as Australia joining the field of more than 50 competitors.

Meanwhile, pipe bands from across South West and Central Scotland will be performing and competing including Irvine and District, Kilmarnock; 1st Troon Boys’ Brigade; Muirkirk and District; Troon Blackrock; Mauchline and District; Vale of Clyde; Linlithgow and District; Royal Burgh Annan, Kirkcudbright and District and Penicuik and District Pipe Bands.

The day will start off in style at around 10.25am with a flypast by a vintage Dakota aircraft – at 500ft, weather permitting – to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Later, the Golden Lions Parachute Display Team will also drop by and there will be children’s rides, stalls and more.

“We have a terrific line-up for the 2010 Cumnock Highland Games with something for everyone to enjoy,” said committee secretary, Jim McMillan.

It’s all preceded by the Saturday night Tattoo, an evening of stirring music and spectacle bringing together a clan of Highland warriors, fire dancers, fireworks, Saor Patrol – an original five piece pipe and drum band – and the amazing musical and marching precision of the Queen Victorian School at Dunblane.

It’s only the second time the tattoo has taken place.

It all starts at 10.30am until 5.30pm.

The parade, led by 2010 Chieftain Bill Stafford, leaves Cumnock Square at 12.30pm.

The Tattoo is on Saturday from 7pm to 9.30pm with its parade leaving Cumnock Square at 6.30pm.

Tickets for each event are £5 each (concessions available) and can be purchased in advance from Kenny’s and Donsport in Cumnock, or at the gate.