Council to constitute Highland Schools Highland Games Association

People with an interest or expertise in Highland Games are being invited by The Highland Council to an open meeting on Monday 21st April to discuss developing a Highland Schools Highland Games Association.

The aim of the meeting which is being held at 6pm at the Council’s Chambers in Glenurquhart Road is to constitute a Highland Schools Highland Games Association which will:

• develop and support events, standards and rules for junior competition;
• develop the number and quality of junior heavies;
• secure funding and sponsorship for highland games;
• develop and deliver training to ensure safe and fun participation in highland games; and
• secure support from people with an interest in furthering highland games participation.

Councillor Bill Fernie, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Committee said: “During Highland 2007 there were many primary and secondary junior Highland Games events and there is a desire to build on this platform. We hope to build upon these opportunities for young people to get involved in the sporting and cultural experiences of Highland Games.”

Meeting organiser, Alan Clark, Highland Council’s Active Schools Manager said: “Highland Games is part of the tradition and culture of the Highlands and wider Scotland. In recent years there have been developments to enable more opportunity for participation and competition by junior participants to ensure that there are junior heavies and competitors to populate the community games events.

“We hope that this growing groundswell of junior talent will help to overcome concerns about the ever decreasing number of senior Highlanders taking part in games with overseas heavies competing for the available prizes in recent years.”

To develop a Highland Schools Highland Games Association an invitation is extended to all interested parties to attend a meeting on Monday 21st April, 6pm at the Council’s Chambers on Glenurquhart Road, Inverness. A warm welcome will be extended to all those attending. Anyone unable to attend can also contact : Alan Clark, Active Schools Manager, Highland Football Academy, Jubilee Park Road, Dingwall on tel 01349 860993 or e-mail: alan.clark@highland.gov.uk