Summary report

The total prize purse of nearly £22,000, the largest in Scotland, ensured that the crowd of around 4,000 were enthralled by many of the World's best athletes, Highland dancers and pipers competing at the North of Scotland's top Games. Despite a heavy shower of rain at 2pm, the track held reasonably firm for the cyclists. The rain forced the Highland dancers to perform indoors within the Ross Institute.

The crowd was entertained by the pipes and drums of the Scots Guards Association and the traditional Schermer Dansers from the Netherlands.

• click here for more photographs of the Halkirk Highland  Games.

Heavyweights

The Scottish Games Association World Heavyweight champion Ryan Vierra, California , making his third appearance at Halkirk, just kept off the challenge of fellow countryman Larry Brock, to regain the title of Champion of Champions. International champions Harrison Bailey III, Pennsylvania , Sean Betz, Nebraska , Murray Gunn, Halkirk, Bruce Robb, Glenrothes, Greg Hadley, Novia Scotia & Bruce Aitken, Auchenblae could not match the power, speed and strength of the USA strongmen.

Vierra won two events and was second four times to clinch the Andrew Ross memorial cup as open champion and the A Waugh memorial cup as caber champion. The Clan Gunn Society cup for the greatest total distance in both hammer events and the SGA Scottish Championship medals for the two hammer events were won by Bruce Aitken, the current world record holder in the 16lb hammer.

Larry Brock clinched the Scottish Championship medal for the 28lb weight for distance and broke the ground record in the 56lb weight for distance with a throw of 44'3''. Harrison Bailey III won the 16lb sheaf toss with an amazing toss of 34', which is believed to be the highest ever seen at Halkirk and not far off the world record. Bruce Robb easily won the 56lb weight for height with a throw of 16' and had a failed attempt at the ground record height of 16'11''

With brother Alistair acting as heavyweight judge for the first time, Murray Gunn regained the John Budge cup as County champion.

Cycling

On the track, Wick professional cyclist Evan Oliphant was in a class of his own and won all seven races. He won the Prince Henry Sinclair trophy as the most outstanding Caithness competitor. Thurso's Allan Clark was second in all the races and Darren Howitt of Leicester, a popular and regular competitor at Halkirk, was third in all the races.

The open junior champion was Nicholas Hunter of Falkirk .

Athletics

The track and light field events were dominated by Craig Robertson, Logierait. Craig won all five races and was second in the three jumping events and took home all of the eight trophies that were available to win. This is a very rare feat at Halkirk. Craig's father John, a veteran of the Games for many years, won the over 40's race and was third in the high jump. The Caithness senior champion was Graeme Taylor of Thurso and the junior open champion was Craig Spargo of Thurso.

Tug O'War

In an exciting final, Halkirk ''A'', the 2006 Scottish Tug O'War champions, beat their local rival Forss ''A'' to retain the Tug O'War title.

Clay Pigeon Shooting

A very large field of 48 guns, including eight shooters from Orkney, took part in the clay pigeon shooting events, with A Morrison, Durness winning the overall aggregate. He held off the challenge from P Sutherland, Wick and V Smith of Orkney. The Orkney shooters were practicing for the World Island Games Championships. The junior champion was Logan Munro, Scrabster.

Piping

Niall Matheson, Inverness was again the top piper, after beating a strong contingent in all four events. The under 15 champion for the March was Liam MacKay, Thurso. The U18 champion was R Forrest who just held off the strong challenge from Halkirk's Jack Cowan.

Highland Dancing

The top adult dancer was Craig Johnston of Edinburgh , who just held off the challenge from Wick's Tanya Horne and Kara Broughton from Australia . Tanya was the Caithness open champion. The U16 open champion was Aileen Rollo, Watten. The U12 open champion was Ciara Wilson, Ayr . The Caithness U16 championship was jointly won by Kirsty Bain, Wick and Aileen Rollo, Watten and the U12 champion was Hannah Russell, Wick.

Baby Show

The champion baby in the highly competitive baby show was Alisha Larnach of Wick.