Except that I didn't see a single midge, it could well have been the Scottish Highlands.
The annual highlight of events at Fort Nottingham is the Highland Games gathering, and this year was no exception. Sadly the authentic highland weather kept the crowd numbers down, but those that braved the elements and the plentiful mud had a jolly good time. With sports events including the farmers' walk (no walk in the park - trust me!), the kilted mile and the inevitable caber tossing, it was the tug o' war that got the crowds cheering. Those teams who thought that a solid heavyweight anchor at the end of the rope would be enough to ensure victory, found that the slippery conditions put paid to the idea, as many an end o' the liner may as well have worn ski's if there without the backup of a solid well muscled line team. Just ask anyone brave enough to have taken on the rugby veterans. Collapsing lines of kilted tuggers provided plenty of opportunities to discover what a non-Scotsman wears under his apparel - oh well, it was a family day - while Haggis and Bong, the band variously described as Progressive Celtic Folk or Celtic Metal (either gives you some idea of what to expect) got the crowd awake and alive and oblivious to the comparatively cool air.
Spectators lining the main arena field, below the freshly mown mile course, while the mist wafts through the hills above give some idea of the challenges faced by the gamers this year.
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