History of Stirling Highland Games

2020

Stirling Highland Games event cancelled due to covid-19 pandemic.

2020

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2020

Stirling Highland Games Committee held a meeting to discuss the 150 year anniversary event.

2019

Kieron Achara
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2019

Stirling Highland Games President, Matt McGrandles voted onto the General Council of the Scottish Highland Games Association

2018

Simone Labib
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2017

Kari Carswell
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2016

Lesley Paterson
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2015

Stirling Highland Games committee engage with Active Stirling as part of the Junior Games, an event to encourge all S1 pupils in the Stirling District area to particiapte in sport. The SHG committee provided opportunities for the pupils to try out several highland games events throughout the day.

2015

Michael Goodfellow
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2014

Ally Hogg
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Matt McGrandles
Stirling Highland Games President

2013

Stirling Highland Games President Matt McGrandles announces that future Games Chieftains will be selected from nominated famous sons and daughters of Stirling that have achieved success at the highest level in their fields.

2013

Stirling Tourism Association pass, at their AGM, full ownership of Stirling Highland Games to local Stirling resident and social entrepreneur, Matt McGrandles

2013

Stirling Highland Games event cancelled due to low visitor numbers, reduced sponsorship and lack of interest and support from Local Authority

2012

Stirling Highland Games event cancelled due to bad weather

2011

Bruce Crawford
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

TBC
President of Stirling Highland Games

2010

Fergus Wood
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2009

2008

Andrew Cameron
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2007

Ian Bowie
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2006

Basil L Stewart
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2005

Colin O’Brien
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2004

Alan Rennie
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2003

Anne McGuire
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2002

James Mclaren
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2001

John A Doglione
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

2000

Donald E Hay
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Unknown
Stirling Highland Games President

1999

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1998

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1997

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1996

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1995

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1994

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1993

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1992

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1991

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1990

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1989

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1988

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1987

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1986

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1985

Chieftain name, pic and bio | TBC, President of SHG

1923

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1922

Major Murray of Polmaise
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1921

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1885

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1884

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1883

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1882

Not Known
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Not Known
Chairman of SHG Association

1872

Col. McPherson
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Col. McPherson
Chairman of SHG Association

1871

Col. McPherson
Stirling Highland Games Chieftain

Col. McPherson
Chairman of SHG Association

1870

Stirling Highland Games Officials
James Graham 4th Duke of Montrose
President of the SHG Association

Col. McPherson
Chairman of the SHG Association

Charles Murray 7th Earl of Dunmore
Steward

The first Stirlingshire Highland Games went ahead on Saturday 23rd July 1870 at Wellgreen, St Ninians. The Competitions began at 10 am [except Quoits which began at 9 am]. Entertainment was provided by a Brass band Music and refreshments were available. The Stirling Journal reported July 30th 1870, “newly 4000 people congregated at St Ninians Well Green to witness the inauguration of Highland Games in Stirling. On several previous occasions games had taken place which were contained to particular regiments stationed in the town and in which few favoured citizens were allowed to take part in as amateurs. These events had taken place in Queens Park. It is well known that many of the local villages had celebrated their annual holiday with a form of games.”

1850s

The Stirling Journal & Advertiser and Stirling Observer noted that these Highland Gatherings incorporated Highland games (HG) sports such as races and heavy events such as “Puttin’ the Stone”, “Tossing the Caber” and “Throwing the Hammer”. These early HG were a competition for serving soldiers of the Highland Regiment based at Stirling Castle. Occasionally local sportsmen could enter by invitation as an amateur and were barred from winning any prizes. Research also highlighted a link between the Highland Regiment HG and the Stirling Highland Games established in 1870, via Col. McPherson who as Commander of the Regiment in 1870 was one of the instrumental supporters of a HG in Stirling.

1820

1820 – Stirling Caledonia Society was established. This society met annually to celebrate the victories of William Wallace and Andrew de Moray  (Stirling Bridge, 1297) and Robert Bruce (Bannockburn, 1314), and within a few years the meetings would honour prominent citizens of the Burgh.