In what is a high profile year for Stirling and Scotland the event team at Stirling Highland Games were keen to showcase one of Stirling’s own as this year’s Chieftain.
There are many different ways a Chieftain is appointed dependant on the highland games and the area you are visiting. In this Honorary position Stirling’s format looks for a high profile son or daughter of the area and along with Provost Mike Robbins, our Games Host Ambassador they will reside over what will be an action packed day for all the family on the 16th August.
‘I had no hesitation’ explains event organiser Matt McGrandles, ‘in putting Ally Hogg forward to our committee. He is exactly the kind of person we are looking for to help showcase our games’. The Scottish Rugby star mentions it’s a great honor to be involved and is looking forward to taking some time out of his pre-season training to reside over the event.
Ally first picked up a rugby ball when attending the High School of Stirling and also represented U16 Scotland level at Basketball. He even made his 1st XV debut at Stirling County during the 2 season’s Matt was captain. He then signed as a professional rugby player with Edinburgh Rugby in 2002 and played 127 times for the capital club before moving over the border in 2010 to play for his current club the Newcastle Falcons.
Ally won his first Scottish cap in 2004 against Wales in Cardiff and played for his country 48 times, including the 2007 IRB Rugby World Cup in France, and is well known for his prowess at sevens.
Matt outlines: “I am delighted that Ally has accepted the role of Games Chieftain as he is very well known in the area and being such a fit guy could probably hold his own in the heavyweight’s competition if he entered.”
As well as the traditional games events like Highland Dancing, Running, Youth Running, Cycling, Heavyweights, Light Field, Tug o’ War and piping performances there is also the Traders Village. It will be packed with food stalls serving steak burgers, BBQ and a hog roast as well as arts and crafts stalls and there will activities including face painting, smoothie bikes and a bike doctor clinic to give your bike a clean bill of health.
Stirling Highland Games are proud to donate all profits raised on the day to the Ceangail CIC programme which support the development of employability and enterprise skills for young people in the area.