Blairgowrie & Rattray Highland Games
The History of the Games

Research done by the town's Our Heritage group has revealed that the history of Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games goes back more than 135 years.

Records of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games before 1887 may have been lost, as according to John A.R. Macdonald's ‘The History of Blairgowrie (Town, Parish, and District)' which was published in 1899, the Highland Games, which had been allowed to lapse were revived in 1887 by The Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds (Lodge Tullyveolan).

Back then the event was held on Fair O Blair Day in July and was known as the Highland Games and Military Sports.

It was attended by a detachment of the 6th Inniskilling Dragoons, whose band played during the day and the programme included some intriguing events such as:

Image
Courtesy of Our Heritage

Sword v sword

Sword v lance

Tent pegging

Lemon cutting

Grand ride and charge (musical)

Wrestling on horseback

Balaclava melee

Fencing (sabres)

Sword exercise at a gallop

The Games were held in Cleekerinn Park, also known as West Park (which is now the location of Lidl and Home Bargains), and the Fair O' Blair was based around the Wellmeadow.

On Fair O' Blair Day, thousands of visitors would descend on the town, and for generations both the Highland Games and the Fair O' Blair attracted large crowds. For Dundonians, this was the highlight of the Dundee Holiday Week and special trains ran from Dundee with cheap fares being offered by the railway company.

In the 19th century terpsichorean (dancing) competitions were for men. According to tradition, kings and clan chiefs used Highland Games to select their best men at arms, and the discipline to perform the Highland dances allowed men to demonstrate their strength, stamina, and agility.
The 1920s was a time of mixed fortunes for both the Fair O' Blair and the Highland Games. By 1925 the Highland Games had lapsed and the Shows at the Fair Blair were no longer allowed on the Wellmeadow.

But by 1928 Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games were again held on Fair 0' Blair day with advertisements proclaiming 'Grand Cavalry Display by a Detachment of the Royal Scots Greys direct from Olympia Tournaments, London, accompanied by the World Famous Band of the Regiment'.

Sadly, by the mid-1930s the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games Committee, despite fundraising attempts such as whist drives and dances, were finding it hard to meet financial ends, and no games were held in 1936, the games park was sold off to the County Education Committee for use as a playing field by Blairgowrie High School.

July 1951 saw an attempt by Blairgowrie Juniors Football Club to revive the games by holding a Fair O' Blair Day sports at Davie Park.

Since 1991 large crowds have been assembling at Bogle's Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie, for the Blairgowrie and Rattray Highland Games each September. Competitors for some of the piping, dancing, and heavy events come from far and wide.

Find out more about Blairgowrie and Rattray's history at https://ourheritageblairrattray.scot/