IN PICTURES: Smiles through the rain at Lochcarron Highland Games

As is normally the case, it poured with rain during last Saturday’s Lochcarron Highland Games but, said Joanna Macpherson of Attadale Estate, “it was still a fantastic day.”

Such were the conditions, that a gazebo from the gardens that was put up on the Friday evening was “blown over the road, over the railway line, and onto to the shore” on Saturday morning.

“It was ruined and we won’t be able to use it again,” added Joanna.

“The rain was appalling, but the day was very busy, with lots of visitors from abroad.

“It didn’t start off wet, and everyone was so enthusiastic.

“We were very happy and it was exciting that so many people came. Other people’s misfortune was our good fortune because the Kinlochewe Hill Race was cancelled, but ours went ahead.

“It was amazing how many people competed in it.. It was so successful, and the man who came first [Callum Smith] only just missed the record which, given the conditions, was absolutely incredible.

“And we also had a six-year-old who did the race. His mum had to find a grown up to run with him, but he did it.”

Joanna thanked salmon farming firm Bakkafrost for sponsoring the 43^rd games. She was also delighted her 93-year-old father, Ewen Macpherson, was able to take the field as the chieftain.

This was the second year in a row he did so while riding a lawnmower as “he is not as mobile as he used to be.”

Accompanying Joanna and her father was Joanna’s son, Jack, and his daughter Paloma – four generations of the family opening the games.

MEANWHILE, The Isle of Skye pipe band entertained the vast crowd at the Lochcarron Highland Games, with a guest bass drummer in their ranks.

Regular bass drummer Jack Mutch was unable to attend due to work commitments, so Drum Major Peter MacDonald put out a request over the tannoy for anyone to fulfil the role.

Step forward Jo Byers, an Occupational Therapist based at the social work office in Broadford.

Although her attire was more suited to the events taking part on the track Jo, a keen and talented musician, proved to me a major hit and she also found time to compete in the haggis-hurling competition.

RESULTS: Hill Race (open) 1^st Callum Smith 19m 29s, 2^nd Robin Howie 20m 24s, 3^rd Henry Gordon-Hart 20m 27s.

Hill Race (Ladies) 1^st Eilidh Prise 26m 20s, 2^nd Mailum Leitadl 26m 25s, Maggie MacAskill 27m 59s.

Veteran (open) 1^st Alex Glasgow 23m 24s, 2^nd Manu Kauppila 25m 25s, 3^rd Andrew Gilmore 27m 44s.

Veteran (Ladies) 1^st Deborah Warner 29m 9s, 2^nd Fabienne Thompson 31m 19s, 3^rd Becky Merchant 36m 11s.

Juniors (boys) 1^st Eelis Kauppila 24m 13s, 2^nd Matthew Lambert 24m 19s, 3^rd Lewis Verbeke 30m 27s.

Juniors (girls) 1^st Vivienne Goodman 33m 44s, 2^nd Audrey Lambert 34m 40s, 3^rd Daisy Henry 36m 12s.

First local male, Robin Downie. First local female, Vivienne Goodman.

Heavy Events – Joint 1^st Sinclair Patience and Jamie Gunn, 3rd Ranald Fraser, 4^th Craig Johnston, 5^th Ali Mackenzie.

Athletics 100m open 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Gregory McGillvray, 3^rd Andrew Melville.

Ladies 1^st Stephanie McDonald, 2^nd Janni Williams, 3^rd Joanna Byers.

200m open 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Scott Fraser, 3^rd Sebastian Blanch.

Ladies 1^st Maya Miller, 2^nd Stephanie McDonald.

400m open 1^st Scott Fraser, 2^nd Fraser McDonald, 3^rd Sebastian Blanch.

Ladies 1^st Maya Miller, 2^nd TBC, 3^rd Sapphire Melville.

800m open 1^st Thomas MacAskill, 2^nd Scott Fraser, 3^rd Russell Yates.

1600m open 1^st Thomas MacAskill, 2^nd Callum Smith, 3^rd Robin Downie.

High Jump Open 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Gregory McGillvray, 3^rd Sebastian Blanch.

Ladies 1^st Janni Williams, 2^nd Sapphire Melville.

Long Jump Open 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Gregory McGillvray, 3^rd Scott Fraser.

Ladies 1^st Janni Williams, 2^nd Joanna Byers, 3^rd Sapphire Melville.

Triple Jump Open 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Scott Fraser, 3^rd Gregory McGillvray.

Best track athlete 1^st Fraser McDonald, 2^nd Gregory McGillvray, 3^rd Scott Fraser.

Juniors. 100m boys 1^st Josh Whittingham, 2^nd Hamish Riddell, 3^rd Mason Doherty.

Girls 1^st Daisy Henry, 2^nd Vivienne Goodman, 3^rd Sapphire Melville.

200m boys 1^st Josh Whittingham, 2^nd Hamish Riddell, 3^rd Archie Rae.

Girls 1^st Daisy Henry, 2^nd Cathy Turban.

600m boys 1^st Matthew Lambert, 2^nd Archie Rae, 3^rd Campbell Riddell.

Girls 1^st Daisy Henry, 2^nd Poppy Glasgow, 3^rd Audrey Lambert.