The Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA) is the governing body of Traditional Highland Games in Scotland. It represents over 60 Highland Games in Scotland with several associate members overseas.
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Scotland has a long tradition and history of Highland Games where Clans would compete against each other in sporting events. Early Celts viewed such events as war games where their strongest and bravest soldiers would win the games.
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Some say that Highland Games originated as a clan chieftain's way of choosing the best bodyguards and the fittest fighters. Not all the chief's requirements were warlike - musicians and dancers were important for the prestige of his household. Choosing staff and supporters was done by holding competitions - good runners for couriers, strong men for defense and a range of entertainers to amuse them during the winter evenings.
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Many events at today's Highland Games still use items which would have been part of everyday life in the Highlands of old eg. round stones from river beds probably provided the original shot-putts while a Scots pine trunk shorn of its branches is still the caber as tossed today.
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Many of these traditions can still be seen in Highland Games today however they are now much more sociable and fun events celebrated worldwide.
Brief history of the Highland Games in Helensburgh
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1898 - The first Highland Games to be held in Helensburgh is believed to have been held in Larchfield Park in 1898.
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1899 - In the 1899 Games, Piper MacPherson of the Royal Scots & Charles McIntosh from Motherwell wrestled most of the afternoon. Neither could put the other down, and the bout was eventually declared a draw. The football (Soccer) place-kicking competition was won by Mr Mathiew Dickie, who had been awarded his first international cap as Scotland’s goalkeeper the previous year.
1900 - The highlight of the 1900 Games was the ascent by balloon and descent by parachute of a lady parachutist, Maud Brooks. The Balloon was released at about 4 p.m., climbed rapidly, and vanished into the clouds. However, the intrepid Miss Brooks landed a few minutes later on the West Highland railway line near Upper Colquhoun Street.
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1901 - At the 1901 Games, Tom McInerney of England and George Ross, the Scottish champion, contested the World Wrestling Championship. To the crowd's disappointment, McInerney won the title.
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1902 - The 1902 Games saw A.A. Cameron from Partick break the world record for putting the 56lb weight, achieving 40ft 10 ins.
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1903 - In 1903, the programme included tent pegging, lemon cutting, a Balaclava melee, and wrestling on horseback by the Royal Field Artillery.
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1905 - Unfortunately, the 1905 Games made a loss, & there were no more Games until 1924.
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1924 - Provost J.F. Duncan organised a gathering & Athletic Carnival’ at Larchfield Park, attended by over 4,000,
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1949 - Games were held in 1949, this time at Camis Eskan, where 15,000 people turned up on the day.
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​​​​​​1950 - ​1952 - The Games were held at Camis Eskan Park. 1952, there were 14,000 spectators.
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There is talk of a small Games being held in the late 1970’s or early 1980, but we have not been able to find any evidence of this.
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After a 35-year break, we can host the Helensburgh and Lomond Highland Games 2008. Over 3500 people attended at our current sight of the Helensburgh Rugby Club Grounds; the following year (2009), over 5,500 attended.
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The Helensburgh and Lomong Games have been held annually since 2008 with only 2020 and 2021 having to be postponed due to the Covid Pandemic restrictions.
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1901 Helensburgh Highland Games