Highland Games Athletics Competitions
A Visitor's Guide
Track and Field Events
The Helensburgh and Lomond Highland Games also feature track and field events, including 90m, 200m, 800m, and 1600m races, as well as relays and a hill race. While these competitions are primarily organised for locals, some events are open to visitors. Participants compete in various categories, including children, youth, adults, and school relay races.
Track and Field
-
The basic premise of all races is that the fastest is the winner.
​
-
In the athletics competitions, there are two groups based on their age.
-
Youth (12 to 15 years of age).
-
Adults (over 16 years of age).
-
Enter on the day children's races are for those under 5 years of age, 6-7 years, 8-9 years, 10-11 years and 12 years and under 16.
-
Hill race
Hill running, also known as “fell running” south of the Border, involves running up the hill behind the game's field. Athletes leave the paths to cover approximately 7.7 km (4.78 miles) of often muddy terrain around the forest, reaching the summit of Tom na h-Airidh, which stands at 354 meters. Without pausing to admire the views over Gare Loch, the Firth of Clyde, Bute and Arran, and the Arrochar Alps, athletes return the same way they ascended. Although racing is simultaneously, there are separate categories for male and female athletes.
Races
Athletes are assessed based on their times and distances, not points or goals. The aim is to complete the race distance in the shortest time possible.
At the Helensburgh and Lomond Highland Games, athletes compete for the Championship titles in
the 90 Metres British Championship
and the 200-metre Scottish Championship.
Additionally, there are various other races, including the 90 Metres, 200 Metres, 800 Metres, and 1600 Metres.
Enter on the day races
There are some informal races can be entered on the day. At 2:05 p.m., after the hill race starts, there are some children's races that can be entered on the day. These are short sprint races for under 5s,
ages 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, and 12 years and over.
There is also an adult 200m handicap race available to enter on the day.
Listen out for the announcement of when these events will start. The races will begin at the top of the games arena near the red athletics tent.
Schools Relay Races
A relay race is an event where a team of four athletes each run an equal, predetermined distance in a sprint race. They pass a rod-like object called the ‘baton’ to the next runner to continue the race. The goal is to reach the finish line as quickly as possible, with each team member completing a segment of the course.
