Laird’s Champion
Strathspey has always been a recognised sporting venue. Edward I on his last visit to Scotland in 1306, whilst staying at Garten Rothe, (Boat of Garten’s Castle on the banks of the Spey) was hunting in the Garten Hills.
For some, though, hunting and fishing was a punishable offence. As a sport it became popular in the 19th century and played an important role in the development of tourism.
Sporting heroes
There have, too, always been sporting heroes. According to legend, Alastair Grant Mor, the Laird’s Champion (as painted by Waitt and whose portrait hung in Castle Grant) undertook to race against the legendary Thames watermen and was victorious.
The Strathspey Curling Club, won the Carsbreck trophy in 1929.
Grantown’s oldest sporting club, the Strathspey Curling Club, won the Carsbreck trophy in 1929. There have been national sporting champions in many sports.
Today we recognise international footballers and golfers, cycling Olympic and Commonwealth medalists, an international tennis umpire and a great many enthusiastic sportsmen and women.
New clubs and venues
There are newly established football and shinty clubs and sporting venues many places would be proud to own.
A Grantown cycling Club was formed in 1891 and there was even a “Glass Ball Club”. (Apparently this was a forerunner to clay Pigeon shooting.
The glass balls were filled with feathers which burst out when the ball was hit in the air. ) Both the Angling Association and the Golf Club are also celebrating significant anniversaries next year.
Grantown 250 will celebrate these sporting achievements and highlight Strathspey as a significant sporting venue.
It will help tell the story of developing sport in the Highlands from the 18th century onwards. It will help develop a sporting legacy.
Sporting challenges
Grantown 250 will highlight Strathspey as a significant sporting venue.
There will be sporting challenges, activities, displays and exhibitions each day throughout the week with period displays and competitions – shinty, tennis, bowling, football, archery, for example.
There is a heritage multi-sport challenge which will have finals during festival week which may involve the French game of Petanque and the Strathspey Draughts championship.
The opening, “Midsummer Tryst” will feature demonstrations, competitions, and challenges focussed on traditional Highland Games.
Two Mountain Bike events are planned as well as “The Castle” 5K
Two Mountain Bike events are planned as well as “The Castle” 5K. All week there swill be both road and mountain bike cycling events as well as walks and tours.
Thursday is “Celebrity Day” linked especially to some of Grantown’s sporting heroes. It is also “festival of Cycling Day” with a wide range of cycling events.
On that day, too, the golf club will be staging a heritage golf match using the original nine hole course and hickory clubs – in period of costume of course!