Caithness Games axed due to lack of support

Published on Saturday 1 May 2010 20:22

MAINLAND Scotland's most northerly Highland Games has been scrapped because of a lack of support.

Organisers of the annual Caithness Highland Games, which are staged at John O'Groats, have called it a day after the committee quit.

Ex-president of the committee and founding member Charlie Simpson, 77, said it was a disappointing end after nearly 40 years.

"The games have gone for good, I think. Age got to the committee. We all got old and we're not fit to do the work now," he said.

"No young people were willing to take over and get involved. It's disappointing but we can't do it any more."

The decision to stop the games, which were revived in 1972, was made by nine present and past members. Simpson said there was never a problem attracting competitors; only committee members.

"There were five people on the committee recently and there needed to be a dozen to make it work.

"Our gate takings have never been very good, so we always relied on sponsorship. That ended up drying up too."

This year's Caithness Highland Games were scheduled for 15 August.