Games on in Rouken Glen

Now, instead of Crookfur Park, Rouken Glen and its annual Tartan Day celebrations will be the destination.

On Saturday April 9, it will be a homecoming for globetrotting Gregor Edmunds, a 33-year-old former St Ninian’s pupil from Busby.

The former world highland games champion told The Extra: “The main attractions to the Highland Games are the athletics competitions and, in particular, the heavy events - stone putt, hammer throw, weight throw and the mighty caber toss.

“However, the women’s welly throwing competition always attracts a fair crowd and provides a fair bit of entertainment and of course there is also the children’s races”.

Gregor tossed his first ever caber in Rouken Glen Park, when he was only five years old.

He added:“That’s where it all started for me, so it‘s nice to bring the Highland Games here as a professional competitor, 28 years later”.

More budding lifters will be able to get their start, as the organisers are making plans for a novice stone throwing competition.

The event has been more than a year in the making. Last June, The Extra exclusively revealed that ERC were in negotiations with the organisers of the Carmunnock games to resurrect the Eastwood equivalent.

Tartan day will also feature a farmers market, arts and craft fair, highland dancing competitions, children’s entertainment, and traditional pipe bands.

Highland games chieftain, Provost Alex Mackie says, “Tartan Day is a celebration of Scotland, its people, its heritage, its history and its culture.

“Bringing the Highland Games into what is already a hugely successful event will only increase the scale and status and provide a real spectacle for everyone to enjoy

“It will have a positive economic benefit on Giffnock”.

n Tartan Day marks the contribution of Scots in America, taking the date from the Declaration of Arbroath (April 6, 1320), which provided inspiration to American revolutionaries, celebrating the contributions made by Scots and descendants of Scots in the new world in science, culture, politics, medicine, law, sport and the economy. For the April 9 event, entry is free and will begin around 12.30pm.