Gourock Games a Showcase for Sports
The 2017 Gourock Highland Games are set to showcase a range of sports including tennis, golf and cricket.
The new ‘come and try sports’ event, being run by Gourock Community Sports Hub, will give visitors to the first games of the Scottish season a chance to try sports for free throughout the day.
The Gourock Highland Games are being held at their new permanent home in Battery Park on the shores of the River Clyde on Sunday 14 May from noon.
The event traditionally marks the start of the Scottish piping and Highland Games season in Scotland and includes the West of Scotland Highland Dance Championships which started life at the Gourock Games.
The ‘come and try sports’ element will sit alongside the traditional Highland Games activities in the park and will include opportunities to try or find out more about eight sports: football, tennis, golf, cricket, bowling, sailing, archery and curling.
Commenting on the initiative, Douglas Brown, Chairperson of the Gourock Community Sports Hub said, ‘This event provides a great opportunity to get involved in local sport, perhaps for the first time, and there will be lots to try out and get more information on. In the special sports marquee within the arena, representatives of all the local sports will be vying to get your attention and answer all your questions.”
Susan Rose, Inverclyde Council’s Communications and Events Officer said: “We are delighted to be working alongside a number of local partners to build on the success of the Gourock Highland Games. It is a showpiece event in a showpiece location at Battery Park and we are looking forward to welcoming locals and visitors to Inverclyde to start the Scottish Highland Games and piping season and enjoy lots of great activities.”
The Gourock Highland Games are delivered by Inverclyde Council and is supported by River Clyde Homes, Inverclyde Active Schools, Gourock Community Sports Hub and Gourock Festival of Sports.
The piping competitions at the Gourock Highland Games are run under the auspices of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA).