AFTER holding off making a final decision, the Bowhill Highland Games Committee have decided to cancel the event planned for Sunday September 13.

It was to be the return of the Bowhill event to the Scottish Highland Games Circuit after a gap of 60 years, but like every other local community event it has become a victim of the coronavirus crisis.

The return of Bowhill Games was originally planned for May, but due to the Covid-19 situation it was postponed until September, but on Thursday the committee took their decision after the Scottish Government announced that Phase 4 of the Route Out Of Lockdown had been postponed meantime.

Handicapper Don Campbell said: "Things had looked a lot more hopeful a few weeks back, but the recent outbreaks of coronavirus in different parts of the country led to first Minister Nicola Sturgeon announcing on Thursday that the move to Phase 4, which would have given us the option to go ahead with the Games on September 13, was inappropriate at this time and gave us little option.

"However, the great thing is that we have already set a date for next year, Saturday September 12 for the 2021 Bowhill Highland Games, but the real disappointment for us all is that the rebirth of the Games has had to be postponed for a second time.

"The great thing though is that all our sponsors and patrons have already confirmed they want to back the Games in 2021 which is fantastic news and we warmly thank them."

He added: "From all the feedback we have been getting we were likely to have had a crowd of more than 3,000 people at Wallsgreen Park on September 13 and under the current restrictions we would not have been allowed to go ahead.

"What is encouraging though is that a lot of the competitors who were planning to take part in the Games have indicated they want to be competing in 2021."