THE plans for the rebirth of Bowhill Highland Games might have been put on hold due to Covid-19 but the commitment of the Games Committee is there to ensure it is going to happen.

The Games are set to take place on September 12 next year and while it has been a frustrating time for the enthusiasts who have put a lot of time and effort into bringing Bowhill Games alive again after a gap of 68 years, they are determined to see Wallsgreen Park, in Cardenden, come alive that Sunday afternoon.

They have twice had to postpone the games due to the coronavirus crisis. Way back at the start of the year they had chosen a date in May for BHG to be reborn and had a fantastic response from the athletes and Highland Dancers wanting to take part. However, by March, with the pandemic under full swing, the decision was taken to postpone it until September, in the hope that the Covid situation would have eased. Alas it was still too prevalent and the September 13 date also had to be cancelled.

However, an event did take place last Sunday which had everyone thinking ahead to 2021.

At around noon a small procession, marched into the park led by piper Craig Wilson and the Games Committee and held a couple of demonstrations of activities fans will be able to see on Sunday September 12 next year.

Games Chieftain, John Gilfillan, and handicapper, Don Campbell, were delighted to be part of the procession which included Highland dancers, a young caber thrower, a cyclist and young miners!

Don Campbell said: “We were all disappointed that our two attempts to get Bowhill Games reborn were headed off by the pandemic but the small event on Sunday just reminded everyone what we have planned for 2021.

“We have already set a date for next year, Sunday September 12, for Bowhill Highland Games, and the great thing though is that all our sponsors and patrons have already confirmed they want to back the Games next year which is fantastic news and we warmly thank them.

“What is also encouraging though is that a vast majority of the competitors who were planning to take part in the Games this year have indicated they want to be competing at Bowhill in 2021.

"There has been a lot of interest on the the rebirth of Bowhill Highland Games on the Highland Games circuit and hopefully we will get up and running next September.

The link between the last time the games were held in the 1950s, and the new Games, were the young miners, whose buckets had real coal in them!After the event a number of the group marched to Bowhill Cemetery where floral tributes were placed at the monument to those who perished in the Bowhill Colliery disaster of October 31 1931.

The young miners laid the tributes after Games Chieftain, John Gilfillan, said a few words about the event in 1931 which saw ten men lose their lives at Bowhill Colliery.

Our pictures capture the day at Wallsgreen Park and Bowhill Cemetery.