Cowal Highland Gathering facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cowal Highland Gathering |
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Official logo
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Pipe bands marching into the stadium for the salute to the Chieftain and the award announcements at the 2008 event
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| Dates | Final weekend in August annually |
| Location(s) | Dunoon, Cowal |
| Country | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Years active | 1894 – present |
The Cowal Highland Gathering is a big yearly event. It's also known as the Cowal Games. It takes place in the Scottish town of Dunoon. You can find Dunoon in Argyll and Bute. The games happen every year on the last weekend of August. They are held at Dunoon Stadium.
Contents
History of the Games
The first time Highland games were held in Dunoon was in 1871. This was the same year the Argyllshire Gathering started in Oban. Later, games were even held on New Year's Day. People across Scotland became very interested in Highland sports. This was partly because Queen Victoria loved Scotland so much.
The event that grew into the Cowal Gathering began on August 11, 1894. A local man named Robert Cameron organized it.
Pipe Band Beginnings
In 1906, a new competition was added. It was for Army pipe bands. This idea came from Malcolm McCulloch. By 1909, twenty-five bands joined the competition. That was the first year civilian bands could compete too. The Argyll Shield is a special prize. Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, gave it in 1906. It is still given to the winning band in the top competition today.
Dunoon was easy to reach by paddle steamer from Glasgow. This helped the games become very popular. The Cowal Games were even shown on early BBC television.
Recent Challenges
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused the games to be cancelled. This happened in both 2020 and 2021. Usually, over 1500 people compete each year. The cancellations happened because of travel rules. Also, there was worry about people's health. Instead, a "virtual gathering" was held online. This happened in 2020 and again in 2021.
What Happens at the Games?
Pipe Band Competition
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The Cowal Gathering was once the most important pipe band contest. It was where the "Champion of Champions" was chosen. This title went to the band with the best results all season. Before the World Pipe Band Championships started in Glasgow in 1947, Cowal was seen as the top competition.
After 2013, Cowal changed. It was no longer a "major competition." This was decided with the RSPBA. It became too hard to fit all the bands. The pipe band competition still happens. But now, fewer bands can enter.
Solo Bagpipe Competition
The games also have competitions for solo bagpipe players. There are contests for different types of music. These include pibroch, march, and strathspey and reel. There are also special contests for younger players. Local players have their own competitions too.
Highland Dancing Championships
The Cowal Games host several big dancing events. The Scottish National Highland Dancing Championships are for dancers living in Scotland. There are also the Scottish (open) Highland Dancing Championships. And, very excitingly, the qualifiers and finals for the World Championships happen here!
Dancers aged 12 and older have qualifiers. The top 20 dancers from each age group move on. These groups are Juvenile (12-15 years), Junior (16-17 years), and Adult (18+ years). They dance on Saturday for the World Championships. For the 12-15 age group, a mix of ages is chosen. Four dancers from 12 years, four from 13 years, and six from 14 and 15 years are picked.
Older dancers (Junior and Adult) have two heats. The top 10 from each heat get to dance on Saturday. They compete for the World Championship title. Dancers under 12 do not have qualifiers. Their Scottish (open) Championships are where they can win the World Champion title.
Sports and Athletics
The games feature many traditional Highland sports. These include the shot put and the caber toss. There is also the weight throw and the hammer throw. These are part of an international competition. For the shot put, they use a standard 16-pound shot. They also use a natural 34-pound stone called the Cowal Stone.
There is a 5-kilometre fun run for everyone. A challenging hill race also takes place. Runners go from the stadium to the top of Tom Odhar and back. Since 2007, there has been a Scottish backhold wrestling competition too.
