Loch Ness hosts first heavy events championship for women

Athletes from across the world have been gathering near Loch Ness to show their strength and skills at the Glenurquhart Highland Games.

International and homegrown competitors took to the field at Drumnadrochit, near the shores of Loch Ness, to make history in the inaugural Women’s World Heavy Events Championship.

Spectators enjoyed displays of the shot put, the Scots Hammer and, of course, tossing the caber.

Gabriella Rinehart from Alaska was among those competing in a Highland Games event for the first time.

She told STV News: “I got to see these amazing women who were strong, who were embracing who they were, and I thought ‘I want to do the same thing, I am also strong and I want to be a part of it.'”

Closer to home, Thurso’s Emmerleigh Barter wants to pave the way for other girls to take part.

She said: “When I was younger, I didn’t know these events existed. This is putting it on the map for anyone, and my dream is to make this accessible to younger children in schools and for young girls in particular.”

Being on Scottish soil was a dream come true for Texan couple Kristen and Jeremy Rumley.

Kristen said: “There’s a lot of history and culture that we don’t get to experience in the United States. Being here is so valuable; it’s priceless – you couldn’t put a dollar price on this.”

Scottish champion Juliet Ramsay from Glen Isla, who has just turned 16, was a record-breaker on the day.

Juliet, who has a background playing rugby, said: “You do training, you are throwing further…it’s easier to see your progressions, and getting records is great.”