The 34th Drumtochty Highland Games was blessed with glorious sunny weather and rewarded with a crowd of some 3000 happy spectators. This wonderful secret Glen was at its picturesque best with all the wooded scenery striving for attention. The strips of mixed hardwoods planted by the Castle owners Charlie and Dotty Anderson are now maturing and bring a new look to the Games field every year. However all the recent owners of Drumtochty Castle -the Langlands Family, the Ogley Family, Ninian Buchanan, Guenter Thamm and Stephen Watson have contributed in their own way to the history and the continuing success of Drumtochty Games.
The 2010 Chieftain of the Games was Alastair Reid ( see opening speech on 'News ' page) who has just retired from the Committee and he declared the Games open at 2pm. He was joined by three past chieftains- Lady Mary Forbes, Gibbie McIntosh and Stuart McBride .
However the novice heavies competition sponsored by William Grants of Glenfiddich started at 11 am and was contested by Grant Sinclair, Sinclair Patience, Dale Walker, Greig Walker. Lorne Coltart, and James Dawkins with the rugby playing Ross-shire athlete Sinclair Patience triumphing in a very keen contest.
At one o’clock the Open Heavies entered to contest the Glenfiddich Championship and the field included Bruce Aitken, Steven Aitken, Bruce Robb, Lorne Coltart, David Dowson, Sinclair Patience ,John McLeod ,Steven King , Stuart Anderson. . The reigning Glenfiddich Champion Bruce Robb again won overall with three wins to the Aitken brothers two apiece.
The Light Athletics brought talented athletes from around Scotland with seven competitors in total contesting the Williamson and Dunn Championship. Anthony Daffurn from Glasgow won with five firsts and Fraser Davidson, the 2009 champion, was runner up with one first and four seconds.
The Finella Hill Race again proved popular with Tim Griffen from Aberdeen winning and young Scott Hendry from Auchenblae coming third overall and winning the new Bill Sloan Trophy for the best local runner.
Some 83 dancers were attracted by the Walkers of Aberlour sponsored championship and Laura Smith from Cairnie near Huntly won the top prize. Laura is a former world champion and the organisers were delighted to see her in the Glen.
The solo piping, started at Drumtochty by the late Walter Drysdale, attracted a good entry and the Open winner was Alan Clark from Bridge of Don and the Junior title went to James McPetrie from Aboyne.
The crowd pleasing Whyte and McKay Drum Majors mace flourishing competition was contested by six drum majors and ended in a marathon battle between Dixie Dean of Huntly and Bill Barclay of Turriff with Bill finally winning . The protracted battle put pressure on the duty band , Lonach ,and added to their already legendary thirst.
For all results go to page 'Games Results


Throughout the afternoon the pipe bands from Lonach, Towie, Newtonhill, Huntly and Lathallan performed impressively in the arena and came together as massed pipe bands for the opening and closing ceremonies.
The stall holders are also keyl to the success of a Games and some twenty attended with the Auchenblae Community again pulling in the visitors with an outstanding array of mouth watering goodies.

All the serious competitions were interspersed with childrens ‘ races and other crowd participation events.
It was indeed a great day for the new chairman John Singer who then flew off on Wednesday to visit Regina ,Canada the location of Drumtochty’s twinned Games and where he met his wife Jenne some five years ago.