Halkirk Gala floats 2

This year's Halkirk Gala Queen is Fiona Cowan and her attendants are Rachel Gunn (1st pic on left) and Shannon Eyers (1st pic on right). They were driven in front of the float parade in one of Edward Sutherland's classic open top vintage cars.

The foot collectors (above) were thin on the ground, but made up for it on quality.

The evening was very cold, but at least it stayed dry.

Halkirk Gala Floats 1

Six great floats graced the final night of the Halkirk Gala week tonight.  The Milton Mob won 1st prize with "Gala Booze Ban" and they just pipped Calder's Robin Hood float.  The judges said they had one of the hardest tasks ever.

Most topical was the Caithness Riding Club's take on the disruption of air travel at Harpsdale Airport by volcanic ash.

Caithness Premier Coaching

Caithness Premier Coaching gave out their awards on Saturday and David Allan, top goalscorer and player of the year with Wick Academy, presented the trophies.  Colin Gregory took the pics.

Thurso Swifts vs Keiss

Swifts played Keiss at the Dammies last night and I caught some of the action. Swifts won 3-0 and the first pic is the first goal scored by Derek Munro - a cracking volley into the top corner.

Halkirk YFC Dyno Day

Halkirk YFC held a fund raising day at the premises of club sponsor G S Donn, Harpsdale, on Saturday.  The very successful "Dyno Day" attracted 45 tractors that were tested for their true horsepower.  Colin Gregory took the pics.

Caithness vs Orkney

Caithness beat Orkney on Saturday by 4 goals to 1. Colin Gregory captured the action.

Strathallan Castle horse shows

Strathallan Castle, Auchterarder, was the venue for the annual Scottish Shows of the NPS & BSPS at the weekend.  Caithness riders Jillian Gunn, James Munro, Nicola Kemp & Joanna Hunter made the long journey.  The best riders and breeders from Scotland and the North of England were competing and many used the event as a practice for the Royal Highland Show in two weeks time.  There were dozens of qualification tickets up for grabs, including for HOYS and Blair Castle International Horse Trials.

James was the most successful by picking up hunter reserve champion (on O'Brogain owned by George Harper) and qualification for the Horse of the Year Show (HOYS).

My daughter Jillian, on Willoway Chatterbox, cleared all the (big) working hunter jumps, but just missed out on a prize. However, she won rosettes in three ridden classes and a qualification for Blair.

We left early, so I don't know what other prizes were won by the Caithness contingent.