Last year's event had to be cancelled due to bad weather and organisers were well-pleased with the turnout of both spectators and competitors to the 2008 games which also featured recently-crowned world heavyweight champion Fifer, Bruce Robb, from Rosyth.

At St Andrews he added the European Heavyweight Championship title to his collection of honours.

There was a good turnout of 'big guys' at this year's Games, including European Championship runner-up Bruce Aitken of Auchenblae, the current world record holder for throwing the hammer.

Among the up-and-coming 'heavy' hopefuls was Craig Sinclair, Drumoak, who also gave a good showing.

Another games favourite is the visitors' race which attracted the usual number of keen entrants, encouraged by the multi-lingual tones of compere Councillor Donald Macgregor.

Organisers said the new venue worked well with only one or two issues identified for improvement next year.

The gathering got under way with the traditional colourful parade by the City of St Andrews Pipe Band.