Fife village marks Highland Games date with tribute to Bannockburn soldiers

While the Ceres Highland Games was cancelled this year because of the Covid-19 crisis, the organisers wanted to mark the occasion.

Three socially-distanced pipers played on Bow Butts, while the organisers paid a fond farewell to the outgoing chieftain, Rev Jim Campbell, who is retiring and has backed the event for the last eight years.

The committee president Richard Cleary then picked up and threw the Ceres Stane.

It is not the only challenge Richard has faced in recent weeks.

He set himself the target last month of running 131.4 miles to raise funds for the games – marking the year the event was started.

Richard smashed the goal in just 16 days, having helped raise more than £2000 for the event. However, determined to raise more funds, he has now extended his challenge.

Richard is now aiming to run the full 1314 miles.

“I had a good idea that I’d finish well ahead of the 20 days I set myself,” he said.

“I was doing about 10km every day. My legs are tired but they are still going.

“One benefit of lockdown is that I’ve got the time to do it. I’m not trying to squeeze it in between commuting.

“I’ll have this done by the games next year, but I want to have it done by the end of the year.

“It’ll be more miles than I’ve ever done in my life.

“Once you have set yourself the target and publicised it, that becomes the motivation for doing it.

The 56-year-old, a member of the Dundee Road Runners, while comfortable running long distances, said he had new respect for the heavies after tossing the Ceres Stane to mark the games.

“I might have got it a foot,” he said. “Although that was the furthest anyone got it on the day.”

Richard is encouraging people to donate funds to help cover the expenses of the games.

“People have been brilliant so far,” he said.

“But the more money we can bring in the better.”

To donate money to the fundraiser, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/CeresHighlandGames1314.

To find out more about Ceres Highland Games and keep up-to-date with Richard’s challenge, visit www.facebook.com/CeresGames.