The final preparations are being made for this year’s Gourock Highland Games with just over a week to go till the big day.

Thousands are expected to attend Battery Park for the first Highland Games event of the 2024 season on Sunday 12 May.

And for the first time ever, this year’s event will feature a ladies heavy competition with a host of women taking part in traditional heavy events such as tossing the caber and hammer throwing.

The Ladies Heavies will be competing for the Kempock Trophy, named after Granny Kempock’s Stone, an iconic megalithic stone which sits on the hill behind Kempock Street in Gourock. It got its name as it’s said to look like an old lady and legend has it sailors setting off on long voyages and couples about to be wed would often walk around it seven times to bring them good luck.

Greenock football legend John McMaster is the chieftain for this year’s games and said excitement is definitely building.

He said: “When I was first asked to be Chieftain of the Games, the 12th of May seemed a long time away.

“Now it is almost here and I can’t wait.

“The Gourock Highland Games are a great event for all of Inverclyde and a chance for families and friends to get together and enjoy a spectacle of music, dancing, the heavies and lots of arts and crafts and food stalls in the stunning setting of Battery Park.

“A lot of hard work and planning has gone into the event and I’m sure it will be well supported by the people of Inverclyde again.”

As well as the traditional heavy programme, there will be Highland Dancing and Pipe Band competitions; arts and crafts stalls featuring local artisans; local groups and charities will be in attendance and there will also be a great selection of food and drink stalls with something for all tastes.

Inverclyde Council’s library service will be delivering fun, family friendly activities throughout the day including their popular Bookbug sessions for babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers and families.

Cheer on the youngsters from local schools who will be taking part in Inverclyde Active Schools’ mini Highland Games, and there will be fun for the whole family including fair rides, a climbing wall, bungee trampolines and more. Try out a new activity at the sports hub and make sure to pay a visit to the vintage fire engine.

The Gourock Highland Games are the first of the season and are organised in partnership with the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association (RSHGA), the Royal Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing (RSOBD) and Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) who oversee the piping and dancing competitions.

The Gourock Highland Games 2024 will take place in Battery Park on Sunday 12 May from 12 noon till 6pm. Entry is free.

Battery Park car park will be closed other than limited disabled parking so visitors are encouraged to use public transport where possible with Fort Matilda train station a short walk away.

The games are part of the Inverclyde Meliora Festival for the third consecutive year.