Billed as one of Scotland’s best days out the finale of the 130th Cowal Highland Gathering lived up to its reputation. Thousands of people from across the world gathered in Dunoon for the final day of the world’s most spectacular Highland Gathering with competitors, entertainers and spectators joining forces to make sure super Saturday was a day to remember. Crowds watched as over a thousand competitors fought to secure some Cowal silverware.
Dancers, pipers, heavy athletes and wrestlers were joined by entertainers including cyclists, axe throwers, stunt runners and musicians to ensure the Gathering’s crowds were wowed from early morning until the end of the day. The standard of competition was world class, with every athlete and competitor giving their all to leave the Stadium as a Cowal Gathering winner.
The biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world
Then came the biggest Highland Dancing competition in the world – the World Championship finals – with dancers from Australia, Canada and the USA pitting their skills against the best the UK has to offer. In the end, it was Aisla Gocan-Wright from London, Ontario who emerged victorious in the World Juvenile finals, followed by Rebecca Acob of Coldstream and Ellie Murgha of Townsville, Queensland. The trophy for best Scottish Juvenile Dancer went to Cody Fong from Kirkcaldy and the best Overseas Juvenile Dancer was Aisla Gocan-Wright. In the World Junior championship, Eilidh Gammons of Helensburgh, defended her title and held off the challenge of Katjana Bruinsa from Leduc County and Maria Monk of Glasgow.
The best Scottish Junior Dancer was Eilidh Gammons, and the trophy for the best Overseas Junior Dancer went to Katjana Bruinsma. The Adult World champion was Rebecca Thow from Aberdeen, followed by Marielle Lesperance from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with Chloe McClean from Edinburgh in third. Marielle Lesperance is taking home the Mary McHarg Quaich for best Overseas Adult Dancer. The cup for best Scottish Adult Dancer went to Rebecca Thow.
Wonderful competitors
Speaking on behalf of the Board of Cowal Gathering, Fraser McCowan said: “On behalf of the Gathering’s organisers, I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to make sure the 130th Cowal Gathering goes down in history as the best party in town! I’d also like to thank the thousands of people who have come out to support the Gathering over three days. We’ve welcomed spectators not just from Argyll and Bute and Scotland more generally but from right around the globe, and the feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive. Of course, we wouldn’t have a Gathering at all without the wonderful competitors, who excelled themselves this year. Those of us lucky enough to have been here witnessed levels of performance never seen before. We all know how popular the traditional Highland Games events such as the piping, dancing and heavy athletics are, and of course they remain the main draw.”
The next Cowal Highland Gathering takes place at Dunoon Stadium from 28 – 30 August 2025. For details see: cowalgathering.com
Main photo: From left to right: Aisla Gocan-Wright, Rebecca Thow and Eilidh Gammons. Photo: Cowal Gathering