Glenarm Highland Games
14th & 15th July 2008
Sponsored by P & O Irish Sea and ISYS
After the disappointing cancellation of Day 2 last year due to
horrendous weather conditions. This year's event went well,
with large crowds enjoying the holiday atmosphere of the
new-look games. The WORLD HIGHLAND GAMES
INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE saw Sebastian Wenta (Poland)
beat last year's winner Gregor Edmunds (Scotland) into third
place, while Sean Betz (USA) came runner up.
Our first ever Local Heroes Competition saw 8 'ordinary Joes'
take part in a strongman competition. The guys took the two
day event very seriously, with Brian Irwin triumphing in first
place, Denver McGuckin in second, and Wallace Clarke in third
position.
The 14th July is traditionally sheep shearing day and although
the international competition in Calgary took away some would
be stars, the Northern Ireland v Scotland Challenge made up for
it. The Scottish team of Gavin Mutch and Hamish Mitchell came
out victorious, as Hamish went on to lift the Jackson's Butchers
Trophy for Best Quality Shearing, and Gavin claimed first place
in the Open Shearing Competition.
The Beltex Competition saw Elizabeth McAllister take Champion
with her aged ram, and Reserve Champion with her shearling
ewe, while Ciaron McNeill won Best Young Handler.
Other livestock competitions saw one of the highest quality
fields in any Shorthorn Show in the UK, with success for
Castlemount Shorthorn whose Tamhorn Yoko took Champion,
and for James Porter whose Uppermill Jellybean took Reserve
Champion.
The Rare Breeds exhibits on Day Two proved extremely popular
and this is area we look to develop next year.
This year's Pole Climbing Competition was won by Paul Spooner
with Kieran McNichol and Andy Robinson in second and third
places respectively.
The NI SEAFOOD Fine Food Marquee was packed with cookery
enthusiasts as celebrity chef, Noel McMeel, showed us how to
add a bit of spice to locally caught fish.
The Highland Dancing and Piping Competitions brought their
own avid supporters, while the Irish Dancing and traditional
music from both Ireland and Scotland certianly got the toes
tapping.
CLANN AN DRUMMA took us back to the era of Braveheart with
their barbarian-style drumming , while the stunning costumes
and Caribbean rhythms of the RAMPAGE CARNIVAL DANCERS
and the SUNSHINE STEEL PANNERS just took your breath away!
We would like to thank all of you who visited the Highland Games and also thank our main sponsors for their support.
and 
Many thanks also to our event sponsors
Turtles of Rathkenny, The Gathering 2009, Translink, Autotrader, L'Estrange and Brett, NFU Mutual, The Barbican, Scottish Woodlands Trust, Northern Bank, CR Supplies, Flo Gas, Curtis Toyota Ballymena,Ballygally Holiday Apartments and Larne Borough Council.