Bathgate Games looking to return to former significance

The Bathgate & West Lothian Highland Games is hoping to return to its once prominent stature on the Scottish Highland games circuit with the 2007 contest scheduled for Saturday, May 26.

The event, which several years ago was considered one of the top non-Major competitions of the year, is one of relatively few Scottish contests that offers both pipe band competitions in all grades and Open solo piping events.

“Entries are coming in fast,” says new Pipe Band Convener Fergus Philip, who went on to say that the draw for pipe band competitions will be made on April 24, and entry forms need to be received before that date for bands to have a spot in the event.

Once frequented by as many as a dozen Grade 1 bands, the 2006 Bathgate Games saw only three top-grade bands compete, including local bands, the Grade 1 Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia and Grade 2 Torphichen & Bathgate.

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