Early Scottish Hill Races

[XRunner]

I came across this print showing a Scottish Hill Race from 1847.

The print shows Queen Victoria and Prince Albert watching a group of runners heading into the hills during the Laggan Highland Games. The source was the Mary Evans Picture Library (search for Highland Games)

Can anybody provide any further information?

[wheezing donkey]

One would have to assume that the occasion portrayed was prior to Queen Victoria purchasing the Balmoral Estate, when she was considering the purchase of Ardverikie on the S.E. shore of Loch Laggan - filmset for "Monarch of the Glen" series.
In those days there were no estate roads along the S.E. shore of the loch. Access to Ardverikie Castle was by rowing boat across the loch. H.M. was said to have been very enamoured by her visit to Ardverikie, until the return boat-trip across the loch at eventide. The vicious nature of the Laggan midges scuppered the sale!

[jmacewan]

I can access a little more info on this through SCRAN (www.scran.ac.uk).

Its one of 5 images appearing with an article from the Illustrated London News, 4 Sep 1847.

http://www.scran.ac.uk/database/resu...SSID=cfe928f64

SCRAN text:

The race at the Laggan Highland Games, Inverness-shire, depicted in the Illustrated London News, 4 September 1847.
The first known hill race was held at Braemar in the reign of Malcolm Ceann-Mor (1058 - 1093). The games at Laggan were held to celebrate the birthday of Prince Albert, Victoria's consort, and part of a long tradition of honouring royalty through sport. Yet the race was also a modern event, with a £5 cash prize for the winner, Colin McDonald. The spectators were wearing the clothes which were then fashionable in London.
The correspondent for the Illustrated London News describes the scenes during the race: 'While the games were going on, the pipers struck up strathspeys and reels; and in a minute feet were frisking and heads "bobbing" in the Scottish reel; 'hooghing' and cracking thumbs keeping time to the movement of the feet.'

[XRunner]

The Gentleman's Magazine for 1847 states:

They {the Royal party}reached Ardverikie, a shooting lodge belonging to the Marquess of Abercorn, on the banks of Loch lagan, in Inverness-shire. On the 26th Aug., being his Royal Highness’s birthday, the Mcphersons assembled in full force and entertained the royal party with various athletic games.