A Short History of the Ceres Highland Games

‘For this is June’s great gala-day!
When men rin wud and youngsters play-
The day that marks the grand return
Of Ceres men frae Bannockburn!’

It is said that Sir Robert Keith, Great Marischal of Scotland, instructed the men of Ceres in the use of the bow, prior to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This instruction apparently took place upon the village green now known as the Bow Butts. It is upon this green that the annual village games are held, since the charter to hold a market was given, it is said, to the people of the village by Robert Bruce himself, in celebration of the victorious return to Ceres of the men who fought at Bannockburn. No other Highland Games can claim the continuous history of the Ceres Games, which, despite the disapproval of the 16th Century kirk, have continued without interruption since 1314, except during the periods of the Act of Proconscription (1746-1782) which followed Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebellion, the Great War years and latterly in 2020 when COVID struck. They were originally always held on the 24th of June each year, the anniversary of the battle, but it has recently become more convenient to hold them on the last Saturday of June.

Bruce, Archery, Bannockburn

Whilst Highland Games, as we know them, only came into being in the early 19th Century, there are a few snippets down the years that describe events at these early gatherings. It is said that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the 11th century, summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich (overlooking Braemar). King Malcolm created this foot race in order to find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger. Some have seen this apocryphal event to be the origin of today's modern Highland games. According to a German reference quoted in Redmond, at the Ceres games in 1332, "a heavy rock was fetched from the bed of a mountain stream, and the hammer was a huge club with an iron head." Maybe the “heavy rock” was the first Ceres Stane, though sadly not the one we have now which was produced in the early 20th Century. Any form of gatherings were prohibited by the Act of Proscription in 1746 which followed the unsuccessful rebellion of 1745. This act outlawed Scottish customs, dress and gatherings. One must assume the Ceres market was kept as such without any sporting events. The act was appealed in 1782, whereupon Highland games began to be revived. The revival was greatly accelerated in 1822 by the appearance of King George IV in Edinburgh dressed in Scottish garb. This event started a fad for all things Scottish, and many of the things regarded as "traditional' at the Scottish games of this period, including the vast majority of tartan patterns.

history2

Until the end of the last century, the June meet in Ceres were of two days duration, the first of these days being Market Day. The village would buzz with activity as farmers drove their animals to the green. Ordinary store cattle would assemble on the tower green, highland cattle on the upper, whilst milking cows were ranged along the Croft Dyke close to the houses. Gypsy caravans would assemble on the upper green close to the horse market, the centre of the Largo road being used to show off the points and pace of the animals that were being bargained for. Back on the main green, children would crowd around the sweetie wagons end toy stalls, keen to spend their ha'pance, eagerly gathered during the week preceding Market Day. The second day, known during the last century as Plack and Penny Day, and then, until recently as Ceres Derby day. Plack and Penny Day would get underway quietly, with the morning devoted to the laying out of the racecourse and the erection of the bandstand. By early afternoon crowds would gather from far end wide, and the festivities would begin with the Ceres Brass Band leading the village Freemasons on their march from the High Street to the green. The chief figure of the day, the Baron Baillie, waving his staff of office, would announce the opening event, the Horse Race. The horses would race six laps of the green, and it was not uncommon for the mount and rider to misjudge a tight corner and find themselves in the burn.

‘Noo Broon bids a’ the horsemen draw
Their horses noses in a raw
When at the third wave o’ his cane
They scamper off around the plain’

The rest of the day was taken up with the men’s and boys foot races, followed by the Sack Race, the Twin Race and the Hurdle Race. The crowds’ interest was maintained by the ladies and girls foot races, one of which only true virgin maids could take part!
The most spectacular event of the day was the Greasy Pole. The pole, a tall fir tree stripped of bark and branches was made slippery at the top with soft soap and the prize, usually a ham, was placed on top of the pole and two competitors would in turn attempt to climb the trunk and reach the prize. Although extremely popular, the pole proved impossible to climb and the event committee decided to withdraw the event in 1866.

‘See yon lad up the greasy pole,
A lad wi’ launchin cheeks an’ droll,
Sae fat his breeks will scarcely button,
Yet heart and sowl upon the mutton-‘

The day would close with the brass band on the bandstand in the centre of the green, and the cry "On with the Dance". Young men and their ladies would gather in front of the bandstand for the first reel, and soon the couples would extend over the entire centre of the green. The day would come to a close at dusk, with the march home of the band and the gentle exodus of the crowd at the end of an unforgettable day

Modern Games

Gradually, the Games have evolved into what we see now. No more pony racing anymore, having been deemed a mite dangerous these days following incidents over the years. Before the great day itself there is a weekend devoted to football and during the week before lots of events to get the locals involved. On the day itself, the pipe band will march through the village, The Chieftain will officially open the Games and the Highland Dancers will show off thier skills in the middle of the field. The Games themselves are run according to Scottish Games Association rules with all the competitors fully registered and judged accordingly. The "Heavies" showing off the skills or strength and balance much prized in earlier times by the fighting men of the land and the Back Hold Wrestling, a particularly Scottish event that is particularly hard fought for as the winners receive a unique Wemyss plate for their endeavours.

In 2021, instead of our normal full Highland Games, we were delighted to host a special one-off Heavies Championship at Montrave Estate. Sadly due to Covid restrictions this was not open to the public but a field of nine Heavies plus, a first for Ceres, one female competitor took to the field covering the Shot Putt, 28lb Weight, 56lb Weight for height and distance, The Ceres Stane and of course the Caber for both accuracy and, unique to Ceres, for distance. This was a great event for the Heavies to showcase their skills in a year when virtually every Highland Games in Scotland has been cancelled. It was made possible by the fantastic support and sponsorship from The Scottish Building Society, Fife Properties, The St Andrews University Community Trust and of course Montrave Estate for hosting us. You can see what happened on the video below!

(Verses are taken from “Ceres Races” by John W. Wood, published locally in 1873)

Previous Results

Below are links to some results that we have managed to secure from previous years. If you have records from before this sitting in your attic, we would be pleased to obtain a copy and add it to our records. Please feel free to contact the Secretary if you find some!


The Ballad of Ceres Games

Whene’er, my friends, you are inclined
To Ceres Game, just bear in mind
That thereby hangs an ancient tale
Which faithfully I’ll now retail.

In Thirteen fourteen came the call –
‘Lest Scotland yield to Edward’s thrall,
Ilk man that’s fit tae carry spear
And holds his country’s freedom dear,
Put by the scythe and leave your hearth
And show the English what you’re worth;
Mak’ haste to join his Royal Grace
And face the foe that comes apace.’

In Western Isles, in Buchan lands,
The call was borne wi’ fiery brands;
In Galloway, in Angus glens,
The length o’ Fife, its howes and dens;
And so in Ceres, Beaton’s feu
Where nineteen men baith stark and true
Assembled on the village green –
Young Wat the miller, Andro Bean,
Magnus Bethune, his brother Tam,
Father and son ca’ed McIlwham,
John Heggie and his stalwart sons,
The Logies and the Morrisons.
And there they made a solemn band
To follow Bruce and win the land,
To haud thegither, close and tight,
On march and through the bloody fight,
And safely come – all scaith forfend –
Hame to this meadow at the end.

By Wemyss, Kirkcaldy and Cuross,
Dunfermline, syne Kincardine Moss,
The nineteen marched, some brash and bright,
Some fearful o’ the coming fight.
At ilka hamlet on the way
The puir folk cam’ wi’ bread and whey;
While as the burns feed into streams
And jostling torrent foams and reams,
At ilka road – end others came,
None ken’d but some o’ distant fame,
Till one unbroken column swelled,
By joint resolve and faith impelled;
United under Bruce’s crown,
All cam’ at last tae Stirling town.

Next day the armies ready lay,
And when the Scots began to pray,
Edward who thought to him they kneeled
Soon learned they had no mind to yield;
De Bohun was felled by Bruce’s axe,
His bowmen fled from swift attacks;
You ken the rest, how English might
By Scottish spears was put to flight.

Next day dawned, the dying stirred,
And priestly benisons were heard.
The men of Ceres met and stared –
And counted – asked how each had fared;
And high their spirits ‘gan to soar
For they had all survived – and more –
Had played their part in victory
And ta’en their part in victory.
The nineteen marched for Fife that day,
Borne up by cheers along the way;
To Ceres Green at last they came,
The whole town there to see them hame.
And syne the folk took up the cry
‘Let’s hold a Games where all men vie
At louping, running, riding horse,
At wapinschaw, all kinds of sports;
Let’s hold them yearly from now on,
Remembering what our lads have done.’

And so, my friends, whene’er you stand
At Ceres Games – revere that band
That took their place at Bannockburn
And lived to make a safe return.

Anon