2023 Cabrach Picnic and Games

Cabrach Picnic and Games – Sunday 30th July – Opens at 11am.

This year’s Cabrach Picnic and Games takes place at the Old School Walled Garden on Sunday 30^th July from 11am.  There is something for the whole family at this event.  From ‘have a go’ Highland Games, Tug-o-War, Highland Dancers, music, food and drink.  We will also have a display of artwork by Mortlach Primary School which have been working with the Trust as part of the Cabrach Lives Heritage project.

This year we have been searching for the Cabrach Games Rose Bowl, the top prize at this event that returned after an 87-year hiatus last year. The silver Rose Bowl awarded to the best-performing athlete at the event.  It was last tracked down to Coventry in 1984 by Mr Michael Kidd who lived in Glass and now lives near Angus.

Charlie Murray, chair of the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association, said: “The Cabrach Rose Bowl represents a key component of the history of Scottish Highland Games. Silverware like this is steeped in the heritage of traditional Highland sport, and it is culturally very significant that such prizes remain as the reward for the finest athletes that grace our games.”

The prize was given in 1926 by a Mr John Harper, a native of Upper Cabrach and a high-ranking officer in the Hong Kong police force. One Charles Taylor claimed the prize in its first year, lost it in 1927, then reclaimed it in consecutive years to be awarded the bowl outright.

Having been found in 1984 following a three-year search in the possession of Mr Taylor’s eldest son, Ron, living in Coventry but now understood to have passed away, the Rose Bowl’s whereabouts has become a mystery once more.

If you have an inkling of the whereabouts of the Rose Bowl, please get in touch.  We would be delighted if you could join us this year at the Cabrach Picnic and Games.