2019 start's with a Slam Dunk for Stirling Highland Games

Stirling Highland Games is a traditional Highland games competition held annually on the 3rd Saturday of August at Stirling Sports Village. The first Stirling Highland Games was held at Wellgreen in 1870, some 149 years ago, with 4000 people attending.

The event nowadays attracts a much wider visiting audience with people travelling to Stirling from all over the world. The honorary role of Games Chieftain is chosen by the Stirling Highland Games committee from a list of famous sons or daughters of Stirling who have excelled in their respective discipline.

This year the committee were delighted to announce their 2019 Games Chieftain to be Stirling born International basketball player, Kieron Achara.

FVSE Board Member and Chieftains Gathering Convenor, Catriona Cripps adds, " It's just one of the exciting moments of the year when we sit down to look at the amazing talent we have here in Stirling and we are delighted to announce that Kieron is the 2019 Stirling Highland Games Chieftain. He has achieved so much in his basketball career both on and off the court. When we heard about his own project, Rocks in the Community CIC, which helps to change people’s lives through basketball we knew we had selected a great Chieftain."

Kieron made his senior international debut for Scotland aged just 16. He has captained both Scotland and GB squads making 105 international appearances along with being part of the GB basketball team that took part in the London 2012 Olympics. Although he has recently retired from International Basketball in November 2018 he is still fully immersed in the sport as a development professional and has recently joined the Board of Rocks in the Community CIC.

On being approached as the 2019 Stirling Highland Games Chieftain he commented, “It was an honour to be considered for this role in my home town of Stirling and I was delighted to accept. I met Matt late last year to talk it through and was even more interested to hear about the work FVSE CIC do in the community for young people and how it is linked to this great event. I am passionate about sport which I believe can positively impact lives and I feel privileged to be part of it and look forward to seeing everyone on August 17th.”

Stirling Highland Games attracts thousands of visitors from throughout the UK and beyond to watch a traditional highland games competition where some the best athletes compete in track & field, heavyweights and highland dancing. The gates open at 10:30am with a whole day of things to do, see and taste on offer. As one of the central Scotland’s most affordable day outs, attracting more than 5000 visitors, it is recommended you buy tickets online in advance through www.stirlinghighlandgames.com.