A record crowd of around 4,000 enjoyed the spectacle of the games in lovely weather conditions.

Chieftain this year was Stuart MacBride, who entered the arena in a horse-drawn carriage to perform the official opening, accompanied by his wife Sheena and games committee chairman, Torquil McLeod.

The carriage was pulled by the bay Clydesdale gelding Mac, owned by David Cameron of Backbrae, Auchenblae and driven by Rob Aitken.

Through their company, Trinity International Services Ltd, Mr and Mrs MacBride have sponsored the Grampian Tug-o-War Championship for the last ten years.

For a second successive year, Bruce Robb from Fife pipped local hero Bruce Aitken to the overall heavy events title.

Bruce Robb won five of the seven events and Bruce Aitken took the other two. Third equal in the overall points were Bruce Aitken's brother Steven and Craig Sinclair.

Bruce Aitken had the consolation of setting the only new record of the day when he hurled the 22lb hammer a massive 121ft 7in.

Craig Sinclair was the overall winner of the open heavy events for 17 to 25 year-olds and the open light events title was won by Fraser Davidson.

There was a new trophy this year in the open light events, the David Crabb Trophy, in memory of David Crabb, a stalwart supporter of the games and committee member, who died just before Christmas.

The trophy will go to the winner of the 90 metres and the first winner was Richard Gray, Oldmeldrum.

Twenty two runners set off in the gruelling Finella Hill Race, won by Robbie Simpson.

There was a full programme of youths light events for boys and girls, ably organised by the Montrose Athletics Club.

Competition was intense in the tug-o-war with some amazing contests throughout. Eventual winners were Moffat Builders, who beat Elgin into second place.

The Highland Dancing competitions provided a colourful scene at one end of the arena, with the standard as high as always. Convener was Eileen Lindsay.

There was also open solo piping, a programme of children's races, pillow fighting and a special drum major demonstration.

Four pipe bands participated, Lathallan, Lonach, Towie and Newtonhill, organised by convener Ian Robb, Montrose.