TWO strongmen were put through their paces by a dancer during training for the Loch Lomond Highland Games.

Thomas Graham and Lewis Ward are used to caber tossing and hammer throwing but Kristie Scott helped them make sure their dancing was on point.

The trio are among more than 350 competitors who will descend on Moss O’Balloch for the games on Saturday, July 14.

The event has a prize pot of around £15,000 up for grabs and people come from all over the world to take part – with past competitors travelling from Australia and New Zealand.

Spectators can expect a host of different events including running, cycling, wrestling, jumping and the tug of war.

But the highlight will no doubt be the Scottish Highland Games Association World Heavyweight Championship – including caber, hammer, ball and weight – and the highland dancing competition.

Thomas will be competing in the novice heavyweight competition, where he placed third last year.

Kristie, 13, will compete as part of the Lacey Brown School of Dance in Dumbarton.

She said: “The Loch Lomond Highland Games is always our favourite event. It’s our home games so it has a great buzz and it helps that our friends and families can watch us compete.”

“Hopefully all our hard work pays off.”

Alan Jones, secretary of the Loch Lomond Highland Games Committee, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming everybody to this year’s games.“We have been promoted and supported by West Dunbartonshire Council for many years now.

“The committee would like to record their appreciation for a joint venture which has sustained a quality event with global competitors and spectators.”

West Dunbartonshire Council Provost William Hendrie added: “The Loch Lomond Highland Games is always such a fantastic day out for all the family, and I’m sure this year will be no different.“It’s important that we keep these traditional Scottish sports alive and continue to invest in our culture.

“It is a great testament to the event that people travel around the world to be here, and I’m sure everyone – be it tourists, spectators or competitors – will have a great time.”

Outside the main arena there will be a variety of trade stalls selling goods, food and drink. The event will close with a mass pipe band march through the main street in Balloch.