Strong Help for Heroes team competing again at adaptive Highland Games

They are more used wearing combat uniforms than kilts but members of a Help for Heroes team of wounded, injured and sick veterans and Serving personnel are returning to defend their honour at the Mey Highland Games this weekend.

Last year Prince Charles (or the Duke of Rothesay as he is known in Scotland) invited the military charity to enter competitors - the first time that disabled athletes have been included within a traditional Highland Games in Scotland.

And now, the Scottish Highland Games Association is eager for Help for Heroes to be involved in shaping policies for its Highland Games of the future.

Competitions that will be hotly contested at the John O’ Groats showground on Saturday, August 3, include throwing and lifting events such as the shot put, tug-o-war, caber toss and hammer throw.

Steve Cokayne, who grew up in Plympton, Plymouth, is looking forward to taking part in the inclusive games, which comes just a week after winning Gold and Bronze medals at the Invictus UK Trials in Sheffield.

After competing in the Mey Games last year, Steve became a world champion in ‘Sheaf Tossing’  - it was the first time that the sport, which involves hurling a 26lb bag of rocks over a height using a pitchfork, has featured in an adaptive games.

After enlisting at the age of 17, Steve who attended Ridgeway Comprehensive in Plympton, served six years as a Gunner in the Royal Artillery  before he was badly injured following a rock-climbing accident while on military exercise  - he was abseiling down a cliff when he fell 130ft.

Following 30 operations he had right leg amputated and since then he has gone on to compete in the Invictus Games in Toronto and the British Powerlifting Championships. He now lives in Hinkley in Leicestershire.

“Joining the military was always something I wanted to do, my dad was a bomb disposal expert in the Navy and my grandad, Isaiah George Trevor Cokayne was made an MBE by the Foreign Office for his work as a code breaker at Bletchley Park. I am incredibly proud of them both.”

Steve, 51, added: “I’m very much looking forward to competing in the Mey Games again, it will be great to meet up with everyone and I’m determined to defend my title!”

The Mey Games were first held in 1970 to celebrate the 70th birthday of The Queen Mother whilst she was in residence at her beloved Castle of Mey. Her grandson, Prince Charles, is Chieftain of the Games and still attends regularly.

It is also supported by the Invictus Games Foundation – the international multi-sport event for wounded veterans created by his son, Prince Harry.

At the first adaptive Highland Games in 2018, the Help for Heroes team competed against Uncle Sam’s Highlanders from America.

Mark Airey, Physical Development Coach at Help for Heroes, said the team had doubled in number after those who attended last year told fellow veterans and Serving personnel what an enjoyable event it had been.

“They got so much out of it – the passion to try something new and train hard to do the best they could on the day, and the camaraderie not just within the team but with fellow competitors was second to none. All of that boosts confidence which is integral to their recovery,” he explained.

“And all in front of a great Scottish crowd who were so encouraging in their support. They were buzzing for a long time after the event, so it came as no surprise when many of them signed up to go again and encouraged others to join them.”

Charlie Murray, president of the Scottish Highland Games Association, said they were determined to make the Highland Games more inclusive to encourage more disabled athletes to take part.

“We realise that we have a long way to go and want Help for Heroes to be involved in shaping policy for our Highland Games of the future,” he said.

Mr Murray spent two days at Help for Heroes’ Phoenix House Recovery Centre in Catterick teaching a basic Highland Games safety and training course.

“I really enjoyed it. There was great sportsmanship and camaraderie - two qualities which are integral to the enduring popularity of the Highland Games,” he added.

A sculpture of an adaptive athlete with a prosthetic leg throwing the hammer has been created by Paul Cappleman, a veteran and art room volunteer at Phoenix House recovery centre. The Help for Heroes team is hoping to have an opportunity to present it to Prince Charles at the Mey Games in appreciation of his support.

Help for Heroes offers support throughout the year from its Recovery Centre in Plymouth and community locations across the South West.

If you are serving or veteran wounded, injured or sick and in need of support visit Help for Heroes’ Get Support pages.