Relay Race
THE GAMES : 'Running the Colours' Relay Race
As mentioned previously in the History of The Games, Scotsmen running in a race dates back to the reign of King Malcom III who ruled Scotland during the 11th century. At that time the foot race started at Braemar Castle and finished at the grim Creag Choinnick...kilted of course!
Running the Colours is to commemorate the heroic efforts of Lts. Melvill and Coghill, who during the military excursions following the British defeat at Isandlwana (Mzinyathi / Buffalo) River at Fugitive's Drift, tried to secure the Regimental Colours after Melvill tried unsuccessfully to save the Queen's Colour (the Regimental Colour having been left behind at Helpmekaar a fortnight earlier). Melvill's body was discovered lying at right-angles to the track from Sotondoza's (now Fugitives') Drift while Coghill's body was lying parallel to it.
Each team will have their own Regimental flag which they will run with during the race in a 2 x 80 metre sprint. It is assumed that the runners are fetching the colours (as a commemorative race), as reference to the fetching of the Regimental colours.
Regimental colours are the ceremonial flags of military Regiments and are highly revered, and in history were carried into battle. Today, these are only brought out for ceremonial parades and special occasions!
