MERKINCH was represented at the Inverness Raft Race last month - and these Pictish Marauders came in first in their class! With their laced up legs, clothes of sackcloth, blue-painted faces and voluminous wigs they were quite an intimidating sight. And they certainly saw off the opposition coming in third overall. The full story and more pictures later.

NOT that you’d know it from the coverage in the local press, but a bunch of Picts known as the Merkinch Marauders came first in the club/charity category in the Inverness Raft Race on 13th September and third overall. Sponsored by Merkinch Enterprise and the Pieraccini family, this fearsome foursome raised £250 in sponsorship and also won £100, which they promptly donated back to the Children 1st charity for whom the event was organised. The team of Brian Macleod and Ian Street from ME along with Caroline Allan and Bruce Crichton from mp33 particularly want to thank Clair Pieraccini for driving them around on his trailer (when they were not in the water) and letting them build and store their raft on his premises.