The Games Committee is delighted to let everyone know that local sporting hero Kenny Cook has agreed to be the Guest of Honour at the 168th Famous Alva Games on 11th July. He fulfils the twin criteria for the invitation of being connected to the Burgh or to the Games themselves.

A son of the town, he ran at the Games - as did his elder brother - from a youth and set his sights on the Hill races. While also a prolific middle distance runner, sporting his red, white and blue top with the number 583 pinned to it, his most famous moment came, perhaps very appropriately for him on 12th July 1986, when he became the first and, to date, the only Alva winner of the British Hill Race Championship, after which he immediately retired from hill races to concentrate on track events until he eventually hung up his spikes. He had already finished in the other places in the years leading up to 1986.

Sport is in his veins as he still goes up the hill on a regular basis and is part of the team which helps to clear the path of the race in the weeks leading up the race each year. He was for many years Secretary of Clackmannanshire Sports Council, supports a well known football team from Glasgow and lives in eternal hope that this year will be the one for his favourite American football team.

We can not wait to welcome him and his family to the Johnstone Park for what we are sure will be a most memorable day.