Kelty getting ready for Scottish Coal Carrying Championships

And there's an added twist to the entertainment this year with a 'wife carrying race', as well as the first flower show in the village for 60 years, added to the programme.

Also returning will be draughts and dominoes and the 'gird and cleek' contest for kids with organiser Michael Boyle digging deep to celebrate the village's coal mining past.

Join the sack race. You can enter now for this year's dash through the centre of Kelty. Colin Hattersley Photography. (Image: Colin Hattersley Photography.)

It all takes place on August 26 and 27 and he told the Press: "We wanted to include more aspects of what a miner's life was like in the old days.

"And the way to keep that heritage alive is to get kids involved.

"So from a bygone era we'll be bringing back the Kelty Flower Show, which was last held 60 years ago, and will have senior and junior sections.

"Again that was something miners used to do, tend their gardens or allotment, so we'll be judging flowers and veg but there'll be a garden competition and contests for kids too."

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The highlight will see hardy competitors dashing through the village, along a 1km course, with a 50kg bag of coal on their back – ladies will shoulder a 25kg burden for their race.

The contest originates from stories that colliers in the late 1800's ran home from the pit.

That link with the past was kept alive in Kelty with the event taking place every year from 1995 to 2016, until it ran into funding problems and then Covid.

It returned in 2021, continued last year and this will be the 24th annual event.

Michael continued: "The coal race will be the main event but there's also the mascots race and kids race while the pre-match entertainment will be a wife carrying championship.

"It doesn't even have to be your own wife, you can carry someone else's wife or partner! "I'm sure in Finland they have a world championships but it's just a bit of fun. It'll be a short distance, they'll get trophies, and if a woman wants to carry a man then fair enough.

"There is an age limit though, it's over-18s."

The gird and cleek race – basically a stick and a hoop that kids used to play with – will also be back and there will be a funfair, inflatables and a street market too.

The following day in Kelty Club the pace will slow with attention turning to the Robert Stewart Draughts Championship – last year was the 100th anniversary of the Kelty man winning the world title – and the Eck Campbell Dominoes Trophy.

Michael said: "We ran it last year, the draughts was an elite competition with the 12 best players in the UK.

"It's had a bit of a resurgence since then and they've been playing in places like Italy, Ireland and Turkey. They can't make it this year, which is fair enough, so we'll have junior and senior competitions.

"And Eck, who passed away a few months ago, was Cllr Alex Campbell's dad.

"His ambition was to make it every Sunday to take part in the dominoes in the pub, he won a lot too although he admitted to me once that he used to cheat!

"The trophy is named in honour of a real Kelty stalwart."

There's still plenty of time to get involved in the weekend events and Michael said: "Anyone that wants to take part, whether that's performing or a community group, volunteers, marshals, judges and of course competitors, we'll always find a place for you.

"We'll also have a show with local bands and dancers on stage too so it is for everyone. We're also looking for sponsors too."

You can contact him by emailing michael@scottishcoalcarryingchampionships.co.uk or call 07715 304798.