Games a celebration of Scottish culture

The Waipu Highland Games promises to be a colourful and exciting event again this January 1.

A full contingent of Clans will be in attendance where you can check out your Scottish ancestry.

There will be more food vendors this year serving up a variety of hot and cold food and drinks. Children will be well looked after with running races, Have A Go competitions, as well as Trailblazers to keep them amused and busy. And their entry is free!

The Norsemen will battle the Scots in the main arena at lunchtime when the mass bands accompany all the Scottish dancers and play the anthem The Flower of Scotland.

The annual heavyweight competition is one of the most vigorously fought over with one entrant coming all the way from Scotland. Be there to see these mighty men toss a huge caber or hurl the hammer. Throwing the sheaf is always a lot of fun.

The heavyweights will take on all comers in the tug-o-war, so come prepared to win.

Robert Wallace, a Scottish piping judge of world renown, is here to evaluate New Zealand pipers competing in their various grades. He has judged piping all over the world – the US Piping Foundation, the RU Brown Gold Medal in Australia, the 100 Guineas in South Africa plus the Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting in Scotland.

If you want to see piping at its best come to The Helen McGregor Memorial on New Years Eve when top New Zealand and overseas pipers compete in a freestyle “flairing their fingers” as Helen had wanted. All details are on Facebook and the website.

Dancing judge Rosemary Armstrong from Christchurch has been associated with the Waipu Highland Games since 1906 when her grandfather Ronald Fraser won the prize for the most points in pipe music. She will be wearing his medallion while here.

Come dressed in your best Scottish gear to take part in Tartan In The Park on the new variety stage where other musical acts will play throughout the day. Fiddling, piping, Scottish dancing and drumming continue all day to set a wonderful scene for a great day out.

n For more event info check out waipugames.co.nz

Great feats of strength by the heavyweights, a favourite event of the Waipu Games