2009 Waipu Highland Games – lots of images, lots of fun

Waipu is my home, but most years at New Years I am away camping.  For the first for many years, we came home to check out the Waipu Highland Games.  It was brilliant weather, and about 6,000 turned up to enjoy the day.  Here some photos of the day:  The Parade of the Clans, Games Photos, Fiddling Competition, Tartan in the Park.

Below that there is the report of this years games from the organisers, the Caledonian Society.

The Parade of the Clans

Miscellaneous Images of the Waipu Games

Waipu Games Fiddling Competition

Fiddling – as in violins – was reintroduced for the first time in many years as a competition for the Waipu Games.  There was beginners, intermediate and advanced catetory and it was fabulous to sit and watch.  I managed some shade 0  more shade next year would make it even more attractive.  After the competition, the fiddlers stayed onto jam and play – the beginnings of a great party I thought!

Tartan in the Park

What fun – most people were in Tartan anyway, some made a special effort, and here was the chance to show it off – It was great and I am sure it will grow.

Report on the 139th Highland Caledonian Games in Waipu

From our Patron Brian McLean, Chief Pipe Major Bain McGregor, Chairman Don Ewen and the Committee of the Waipu Caledonian Society, a sincere thanks to all who made the 139th Waipu Highland Games a success this January 1st gone. We don’t have the exact numbers yet, but we believe it is an all time record.

The Games were opened by Dame Catherine Tizard and Lewis Turrell MBE was presented with the Assynt Quaich as recognition of his long time contribution to piping and the Waipu Games. The tradition begun by our former Secretary, Brian O’Brian, of elevating a Clan to a special position at the Games has Clan MacLean enjoying this status as Host Clan – especially with Dame Catherine being their Patron.

All events reported back to us that they were delighted with how things went and especially the first fiddling competition in over 90 years, which was run by Anne-Marie Forsyth from the Auckland Scottish Fiddling Club. Space available is not enough to report on the such diverse events as the Scottish Official Board and Academy/P&D Highland Dancing, Clan Societies, Genealogy/Family History Groups, Piping and Drumming, Scottish Country Dancing, Tartan In The Park, Athletics – these are what makes the Games a special day out for the whole family.

The Pipers had a new trophy donated by Dave and Penny Moon of Waipu; who are presently in Dubai, so we flew the United Arab Emirates flag in their honour. The inaugural winner was William Roe of Marton and Blair Hodson of Auckland won the Scholarship prize to the Gaelic College in Nova Scotia, Canada.

A new addition to the Highland Heavyweight Field Events were a group of ladies who had been practicing for 8 months for this day. One young lady, 15 year old Tina Hakeai was a show stealer with her beating Valerie Vili’s sheaf tossing record. Tina is described as a rising star in field events and has the potential eventually challenge Valeri Vili in the shot put and Beatrice Faumuina in the discus. We hope this will mean we will have a regular Women’s section of the field events.

Another highlight was the Official launch of John McLean’s new book ‘Sailors and Settlers’ – considered the most definitive work on the Nova Scotian / Waipu story; and anyone who has genealogical/family history links with this story – this book is a must get! Copies are available from the Waipu Museum

Special thanks goes to all of the volunteers and sponsors for their efforts in keeping the Games as one of the most iconic events north of Auckland. Norman McKenzie in his book ‘The Gael Fares Forth’ [1935] said of the then Whangarei County and Borough that it was the most Scottish in all of New Zealand outside of Dunedin – and in many ways it still is.

In July 2009 at a meeting of 128 Clan Chiefs and Clan representatives from all around the world at the Scottish Parliament; it was affirmed that there are two Scotlands – the one in the British Isles that we all know and love and the other one is “The Rest Of The World” and Waipu and her sister settlements are proud to be part of that other Scotland.

For a more on the Heavyweight competition photos and winners Click here