Scottish games enjoyed in a kilt
The first-ever Scottish Highland Games held in Gauteng was tons of fun and successful.
A superb mix of kilt-wearing Macs and shortbread-eating lasses turned up for the first Scottish Leader Highland Games at Glenburn Lodge recently.
The Highland Games in its original form is centred mainly on ‘heavy athletics’ with events such as tossing-the-caber, walk-the-weight and tug-of-war.
The Games, which is held annually in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, was held at Glenburn because it has several venues with Scottish names and organisers saw an opportunity to host it annually in Gauteng.
Ten teams competed on the main field; six ‘normal’ teams (including a team from the Lions rugby franchise), and four military teams, among which the Muldersdrift Police also participated.
Music was provided by the pipe bands of African Skye, Glen Allen, Kempton Park, the National Youth Pipe Band and Pretoria Highlanders.
Brendan Grealy, one of the organisers says they are trying to organise a similar event in the Western Cape.
“This all depend on sponsorships.”
Grealy says as a first-time event it was successful.
“We are very encouraged and will continue to have the event in Gauteng, specifically at Glenburn Lodge who is a fantastic host. We also are extremely grateful to our sponsors Scottish Leader who have embraced the games both here and in KZN.”
He says the spectators and competitors had a great day out in the warm winter sun.
“Everyone I spoke to had a great time. Furthermore we have been approached by the broader Scottish piping community to consider incorporating a piping and drumming competition.”
Grealy says a dancing competition also is a possibility.
Several celebrities such as Matt Stern and Altus Theart attended, as well as some familiar faces in Scottish circles such as Lorne Maclaine of Lochbuie who is the 26th hereditary Chief of Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie and Feudal Baron of Moy. He is the son of Captain Gillean Robert Maclaine, 25th of Lochbuie.
Irene Thompson of the Gauteng Border Collie Rescue organisation gave an incredible demonstration of how effective the working border collie is and why they are very misunderstood as pets.
About this year’s game entries, Grealy says there were three first-time entrants, one of them Mr South Africa John Owens and his team that won.
“All the competing teams were there to win and they should all be back next year.”
In the individual events the following participants came out the winners:
• Putting-the-stone (shot put): Schalk van der Merwe from the South African Irish Scotsmen team
• Walk-the-weight: Siyabulela Hlambelo from the Muldersdrift SAPS
• Kilted Mile: Ruhan Nel from the John Owen/Mr SA Irish Scotsmen team
• Toss-the-caber: Vlam from the Rusty’s Bulldog Clan]
The following teams came out on top in the team events:
• Tug-of-war: Rusty’s Bulldog Clan
• Running-the-colours: John Owens/ Mr SA Irish Scotsmen
To view more photos of the games, click here.
