THE 22ND PAEROA HIGHLAND GAMES & TATTOO

The Paeroa Domain looked a picture under a beautiful Summer sky on Saturday the 14th of February. There were 14 clans in the Clans Village this year, and we were able to renew acquaintances, have a chat with our friends from other clans and enjoy a dram or two.

The beautiful weather brought out the crowds and we were kept busy welcoming our members and signing up a couple of new members.

 

Clan Donald Member Ross O’Halloran with Vice President Lynnette McDonald.

 
At 11am the clans marched to the town centre behind the Thames Valley Pipe Band. And as usual the March stopped all traffic through the town, and soon gathered an interested crowd of Saturday morning shoppers. The band played several sets of pipe tunes and then led the clans back to the domain.

 

Pictured, in the town centre, are several members of the Clan Donald Colour Party. From the left Vice President Lynnette McDonald, Lawrie Fear, President Bruce McGechan and Clan Member Barrie Paterson.

 

 

In the morning there was plenty of activity with the Solo Piping, Highland Dancing and Solo Drumming. The Axemen’s Carnival always attracted a good crowd, and there was a lot of interest in the Heavyweight Field Events.

During the afternoon there was the Pipe Band Contest with 13 bands from the Auckland and Central Districts.

The official opening was at 1.30pm with the welcome speech by the President of the Paeroa Highland Games & Tattoo Committee Alistair Buchanan. The group Twisty Willow also sang the National Anthems of New Zealand, Australia and Scotland.

In the afternoon there was a Tartan in the Park competition. The competition theme was “Fun and Fashionable Tartanwear” open to anyone who could show that Tartan was a contemporary fabric which could be worn in a multitude of styles in the 21st Century. Annette Paterson of Clan Donald Auckland was one of the winners in the competition.

Mary and Alan Bray, two of our long-time members, won the magnificent basket, which was the prize in the raffle.

 

Mary and Alan Bray with the magnificent basket, which was the prize in the raffle.

 
The evening Tattoo events started at 5.30pm with the Pipe Bands Street March through the town to the domain, followed by the firing of the cannon, which signalled the start of the Tattoo.

During the entertainment there was a Mace Flourishing Competition, a Haggis Ceremony, Massed Highland Dancers and songs by Twisty Willow.

The Tattoo finished with the Lone Piper, the Ode to Scotland, Massed Bands playing Scotland the Brave and Auld Lang Syne.