Hororata Highland Games 2018
The 8th annual Hororata Highland Games were held on Saturday 10th November. The event was very successful despite the heavy rain the day before risking damage to the grounds. The Games organisers and their team of helpers rose to the challenge and were well prepared by opening time on the Saturday morning which dawned fine and clear.
More than 500 competitors took part in the various events ranging from Highland dancing to the “Kilted Mile” where competitors race over a mile overcoming several challenges and obstacles on the way.
Chieftain this year was Patrick Hellier, New Zealand’s highest achieving Highland Games Heavy Athlete.
This year the Clan tents were grouped in a new location which proved very satisfactory. Rather than being in the two rows of tents in Clan Lane as in previous years, the tents were in a “U” shape with a large shared open space in which the list of Scottish Clans and map of Scotland were the main feature. This always attracts interest from visitors.
The Clan Area
Brent Tomlinson from Clan Donald Canterbury successfully used the Clan Area to meet and engage with visitors.
Ann Smith, President Clan Donald Canterbury and Margaret Donald, Secretary/Treasurer Clan Donald Canterbury with visitors to the Clan Area.
The number of Clans represented at the Games continues to grow with three new Clans attending this year.
Clan Donald Canterbury have drawn on their learnings from the workshop at the 2018 Clan Donald Anzac Forum and are working on refreshing/improving their stall layout plus how they interact with visitors.
Tom McDonald, our North Island Commissioner and Lynnette McDonald along with our Clan Donald NZ Newsletter editor, Roz McKechnie from Otago, joined the Clan Donald Canterbury members attending the Clan Donald tent and assisted throughout the day. We had a steady stream of visitors and were successful in signing up 8 new members.
Lynnette McDonald, Vice President Clan Donald Auckland, Alan MacDonald, High Commissioner, Ann Smith, President Clan Donald Canterbury and Margaret Donald, Secretary/Treasurer Clan Donald Canterbury.
Tom McDonald, North Island Commisioner with Rebecca and Andrew MacDonald.
The Giles family visiting the Clan Donald tent.
Alan MacDonald, High Commissioner with Brent Tomlinson and Noel Batty, a visitor from Ashburton.
Aaron and Jocelyn Jelly promoting the Hororata Highland Games.