The Bellingham Highland Games - June 05th, 2010

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:09 PM

Saturday (June 05th) the family & I attended the 50th anniversary of the Bellingham Highland Games, held for the past 23 years at beautiful Hovander Homestead Park in nearby Ferndale (Washington). Except for the past two years (health issues) I've attended nearly every games held here since 1986. Saturday was a lovely day, mainly sunny w/ temps in the upper 60's (65°F to 67°F degree range) though in the sun it felt warmer. I'm glad we chose Saturday to attend, as today has been cloudy & rather wet.

This year I had to attend in bifurcated leg wear, but I'm looking forward to rocking a Matt Newsome box pleat (in Macdonell of Keppoch Ancient tartan) next year!!!

The following is the opening ceremonies. I apologize for the photos being slightly blurred. I was at the far end of the field.

Presentation of the Colours: the MacGregor's Scots Guard

Massed Band

I'm not sure exactly who was whom (or if all the bands were represented), but the following pipe bands attended this year:

Bellingham Pipe Band
Chilliwack & District Pipe Band
Dowco Triumph Street
Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Band
Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band
Keith Highlanders
New Westminster Police Pipe Band
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade - IV
Northwest Junior Pipe Band Grade - V
Portland Metro Pipe Band
Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band
Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band - III
Robert Malcolm Memorial Pipe Band - IV
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
Washington Scottish Pipe Band
White Spot Pipe Band - IV
White Spot Pipe Band - V

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:10 PM

Just a few of the clans present:

Clan Anderson

Clan Cameron - right is my friend Ed O'Neil, commissioner for Wash. state & his wife

Clan Donald (my clan)

left in the tartan skirt is Pacific NW regional commissioner Susan MacDonald-Wright & holding the yellow flag is Ron MacDonald (Washington State commissioner)

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:10 PM

The House of Gordon followed by Clan's Gregor & Gunn

This one is for Victoria (vmac3205):
Rod MacKenzie carrying the Clan Mackenzie banner

And this one I shot for MacMillan of Rathdown

Clan Stewart (the gent to the left wears two feathers in his bonnet & has a silver 2-feather cap badge)

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:11 PM

This part of the thread is for Alan H

Because I had promised to assist at the Clan Donald booth I was only able to see a small portion of the heavy athletics (sorry, no caber shots

).

The 28 pound weight for distance:

Some of the athletes watching the 28 pound event.
The older gentleman in the center of the photo showed the young bucks just how this event was done!

Anybody ready to be schooled?

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:12 PM

20 pound sheaf toss for height:

This looked like a near perfect toss, but actually it didn't get over the bar

They're all waiting for the sheaf to come back into the picture

I took this one for all the aficionados of modern kilts

Highland dancers

**BoldHighlander** · 6th June 10, 10:13 PM

There was a display of original Highland uniforms that belong to a local piper/collector who played the pipes at my wedding back in 1996.
Unfortunately I was unable to ask Ira about the uniforms, so on a couple of them I'm guessing

51st Highland Division, the Gordon Highlanders

The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders

The Black Watch (1865 India campaign)

portions of the above uniform were worn by Ira when he piped at our wedding (also held at Hovander Homestead Park) in 1996.
Since we were Civil War reenactors we had an 1860's themed wedding:

back to the games:
The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders

The Seaforths

**MacMillans son** · 11th June 10, 05:56 AM

Nice photo spread Terry, I seem to be unable to get enough of photos of different kilts.

Can you, or anyone else, tell me what tartan "the older gentleman..." in the throwing photos is wearing? It looks like MacDonald but I am not sure which one, nor mill.
Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks again for posting, they're great!

**BoldHighlander** · 11th June 10, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by MacMillan's son

Nice photo spread Terry, I seem to be unable to get enough of photos of different kilts.

Can you, or anyone else, tell me what tartan "the older gentleman..." in the throwing photos is wearing? It looks like MacDonald but I am not sure which one, nor mill.
Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks again for posting, they're great!

Thank you so much for the kind words
Yeah, when I saw all those athletes standing together in their kilts, the scene just screamed "photo op"!!!

The "older gentleman" I'm told is Brett Milton (PNW Masters Champion), however I'm not sure what tartan he's wearing

Hopefully one of the rabble will chime in with the answer.

**vmac3205** · 7th June 10, 06:45 AM

Great photos! Thank you. Good to see a nice photo of Rod macKenzie and Jime Mentzer in the clan parade.

**cessna152towser** · 7th June 10, 07:46 AM

Wow, these are truly brilliant photos. Some great action shots, especially of the heavy competitors. The thing which strikes me about this is that although these photos are from an area of the USA which I have never visited, there are quite a few "weel kent faces" there. I have seen those three Canadian bands from British Columbia perform, New Westminster Police Pipe Band, Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band and Simon Fraser University Pipe Band. In fact the Simon Fraser PB returned from Scotland to Vancouver on the same flight I was on last August. I have seen the Wicked Tickers perform, and I have met Old Hiker when he was over here in Scotland. I think I would have enjoyed these games!