Edinboro Highland Games

**Wompet** · 26th May 07, 11:41 AM

It's only taken me a week, but I've finally uploaded some of my pictures from last weekend. Mexipiper already has a few pictures posted here.

Starting with the Kilted Mile on Friday night, run on the University campus.
Here's a hundred or so kilted-, semi-kilted, not-quite-kilted, and "what is that" rabble at the starting line:

And we're off!

Does the out-of-shape guy on the left in the UK look familiar?

Nothing interesting during the run (and my photographer only covered the start and finish

), so - the finish line:

I'm in there, but I'm not as obvious as the guy a minute in front of me.

**Wompet** · 26th May 07, 11:46 AM

Dreadbelly's accordion playing cousin?

And yes, he played it the entire mile. It's a bit odd to be running, and hear "Scotland the Brave" coming up behind you.

At the finish, he played in the remaining runners:

That would be his brother by him, both in homemade Black Stewarts.

More to follow.

**MacWage** · 27th May 07, 05:40 PM

THIS is the guy that surprised me!!!

Originally Posted by Wompet

Dreadbelly's accordion playing cousin?

And yes, he played it the entire mile. It's a bit odd to be running, and hear "Scotland the Brave" coming up behind you.

At the finish, he played in the remaining runners:

That would be his brother by him, both in homemade Black Stewarts.

More to follow.

It just seems to be a guy STARVING for attention . . .

Nice pics!

**Kilted Stuart** · 26th May 07, 02:47 PM

Wompet,

Cool pics, thanks for sharing. Are you coming up for Fergus this year. Looks like a lot of SOKS are coming and camping. It would be nice to see you again this year. It's on Aug 10-11-13 this year and there just announcing a concert for the 9th for John Allen Cameron. He was our ambassador for years, gave it off to his son last year before he died. They haven't announced the line-up but I wonder if it will be as good as it was when he was alive and they did a tribute 2 years ago. That was Quagmire, Seven Nations and Great Big Sea. 7N and GBS added that date and both traveled from afar to do it on one of there few days off in the summer touring. Could be a more traditional East Coast line-up too.

The only band confirmed so far is the Mudmen on the Saturday night, it's been a few years since they've done Fergus but they will be awesome.

Hope to see you there!!.

Kilted Stuart

**GMan** · 26th May 07, 06:59 PM

Fun pictures!

**McMurdo** · 26th May 07, 07:04 PM

You know its funny the look on the young lads face as he is checking his shoulder for the mad Scot with an accordion.

**millar** · 27th May 07, 02:49 AM

Brilliant pics. I especially love the guy with the accordion and a sporran. This guy is hard core. He's one of those guys that scares the hell out of you in a race to do better. The whole time you are running you are chanting to yourself "Can't lose to the accordion guy. Can't lose to the accordion guy." Thanks for sharing the pics.

**Wompet** · 27th May 07, 04:58 PM

P1M - since the University just celebrated its 150th birthday, I don't think they have any plans to change the spelling of Edinboro. And remember, we're the state that has Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, and Alleghany and Allegheny

Millar - you just stated my goal for next year's run.

As for the Games themselves, on Saturday - well, they were a bit of a disappointment this year. The person who previously coordinated the pipe bands and competitions was not available this year (and wasn't replaced), so there were only four bands, one of which they didn't even bother to announce. So instead of 15 massed bands, it was "Well, we have these three ... hey, who are the guys in the red doublets?"
The University's own pipe band didn't even play.

There was the usual small selection of booths, the Sheep-to-Shawl Weaving (always interesting), the Clydesdales, Highland cattle:

**Wompet** · 27th May 07, 05:16 PM

Then there were the Athletics. The amateurs at Edinboro ... well, watching them is like watching a FOX TV special - you just know that someone is going to get hurt in some absurd fashion.
They were much better at not braining themselves when throwing the 56 lb weight for height this year.
The caber was another story. Out of the ten contenders, one managed to turn the caber. But during the competition itself, they managed to crack the caber. When you crack a caber, do you put it off to the side and get another?
No! You get Duct Tape! (take a look below)
And then it was decided that at 21 ft, the caber was too long. So how do you fix that, you think?

**Wompet** · 27th May 07, 05:30 PM

And a last couple of pics, from the Galbraith tent (no relation, but interesting folks).
The Regional Commissioner:

I don't know about the kilt, but he made the waistcoat, the belt, the sporran, the furniture, and the leather bags in the background. He likes making sporrans "you can fit your hands into." If any of the Ohio rabble are interested, I got his contact information.

And at the same tent, for our Canadian friends - a kilted beaver:

Okay, so it's supposed to be the muzzled bear from the clan crest, but to me - that's a tartan wearing rodent.