The Bellingham Highland Games - June 05th, 2010

[BoldHighlander]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

[BoldHighlander]

The Clan Donald booth

[BoldHighlander]

Here I met up with two fellow XMarkers who were manning the Clans Muir / Lamont booth.
left to right members Don, OldHiker, & moi: BoldHighlander

[BoldHighlander]

After a two year absence from the Bellingham games (just like moi), the infamous
Wicked Tinkers returned in fine style! Everyone had a grand time.



Aaron Shaw - bagpipes & vocals


Keith Jones - Snares & Percussion


Warren Casey - Tapan/Bass Drum & Bodhran


& CJ Henderson, the new guy on Didgeridoo & Bronze-age Horn (seen in his right hand)


audience participation required


getting close & personal with the audience

[BoldHighlander]

Heading back to clan row & I ran into some pipe bands getting warmed up.

Portland Metro


Not sure, but I think this is the Bellingham Pipe Band
(**if not please let me know so I can correct the caption. Thanks).


I think this the Simon Fraser U's pipers


I know this is the Simon Fraser University drummers


another view of SFU's drummers