Lucy Mavor of Oamaru and Tamati Graham of Ashburton, perform in the 6 and under Irish Jig at the Hawke's Bay Easter Highland Games. Photo / Warren Buckland
Lucy Mavor of Oamaru and Tamati Graham of Ashburton, perform in the 6 and under Irish Jig at the Hawke's Bay Easter Highland Games. Photo / Warren Buckland
The swirl of pipes and swing of kilts filled Lindisfarne College at the weekend.
The Hawke's Bay Easter Highland Games has become a mainstay over the holiday weekend - this year celebrating 65 years.
Each year, top pipers, drummers and dancers gather at the event to compete for the medals,ribbons and prestige. It was the largest event of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, games convener Rob Mortensen said.
There were more than 100 pipers and dancers competing over the two-day event.
Dancers came from throughout the country, while Kiwi pipers were joined by others who crossed the Tasman to compete in the New Zealand Solo Piping Championships which was also hosted by the games this year. A judge had been brought in from Scotland and extra events were added to the schedule.
The first Highland Games was held at Nelson Park in 1950 but moved to Windsor Park the next year where it stayed until 1986. After a few short stays at other venues it moved to Lindisfarne College, which is named after an island off the Scottish coast. The dancing boards, food trucks and stalls have been returning to the college every Easter for the past 25 years.
To mark the 65th year, old games' medals gifted back by former dancers were being re-presented to this year's winners.
While there was nothing "new" it was about bringing together piping, drumming and dancing to create that "Highland Games" atmosphere which was rare in New Zealand. Mr Mortensen said it was great to see a number of "young ones" coming through as they were the future of the games.
