Hastings' Easter Highland Games pipes in its 68th year

Hawke's Bay's annual Easter Highland Games will feature top bagpipe playing. Photo / File

Hawke's Bay's love of bagpipes and the highland fling shows no sign of disappearing with dozens of pipers and more than 100 dancers entered into next weekend's Easter Highland Games.

Games convenor Rob Mortensen said the event, now in its 68th year, was these days primarily focused on piping and dancing events, with 70 pipers competing in 389 events, and 111 dancers taking part in 976 events.

"Both pipers and dancers come from all over the country to compete here year on year.

"This year we are hosting the New Zealand Open Piping Championships so there is a very high calibre of pipers attending many of whom have competed in Scotland before and with great success."

The two-day event will be held at Lindisfarne College in Hastings.

"The event runs irrespective of weather as the Lindisfarne College is well suited to both indoor and outdoor.

"The decision to run indoor or outdoor is based on how much rain falls in the week leading up to the games. If there is sufficient rain to wet the ground and it won't dry out in time we opt to run inside.

"This marks the 68th year of the HB Easter Highland Games and the 60th anniversary of the classical bagpipe music known as piobaireachd which has its history in Scotland.

"We have introduced a new event that is only played in Scotland and now will be played here at Lindisfarne.

"The Lindisfarne Dirk and Sgian Dubh Double March Strathspey and Reel modelled on the Glenfiddich Championship played in Scotland. This event will mirror the format played in Scotland and is a very significant test for pipers."

Mr Mortensen added that this year organisers would be live streaming two major competitions to a world audience in Australia, Canada, Scotland and those in New Zealand who are unable to attend the games personally.

Events on each day begin at 8am, with an adult two-day pass available for $10. Otherwise, the entry fee is $6 a day, with free entry for children.