Hororata Highland Games chieftain named

Pat Hellier. Photo / Supplied

Highland games veteran Pat Hellier has been named chieftain for the 2018 Hororata Highland Games.

Mr Hellier, an Auckland police officer, has been involved in the Hororata games since its inception in 2011 and a highland games competitor and official since 1988.

''It is an absolute honour to have been invited to be chieftain of the Hororata Highland Games,'' he said.

''I first competed at Hororata in 2011 and I still have the 'rock' trophy I was presented as champion that year.

''The games at Hororata have held true to the traditional spirit of highland games as a gathering of the clans, with people from all walks of life coming to experience the Scottish culture of dancing, listening to the bagpipes, athletics, eating traditional foods and, of course, the water of life, whisky.''

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Mr Hellier has won the New Zealand Highland Games Championship, held at Waipu, 18 times, which led to him representing New Zealand in overseas championships.

He has competed in games and gatherings in Finland, United States, Australia, Malaysia, Canada and Scotland.

He has also competed and coached at the top level in athletics, being a national champion in shot put, discus and hammer throwing, as well as throws coach for the New Zealand Commonwealth youth team and the Cook Islands Olympic Games team.

Now retired from competing, Mr Hellier has been the head judge of the Gough CAT heavy events at Hororata.

Mr Hellier said he was looking forward to spending time ''out of the heavies arena'' in his role as chieftain.

''I will still be involved with judging and the athletes. We have a good crew of volunteers in the arena, including my wife Kirsten Hellier, so I am sure it will run smoothly as ever.''

This year's Hororata Highland Games will be held on Saturday, November 10.

- Central Rural Life