Loch Norman Highland Games 2010 pictures

[piperdbh]

The Mrs. and I just returned from the Loch Norman Highland Games at the Rural Hill Farm near Huntersville, NC. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the low to mid-70s, and a total of 11 drops of rain all day. Here are some pics I shot, and I hope others will add theirs.

The Rabble assembled at the STM tent shortly after the opening ceremonies. Here are, left to right, Nelson (Kilted Music Lover), David (davidlpope), yours truly, and Bill (Tartan Hiker). (I quickly noticed my hose slipping down, so I retied them just a few minutes after this picture was taken.)



After the greetings and group shot, we cut up the dandelion cake I made for the occasion:



Here are the massed bands, a little later in the day. It's hard to see in this shot, but I counted 19 columns across as they were marching on to the field.









The local SAMS (Scottish American Military Society) unit does a "Flag Retirement" ceremony, in which they burn old, faded, and torn US flags, right in the middle of the competition field. Here's the honor guard about to step off:


The Sgt. at Arms presents the flags to the Commander for inspection and condemnation.


The Sgt. at Arms then sets the flags alight. You can see a little blaze in the bottom left corner of the pile of flags.


A minute or so later:


More to follow, including a world record on the athletics field...

[piperdbh]

We soon met up with Nelson again:


This is a reconstruction on the 1700s cabin of the Davidson family who first farmed this area. Inside a couple of ladies were demonstrating cooking techniques of the period, including a spitchcocked chicken. Who can tell me what that is?


The archers and their targets:




A few pipe bands:






This strings workshop was going on in a clan tent.



And now the moment you've all been waiting for. Eric Frasure of Greenville, NC set a world record in the sheaf toss. He sent it over the bar which was set at 36 feet 1 inch. Here's the winning toss:


After we left the Games, the Mrs. and I went to a local pizza place where we were waited on by a young lady with the prettiest blue eyes I've ever seen. No pictures of her, I'm sorry to say.

Nelson, Bill, David, please add your pics and perspectives.

Thanks for looking!

[thescot]

Thanks for the pictures, David. I tossed a sheaf 27 feet one time, but I can't even inagine 46 feet!

I look forward to the Greenville Games in hopes you'll be there along with the other guys.

[Hothir Ethelnor]

Looks like great fun.

Too bad I don't live anywhere near NC.

[McMurdo]

Thanks for the photos, they bring back fond memories of last year. Great photo of the sheaf toss by the way.

[piperdbh]

Thanks for the photos, they bring back fond memories of last year. Great photo of the sheaf toss by the way.

I just pointed and pushed the button and that's what I got. My pics are usually blurry and about a half-second too late, but this one was right on the money.
It was a little cooler and MUCH more crowded this year, Glen, with more vendors. But none of them had a houndstooth Argyll!

[McMurdo]

Ah but the Argyll I wore last year was my Burns Check.

[piperdbh]

Ah but the Argyll I wore last year was my Burns Check.

Oh, yeah...

[Deil the Yin]

The Mrs. and I just returned from the Loch Norman Highland Games at the Rural Hill Farm near Huntersville, NC. It was a beautiful day with temperatures in the low to mid-70s...

Lucky sods. I sweated my **** off in Charlotte/Durham the week previous. It hit nearly 90 on Tartan day in Charlotte- I gave the kilt a miss (and I wasn't going anywhere...).

Looks like yall don't have too much shade, or is that just the parade ground?

[Deil the Yin]

...Eric Frasure of Greenville, NC set a world record in the sheaf toss. He sent it over the bar which was set at 36 feet 1 inch...

Good gravy, that's impressive! Pretty slick gettin' a photo of it, too. Guid on ye!