Pics from SD Highland Games in Vista

[gwynng]

I went to the Highland Games in Vista on Sunday and took a lot of photos. I was a little late for most of the athletics, but got a lot of good ones of pipe bands. I think there may be some of our very own OC Richard. (Didn't get to say hi. He was busy piping, but I think I recognize him from his avatar pic.)

Long Beach Fire Fighter's Pipe Band:








And the Stewart Tartan Pipes and Drums from San Francisco:


These two gents were kind enough to pose for a pic and I think they were members of the band in the last pic:


The University of California Riverside Pipe Band. Great tartan...anyone know who weaves it or where I can get some?


And another band that I couldn't ID, but they were great:


If you know anyone in these pics, or are in them yourself, shoot me a PM and I will be glad to send a larger photo file to you. A big thanks to the organizers, bands and athletes that made the Games such a fun day.

[creagdhubh]

Cracking photos, mate! Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

[OC Richard]

Thanks for posting!

Yes that's me to the far right of the first pic, to the far left of the second pic, to the far right of the third pic, and in the fourth pic. In that top pic it looks like the piper beside me, Cameron Cairney, and I are sharing some joke. He's a true character, always talking smack of some kind in his Canadian accent of course. You can see our bagcovers with our logo and "McCallum Bagpipes". The deal is, if you play McCallum chanters, McCallum will provide your band with bagcovers for free. They'll embroider your band logo on there, but their advertisement too. Our tartan is Prince Charles Edward Stuart, the tartan of the old 72nd Highlanders. Our band decided to forgo the now-standard-for-pipe-bands black wool waistcoat, and just go with shortsleeved shirts. We really appreciated the cooler kit in that oppressive muggy heat.

The two guys are members of The Cameron Highlanders of San Diego. The guy on the left with the muttonchops is Richard King, formerly of the Los Angeles Scottish (Grade One) Pipe Band. The bands' sporrans were made by Billy Lang, a saddlemaker by trade. (That massive order, enough sporrans to outfit two entire bands, set back the body he's making for my MOD cantle quite a bit...)

The band you couldn't ID is that same Cameron Highlanders of San Diego. They fielded two bands, their Grade Three band being the best band of the weekend, winning their grade both days, and sounding like they could do some damage in Grade Two. The sound of their pipe corps was quite amazing. They have an extremely talented young piper, Austin, who is totally blind. His father marches with him, holding his hand on Austin's shoulder, in order to keep Austin marching in the correct alignment.

UCR wear the bespoke UCR tartan. I think the only way to get a kilt in that tartan is to play in the band! (But they take the kilt back when you leave.) The tartan is beautiful, but many people don't like the way those kilts are pleated, to the yellow stripe. The backs of the kilts are mustard yellow all across. I'd like to see a kilt of that tartan pleated to the sett, or pleated to the blue block, or something.

thanks again! richard

[OC Richard]

Here are some I took... very few, just of solo piping in early morning, about the only time I'm not busy with the band.

I don't know the tartan this young piper is wearing, perhaps a dancer's tartan. (Take a look at the left side of the photo... sweet!)



Here's Martha Hall from Kevin Blandford Memorial Pipe Band, in Roxburgh District tartan, about to play for judge Bruce Hitchings, former Pipe Major of the Queens Own Highlanders of Scotland.



Here's a couple unusual tartans. The competitor is wearing the Nevada State tartan. The judge, Aaron Shaw, is wearing a quite rare tartan, the bespoke tartan of the former Los Angeles Police Department Pipe Band. Kilts for the whole band were made, but only worn for one competition season. The band folded and the kilts presumably are still in storage. Aaron plays with the wildly entertaining group The Wicked Tinkers and is a very respected piping teacher and judge.



Cameron Tillery, owner of Blandford & Son Scottish Imports, competing. I don't know his tartan.



These pics have pretty bad compositions. You can see that on a couple of them people in the distance look like miniature people standing on the table in the foreground. (Like in Father Ted... small, or far away?)

Also on one pic there are cut off dangling legs emerging out of the umbrella. Stuff like that is why I'm not a professional photographer!

[gwynng]

Thanks for all the info and IDs, Richard. I do like the black and white shot of you from the back; simple, classic. I didn't take the time to do any intricate Photoshop work like taking out chain link fences and extraneous background people. Just tried to hit an angle with as little extra stuff as possible. I think I have a shot of the UCR kilts from behind, so folks can see the pleating. I'd be glad to send you the pics if you want, and you can forward on to bands or individuals.

The Wicked Tinker's piper was AWESOME. Really great band.

Was a really fun day and planning on bringing a big group next year.

[grizzbass]

very nice shots. I was at athletics both days and missed many of the things like the bands and dancing I so enjoy.

[rtown]

Very good photos. Thanks for sharing them.

[OC Richard]

Here's the Cameron Highlanders of San Diego Grade 3 from Vista. You can see Austin's father marching in with him, then walking off once Austin is properly placed in the circle.

Bad picture quality but the music is very nice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR_nvm9lOjI