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Home - Local News Sports Obituaries Editorial Social Archives |
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Local News - April 2002 |
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Thousands turn out for 9th Loch Norman games By BETH TOBIN, Coorespondent April 24, 2002 - HUNTERSVILLE — Thousands of onlookers crowd up to the ropes with taller ones peer over those in front. The sun beats down on 23 wool clad pipe bands as they take the field, enveloping Rural Hill Farm with the drone of bagpipes. “It’s a sound like no other,” says Michele Ellis of Cornelius who holds her two-year-old up higher for a better view. The ninth annual Loch Norman Highland Games were held Saturday and Sunday. Thirty-six acres of pasture land were packed with tents, booths, staging areas, a historical encampment, and of course the main field where athletic events are held. Performing has been part of drum major Mike Priest’s life for 23 years. “I was a drummer in the Air Force over forty years ago,” he says. “I got tired of dropping bombs and decided to do this.” Priest carries the fancy mace and wears all the required pipe band regalia, including the kilt made of 16 ounce wool. “These kilts started out as blankets you know. Highlanders would unwrap them and sleep in them at night, they had to be made of something warm.” Priest’s band, The Cross Creek Pipes and Drums has played worldwide, including performances before the Royal Scottish Dragoon. Across the field from the bands, the heavy athletics took a break after a handle broke off the hammer throw. Eight-year pro Ryan Vierra of Turlock, Ca. checks the spikes attached to his shoes for balance. “This is my first throw, I did all right,” he says. Others waiting their turn say Vierra is the favorite to win again this year. “I don’t know,” says Vierra modestly. The athletes keep a rigorous schedule and that brings on ailments. “I’ve got a groin pull now and a shoulder cuff problem.” Vierra is off to Sacramento, Ca. to compete next weekend. Other competitions this year require traveling to Australia, Finland and Iceland. Hours after the athletes clear the field, border collies demonstrate herding maneuvers. It’s a popular event as the dogs use their hypnotic eyes to help move the animals on command by the shepherd. “This is my favorite event.” says Diane Pelletier. Last year the threat of hoof and mouth disease kept the sheep at home. “They had to herd geese last year,” Pelletier recalls. Under a huge tent across the way, over a dozen young girls await their turn to take the stage in the highland dancing competition. Eleven-year-old Bridgett Moir of Toronto, Canada just finished the sword dance. “I did OK,” she whispers, still breathing heavily from the intense aerobic workout. The sword dance is not a favorite among these competitors. It’s a very precise dance and any hits to the crossed blades mean disqualification. “I like the jig the best,” says dancer Martha Johnson of Raleigh. “You get to use facial expressions.” Judges from Scotland, Australia and Jacksonville appear to not even blink as they scrutinize their performance. There are a lot of activities at the games for young people, Beside athletic and musical competitions, children take part in special events, as well as the historical folk life encampment . The camp is dotted with tents. Outside them, families are cooking, playing games and men are shooting the breeze over a flask of the Scottish “uisge beatha” (oos-kuh beh-ha), meaning “water of life.” “My daughter, Sarah, got me into this,” says Rex Craig of Wake Forest as he watches a pot of stew simmering over an open fire. “She’s a typically modern teenager in every sense of the word except for weekends like these when we do this.” The high school senior plans to major in — what else? — history when she graduates. “I find this a great learning experience,” explains Sarah, who wears a period dress and bonnet. “When I return to school on Monday, this will be something I can take with me to enhance what I’m doing in the classroom.” Demonstrations are also attracting visitors to the encampment. A blacksmithing duo is busy making box handles over very hot coals. “Everything comes from raw materials,” says Darryl Brown of Troutman. “There’s an old saying: ‘By hammer and hand do all acts stand.’” Other attractions included Indian Fry Bread, jewelry, tool-making and weapon exhibitions including the new addition, a siege engine. The engine uses a long throwing arm and sling at the back to hurl a heavy ball forward. “It’s or anyone 12 and older to get a chance to see what it was like to defend his castle,” explains Mary Christenbury. She is board chairman with the Catawba Valley Scottish Society, the games’ sponsor. “We’ve got new things this year as well as the old,” she adds. Another addition is a scholarship fund. Scholarships are awarded to students attending six area Presbyterian-related colleges. It takes 200 volunteers to accommodate the nearly 10,000 event participants and visitors, says Christenbury. Sunday the event closed with the an awards presentation and the retiring of the flags. “This is always a success because it’s nothing but a big family reunion,” Christenbury says. “You can come back next year and pick up right where you left off.”
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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