Rural Hill is a 265 acre farm operated by Mecklenburg County Parks and Rec. The historic site hosted the 25th Annual Loch Norman Highland Games and the Scots turned out in droves.
A giant field ringed by Clan-sponsored tents was the focal point for three days of Scottish Heavy Athletic Events, Ceremonies, Shepherding demonstrations, and a barrage of competition bagpipe brigades. At times on Saturday (4-21-18) the Heavy Stone Lift, Hammer Throw, Weight Throw, Caber Toss and Sheaf Toss were all taking place at the same time that two Border Collies were herding four sheep that insisted on scampering into the line of fire for flying wood and heavy metal. It was spectacular chaos at its Scottish best.
In the Weight Over The Bar Event, male and female contestants throw metal weight attached to a handle to clear an overhead bar.
A 20-pound bundle of straw stuffed in a burlap bag is thrown vertically by pitchfork over a raised bar in the Sheaf Toss.
A tapered log is held by the skinny end while a competitor runs and then launches it for distance in the Cabor Toss.
The Cabor must make one full flip and hopefully land in the 12 o’clock position relative to the run for a successful “turn of the caber.” Different sizes of rough, hewn logs are used and thrown for distance.
The heavy stone is placed between two oil drums 8-feet apart. It must be picked up, put on a drum, back down on center ground, put on the second drum and returned to center for one successful round. The man lasting the most rounds wins.
A round metal ball weighing 16-22 pounds, attached to 4-feet of wood is whirled about the head and thrown for distance, without the contestant spinning around, in the Scottish Hammer Throw.
Various Border Collies took turns chasing sheep all over the Athletic field during the other events. A flying hammer came close to clocking a wayward sheep prompting a spectator to remark, “Could be mutton for dinner.”
In a meadow outside the Athletic field, bagpipe groups practiced for various competitions and a mass march during a lull in the heavy lifting events. There were hundreds of them.
Bag pipe bands get ready to take over the Athletic field in mass. The log structure in the background is the oldest, one-room school house for black children in Mecklenburg County, built in 1898.
Lyon is a distinguished Scottish Surname. The motto says, “In thee O Lord have I put my trust.” Karen and I just missed the Lord Lyon Kilt Dedication at the Henderson Clan tent, but we made some great friends.
Dressed in traditional garb, Ms. Christi welcomed us to the Henderson clan gathering. My great-grandmother on my grandmother’s side of the family was a Henderson.
Karen and I were invited to join the Henderson Clan for their annual march around the athletic field. Later, we discovered the Hendersons are the only Clan that struts their stuff in front of the other Clan tents. What a fun bunch!
After our march, Christi assured me, “It’s customary to take a wee nip to celebrate.” She produced a flask and I obliged.
I was schooled on the proper tartan design used by the Henderson Clan for when I purchase my first kilt. The top color shows what the cloth looked like when it faded from the new below it. The lighter colors are used for one’s everyday, working kilt and the darker shades for dressy events.
The Loch Norman Highland Games included Highland Dancing, Scottish Merchants, Haggis, Celtic Rock, Historic Reenactments, Scottish Country Dancing, Whiskey Tastings, Kilted Running Events, Shooting Long Bows and Blowguns and Throwing Battle Axes. We learned lots about my Scottish ancestry and had much more than just a wee bit of fun doing it. “Here’s tae ye!”