A grand Glengarry Highland Games

The village of Maxville became a Scottish city on Friday, July 31 and Saturday, August 1 during the 77th edition of the Glengarry Highland Games.

The spectacular Friday evening tattoo, with 61 pipe bands, the highest number in over a decade, the 1,447 pipers and drummers led by World Champion Drum Major Emma Barr in the massed bands performance over-filled the infield and gave a performance of Amazing Grace that brought tremendous applause from the huge crowds surrounding the infield.

The 78th Fraser Highlanders from Milton, Ontario marched away again this year as the Grade One winners of the North American Pipe Band Championships™. Ulster Scottish Pipe Band from Philadelphia, was first in Grade Two, while the Commonwealth Pipes and Drums of Galway/Melrose, Maine took the honours in Grade Three. Glengarry’s own pipe band came fourth in Grade Four out of seventeen bands, while the Grade Five band came eighth. The Glengarry Juvenile Pipe Band gave a good showing coming in second in their competition.

On Friday in the Women’s Masters heavy events, two Canadian records were set. Alisha Thompson from Calgary, Alberta set a new record in the 21 lbs Weight for Distance when she threw for 4’7” and Josée Morneau of Winnipeg, Manitoba tossed the 10 lbs Sheaf for twenty-three feet. Killlarney, Manitoba’s Stephanie Outhwaite took first in the event. In the Men’s Masters heavy events, Will Barron of Belgrade, Maine, easily topped the field of veteran athletes. In the Professional women’s Alexis Johnson from Calgary, Alberta easily won the competition while in the Men’s competition on Saturday, Lorne Colthart of Ottawa took home all the hardware.

In highland dancing, there was a record number of highland dancers with 174 dancers. The competitions were capped off with a well-received Parade of Champions on the infield on Saturday afternoon. Every event, from Scottish fiddling to the tug of war to the whisky tasting and more, saw packed and appreciative crowds.

All competition results can be found on the Games website at glengarryhighlandgames.com under Competitions/Results.

At Saturday’s Official Ceremonies, crowd favorite Glengarry’s own Kelli Trottier, the Guest of Honour, provided a Games first singing her prize-winning entry, Mc or Mac, from the Games 75th anniversary song contest.

“Thank you for your support and having me here with you today,” Trottier said before thousands of people in the audience.

Trottier was born and raised in Dunvegan. She began step dancing at age five and playing the fiddle at age nine. At 18, she earned the title of Maritime Fiddle Champion. As one of Canada’s most respected traditional performers, she has shared stages with Red Rose Express, the Family Brown, Wayne Rostad, the Brigadoons, and toured internationally as part of Bowfire.

Trottier’s accomplishments include induction into the North American Fiddlers’ Hall of Fame, and three nominations for the Canadian Country Music Association’s Fiddle Player of the Year Award. Trottier was inducted into the Glengarry Celtic Music Hall of Fame in 2004.

“Every bit of my life, especially my musical life, stems right back here,” Trottier said of her Glengarry heritage.

“Glengarry will always be my home,” she remarked.

The weather was hot and sunny on Friday. Temperatures remained hot and humid on Saturday, but mostly cloudy with only a few drops of rain. The trees on the east and north mounds are now mature and provided enjoyable shade for thousands of spectators. In the entertainment venues, the best Celtic entertainment from Glengarry was on stage, providing music in places that prove the Glengarry Highland Games are as much of a social event as they are about competition and pageantry.

The Glengarry Highland Games on Friday, July 31. Photos: Philip Oddi

Friday evening tattoo