Hororata Highland Games

It’s time to gather the Clan for the 11th Hororata Highland Games, on November 5th, 2022, it is going to be huge! The event will be held in the Hororata Domain. This will be one of the biggest Scottish gatherings in the Southern Hemisphere, with 20 pipe bands from around the South Island, 29 New Zealand and international heavy athletes, 90 highland dancers, 25 clans, 120 stalls, 230 volunteers and an expected crowd of 10,000 people!

Organisers, the Hororata Community Trust, have been blown away with the response to this year’s festival after missing it in 2021. “Our community just loves converting the Hororata Domain into the Scottish Highlands for a day, and it is exciting to be coming back so strong,”

All profits from the event are invested back into the community.

commented Cindy Driscoll, Event Manager. “We have never had this many pipe bands entered; the massed bands march past at lunchtime is going to be powerful. The field of heavy athletes, both men and women, is outstanding with competitors from Australia and Europe travelling to take on the Kiwis, it will be a clash of the Titans.” Current Scottish Highland Games Association World Champion, Vladislav Tulacek, is travelling to Hororata from the Czech Republic to compete in the Oceania Heavyweight Champs. Kiwi athlete Craig Manson from Ashburton has embarked on a rigorous training schedule, to be ready to take on the best of the best at the Hororata Highland Games. “To have the likes of Vlad come to New Zealand to take us on at our own event is huge. I dream of competing in Scotland and was not expecting to get the opportunity to throw against guys like him here in my backyard. The calibre of the whole field is the best we have ever seen,” commented Craig. At the Hororata Highland Games, visitors don’t just sit on the sidelines, they can have a go at tossing cabers, hurling haggis, eating pies, Tug O’ War, running a kilted mile or donning on the tartan for the best dressed lad and lassie. Cindy describes what people can expect, “Once people get through the gates there are heaps of free activities to have a go at, no matter your age. Families often say it is the one event everyone right from grandparents to toddlers and even teenagers can enjoy together. “We also have musical performances, Scottish Country dancing and ‘have a go’ bagpipes, in amongst a huge range of quality market stalls, as well as over 30 food trucks - don’t miss the haggis burgers or black pudding,” Cindy concluded.

Discounted tickets for the Hororata Highland Games are on sale now, there will be no gate sales this year. Kids under 16 years are free. Craig Manson from Ashburton is looking forward to this year’s event.

Photo credit: David Baird.

TUG OF WAR

Teams compete throughout the day in heats, working towards reaching the final TUG!

Two categories with $1000 prize pool each plus the sponsor, Fern will give $500 dona on to the winning team’s chosen charity, school, sports club or community organisa on. Categories: • Senior Men’s Trophy • Senior Mixed • Youth (School aged)

ENTER ONLINE BEFORE

THE 3RD NOVEMBER JUNIOR WARRIORS

The Teams Compe on will run from 9am - 12am (teams cannot enter on the day). There will also be ‘Have A Go’ ac vi es run from 12.30pm - 4pm for children under the age of 14 years to try a Caber Toss, Haggis Hurl and Farmers Walk. Entry fee - $20 per team, includes entry cket for compe tors and one team manager. Visit the website for full details. ENTER ONLINE BEFORE THE 3RD NOVEMBER