Highland Games 2011

Official Program!

th The 17 Annual

July 9 & 10

2 0 1 1

Supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald

Welcome.................................................................... 3 Schedule of events...................................................... 4 Map & festival information.......................................... 5 Pipers & drummers..................................................... 6 Dancers.................................................................... 10 Athletic events.......................................................... 13 Country dancing........................................................ 15 Sheepdog trials......................................................... 16 Fiddlers.................................................................... 17 Musical offerings....................................................... 18

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Culture Tent schedule................................................. 19 Food & whisky.......................................................... 20 Clans........................................................................ 21 Volunteers & vendors................................................. 22 Festival sponsors....................................................... 23 Main cover photo: Steve Baughn Scan this QR code with your smartphone to view this publication in page-flip format on skagitpublishingcom.

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Welcome to the 2011 Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

F

or 17 years, we’ve brought the sights and sounds of Scotland to Skagit County in the form of the Highland Games. We all look forward to the “usual suspects” at the event: the piping music and Scottish dancing, the athletic events, children’s event, sheepdog trials and all the other commotion and fun that’s part of this great festival. We know that people from around the community and beyond really look forward to the Skagit Valley Highland Games for those tried and true activities. But it’s also true that our tremendous team of volunteers is always challenging us to offer new activities and ways to improve the Games.

This year, we’re adding a whole new musical program featuring two types of bagpipes that have never been featured at our Highland Games before, the Scottish Smallpipes and Reelpipes. Part of the reason we’re doing this is the talent of our headline artist, Fred Morrison. We think it’s the start of bringing even more instruments and musicians together for more fun in coming years!

On behalf of our board of directors, our volunteers and sponsors, thank you for your continued enthusiastic support of the Skagit Valley Highland Games and Celtic Arts Foundation. Thank you to everyone who participates, whether as a competitor, performer, vendor or audience member. We join you in looking forward to a wonderful weekend in Skagit County. Enjoy the Games!

Skye K. Richendrfer Founder and Executive Director, Celtic Arts Foundation

W 2011 Board of Directors & Staff Directors: James Monroe, President Marilyn McLean, Vice President Jill Hilde, Treasurer David J. Ryberg, Secretary Tyrone Heade, Board Member Jan Gould, Board Member Emeritus Board Members: William J. Toomey, CPA Mary Scott Judge John M. Meyer Michael Riedel Melissa Chittenden Scott Peterson Staff: Skye K. Richendrfer, Founder and Executive Director Michele Norman, Program and Administrative Assistant

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

hat was once a quiet nonprofit start-up focusing on raising money for the Skagit Valley Highland Games has turned into a major foundation, with the goal of preserving Celtic culture and promoting education.

Since it was established 14 years ago, the Celtic Arts Foundation has grown by leaps and bounds, racking up a $400,000 annual budget and providing more than $80,000 in grants and scholarships.

“A lot of people in Skagit County think the foundation just does the Highland Games,” said Skye Richendrfer, foundation executive director. “It is a massively complex and extensive project, but we do so much more.”

For instance, the organization raised the funds and constructed an outdoor stage at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon, where the Highland Games are held. Valued at $200,000, the stage was donated

to the City of Mount Vernon in 2003. The Celtic Arts Foundation has also contributed to capital campaigns at both the historic Lincoln Theatre in downtown Mount Vernon and McIntyre Hall Performing Arts Center on the Skagit Valley College campus in Mount Vernon.

Along with its financial contributions, the organization has established major annual events and programs, including the Robert Burns Scottish Evening, Masters of Scottish Arts Concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Celtic Arts Winter school at Seabeck, Wash., the annual Celtic Arts Foundation Highland Dancing Championship, and the Highland Games.

“We’re growing, and we’re doing more things internationally,” Richendrfer said. “We have hit our stride from the standpoint of knowing the kind of things we want to be doing.”

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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Schedule of events FRIDAY, July 8

SUNDAY, July 10

• 6 p.m. — Celtic warm-up featuring Bad to the Bow fiddlers, Edgewater Park Celtic Stage • 7 p.m. — Free concert with piper Fred Morrison and fiddler Deirdre Morrison

• 9 - 10 a.m. — Beginning Scottish fiddle workshop with Ward Beebe, Fiddle Stage • 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Highland dancing competition • 10 - 11 a.m. — Music workshops, Deirdre and Fred Morrison, Fiddle Stage • 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Sheepdog trails • 11 a.m. to noon — “How to Research Your Celtic Ancestry,” Celtic Culture Tent • 11 a.m. to noon — Scottish smallpipe/borderpipe solo event, Fiddle Stage • 12:15 - 1 p.m. — Elliott Bay Smallpipe Ensemble, Fiddle Stage • 12:30 - 1 p.m. — Opening ceremonies, Main Stage; Parade of Clans anthems and lament • 1 - 1:30 p.m. — Scottish drum corp competition, Country Dance Stage • 1 - 2 p.m. — Bagpipe types and kinds and what to listen for, with Skye Richendrfer and friends, Celtic Culture Tent • 1 - 2 pm — Bad to the Bow fiddlers, Main Stage • 1 - 2 p.m. — Northwest Regional Harp Competition and Harp Circle, Harp Tent • 2 - 3 p.m. — Scottish smallpipe/borderpipe duet event, Main Stage • 2 - 3 p.m. — Harp circle, Celtic harp music, Harp Tent • 2 - 3 p.m. — Sheep to shawl demonstration, Weavers and Spinners Area • 2 - 4 p.m. — Celtic fiddle session, Fiddle Stage • 3 - 4 p.m. — Welsh song with harp, Eric Bowen, Harp Tent • 3 - 4:30 p.m. — Washington State Grad IV and Grade III Pipe Band Championships • 4:30 - 4:45 p.m. — Massed bands • 4:45 - 5 p.m. — Haste ye back session, harp, fiddle, Scottish smallpipe and borderpipe session, Main Stage • 5 p.m. — Event closing

SATURDAY, July 9 • 9 - 10:30 a.m. — Highland dancing, pre-premier events • 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Solo piping and drumming competition • 10 a.m. to noon — Northwest Regional Scottish Fiddling Championship, Fiddle Tent • 10 - 11 a.m. — Scottish country dancers (and at the top of each hour except noon) • 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Northern United States Open Highland Dancing Championship • 11 a.m. to noon — Seirm — Scottish Gaelic singers — Harp Tent • 11 a.m. to noon — “How to Research Your Celtic Ancestry,” Celtic Culture Tent • Noon to 12:30 p.m. — Opening ceremonies, Main Stage; Parade of Clans anthems and lament • 12:30 - 1 p.m. — Bad to the Bow youth fiddlers, Main Stage • 1 - 2 p.m. — Fred and Deirdre Morrison, Main Stage • 1 - 2 p.m. — Bagpipe types and kinds, what to listen for, with Skye Richendrfer and friends, Celtic Culture Tent • 1 - 2 p.m. — Bad to the Bow youth fiddlers, Fiddle Stage • 1 - 2:45 p.m. — Harpers circle, Harp Tent • 2 - 4 p.m. — Celtic music session, Fiddle Stage • 2 - 6 p.m. — Sheepdog trials • 2:30 - 5 p.m. — Pipe band competition, Main Stage • 2 - 3 p.m. — Sheep to shawl demonstration, Weavers and Spinners area • 3 - 5 p.m. — Highland dancing choreography competition • 4 - 5 p.m. — Seirm — Scottish Gaelic singers — Harp Tent • 5 - 5:15 p.m. — Massed bands, Main Stage • 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. — Celtic Legends concert, “Fred and Deirdre Morrison,” Main Stage

THESE EVENTS CONTINUE ALL DAY: • Scottish country dancing, Scottish Country Dance Stage • Celtic Culture Tent (explanations of Celtic music, dance and culture) • Traditional Scottish athletic events • Children’s events (presented by the Children’s Museum of Skagit County) • Food fair • Beer garden • Scottish clan booths • Arts and crafts vendors • Celtic animal farm • Whiskys of the World Tent

THESE EVENTS CONTINUE ALL DAY: • Scottish country dancing, Scottish Country Dance Stage • Celtic Culture Tent (explanations and demonstrations of Celtic music, dance and culture) • Traditional Scottish athletic events • Children’s events (presented by the Children’s Museum of Skagit County) • Food fair • Beer garden • Scottish clan booths • Arts and crafts vendors • Celtic animal farm • Whiskys of the World Tent

Please note: Times listed are estimates and reflect the approximate times events are planned.

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

MV TO VANCOUVER, B.C. EDGEWATER PARKING

ED

Scottish Country Dance

Additional parking at Washington School

ST .

BN RAILROAD

R

KINCAID ST.

I-5 EXIT 226

free Shuttle Parking

TO SEATTLE

Clans Parking north of bridge only

3R D

Children’s Events

North Gate Solo Piping & Drumming

IVE

Highland Dance

W. DIVISION STREET

SK AG IT R

SOUTH BAKER ST. GE W PA ATE RK R

★

MOUNT VERNON

Main Stage

Arts & Crafts

CeltiC artS/ iNfo teNt

Food

SkaGit State BaNk MaiN Gate Handicapped parking only

CELTIC ARTS FOUNDATION BOOTH AND FIRST AID is located just past the main gate entrance.

Beer Garden/ Whiskys of the World

Athletics

• Purchase your 2011 Games T-shirts and hats • Lost-and-found items • Emergency personnel

Spinners & Weavers

Harp Tent

Celtic Farm & Sheepdog Trials

Culture Tent

South Gate

Fiddle Tent All venue locations are approximate and are subject to change.

Campground

2011 Skagit Valley Highland Games tickets One-day pass prices:

$13 adults; $10 students/seniors and active military; $30 families or group of four; $7 additional family member (when purchased with family ticket); free for children 4 and younger Weekend passes:

$18 adults; $14 students/seniors and active military; $40 families or group of four; $7 additional family member; free for children 4 and younger For tickets and information, visit www.celticarts.org

Parking is free at Edgewater Park and in the downtown Skagit County parking lot, with complimentary shuttles running at regular intervals to transport guests to the grounds from the parking lots. The shuttle runs in 20-minute intervals all weekend, starting at approximately 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. Sunday.

canine visitors Dogs will be allowed at the Highland Games only if they are leashed (extend-a-leashes are NOT allowed). Unleashed dogs will be asked to leave immediately with their owners. Plastic bags are available at each entrance for animal waste. Please clean up after your animals. A watering station is located near the information booth.

Thank you for being a responsible pet owner. goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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Pipers at the Highland Games Enjoy the bagpipes? Catch several piping competitions during the Skagit Valley Highland Games:

Saturday, July 9

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Solo piping and drumming competition 2:30 to 5 p.m. — Pipe band competition, Main Stage

Sunday, July 10

3 to 4:30 p.m. — Washington State Grade IV and Grade III pipe band championships

A

t the young age of 7, Skye Richendrfer remembers paying 50 cents a lesson to learn to play the bagpipes in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The techniques he learned during those lessons would take him to compete four times in the world pipe band championships in Glasgow, Scotland. He even studied piping in Scotland for six weeks — and played in a pipe band that performed for the Queen of England in New Westminster, BC. Now he’s the executive director of the Celtic Arts Foundation in Mount Vernon, which organizes the Skagit Valley Highland Games each July at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon.

This year the games will feature 10 pipe bands and between 100 and 125 solo piping and drumming competitors. “(Festival-goers) will be greeted with a cacophony outside the main gate,” Richendrfer said.

The beautiful tunes pipers play come only after years of practice.

“It’s not an easy skill to master,” Richendrfer said.

“At some point, it becomes second nature.”

The crux of mastering the bagpipes is agile finger movements. The more complicated tunes can’t be played without quick fingers, he said.

While most pipers begin learning the instrument like Richendrfer did as a young boy, he said master pipers who teach the instrument say they’re inspired most by their older players, who can’t be beat for their passion and commitment.

“They practice their tails off,” he said.

Competitions, like the ones that will take place at the Highland Games, allow pipers to move up in skill-level classification, said piping judge Graham Davidson, the president of the British Columbia Pipers’ Association.

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

Beginning pipers start on a practice chanter — what Davidson begrudgingly likens to a little flute — and after practicing and competing can be promoted to a higher-skilled amateur class, ranked from five to one, the most skilled. Players graduate from the chanter and get their own full set of pipes.

“It’s a different beast altogether,” Davidson said of the full-size bagpipes. “These players can be 6, 7 or 8 years old and sometimes the instrument is bigger than they are. It can be quite the sight.”

If players make it all the way through the five-level amateur class, they can move into the esteemed professional group.

Davidson, now a professional piper, started playing when he was 7 or 8 years old. He has judged for the Highland Games about 10 times.

As a judge, Davidson is looking for flawless technique and perfect tunes in the more professional players. Players are judged on their tone, tuning and embellishments.

“If you can’t tap your foot [to the bagpiper’s tune], then they are playing it wrong,” he said.

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Solo Piping & Drumming Competitors 501 Jonathan Robertson Piper Delta BC BC Centennial 502 Marcus De Vight Piper Mukilteo, WA MacKenzie 504 Aaron Stone Piper Auburn WA MacLean of Duart Weathered 505 Tyrone Heade Piper Seattle WA Graham of Mentieth 506 Cleda Thompson Piper Arlington, WA MacDonald of the Isle 507 Scott Wood Piper Port Coquitlam, BC 508 Alistair Ramsay Piper Portland , OR Muted Red Fraser 509 Peter Rolstad Piper Bellingham, WA McLean of Duart 510 Bruce Poliak Piper Stanwood, WA MacDonald 511 Elliot Thomson Piper Seattle, WA McKenzie 512 Joseph Stewart Piper Seattle, WA Muted Hunting Stewart 513 Ian Toohey Piper Newberg, OR 514 Jack Toohey Piper Newberg, OR 515 Alexander Schiele Piper Snohomish, WA MacLean of Duart Weathered 516 Matt Rucker Piper Portland, OR Douglas 517 Brian McKenzie Piper Seattle, WA Muted MacKenzie 518 Logan Chavez Piper Brush Prairie, WA Muted Frazier 519 Peter North Piper Seattle, WA MacKenzie 520 Russell Prewitt Piper La Center, WA Russell 521 Hunter Kern Piper Lake Oswego, OR 522 Fiona Senyk Side Drummer New Westminster, BC BC 523 Isabella Ramsay Side Drummer Portland , OR Muted Red Fraser 524 Bryce Kreger Side Drummer Shoreline, WA MacKenzie 525 Amber Stone Side Drummer Auburn, WA MacLean of Duart Weathered 526 Robert Graham Jr. Side Drummer Lynnwood, WA MacKenzie 527 Garrett Bancroft Side Drummer Troutdale, OR Muted Red Fraiser 528 Colleen Salmi Tenor Drummer Lake Forest Park, WA 529 Devon Mercurio Piper Shoreline, WA 530 Paul Henry Vegors Piper Seattle, WA Mackenzie Modern 531 Rick Campbell Piper Keizer, OR McClennan 532 Jennifer Campbell Piper Keizer, OR McClennan 533 Julian Walker Piper Seattle, WA 534 Andrew MacMillan Piper Tualatin, OR Ancient MacMillan 536 Barry Kirk Piper Tumwater, WA Dress Stewart 538 Aaron Malcomb Piper Bellingham, WA 539 Alexander Janzen Piper Burnaby, BC 540 Brendan Rome Piper Fox Island, WA MacKenzie 541 Liam Bacon Piper Beaverton, OR 542 Andrew Finley Side Drummer Portland , OR Muted Red Frasier 543 Chris Cahoon Piper Bellevue, WA Muted Red Fraser 544 Kevin Dougan Piper Nanaimo, BC 545 Brittney Otto Piper Cultus Lake, BC McKenzie 546 James McKnight Side Drummer Vancouver, WA Muted Fraser 547 Marissa Lytle Tenor Drummer Everett, WA MacKenzie 548 Alexis Hagen Tenor Drummer Everett, WA BC Centennial 549 Darlene Lewis-Chinn Piper Issaquah, WA Hunting McLeod 550 Karl Stahlfeld Piper Seattle, WA NWJPB Uniform 551 Michael Kildow Piper Olympia, WA McPherson 552 Bryn Kildow Piper Olympia, WA Thompson 553 Michele Lechner Piper Olympia, WA Ancient MacKay 554 Peter Moran Piper Olympia, WA

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Solo Piping & Drumming Competitors 555 Hannah De Bourcier Side Drummer North Vancouver, BC White Spot PB 562 Marshall German Piper Corona, CA Maclean of Duart Weathered 563 Torrin Kelly Piper Portland, OR Frazier 564 Jacob Vanderveen Piper Mission, BC McKenzie 565 Caleb Vanderveen Piper Mission, BC McKenzie 566 James Makinson Piper Kingston, WA 570 Josiah Vanderveen Side Drummer Milner, BC 571 Micaiah Vanderveen Tenor Drummer Milner, BC 572 Lauren Gaul Side Drummer Edmonds, WA MacKenzie Modern 573 Kendra MacLeod Tenor Drummer Shoreline, WA Stewart 574 David Graves Side Drummer Portland, OR Muted Red Frasier 575 Andrew Morgan Piper Bothell, WA MacDonald of the Isle 576 Mike Greene Piper Friday Harbor, WA Ancient Wilson 577 Luke Snow Piper Abbotsford, BC MacDougall 578 Jamey Turcic Piper Maple Valley, WA MacGregor 579 Ken Robinson Piper Poulsbo, WA Gordon 580 Beverly Wright Piper Yelm, WA Ancient Sinclair 581 Liam Hilder Piper Port Coquitlam, BC 582 Lily Devlin Piper Portland, OR 583 Katrina Jones Piper Seattle, WA MacKenzie 584 Don Saraceno Piper Medford, OR 585 Becky Saraceno Piper Medford, OR Campbell 586 Tamra Dale Piper Post Falls, Idaho Freedom 587 Stuart MacDonald Piper Bothell, WA MacKenzie 588 Elijah Kolmes Piper Lake Oswego, OR Muted Red Fraser 589 Janaki Nagarajan Piper Seattle, WA MacKenzie 590 Helen Sanders Piper Lopez Island, WA 591 Kyle Gaul Piper Edmonds, WA MacKenzie Modern 592 Stewart Nevling Piper Olympia, WA Royal Stewart 593 Eric Roux Piper Seattle, WA Gram of Mentith 594 Malcolm Roux Piper Seattle, WA Gram of Mentith 595 Graeme Mack Tenor Drummer Langley, BC Weathered Old Sutherland 596 Colin Hearty Side Drummer Surrey, BC Weathered MacLean of Duart 597 Cameron Reid Side Drummer Vancouver, BC MacLean of Duart 598 Liam Murphy Piper Surrey, BC BC Centennial

Pipe Bands 500 537 556 557 558 559 560 561 567 568 569

Portland Metro Pipe Band White Spot Pipe Band Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band Northwest JrWhite Spot United Keith Highlanders Washington Scottish Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band Dowco Triumph Street Northwest Junior Pipe Band Elliott Bay Pipe Band Kenmore & District Pipe Band

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Grade 2 Grade 5 Grade 4 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 3 Grade 3 Grade 1 Grade 4 Grade 3 Grade 4

Beaverton, OR Maple Ridge, BC Brush Prairie, WA Chilliwack, BC Bellevue, WA Seattle, WA Maple Ridge, BC Port Coquitlam, BC Shoreline, WA Seattle, WA Lynnwood, WA

Muted Red Fraser Muter Red Frasier MacKenzie & BC Centennial Keith Royal Stewart Weathered Old Sutherland McLean of Duart McKenzie Graham of Montieth MacDonald of the Isles, Hunting

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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Highland Games dancers R ebecca Moore has been Highland dancing longer than she can remember.

The 13-year-old Highland dance competitor can’t recall her first competition, jumping and jigging on a stage. She was just a timid 3-year-old when her mother perused the phone book and found an advertisement for Highland dancing classes with Bellinghambased Clan Heather Dancers.

Years later, the energy of the traditional Scottish beat and its dance moves — the Highland fling, the sword dance, the seann triubhas — have been ingrained in her soul. She can’t imagine a life without that unique dance.

“It’s pretty much my main thing,” she said from her home in Bellingham.

Moore plans to join about 150 other Highland dancers from Washington state, California, Canada and Scotland to compete in the Northern U.S. Highland Dancing Championships during this year’s Skagit Valley Highland Games July 9-10 at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon.

The Skagit Valley Highland Games has been hosting the championships since 2005, when the festival first became sanctioned by the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing.

Moore, a premier-level dancer — the highest level a dancer can compete — is going into this year’s competitions fresh from winning the title of “Best Premier Under 14 Dancer” title at the Bellingham Highland Games.

Highland dancing is a staple of the Skagit Valley Highland Games and a favorite performance event, said Heather Richendrfer, organizer of the competitions and Highland dance teacher for the past 37

10

years.

Dancers from ages 4 to adult square off to give their best presentations of the traditional Highland dances.

Sanctioned judges award points to dancers who keep time to the music and perform the dance steps with accuracy and flair. But touch the sword during a sword dance and dancers lose points and are even disqualified if they’re at the premier level, Richendrfer said.

Highland dancing has a rich tradition that stems from its roots in the Scottish Highlands around the 11th century.

Many of the traditional Highland dances that will be performed during the Highland Games weekend reflect those roots, Richendrfer said.

For instance, the sword dance was performed by a warrior on the eve of battle. His sword and scabbard were crossed on the ground to define the dancing spot.

According to legend, warriors who performed the dance without touching the sword would be successful in battle.

The Highland fling was originally performed by a warrior on his shield after he won a battle. So the fling is danced in one spot.

Highland dancing has become more of an elite and competitive sport since the 1950s, when the Scottish Official Board was formed and dance steps and costuming were formalized, Richendrfer said.

Highland dancing is a great sport to meet new people and travel for competitions. And it’s a nice alternative to other mainstream dance forms, including ballet, Richendrfer said.

That’s exactly what has kept Moore coming back for, well, more Highland dancing, she said.

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

Rebecca Moore

“I don’t think I would like ballet if I did it,” Moore said. “It isn’t as high-energy as Highland dancing.”

And she especially loves the traveling that comes along with competing at various games along the West Coast. So far, she said she’s done well.

But it’s taken quite a bit of work.

“I try to practice an hour a day when I don’t have dance class,” which is twice a week, Moore said.

Eventually, she’d like to take her dancing to a higher level.

“I really like it. I’d like to compete a lot longer and then maybe become a dance teacher,” she said.

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

dance Competitors 101 Rebecca Moore Dress Rose Bellingham, WA 102 Tessa Haggerty Ship Hector Bellingham, WA 103 Mikaela Farnsworth Dress Fyvie Magenta Kamloops, B.C. 104 Rory Flinn Dress Royal McKellar Lake Stevens, WA 105 Derrick Fraser Dress Strathsclyde Richmond, B.C. 106 Kaylee Finnegan Traquair Laguna Niguel, CA 107 Charlotte Severns Dress Turquoise McKellar Spokane Valley, WA 108 Anchi Becker Bellingham, WA 109 Nicole Pace Ship Hector Mount Vernon, WA 110 Danielle Pace Dress Rose Mount Vernon, WA 111 Becca Crawford Bothell, WA 112 Rachel Crawfrod Bothell, WA 113 Alec Mackay Redmond, WA 114 Madison Lagan Royal Blue Longniddry Courtenay, B.C. Burgundy Dress Longniddry Bothell, WA 115 Stephanie Conway 116 Emily Dietrich Dress Lorne Woodinville, WA 117 Madison Politeski Dress Royal MacKellar Okotoks, AB 118 Autumn Johansen Special Dress Royal Menzies Bellingham, WA 119 Kim Drabyk Dundee, Scotland 120 Audrey Graham Lynnwood, WA 121 Bethany Hermann Dress Red Menzies Olympia, WA 122 Nicole Hehn Dress Red Menzies Snohomish, WA 123 Rory McCrum Dress McPherson DuPont, WA 124 Erin Blair Dress Morrar Laguna Niguel, CA 125 Samantha Beach Royal Milne Nanaimo, B.C. 126 Carly Waring Green McRae of Conchra Port Hardy, B.C. 127 Abigail McCorquodale Rose Nesbit Port Hardy, B.C. 128 Eleanor Waring Red McRae of Conchra Port Hardy, B.C. 129 Kirsten Forrester Earl of Skye, Blue Anmore, B.C. 130 Meaghan Brownlee Royal Dress McKellar Port Moody, B.C. 131 Ashleigh Kent Surrey, B.C. 132 Holly Hopkins Langley, B.C. 133 Victoria Hawk Dress Stewart Bellingham, WA 134 Julia Rutherford Turquoise Lennox Surrey, B.C. 135 Erin MacNeil Red Cunningham Oceanside, CA 136 Kate MacNeil Green and White Erskine Oceanside, CA 137 Sarah Barnard Langley, B.C. 138 Chloe Scott Garibaldi Highlands, B.C. 139 Jennelle McClure Surrey, B.C. 140 Darien Mackay Special Green Lennox Langley, B.C. 141 Kourt Bacon Turquoise Dress Longniddry Beaverton, OR 142 Janissa Doerscher Dress Red Creiff Everett, WA 143 Dane Petrakis Bellevue, WA 144 Emma Lee Conway, WA 145 Fiona Lee Coquitlam, B.C. 146 Breanna Watt Coquitlam, B.C. 147 Shannon Stratychuk Dress Turquoise Scott Surrey, B.C. 148 Adrian Cunningham Teal McRae of Conchra Portland, OR

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

dance Competitors 149 Cora Peterson Dress Royal MacKellar Bellingham, WA 150 Cameron Collins Dress Blue MacRae Vancouver, B.C. 151 Vincent Collins Dress Lime MacRae Vancouver, B.C. 152 Kathryn Macintyre Dress Green Menzies Sacramento, CA 153 Maia Mencucci Arlington, WA 154 Veronica Lindgren McCleary, WA 155 Connor Francis Dress Green McPherson Bellevue, WA 156 Calum Merry Dress Turquoise Yarrow Bellevue, WA 157 Emily Hall Dress Purple Longniddry Monroe, WA 158 Elizabeth Hal Dress Yarrow Monroe, WA 159 Mellisa Carnegie Purple McRae of Conchra Calgary, AB 160 Megan Ball Dress Red McKellar Calgary, AB 161 Madison Rattai Langley, B.C. 162 Cortnie Babinski Turquoise MacPherson Spokane, WA 163 Hailey Weeks Redmond, WA 164 Elizabeth Ochs Dress Green MacGregor Issaquah, WA 165 Jennifer Ochs Dress Turquoise Scott Issaquah, WA 166 Christine Darmanin McDonald Bellingham, WA 167 Rachel Bramley Dress Purple Menzies Nanaimo, B.C. 168 Suvi Chisholm Lake Oswego, OR 169 Colby Dragon Olympia, WA 170 Aynsleigh Dragon Olympia, WA 171 Piper Dunn Ferndale, WA 172 Kate Rose Bellingham, WA 173 Liana Phillips Dress Royal Menzies Bellingham, WA 174 Alexandra Sang Surrey, B.C. 175 Dillon-James Warcup Hamilton Surrey, B.C. 176 Kathryn Warcup Pink Dress Oliver Surrey, B.C. 177 Nicolas Warcup-Scott Hamilton Cloverdale, B.C. 178 Andrena Hilder Dress Red Longniddry Port Coquitlam, B.C. 179 Heather MacFarlane Dress Purple McRae Marysville, WA 180 Makena Hehn Snohomish, WA 181 Carina Glasgow Issaquah, WA 182 Natalie Glasgow Issaquah, WA 183 Heather-Lynn Kirk Dress McDonald of Glencoe Tumwater, WA 184 Emma Clark Lake Stevens, WA 185 Jordan Hoyle Lord Arran Mount Vernon, WA 186 Amy Spens Dress Lochnaar Issaquah, WA 187 Esther Pollock Dress Burgundy Longniddry Tacoma, WA 188 Daniel Pollock McPherson Tacoma, WA 189 Hannah Pollock Tacoma, WA 190 Chelsea Hossack Surrey, B.C. 191 Cassandra Humphrys Dress Strathclyde Richland, WA 192 Duncan Stewardson Dress Stewart Ferndale, WA 193 Emma Brasseur Dress Purple Stewart Everett, WA 194 Anna Brasseur Dress Green Longniddry Everett, WA 195 Jillian Kalsbeek Deming, WA DANCE COMPETITORS continued on page 12

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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dance Competitors

continued from page 11

196 Erin Elrick Dress Purple McRae West Vancouver, B.C. 197 Torah Vanderveen Milner, B.C. 198 Sarah Vanderveen Milner, B.C. 199 Savannah Ferron Dress Royal MacGregor Bellingham, WA 200 Clare Murphy Surrey, B.C. 201 Fiona Swartz Dress Red McRae Port Moody, B.C. 202 Philippa Swartz Dress Blue Lindsey Port Moody, B.C. 203 Jaimie MacKenzie Abbotsford, B.C. 204 Makenzie Moran Sedro-Woolley, WA 205 Steven Black Abbotsford, B.C. 206 Jennifer Black Abbotsford, B.C. 207 Sydney Uhlmann Dress Red McRae of Conchra Nanaimo, B.C. Dress Turquoise McRae of Conchra Nanaimo, B.C. 208 Darryl Uhlmann 209 Emma Walkus Dress Red Lennox Port Hardy, B.C 210 Georgia Walkus Dress Blue Erskine Port Hardy, B.C. 211 Allison McDonald Dress Green Longniddry Surrey, B.C. 212 Renee Mcdonald Dress Wine Sutherland Surrey, B.C. 213 Megan Spencer Red Menzies Nanaimo, B.C. 214 Tara Findlay Dress Red Lennox Delta, B.C. 215 Catherine Brown Kelowna, B.C. 216 Bjorn Pedersen Burlington, WA 217 Connor Tallman Lake Stevens, WA 218 Xandran Frost Port McNeil, B.C

Dance Judges Pam Moisey

Littleton, Colorado

Mary Neill

West Lothian, Scotland

Ashley Stowkowy Vancouver, B.C.

Dance Pipers Zero to Gaelic adult language education program

Seirm

Gaelic song and music

FĂŠis Seattle festival of language, music and culture

Parents and Kids Gaelic songs, games and activities

Rob Barrick Portland, Oregon

Rob Rife Yakima, WA

www.slighe.com • 206.903.9452 12

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Athletic events Athletes tossing stones, hammers and logs into the air are the bread and butter of the 17th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games.

“Everything else is icing on the cake,” said judge and athletic events organizer Bob Ham of Alger.

The games are ultra-competitive for the 35 to 40 athletes who are expected to compete, Ham said, and the players are there to win. In spite of that, the biggest rivals also can also be the best of friends.

Ham said the games tend to attract people with backgrounds in track and field, where athletes focus only on their personal game.

“Then they get into Highland athletics and they have this epiphany because of all the camaraderie,” he said. “If people watch the games, they’ll see it.”

Legends say these displays of power, strength and precision originated from ancient clan members honing skills for upcoming battle. Throwing a 17-pound stone uses similar skills as throwing a spear.

Some games are rooted in classic showings of bravado — for instance, one man saying to another, “Hey, I bet I could toss this bag of wheat farther than you.”

Others might be related to practical skills: Throwing a 100-pound, 17-foot-long wooden pole in the caber toss is akin to tossing a log over a river to build a makeshift bridge.

Ham became fascinated with the atheltic games when he stumbled on a Highland games event in Portland, Ore., 30 years ago. His grandmother was Scottish and he always liked the bagpipes. Later he moved to Bellingham and attended a Highland games there, where the announcer said to him, “You look like a strong fella — you should be out here!”

Twenty-six years later, he’s still involved with the games as a sanctioned judge with the Scottish Athletic Association of America.

He competed in Scottish athletic events from 1984 to 2000, claiming three Northwest Master Champion titles, which means he was the overall winner for three different games.

Ham said he was forced to quit when his “old and broke” body couldn’t keep up — he severed a tendon in his bicep while competing.

Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the Celtic Arts Foundation in Mount Vernon, said no athletes have been seriously injured at the Skagit Valley Highland Games. Spectators are kept at a safe distance, as well.

The athletic events are sometimes typecast as “games of brawn,” but that’s not the case, Richendrfer insisted. It’s not always the biggest, badest guy who wins, he said. Women compete in the games, too.

Women participate on Sunday in the novice categories, while amateurs compete on Saturday.

“The whole tradition is about mentoring and coaching and encouraging,” he said.

See next page for athletic event descriptions and photos. goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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Athletic events The events include several divisions: Amateur class A and B; Masters class A and B (for people ages 40 and older); and novice.

Each class uses different weights.

D

on’t know the difference between the caber toss and the sheaf toss? Can’t remember what a Braemar stone is? Here’s a quick refresher on your basic Highland games athletic events. Remember, if too few people sign up to compete, the event may be dropped. And this is the Highland games, so of course, kilts are required.

56-pound weight for height — Athletes heft a cylinder-

shaped weight over their heads and over a crossbar. The weight must be thrown with one hand.

Sheaf toss — Competitors use

a pitchfork to heft a burlap bag filled with straw over the crossbar. The sheaf typically weighs 12, 16 or 20 pounds, depending on the athletic class.

Braemar stone —

hammer, a stone with an attached wooden handle, is thrown for distance.

Hammers weigh 12, 16 and 22 pounds.

14

56-pound weight for distance — Athletes throw a

weight with one hand, often using a twirling motion to build momentum.

28-pound weight for distance — This event uses the

same rules as the 56-pound weight for distance.

Light stone — A small rock weighing 17 or 26 pounds, depending on class. The goal is to throw the rock for a long distance. The best of three throws, which may be done in any manner, counts toward the competitor’s score.

Heavy hammer — The

16-pound hammer — Competitors go for the best of three throws. The farthest throw wins.

Competitors throw a large rock weighing more than 50 pounds for distance. Rules require the Braemar stone to be thrown from a standing position.

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

Caber toss — Competitors pick

up the small end of a large pole and run and throw it, with the object of making the pole land on the heavy end and then have the light end point toward the direction of travel.

— Source: North American Scottish Games Athletics website, www.nasgaweb.com/main.asp

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Scottish

country dancing Y

ou may not be able to jump, hop and bounce like a traditional Highland dancer, but just about anyone can put their best foot forward for a little Scottish country dancing.

This form of social dancing has become popular since its beginnings in 1700s Scotland and England. The basic steps and formations may have taken their cue from upper-class Renaissance court dancing, but the dance form has evolved into a social activity for just about anybody, said Diane

Danielson, vice-president of the Skagit Scottish Country Dancers.

“You don’t have to have a kilt, you don’t need to be Scottish, even,” Danielson said. “This is

about getting exercise, giving your brain something fun to concentrate on and having fun with good people.”

While Highland dancing is about performance and competition, Scottish country dancing is more about participation, Danielson explained.

So to get people involved, Danielson said the Skagit Scottish Country Dancers plan to coordinate with country dancing clubs from Seattle and Bellingham to give demonstrations and lead the audience in some country dancing during the 17th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Dancers can learn various reels, jigs and strathspeys and either dance with a partner or alone.

Country dancing will be presented and open to participation on the hour, except noon, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9 and at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 10.

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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sheepdog trials S

heepdogs must have the “eye” to herd a flock of sheep. Without it, those woolly, four-legged grass-grazers will run right over the top of them.

The eye, dog handler Bob Hickman said, is an unflinching stare that has the power to completely intimidate and control a flock of sheep. With the proper stare and predatory posture — head and shoulders low to the ground — the dog never has to bark, snarl or bite, Hickman said.

A talented sheepdog can move the sheep one way or another by simply leaning.

“It’s like a basketball player that can give a fake to one side or the other,” he said. “The dogs can do that kind of a move. They’re just staring them (sheep) down.”

Border Collies and other herding breeds will put this technique to use July 9 and 10 at the 2011 Skagit Valley Highland Games sheepdog trials.

This year will be Hickman’s fourth time competing in the trials, with two of his four Border Collies. He placed second and third previously. Hickman will handle “Mojo” and his wife will take care of “Ryder.”

The popular trials at Edgewater Park draw many onlookers, who line up a couple of rows deep around the trial arena and pack the bleachers.

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

The crowds will watch 33 dogs and 24 handlers try to route three-to-five sheep through a pathway formed by gaps in boards and finally into a pen, using mostly vocal commands, said Dawn Pucci, trial organizer.

The course mimics the day-to-day life of sheep herders, who moved their sheep from one pasture to another in the vast Scottish Highlands.

Pucci, who began organizing the trials for the Highland Games nine years ago, said the dogs will be judged by points and time. The first round of trials, after kicking off 2 p.m.

Saturday, will narrow down the competition to 10 teams to compete in the final trials Sunday.

First-place winners take home $600, and another $1,800 is distributed to the runnerups.

Hickman, who also is the president of the Washington Association of Stockdog Handlers, first became fascinated with sheepdog herding while watching two people in a field West of Olympia near Oyster Bay, standing 200 yards apart, herd sheep with a Border Collie.

“They would pass the sheep back and forth,” he said. “It was the neatest thing I ever saw.”

Hickman said he keeps competing because of that same fascination — and, of course, some good, old-fashioned competitive spirit.

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

fiddler’s F competition

iddling was meant for dancing.

And the fiddle can be traced back in Celtic culture to the invention of the violin in northern Italy.

Jaunty and foot-tapping tunes easily get the body moving like nothing else, and the fiddlers of the annual Skagit Valley Highland Games will strike their bows across their strings in the Northwest Regional Scottish Fiddling Championship beginning 10 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon.

A common question at the games is, “What’s the difference between a fiddle and a violin?”

“They’re spelled differently — that’s about it,” said Ward Beebe of Oak Harbor, who organizes the fiddling competition.

Beebe, who has been involved in the games for 12 years, said the term “violin” refers to the orchestral genre of the instrument, while the fiddle refers to informal tunes focused on dancing.

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

In fact, the fiddle has always been used in Celtic culture as an accompaniment for dancing, Beebe explained.

“Celtic music is all about dance.”

The contestants will compete in three classes: novice, junior — for ages 18 and younger — and an open division, which attracts the most advanced players.

Beebe expects 10 to 15 competitors, and each will play three or four types of tunes, which slowly increase in tempo from a slower Scottish “air” to a fast-paced “march.”

Judges will grade competitors on timing, tempo and continuity.

They’ll also look at technical aspects, for instance, whether the instrument is in tune and how much control the player has over the bow. “[But] the first thing they’re looking at is the expression or interpretation of the tune,” Beebe said. After all, it is the Highland Games.

“Does it sound Scottish?”

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

17

FRIDAY, July 8 7 p.m.: Celtic bagpipe master Fred Morrison and his wife and professional fiddler, Deirdre - Celtic Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon. Free, but organizers are encouraging audiences to bring a canned or sealed package of food to donate to the Skagit Food Bank.

SATURDAY, July 9 12:30 - 1 p.m.: Bad to the Bow youth fiddlers - Main Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon.

1 - 2 p.m.: Fred and Deirdre Morrison - Main Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon.

5:30 - 6:30 p.m.: Celtic Legends Concert, with Fred and Deirdre Morrison - Main Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon.

MUSIC AT THE GAMES

T

hese aren’t your mother’s bagpipes.

This year’s Skagit Valley Highland Games is a mixed “bag,” so to speak, with examples of some little-known kinds of bagpipes, and performances and workshops on those bagpipes by the international Scottish piping star, Fred Morrison.

The man who’s been named “The Jimi Hendrix of Bagpipes” will perform during a free community concert and kick-off to the Highland Games at 7 p.m. Friday, July 8, on the Celtic Stage at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon.

He’ll be joined by the Bad to the Bow youth fiddlers from British Columbia, who will heat up the stage for Morrison’s performance with his wife and professional fiddler, Deirdre, later Friday evening.

Morrison, Deirdre and their friends also will perform twice Saturday, July 9, at 1 p.m. and again at 5:30 p.m. as the headliners for the Celtic Legends Concert.

Morrison’s performance will highlight two kinds of pipes that until the 1980s had fallen into obscurity: the reelpipes and smallpipes.

Traditional Highland bagpipes are loud and designed to be played in a regiment, while smallpipes and reelpipes are about two-thirds the volume of Highland pipes

Parade of the Haggis, Bagpiping, Highland Dancing

For tickets contact: info@kdpipeband.com

18

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

and can be played more easily to accompany other instruments, making them popular with audiences, said Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the Celtic Arts Association that organizes the games.

“It’s become the hottest commodity in piping — borderpiping (reelpiping) and smallpiping — and we’re really one of the few places to showcase these instruments.”

Morrison has made a name for himself internationally as a master of the bagpipes and for blending traditional Celtic music with American bluegrass influences for a unique sound. He’s especially noted for helping to revive the popularity of reelpipes and smallpipes.

Morrison, 47, agreed that there’s been a surge of interest in the reelpipes, smallpipes and Irish uilleann pipes since the early 1990s, when they were used in the soundtracks of several popular Hollywood movies, including “Rob Roy.” “The Highland pipes have their own majestic magic for playing solo, I feel, whereas uilleann pipes/ reelpipes are just so much fun to play with other instruments live and are so good for entertaining audiences,” Morrison said.

Morrison decided at a young age that he wanted to learn to play the bagpipes. Some of his earliest memories were of his father playing the bagpipes while he was falling asleep.

He competed for the first time at the age of 8 and started playing professionally at age 16.

But he began finding his own musical “voice” at age 18 after discovering bluegrass while living in Amsterdam. He met several Irish musicians, including an Irish banjo player, Billy Kelly, who enjoyed bluegrass and encouraged Morrison to explore the banjo.

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

“I learned so much about Irish and bluegrass music from him,” Morrison said.

Later in his career, Morrison joined up with Scottish supergroup Clan Alba and contemporary Celtic group Capercaillie, whose music was featured in “Rob Roy.” He’s won numerous prestigious music awards through the years, worked consistently on solo projects and released a handful of albums.

Now he keeps busy composing and performing at various festivals, venues and concerts around the world.

He’s also a much sought-after speaker and instructor.

In fact, he and wife Deirdre will be offering critiques of a limited number of performers on Sunday, July 10, during the games.

They’ll also head up a few music workshops at 10 a.m. Sunday.

“This is a unique opportunity for people to see Fred,” Richendrfer said of the Highland Games. “He’s taken Europe and everyone else by storm.”

Culture Tent Schedule Educational outreach is a big part of what the Celtic Arts Foundation is all about. The culture tent, located just to the south of the main gate, is a place where all sorts of presentations are made on a range of topics about Scottish and Celtic history and culture.

Saturday 10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:30 p.m.

1:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Who are the modern Celts? Presentation with Brian McGuiness How to research your Celtic ancestry: Laura Sparr & Skagit Genealogical Society Scottish athletics, your questions answered with Bob Ham Bagpipes: Types and kinds and what to listen for: Skye Richendrfer & friends Histories & traditions of three Scottish Clans: Innes, McDougall and MacLaren/MacLaine Shared sounds of the fiddle and harp with Terry Hergesheimer and Ward Beebe

Sunday 10:00 a.m.

11:00 a.m.

12:00 noon 1:00 p.m.

2:00 p.m.

3:00 p.m.

Who are the modern Celts? Presentation with Brian McGuiness How to research your Scottish ancestry: Laura Sparr & Skagit Genealogical Society Scottish athletics, your questions answered with Bob Ham Bagpipes: What to listen for: Skye Richendrfer & John Brock Histories & traditions of three Scottish clans: Donald, Ross, & Buchanan Shared sounds of the fiddle and harp with Terry Hergesheimer and Ward Beebe

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

19

foo&d whisky T

he Highland dancing, the Celtic fiddling, the cabertossing. They’re all timehonored traditions at the Skagit Valley Highland Games.

But it takes a good helping of Scottish food fare — washed down with some good ol’ whisky — to really get the taste of the games.

Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the Celtic Arts Foundation that organizes the annual celebration, said this year’s games won’t disappoint, offering a variety of food, from elephant ears and hamburgers to haggis rolls — a Scottish country food that combines

meats with oatmeal for texture.

Not every food vendor who wants to serve at the Highland Games is allowed, Richendrfer said.

“We turn people away,” Richendrfer said. “We want to make sure that the vendors we do have there are successful and the right fit for the things we’re trying to do.”

Once you’ve had your fill of haggis, come check out the whisky and Scottish malt samples, offered throughout the weekend.

For the past five years, the Highland Games has offered tastings of Scottish whisky. It’s gradually become one of the more

SCOTTISH DRUMMING CURRICULUM offered at the

Seattle Drum School of Music www.seattledrumschool.com Call 206.364.8815 and ask to talk to Steve Smith

20

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

popular events at the games, Richendrfer said.

“It’s not like it’s in a pub,” Richendrfer said. “It’s an educational thing. You get to go in and taste a little bit and compare one to the other.”

The introductory level of “Whiskys of the World” offers a tasting of five blends, for $10, while the Scottish malts tasting provides a sampling of eight malts for $15.

The samplings are led by a “master of whisky” from Diageo, the largest spirits company in the world.

The host will walk tasters through the details of the distilling process and discuss the difference between single malt and blended scotches.

The tasting tent will be located smack in the middle of the activity.

Richendrfer said organizers have had a tough time finding just the right place for tasters.

In years past, organizers tried to arrange the tent by itself and offer tasters a quiet area to learn about whisky.

“Those places didn’t work very well,” he said, laughing.

Instead, visitors seemed to like the whisky tent near the beer garden, he said.

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Clans

T

he first thing you’ll notice when visiting the Skagit Valley Highland Games — even more than the burly men and women tossing telephone pole-sized sticks — is the overwhelming mosaic of brightly colored and intricately patterned Celtic kilts.

“It’s an explosion of colors, an assault on your senses,” said Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the Celtic Arts Foundation in Mount Vernon.

All of the kilts and their colors have deep roots in Scottish and Celtic ancestry and are found in the traditions of the clans.

Richendrfer calls the clans “living genealogies.”

The term “Clan” comes from a Gaelic word, clann, meaning “family” or “offspring,” but also can refer to a group of people who may share similar lineage.

Clans are the fabric holding Celtic communities together, and some of their rivalries make for a collegial atmosphere, Richendrfer said.

Many times the different clans will jeer one another because of some ancient legend, like one about who stole the other’s cattle.

Richendrfer said the different colors and patterns of tunics, kilts and facepaint were used to distinguish one clan from another in battle.

Concrete resident James Innes, president of the Innes Clan Society, said his clan can be traced back to 1160 AD, when the king of Scotland granted a piece of land to the Innes family.

The Innes clan will lead the clan parade at noon on Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday, July 9-10, during the opening ceremonies of this year’s Skagit Valley Highland Games at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon. About 35 other clans are expected to participate.

They’ll stroll into the grounds goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | July 2011

accompanied by the sounds of drums and bagpipes, decked out in their tartans, kilts and other traditional Scottish garb and carrying their colors.

The clans also will take a moment during the opening ceremonies to honor clan members who have died throughout the year, making for a momentary somber and serious atmosphere, Richendrfer said.

The clans will set up their own tents and offer information about their histories. Some are more involved than others, and bring historical memorabilia, old books, and sometimes other surprises, like an old sword.

This year, the Innes clan also will come together at the games for the annual Innes Clan Society meeting.

The Innes clan wears a red tartan, also known as plaid, and each clan has its own distinct pattern.

James Innes said he told his children of their family’s heritage just as he heard it from his parents when he was young. Innes clan members are now scattered all over the world, even in Australia and Japan, Innes said.

“There are many, many clans,” Innes said. “Clans are families.

Families that are held together over all these years.”

Clans list Alba Lodge Seattle, WA Clan Bailey Society, International Oregon City, OR Clan Buchanan Lacey, WA Clan Campbell Society of North American Mount Vernon, WA Clan Chisholm Tacoma, WA Clan Donald USA Tacoma, WA Clan Gregor Tacoma, WA Clan Gunn Bellingham, WA Clan Hamilton Society Lynnwood, WA Clan Johnston/e in America Renton, WA Clan Lindsay Association USA, Inc. Renton, WA Clan MacDougall

Brier, WA

Clan MacIntyre Society La Conner, WA Clan MacKay Anacortes, WA Clan MacKenzie Society

Bellingham, WA

Clan MacLachlan Kent, WA Clan MacLaren

Seattle, WA

Clan MacLean Association

Beaverton, OR

Clan Muir and Clan Lamont

Seattle, WA

Clan Munro

Mount Vernon, WA

Clan Sinclair Olympia, WA Clan Sutherland Everett, WA Innes Clan Society

Concrete, WA

National Tartan Day Soc. Of Washington Tacoma, WA Scottish American Military Soc. Kent, WA Seattle Irish Heritage Club & Clans of Ireland Arlington, WA

Chieftain of the Games

T

his year’s Highland Games Chieftain is Marilyn McLean. Along with last year’s Chieftain Bill Toomey and Celtic Arts Foundation Executive Director Skye Richendrfer, Marilyn was a co-founder of the foundation in 1997, and has served on the Board ever since.

Passionate about the importance of arts and Celtic music and dance in particular, Marilyn has strong ancestral connections to the British Isles.

The Scottish side of her family immigrated to Prince Edward Island in Canada, from Scotland. The Irish portion of her family were pioneers in the Northwest.

“It has been my honor and pleasure to travel this journey with Skye and help this organization grow from a small Highland Games to an internationally recognized celebration of our grand Celtic Culture. Every ounce of my Celtic blood still stirs when I have the pleasure of hearing the massed bands play together at our event. My hope is that many future generations will be able to share this thrilling experience!”

Marilyn lives in Bellingham, WA, and is an attorney for the Lummi Tribal Nation, and we thank and congratulate her for long and generous service to the Celtic Arts Foundation.

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

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Vendors

Bay City Ice Cream Bellingham, WA Food European Style Food Inc Woodinville, WA Food Fair Food & Bakery Snohomish, WA Food Fiamma di Mamma Wood Fired Pizza Anacortes, WA Food Java Jo’s On The Go Mount Vernon, WA Food Land and Sea Specialty Meats Sparks, NV Food Lindas Concessions Burlington, WA Food Ma & Pa Kettle Corn, LLC Marysville, WA Food Rollin Snack Bar Concessions Mount Vernon, WA Food Slims Picken’s BAR B QUE Mount Vernon, WA Food Sunblest Foods Arroyo Grande, CA Food The Frandy Bar Kirkland, WA Food You Found Us! Concessions Everson, WA Food Zieglers Bratwurst Haus Mill Creek, WA Food

Age of Chivalry Mariposa, CA Merchandise/Vending Back to Bali Seattle, WA Merchandise/Vending Bagpipediscs.com Sammamish , WA Merchandise/Vending C & T Global Enterprises Scottsdale, AZ Merchandise/Vending Catriona MacRury’s Inc. All Things Irish Oak Harbor, WA Merchandise/Vending Celtic Belle Port Townsend, WA Merchandise/Vending Celtic Jackalope Glendora, CA Merchandise/Vending Celtic Moonlighting & Elfen Design Port Angeles , WA Merchandise/Vending Elfen Design Henna Tattooing Ferndale, WA Merchandise/Vending Elfstone Celtic Jewelry Snohomish, WA Merchandise/Vending Go Wireless Burlington, WA Merchandise/Vending Gold and Silver Mine Redmond, WA Merchandise/Vending History of Names Rogue River, OR Merchandise/Vending Innovative Stitches Renton, WA Merchandise/Vending Memories Headwear Eastsound, WA Merchandise/Vending Scottish Sword and Shield Federal Way, WA Merchandise/Vending SteelCraft/Legends of Camelot Bothell, WA Merchandise/Vending Tartan Thistle Freeland, WA Merchandise/Vending Wandering Angus Celtic Traders Port Townsend, WA Merchandise/Vending Washington State Department of Natural Resources Sedro-Woolley, WA Merchandise/Vending Whidbey Island Highland Games Freeland, WA Merchandise/Vending Ye Olde Quicksilversmith San Diego, CA Merchandise/Vending

Hood Canal Highland Celtic Festival Renton, WA Non-Profit Northwest Junior Pipe Band Shoreline, WA Non-Profit Portland Metro Pipe Band Beaverton, OR Non-Profit The Shire of Midhaven/ Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc Mount Vernon, WA Non-Profit

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Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival

Volunteers

Aaron Malcomb Smallpipe events assistant Amanda Vail CAF Blog editor Amra Graham VIP hospitality Anita Thornton Vendor assistant Anna Bromberger Volunteer coordinator/field coordinator Bill Toomey Accounting & finance Bob Ham Athletic events Brandy Driscoll Fiddle events assistant Breck Taylor Whisky-tasting Bruce McBane Special setup/operations Bud Bowers Special setup/operations Candice Soine Gate Supervisor Cassy Soden Videographer Cate Melcher Anderson Children’s events Charles Boyd Parking Craig & Elizabeth Sjostrom Special setup operations/command center Dawn Pucci Sheepdog Trials Dina Guttmann Videographer Gary Brown Photographer George Foster Special setup/operations Heather Richendrfer Highland dancing coordinator Howard Anderson Electrical Isle Lindall Parking assistant Jack Herring Scottish Country dancing coordinator/

Special setup operations Jenna Abts Graphic arts support,

Blog & Video assistance Jerry & Mary Bromberger First aid John & Mary Mclean Grounds and facilities coordinator/ Beer Garden supervisor Kelly Dodd Vendor coordinator Mairi Campbell General support/Gates Micah Kelley Whisky-tasting Melissa Maxwell Graphic art support Michael King Gate supervisor Pam McNaughton Celtic Arts/Info Tent/Merchandise Pat McLatchey Educational venue coordinator Piper Eger National anthem singing at

opening ceremonies Rob Campbell General support/set-up/operations Sally Richendrfer Parking Skip Pass Grounds setup Steve Baughn Photography Sue Gregg Athletics Tara Coder Celtic Farm Tina Tate Gate Supervisor Coordinator Terry Hergesheimer Celtic Harp Tent Supervisor TJ Larrick Gate Supervisor Ward Beebe Fiddle events coordinator

! u o y k n a h T

July 2011 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com

Thank You to the 2011 Skagit Valley Highland Games Sponsors!

Thanks to these many generous businesses for their in-kind suppport

corporate sponsors ($2000+)

SKAGIT PUBLISHING

Anacortes Telescope Blade Chevrolet Childrens’ Museum of Skagit County Fisher & Sons Hawthorne Funeral Home Holland Healthcare Services, Inc. Karl’s Paints Mount Vernon Auto Repair & Towing Northwest Handspun Yarns RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) Skagit Farmer’s Supply/Cenex Skagit Gardens Skagit River Steel Individuals making contributions in support of the Games: $5000 Anonymous

highland games event sponsors ($1000+)

Diageo North America

$1000+ Ms. Ruth Marie Flucke & Mr. Rod MacKenzie Mr. William Ballantine Judge John M. & Mrs. Susan Meyer Mrs. Betty Black Mr. Michael Averell Dunsire Family Foundation $500-$999 Capt. Brian McGuiness USNR (Ret.) Mr. and Mrs. Chuck and Jan Gould Mr. and Ms. Walter & Linda Briggs Mr. & Mrs. Tyrone & Rachel Heade Dr. Jason & Mrs. Jill Hilde Capt. John Callahan NOAA (Ret.) Mr. & Mrs. Skye K. & Sally C. Richendrfer Ms. Joan Penney & Mr. David Ryberg Mr. & Mrs. Bobby & Susan Salsitz Mr. & Mrs. Jim & Mary Scott Mr. & Mrs. Craig & Elizabeth Sjostrom Mr. John MacKinnon & Ms. Melanie Youhanna $200-$499 Caledonian & St. Andrew’s Society of Seattle Mr. & Mrs. Eric Alexander Mr. & Mrs. Howard & Cate Anderson Mr. & Mrs. John Brock Mr. Joseph & Mrs. Paula McCandlis Dozal Dr. James Ford Mr. Justin Hammond & Ms. Kirsten Smistad Mr. & Mrs. Brad and Meagan Hudson Mr. & Mrs. Ragan & Martha Humphrey Mr. & Mrs. Dan & Megan Kovanen Ms. Alisoun Lamb & Mr. Bryson McCloughen Ms. Marilyn McLean Mr. & Mrs. Dale & Susan Ragan Ms. Alice Riddle Mr. & Mrs. William J. Toomey Mr. Miles Webb Mr. Don Wick

Grandy Lake Forest Associates