Crieff Highland Gathering links with America

Jul 25 2008 by Lynn Duke, Strathearn Herald

CRIEFF Highland Gathering are in the process of forging a successful link with one of their counterparts in America.

Following an invitation from the Ohio Scottish Games, CHG Chairman John McWilliam and directors Jim McGregor, Frank Duncan and David Gillies travelled to the midwestern state to complete the first stage of a twinning agreement between the two groups.

The objective of the arrangement is to share knowledge and help promote traditional Scottish Games events in both communities.

Director Frank Duncan told the Herald: “The opportunity arose through a meeting with a wonderful lady named Margaret Callander, who is immediate past president of the Ohio Scottish Games and treasurer of the Scottish-American Cultural Society of Ohio. Another lady had been studying Crieff for the last two years, as well as some other Games towns in Scotland, with a view to forming some kind of bond in the future and it was decided that Crieff was a suitable candidate.”

The day after their arrival in Ohio, the Crieff party wasted no time getting stuck into helping with the preparations for the next day’s activities. They found many similarities between the setting up in Wellington and Crieff, except that almost every helper had a golf buggy for transporting them around.

The Ohio Games are held over two days at the Lorain County Fairgrounds, a large complex of open and covered areas, in the small town of Wellington. The grandstand is capable of seating 2,100 people and the place is so vast that everything, with the exception of the heavyweight events, can be held indoors should the weather become stormy.

Frank explained: “The Friday is used for preliminary dancing competitions such as the choreography competition and the local heavyweight competitions, and these are followed by a Highland concert where the choreography winners perform again. There was also entertainment from Scots singer Alex Beaton and The Brigadoons (a Ceilidh band from Canada). Later, a torch-lit march of the clans was assembled and the audience followed the clans from the concert hall to a ceilidh that went on into the late hours. It was a perfect Scottish end to the first day.

“On Saturday, the Games commenced at 8am and events, including the open heavyweight competitions; solo piping and drumming; fiddle and harp competitions; Gaelic mod; kilted mile race and border collie demonstrations, were all well attended at various venues throughout the ground. Entertainment continued throughout the day with concerts, sports, trade stands and a grand display of British cars and motorcyles.”

The Crieff contingent were welcomed at the opening ceremony and were each given a key to the town of Wellington by the mayor, Ms Barbara O’Keef, before John McWilliam gave a short speech on behalf of CHG, followed by the official public signing of the Twinning Agreement.

Frank continued: “A terrific and well organised day ended with the prizes being presented and another excellent massed bands display. The huge grandstand crowd urged the bands on and the commentator suggested to the band master that they carry on and do a bit more. This was done without a murmur.

“Americans, it seems, have an inbuilt ‘can do’ approach to everything and they have some advantages such as lots of space and a large population. They also enjoy great support from their sponsors, the local community council, and even the State of Ohio. They put on a terrific Games and the organising team worked very hard to ensure its success.

“We left America with many ideas of how we could make changes to improve the day back home. The hospitality received was second to none and we will warmly welcome the small contingent that are due to come over here and trust that they will have as enjoyable a time with us in Crieff as we experienced in Ohio.”