Games held in conditions of Highlands

Their bare knees were almost purple but the marching girls stepped stoically on as the weather leant an air of Scottish authenticity to the annual Highland Games in Dunedin yesterday.

Elsewhere gumboots flew through the air, cabers teetered and wobbled, and eggs were balanced precariously on spoons at the Caledonian Ground at Logan Park.

Caledonian Society of Otago president Wayne Allen said the event was all about the public getting involved, with organisers on hand to teach people how to toss a sheaf over a bar or to totter forward with a 25kg pole and throw it, end over end, as far as they could.

While everybody always enjoyed the caber toss, gumboot throwing had been "extremely popular" this year, he said.

"Mums, dads and children were all having a go."

While the weather did not put on its best showing, he was "quite happy" with the crowd of about 300.

There had been more marching groups and pipe bands than in previous years, and the Otago Marching Society held competitions, instead of doing displays.

Dunedin student Nadine Terry, of Gore, was crowned the Queen o' the Heather and will represent Dunedin at the National Highland Games next year.

edith.schofield@odt.co.nz