Piping them on: race ‘like practice for us’

Paula Brown (centre), of Bluff, does an impromptu Highland fling at the peak of Mt Cargill in front of pipers Oe Hayward (left) and Sophie McLellan during Dunedin’s Three Peaks Mountain Race yesterday as her friend Kerry Williams (left), also of Invercargill, races past. PHOTO: LINDA ROBERTSON

Pipers Oe Hayward (15) and Sophie McLellan (13) played together or took turns over about four hours while runners and walkers went past yesterday.

"It’s like practice for us," Oe said.

The Logan Park High School pupil is due to compete in the Silver Chanter competition in Christchurch during Labour Weekend and the mountain race presented a chance to run over a few tunes.

Sophie, from Fairfield School, said she began playing the bagpipes about five years ago.

She is working towards being ready for the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships in Hawke’s Bay in March next year.

Entrants in races yesterday had to ascend the Flagstaff, Swampy and Mt Cargill peaks.

The event was organised by the Leith Harrier and Athletic Club and its participants traversed trails and took in panoramic views.