by Angus MacCaull

 

I was down at the Pipers Glen in Antigonish this past Sunday morning during the Highland Games. Imagine the sunlight on the river and musicians under the green trees. What a feeling. We have some really special moments in the Maritimes! In addition to pipe and drum music, I also saw heavyweight events, a ceilidh, and took in a night at the beer tent.

The Games have run continuously for over 150 years in Antigonish. They’re actually the inspiration for the name of this blog. There’s an event at the Games where competitors throw a 56 pound stone over a bar about 17 feet in the air. And you guessed it, each time they have to get the height!

Local athlete Matt Doherty won the overall heavyweight competition this year, and local Olympian Eric Gillis shone in the 5 mile run. The Dartmouth & District Pipe Band were winners in three different pipe band categories this year. That’s Dartmouth in the video above!