Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010

OfficialProgram

The Celtic Arts Foundation Presents

The 16Th AnnuAl

Supplement to the Skagit Valley herald July 10-11 • 2010

Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com2

EDITOR Bev Crichfield

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Mark Dobie

DISPLAY ADVERTISING MANAGER Deb Bundy

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS SuPERVISOR Sarah Hickman

WRITERS Marta Murvosh, Aaron Burkhalter, Tahlia Ganser,

Kate Martin, Whitney Pipkin

PhOTOGRAPhERS Scott Terrell, Frank Varga

Cover photo Scott Terrell

PubLICATION DESIGN & LAYOuT Patricia Stowell

GRAPhIC DESIGNERS Ashley Crerar, Jody Hendrix,

Erika Jennewein, Christina Poisal

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Stephanie Fussell,

Stephanie Harper, Leah Hines, Marcus McCoy, Kathy Schultz,

Kim Streit, Paul Tinnon

Table of COnTenTSWelcome to the 2010 games! ...............3

Schedule of Events ...............................4

Festival Map & Information ..................6

Highland Games pipers .......................7

Solo pipe and drum competitors ...... 8-9

Pipe bands ...........................................9

Highland Games dancing ...................10

Dance competitors ....................... 11-12

Athletic events ............................. 13-14

Sheepdog trials ..................................15

Food & drink ......................................16

Fiddler’s competition..........................17

Celtic Culture Tent schedule ................18

Music at the games ............................19

Clans & List of clans ...................... 20-21

Chieftain of the games .......................21

Highland Games volunteers ...............22

Celtic Arts Foundation ........................22

List of vendors ....................................23

Scottish Country Dancing ...................23

©2010 Skagit Publishing . All rights reserved.

On the cOver:Jordan Hoyle

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 �

We recently asked our volunteer planning group, “For what is the Skagit Valley Highland Games and Celtic Festival best known?” A long list of descriptive words was cre-

ated with some strong recurring themes: celebration, fun, family-oriented, quality, festive, music, dance, athletic events, sheepdog trials, and “men-in-kilts.” While it’s true that we focus a lot on our “Scottishness” at these Highland Games, there are elements of Irish and other Celtic cultures that we include and celebrate at this festival, as well.

What you observe at Edgewater Park during the Highland Games is the culmination of months of planning on the part of a wonderful team of community volunteers, generous sponsors, and enthusiastic members of the Celtic Arts Foundation. Producing this festival is a lot of hard work and, frankly, costs a small fortune.

For 16 years, we’ve brought the sights and sounds of Scotland to Skagit County in the form of the Highland Games. It has certainly been loads of fun to be part of growing this event, but most reward-ing is knowing how much people around the community, region and even across international borders look forward to the Skagit Valley Highland Games!

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. We look forward to a terrific weekend and all manner of Celtic fun for years to come!

Skye K. RichendrferFounder and Executive Director,Celtic Arts Foundation

CeltiC Arts FoundAtionPO Box 1342Mount Vernon, WA 98273360-416-4934 www.celticarts.org

2010 BoArd oF direCtorsDavid J. Ryberg, PresidentMarilyn McLean, Vice PresidentScott Peterson, TreasurerJames Monroe, PhD, SecretaryTyrone Heade, Board MemberJill Hilde, Board MemberJan Gould, CPA, Board Member

emeritus BoArd memBersWilliam J. Toomey, CPAMary ScottJudge John M. MeyerMelissa ChittendenG. Michael Riedel

stAFFSkye K. Richendrfer, Founder and Executive Director

Michele Norman, Program and Administrative Assistant

Welcometo the 2010

games!

Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com�

FRIDAY, JulY 97 p.m. Free concert with the Tannahill Weavers, Edgewater Park outdoor stage.

SATuRDAY, JulY 109 - 10:30 a.m. Highland dancing, pre-premier events9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Solo piping and drumming competition10 a.m. to noon Northwest Regional Scottish Fiddling Championship, Fiddle Tent.10 a.m. to 11 am. Scottish country dancers10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Northern United States Open Highland Dancing Championship11 - 11:45 a.m. Scottish country dancingNoon to 12:30 Opening ceremonies Main Stage; Parade of Clans anthems and lament12:30 - 2 p.m. Folk music, “Molly’s Revenge,” Main Stage1 - 1:45 p.m. Scottish country dancing1 - 2:45 p.m. Harpers circle2 - 3 p.m. Scottish country dancing2 - 4 p.m. Celtic fiddle session, Fiddle Stage2 - 6 p.m. Sheepdog trials2:30 - 5 p.m. Pipe band competition, Main Stage3 - 4 p.m. Sheep to shawl demonstration, Culture Tent3 - 5 p.m. Highland dancing choreography competition3 - 3:45 p.m. Scottish country dancing5 - 5:15 p.m. Massed bands5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Celtic Legends concert, “Molly’s Revenge,” Main Stage

TheSe eVenTS COnTInue All DAY:• Scottish Culture Tent (explanation and demonstrations of Celtic music, dance and culture)• Traditional Scottish atheltic 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

SunDAY, JulY 119 - 10 a.m. Beginning Scottish fiddle workshop with Ward Beebe, Fiddle Stage9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Highland dancing competiton10 a.m. - noon Music workshops, featuring “Molly’s Revenge” band members, Fiddle Tent10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sheepdog trials10 - 11 a.m. Scottish country dancers12:30 - 1 p.m. Opening ceremonies, Main Stage; Parade of Clans anthems and laments1 - 1:30 p.m. Scottish Drum Corp competition, Main Stage1 - 1:45 p.m. Scottish country dancing1 - 2 p.m. Northwest Regional Harp Competition2 - 3 p.m. “Molly’s Revenge,” Celtic folk music2 - 3 p.m. Harpers circle2 - 3 p.m. Scottish country dancing2 - 4 p.m. Celtic fiddle session, Fiddle Stage3 - 4:30 p.m. Washington State Grade IV and Grade III Pipe Band Championships3 - 4 p.m. Sheep to shawl demonstration, Culture Tent4:30 - 4:45 p.m. Massed bands5 p.m. EVENT CLOSING

TheSe eVenTS COnTInue All DAY:• Scottish Culture Tent (explanation and demonstrations of Celtic music, dance and culture)• Traditional Scottish atheltic 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

SCheDule OF eVenTS* Please note: Times listed are estimates and reflect the approximate times events are planned.

SCheDule OF eVenTS


Fresh Flowers & exceptional GiFts!Open year round, RoozenGaarde offers unique gifts for

the home and garden. We also ship our flowers anywhere in the USA overnight!

www.tulips.com15867 Beaver Marsh rd. • 360-424-8531

Mon. - sat. 9am-6pmsunday/holidays 11am - 4pm

open Daily Year round

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 own-ers. Plastic bags are available at each entrance for animal waste. Please clean up after your animals. A watering sta-tion is located near the infor-mation booth. Thank you for being a responsible pet owner.

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.

ScottishCountryDance

HighlandDance

Main Stage

Celtic Farm& Sheepdog Trials

Parkingnorth of bridge only

Handicappedparking only

North Gate

South Gate

Campground

Additionalparking at Washington School

CeltiC artS/iNfo teNt

Children’s events

Clans

Arts & Crafts

Food

Harp Tent

BeerGarden/Whiskysof the World

Fiddle Tent

Spinners& Weavers

Athletics

MV

Solo Piping& Drumming

Culture Tent

SkaGit State BaNkMaiN Gate

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

• Purchase your 2010 Games

T-shirts and hats

• Lost-and-found items

• Emergency personnel

All venue locations are approximate and are subject to change.

W. DIVISION STREET

3RD

ST.

SKAG

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IVER

EDG

EWAT

ERPA

RK

EDGEWATERPARKING

TO SEATTLE

TO VANCOUVER, B.C.

BN

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ILR

OA

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MOUNTVERNON

I-5

KINCAID ST.

SO

UT

HB

AK

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ST.

★

EXIT226

freeShuttle

Parking

2010 skagit Valley HigHland games tickets:OnE-day PaSS PriCES:$13 adults; $10 students/seniors and active military; $30 families or group of four; $7 addi-tional family member (when purchased with family ticket); free for children 4 and youngerWEEkEnd PaSSES: $18 adults; $14 students/seniors and active military; $40 families or group of four; $7 additional family member; free for children 4 and youngerFor tickets and information, visit www.celticarts.org/

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 �

More than any other musical instrument, the bagpipes have been defined by

competition.Just ask piping

teacher Tyrone Heade of Seattle. After 16 years of full-time teaching and even more time competing in North America and Europe, Heade is still considered “amateur” class. But he’s moving up.

Heade explained that piping is so diffi-cult, even experienced players can spend years climbing the five grades of amateur-class competing before entering the open-class pro-fessional competitions. Skagit Valley Highland Games offers competitions in both.

Heade said the competitive na-ture of bagpiping goes back centu-ries. In Scotland, Heade said com-petition is the preferred way to grow and improve at the bagpipes.

“They made an active decision to have their music refined through competition as opposed to recitals. Still today, piping competitions are more numerous than piping recit-als,” Heade said. “(Scotland) wanted to see it refined and rise to a very high standard, and it has.”

That’s just as true at the Skagit Valley Highland Games, which vet-eran piper Heade said is one of his favorite Scottish festivals in the Pa-cific Northwest. Hundreds of pipers come out for solo and band competi-

tions throughout the weekend.Heade said he’s constantly im-

pressed even by the youngest and least experienced players at these

competitions.“They are really working hard,”

Heade said. “That little kid up there is tiny and belting a tune for all she or he is worth.”

Skye Richendrfer, executive director for the Celtic Arts Foun-dation in Mount Vernon, said the competition highlights the technical skill required to play one of the most unusual instruments in the world.

“The focus is about technical exe-cution,” Richendrfer said. “You have an instrument that is extremely complicated at the best of circum-stances to play.”

Players are judged on their tone, tuning and embellishments. Richendrfer said the embellishments and grace notes are what set pip-ing apart. Tunes are not just played straight-forward, but accented with trills and ornaments.

“You can’t play the tunes if you

can’t move your fingers fast enough,” he said.

Players are divided into two groups, a five-level amateur pipers

group — one level is the highest, most skilled among those players — and a profes-sional group.

Heade is a level one piper — the highest level — for classical piping, called pibroch, and level two for light-er music. He hopes to improve in the next few years to join the professional pipers.

He said spectators will enjoy any level of

music because the instrument is so technically difficult.

“These people work so hard to play their instruments well,” Heade said. “It’s just so hard to get the instrument to even work.”

He said it’s not an instrument pipers play casually.

“If you don’t play your guitar or piano for a month, you can probably come back and after a few minutes enjoy it,” Heade said. “You can’t do that with piping.”

Most pipers start learning the in-strument when they’re very young. Aaron Malcomb of Bellingham said he started learning when he was 16, which is considered late.

“There’s so many things going on in terms of learning to control the instrument, learning the idiom of the music, learning the technique you need to play it,” Malcomb said.

Highland Games pipers

(see pipers on page 8)

Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com�

No. Name INstrumeNt CIty/state tartaN500 Matt Rucker Piper Portland, OR Douglas501 Elijah Kolmes Piper Lake Oswego, OR McCullough502 Richard Gillies Piper Beaverton, OR Gillies503 Alexander Janzen Piper Richmond, BC 504 Elliot Thomson Piper Seattle, WA McKenzie505 Cleda Thompson Piper Arlington, WA MacDonald of the Isle506 Daniel Stewart Piper Seattle, WA Black Stewart507 Joseph Stewart Piper Seattle, WA Muted Hunting Stewart508 Morgan Schiele Piper Snohomish, WA MacKenzie509 Alexander Schiele Piper Snohomish, WA MacKenzie509 Alexander Schiele Tenor Drummer Snohomish, WA MacKenzie510 Bryce Kreger Side Drummer Auburn, WA MacKenzie511 Maclain Davidson Side Drummer Mission, BC Davidson512 Trevor Davidson Piper Mission, BC Davidson513 Isabella Ramsay Side Drummer Portland, OR Buchanan514 Alistair Ramsay Piper Portland, OR Johnstone515 Chris Cahoon Piper Redmond, WA Wallace516 Peter Rolstad Piper Bellingham, WA Ancient McLean of Duart517 Liam Hilder Piper Port Coquitlam, BC 518 Hunter Kern Piper Lake Oswego, OR McDonald520 Russell Prewitt Piper La Center, WA Russell521 Logan Chavez Piper Vancouver, WA 522 Amber Stone Side Drummer Auburn, WA MacKenzie523 Aaron Stone Piper Auburn, WA MacKenzie524 Jennifer Campbell Piper Keizer, OR Campbell525 Rick Campbell Piper Keizer, OR Campbell

No. Name INstrumeNt CIty/state tartaN526 Tyrone Heade Piper Seattle, WA Graham of Mentieth527 William Urquhart Piper Ketchikan, AK Urquhart Modern528 Liam Bacon Piper Beaverton, OR 529 Patrick Case Piper Beaverton, OR Ancient Paisley530 Dan DelMain Piper Portland, OR Frasier531 Glen Nowicki Piper Cranbrook, BC 532 Saul Goodwin Piper Seattle, WA McKenzie533 Devon Mercurio Piper Shoreline, WA MacKenzie534 Paul Vegors Piper Seattle, WA Mackenzie Modern535 Aaron Malcomb Piper Bellingham, WA 536 Mike Greene Piper Friday Harbor, WA Greene Modern537 Scott McClure Piper Surrey, BC McLeod of Harris538 Connor MacLeod Piper Chilliwack, BC 539 John Munroe Piper Bellingham, WA Munro540 Jonathan Robertson Piper Delta, BC BC Centennial541 Fiona Senyk Side Drummer New Westminster, BC British Columbia542 Eric Clarke Side Drummer Chilliwack, BC BC Centennial543 Will Clarke Piper Chilliwack, BC Hunting Frasier546 Andrew MacMillan Piper Tualatin, OR 547 Bruce Poliak Piper Stanwood, WA MacDonald548 Scott Wood Piper Port Coquitlam, BC Weathered Innes549 Tyler Wood Side Drummer Port Coquitlam, BC 550 Brendan Rome Piper Fox Island, WA MacKenzie551 Dana Petersen Piper Lynden, WA Ancient Fletcher552 Julian Walker Piper Seattle, WA Keith553 Owen Barrington Piper Tacoma, WA

Solo Piping & Drumming COMPeTITORS

He competes in the top amateur grade, but it took him 10 years to get there.

Heade said most people come to watch the bands play on Saturday afternoon. But he recommended visiting the soloists in the morning to get a closer look at the technical skill involved.

Everything from how the pipers squeeze their bags to their fingering is meticulous.

Richendrfer said the pipes aren’t going anywhere any time soon. Even as a traditional instrument, piping has only grown in popularity, thanks in part to movies like “Braveheart” and the presence of bagpipers at formal functions, like police funerals and church services.

“It is amazing how it weaves in and out of American culture,” Richendrfer said.

(pipers continued from page 7)

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 9

Kenmore & District Pipe Band Everett, WA

Playing Well Together While Having Fun

See our website for more info: www.kdpipeband.comEmail: [email protected]

No. Name INstrumeNt CIty/state tartaN554 Collin Kortschak Piper Surrey, BC Black Watch555 Will Woodson Piper Portland, OR Wallace Green557 Peter Moran Piper Olympia, WA 558 Megan McCrea Piper Woodinville, WA MacKenzie559 Katrina Jones Piper Seattle, WA MacKenzie560 Matt Alger Piper Marysville, WA McKenzie562 Brian McKenzie Piper Seattle, WA Muted MacKenzie563 Jack Toohey Piper Newberg, OR 564 Ian Toohey Piper Newberg, OR 565 Darlene Lewis-Chinn Piper Issaquah, WA

No. Name INstrumeNt CIty/state tartaN566 Marcus De Vight Piper Mukilteo, WA 567 Jack De Vight Side Drummer Mukilteo, WA McKenzie568 Garrett Bancroft Side Drummer Troutdale, OR Muted Red Frasier569 Peter North Piper Seattle, WA MacKenzie570 Graham Young Side Drummer Federal Way, WA 571 Robert Graham Jr. Side Drummer Lynnwood, WA MacKenzie572 Caleb Vanderveen Piper Mission, BC BC Tartan573 Jacob Vanderveen Piper Mission, BC BC Tartan575 Chelsea Archibald Piper Burnaby, BC MacPherson576 Helen Sanders Piper Lopez Island, WA Keith

BaNdName Grade CIty/state tartaNworNDowco Triumph Street PB Grade 1 Pt. Coquitlam, BC MacLean of Duart Weathered New Westminster Police PB Grade 2 Surrey, BC Ancient Weathered MacPherson Portland Metro Pipe Band Grade 2 Beaverton, OR Muted Red Frasier Washington Scottish P.B. Grade 3 Seattle, WA Royal Stewart Greighlan Crossing Pipe Band Grade 3 Maple Ridge, BC Sutherland Old Weathered Keith Highlanders Gr. 4 P.B. Grade 4 Bellevue, WA Keith Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band Grade 4 Portland, OR Muted Red Frasier White Spot Grade 4 P.B. Grade 4 Maple Ridge, BC British columbia Continental Northwest Jr. Pipe Band Grade 4 Seattle, WA MacKenzie Fraser Valley Youth Pipe Band Grade 5 Chilliwack, BC McDougall White Spot Grade 5 P.B. Grade 5 Maple Ridge, BC British Columbia Continental

Pipe bAnDS

Solo Piping & Drumming COMPeTITORS

The Celtic Arts

Foundation

is always looking

for volunteers.

Applications are

on the website,

www.CelticArts.org

or call 360-416-4934

to request an

application.

ThAnk you!


Jordan Hoyle remembers when she first fell in love with High-land dancing.

The 12-year-old was 6 when she saw the traditional Scottish folk dancers adorned in plaid kilts and garb hopping and toe-tapping to bagpipes at the Skagit Valley High-land Games.

“I remember that I really liked it,” Hoyle said.

Plus, she added, “I love plaid.” A year later, Hoyle finally con-

vinced her mother to begin High-land dancing lessons, which she still attends in downtown Mount Vernon.

Since then she’s competed in five Highland Games dance competi-tions at the annual Skagit Valley Highland Games. She also travels to other competitions around the country.

This year, Hoyle will join about 150 dancers at the games for the Northern U.S. Highland Dancing Championship July 10 and 11.

The championship attracts dance competitors from across the United States, Canada and even overseas. The dancers range in age from 4 years old to adults.

Highland dancing is an integral part of the games, complementing the bagpipers and athletics.

It is believed to have originated in the Highlands of Scotland around the 11th century.

The fling and sword dances are just two of the traditional folk dances that will be performed at the festival during the competition.

The Highland fling originally was performed by a warrior on his light

shield after battle. Accordingly, it is danced in one spot. The steps are simple, but must be executed pre-cisely, with positions being strongly held.

The sword dance was performed by the Highland warrior on the eve of battle using the warrior’s sword and scabbard. The sword and scab-bard are crossed on the ground to define the dancing spot. Accord-ing to legend, the warriors who were able to perform the dance without touching the sword with their feet were successful in the approaching battle.

Heather Richen-drfer, the organizer of the dance competi-tion, has taught High-land dancing for the past 36 years. She teaches the art in Bellingham, Everett and Mount Vernon. Hoyle is one of her students.

Richendrfer says the art of Highland dancing has “become an elite competitive dance sport.”

She hopes the competition in Mount Vernon educates the public about Highland dancing.

“It’s lively, energetic, graceful and you can really do great things with it,” she said. “It’s so unique.”

She said it also is a “wonderful alternative” to the more main-stream dance forms, like ballet.

Hoyle said she would much rather participate in Highland dancing than sports.

“I’m not really good at things like that,” she said.

Highland dancing is where she shines.

“It’s just really fun and I get to be with my friends and show people how good I can dance,” she said.

Highland Games DancinG


101 Victoria McGowan Bellingham, WA Dress Stewart102 Alexa McGowan Bellingham, WA Dress Stewart103 Rebecca Moore Bellingham, WA104 Rory Flinn Lake Stevens, WA Dress Royal McKellar105 Victoria Hayes La Conner, WA106 Katie McLeod Spokane, WA Special Dress McLeod107 Meghan Palmer Spokane, WA Dress Scott108 Erin Swanson Monrovia, CA Dress Royal Cunningham109 Emily Dietrich Woodinville, WA Dress Lorne110 Tessa Haggerty Bellingham, WA Ship Hector111 Mikaela Farnsworth Kamloops, B.C. Fyvie Magenta112 Janissa Doerscher Everett, WA Dress Red Crieff113 Stephanie Conway Bothell, WA Eildon114 Anchi Becker Bellingham, WA115 Julia Rutherford Surrey, B.C. Turquoise Lennox116 Abby Hendrix Mount Vernon, WA117 Brooke Baker Surrey, B.C.118 Sarah Barnard Langley, B.C.119 Derrick Fraser Richmond, B.C. Dress Royal MacPherson120 Nicole Hehn Snohomish, WA Red Menzies121 Jennelle McClure Surrey, B.C.122 Becca Crawford Bothell, WA123 Angela Grant Delta, B.C. Wine McRae124 Rosie Tate Mount Vernon, WA125 Autumn Johansen Bellingham, WA Dress Royal Menzies

126 Haley Warzel Langley, B.C.127 Sarah Peitsch-Tyerman Burnaby, B.C. Dress Red Lennox128 Heather MacFarlane Marysville, WA Dress Pruple MacRae129 Emma Lee Conway, WA130 Audrey Curran Renton, WA Dress Blue Wallace131 Ashleigh Kent Surrey, B.C. Erskine132 Katherine Kent Surrey, B.C. Muted Stewart133 Anne Fields Spokane, WA134 Emily Fields Spokane, WA Royal Dress Menzies135 Hannah Focken Burnaby, B.C. Dress Blue McRae136 Jennifer Van Aller Oliver, B.C.137 Kourt Bacon Beaverton, OR Turquoise Dress Longnid-dry138 Zoe Peterson Bellingham, WA Purple Scott139 Cora Peterson Bellingham, WA Red Scott140 Hannah Overton Stanwood, WA141 Nathalie Middleton Kelowna, B.C. Dress Red Menzies142 Stephanie Hays Renton, WA143 Bethany Hermann Olympia, WA Dress Red Menzies144 Amy Spens Issaquah, WA Wine Sutherland145 Adrian Cunningham Portland, OR Blue Cunningham146 Savannah Ferron Bellingham, WA Blue MacGregor147 Hilary McKinney Portland, OR Dress Red MacKellar148 Annika Szarka Fort Langley, B.C. Red Lennox

Dance competitors

see Dance Competitors on page 12


149 Julia Szarka Fort Langley, B.C. Purple Menzies150 Victoria Hawk Bellingham, WA Dress Stewart151 Marisa Kerkvliet Bellingham, WA152 Shannon Stratychuk Surrey, B.C. Dress Turquoise Scott153 Tasha Ghent Port Coquitlam, B.C. Stewart154 Liana Phillips Bellingham, WA Dress Menzies155 Emma Dickson Richmond, B.C. Turquoise Lennox156 Maia Mencucci Arlington, WA157 Danielle Pace Mount Vernon, WA Dress Rose158 Nicole Pace Mount Vernon, WA Ship Hector159 Jordan Hoyle Mount Vernon, WA Lord Arran160 Katherine Rose Bellingham, WA161 Christine Willand Bellingham, WA Dress Modern McDonald162 Melissa Bishop Bellingham, WA Dress Royal Cunningham163 Heather-Lynn Kirk Tumwater, WA Dress Pride of Scotland164 Esther Pollock Tacoma, WA Burgundy Longniddry165 Hannah Pollock Tacoma, WA Green Longniddry166 Madison Rattai Langley, B.C.167 Rebecca Kyer Tacoma, WA Dress Blue McPherson168 Emma Clark Lake Stevens, WA169 Charlotte Gilmour Lower Nicola, B.C. Dress Green Menzies170 Hayley Shaddox Fall City, WA Purple Menzies171 Samantha Beach Nanaimo, B.C. Royal Milne172 Olivia Verity-Kryger Langley, B.C. Royal Cunningham173 Emma Finlayson Trick Vancouver, B.C.174 Callie Eliades Langley, B.C.175 Jaime Dronsella Burnaby, B.C.176 Piper Dunn Ferndale, WA177 Hailey Carpenter Bellingham, WA178 Aiyanna Whitewolf Seattle, WA

179 Kestrel Whitewolf Seattle, WA180 Alicia Morgan Mount Vernon, WA181 Emily Stevens Mount Vernon, WA182 Drew Stevens Mount Vernon, WA183 Kristin Ramsey Mount Vernon, WA184 Wanling Kratzman Bow, WA185 Autumn Lewis Bellingham, WA186 Josiah Puderbaugh Lynden, WA187 Duncan Stewardson Ferndale, WA188 Nicole Potter Burnaby, B.C.189 Dillon-James Warcup Surrey, B.C. Hamilton190 Nicolas Warcup-Scott Surry, B.C. Hamilton191 Kathryn Warcup Surrey, B.C. Pink Dress Oliver192 Erin Roberts New Westminster, B.C.193 Cameron Johnston Vancouver, B.C.194 Steven MacRae Seattle, WA195 Cortnie Babinski Spokane, WA196 Shaleigh Reusch Surrey, B.C.197 Cayley Stewart Richmond, B.C. Purple Cunningham198 Clare Murphy Surrey, B.C. Ferguson199 Andrena Hilder Port Coquitlam, B.C.

Dance competitors (continueD from page 11)

JuDGeS hOMeTOwnJames McCorkindale Cambeltown, ScotlandPatricia MacKenzie Port Alberni, B.C.Allison Moore Surrey, B.C.

PIPeRS hOMeTOwnPhil MacKenzie Port Alberni, B.C.Rob Paterson Victoria, B.C.

2010 SkAGIT VAlleY hIGhlAnD GAMeS

DAnCe JuDGeS & DAnCe PIPeRS FOR PROGRAM

goskagit.com | Skagit Publishing | Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 1�

For two days in July, athletes will don kilts, puff out their chests and heft stones and logs during the 16th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games.

While visitors peruse vendors and watch sheepdog trials and dancing, they also can check out displays of strength, precision and bravado.

Many traditional Highland ath-letic events have no practical use, but are played purely for competi-tion and camaraderie, said former competitor and judge Bob Ham of Alger.

“Your biggest challenger can also be your best friend,” said Ham, who competed in Scottish athletic games from 1984 to 2000. “Everybody helps each other out.”

Ham, now 61, said age caught up to him and he’s no longer able to compete as he used to.

“Things started getting really heavy and things started breaking,” he said.

But rather than quit the sport altogether, he’s turned to judging events throughout the region. Ham will be a judge at the Skagit Valley Highland Games in July.

Ham was originally drawn to Highland athletics after hearing bagpipe music from a nearby high school when he was in the Portland area.

“I was walking by and here are these guys with big hammers and stones,” he said.

But it would be two more years before he actually started to com-pete. As a former high school track athlete, Ham said he had talent for the games.

Ham eventually claimed three Northwest Master Champion titles, which means he was the overall winner for three different games.

Competitors strive for high scores in the events that include hammer throws, stone throws and the caber toss.

“They are all maximum effort events,” Ham said.

Ham, a sanctioned judge with the Scottish Athletic Association of America, said the rules of the games haven’t changed much — if at all — since he started competing.

“The caliber of athletes has got-ten way better,” he said. “When I first started, a bunch of guys got together because their daughters were dancing. ‘What are we going to do? Well, we’ll throw these weights around.’”

Today, the games are better or-ganized and the athletes are better-trained, he said.

“It’s serious competition,” Ham said.

Expect to see Ham on the field, wearing a yellow judge’s shirt and a bright-patterned kilt.

Novices can compete in events, too, said Sue Gregg, who is organiz-ing the athletic events for the Celtic Arts Foundation, the nonprofit group that organizes the games.

Gregg said several events will be held at once on the field at Edgewa-ter Park in Mount Vernon.

Many events originated for practical uses, like being able to lift heavy stones to build a bridge to cross a river, or to toss wheat on top of a roof to thatch it.

So far, 20 athletes have signed up for this year’s games.

During the last athletic event, Gregg said competitors are chal-lenged to carry a keg filled with river sand, weighing about 260 pounds, as far as they can.

Ham said he likes to think of himself as a fair and helpful judge. Wayward novices can expect to hear a piece of friendly advice from Ham.

“Everybody shares and encour-ages the next guy,” he said of the athletes. “And the crowd picks up on that. There’s great competition, but also great sportsmanship.”

Highland Games atHletic events

Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com1�

If too few people decide to compete in the event, it may be dropped. And this is a Highland games, so, of course, all competitors must wear kilts!

• Light stone — A small rock weighing 17 or 26 pounds, depend-ing 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.

• Braemar stone — Competitors throw a large rock weighing more than 50 pounds for distance. The Braemar stone must be thrown from a standing position. This event is of-ten dropped because too few people sign up to compete.

• Heavy hammer — The hammer, a stone with an attached wooden handle, is thrown for distance. Ham-mers weigh 12, 16 and 22 pounds.

• Sheaf toss — Using a pitchfork, competitors try to heft a burlap bag filled with straw over a crossbar. The sheaf typically weighs 12, 16 or 20 pounds depending on athletic class.

• 16-pound hammer — Competi-tors are allowed the best of three throws. The farthest throw wins.

• 56-pound weight for height — Athletes heft a cylinder-shaped weight over their heads and over a crossbar. The weight must be thrown one-handed.

• 56-pound weight for distance — Athletes throw a weight one-handed, often using a twirling mo-tion to build up momentum.

• 28-pound weight for distance — This event uses the same rules as the 56-pound weight for distance.

• Caber toss — Competitors pick up the small end of a large pole and then 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.

— Sources: Sue Gregg, Celtic Arts Foundation, and the North Ameri-can Scottish Games Athletics web-site, www.nasgaweb.com/main.asp.

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.

athletic events

Weight-Over-bar

Open stOne tOss

sheaf tOss

caber tOss


The strategy of the sheepdog is complex.

Hundreds of years of breeding and careful training have produced the perfect herding tool — a furry, eagle-eyed, tireless ranger that made keeping animals in the vast Scottish highlands possible.

Watching a Border Collie or other herding breed bring a herd of sheep home can be fascinating, and probably what’s made the sheepdog trials one of the most popular events at the annual Skagit Valley High-land Games, said Dawn Pucci, trial organizer.

Crowds will gather around the sheepdog trial arena at Edgewater Park to watch as 30 dogs and 18 handlers try to wrangle three-to-five sheep between gaps in boards and finally into a holding pen within the allotted 4 1/2 minutes.

“It’s like a show-jumping course for horses, but instead of jumping over the fences, they’re pushing sheep through gaps in fences to mimic the real-life work of gather-ing your sheep out of the field,” Pucci explained of the arena-style dog competition.

The dogs respond to gestures and demands from the handlers to move the sheep around the field and through the obstacles to the gate, Pucci said. The handlers aren’t allowed to touch the sheep at all — it’s completely up the dogs.

No nipping, of course. The only way a dog can be disqualified from the competition is if it nips or bites the sheep, said Lisa Coder, co-coor-

dinator of the animal farm, which includes the sheepdog trials.

“There are a certain amount of mistakes allowed, but one of the hard and fast rules is that the dogs can’t nip the sheep,” Coder said.

The sheepdog trials kick off at 2 p.m. Saturday and continue for the second round all day Sunday.

Each dog/handler team competes on Saturday and Sunday. Organiz-ers change the course slightly for Sunday’s trials. The dogs are judged by time and points, Pucci said.

Once all the teams have compet-ed, all the scores are added up and the 10 teams with the highest scores compete in the final round. First-place winners take home $600 — a nice-sized purse. Another $1,800 is distributed to subsequent winners.

As a longtime dog handler, Pucci said it’s the connection between dog and handler that people enjoy watching — and that keeps han-dlers driving sometimes thousands of miles each year to compete with their dogs at various events.

Pucci stumbled into dog handling after getting a Border Collie in Scot-land where her Navy husband was stationed 12 years ago.

She brought her dog to Florida when she and her husband moved there. A friend who handled dogs for a hobby asked Pucci if she thought her Border Collie would enjoy running after some sheep.

Turns out, her dog, Ceile, did. And, as a coincidence, Pucci en-joyed working with her dog in the fields, and hanging out with the sheep.

Eventually, Pucci found herself becoming more involved with learn-ing to handle her dog. She began to compete and would often drive three hours one way just so her dog could practice herding different kinds of sheep.

She and her husband moved to Washington state in 2000. She began organizing the sheepdog trials for the Highland Games eight years ago.

“I love the sheep,” she said. “I love the partnership and work-ing with the dog that’s a thinking animal.”

Along with the sheepdog trials, other animal events at the High-land Games include the display of Highland cattle from Hemlock Highlands of Sedro-Woolley; an adoption station with dogs and cats set up by the animal rescue and adoption organization Saving Pets One At a Time (SPOT); and pony rides by Lang’s Horse and Pony Farm of Mount Vernon.

watch the sheepdog trials2 to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 10 & 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday


Your annual meat pie — with a side of whisky — is on its way at this year’s Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the Celtic Arts Foundation, said people have come to expect a certain fare at the Highland Games, including traditional Scottish and festival-type foods.

That means everything from doughnuts and hamburgers to haggis sausage rolls, a Scottish peasant food that combines a variety of meats with oatmeal for texture.

“They make fun of the Scots for eating like the Scandinavians,” said Richendrfer, who described the Scottish as “basic meat-and-potato

folks.”The meat pie, sold by a vendor

who makes his way from Southern California to similar festivals around the country, really sums it up. The savory pie often features cuts of beef, steak or mutton folded into a flaky crust.

And to wash it all down are the ever-popular whisky samplings, which will run throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the fourth year the festival

has offered a range of drinks to taste at its whisky garden intend-ed to educate adults about the blends com-ing from Scotland.

The samplings are led by a “master of whisky” from Diageo, the largest spirits company in the world. The host will walk tasters through details of the distilling pro-cess and discuss the

difference between single malt and blended scotches.

Richendrfer said the event has been a huge success since its induc-tion.

“A lot of people have favorites or are just curious about what different whiskys taste like,” he said.

The introductory level with five tastings costs $8 and the “whiskys of the world,” with eight tastings, costs $15. Each includes sample-sized por-tions of the drinks.

For those who can’t seem to find their way to — or from — the whis-ky garden, there’s an informational tent at the festival with volunteers to point folks in the right direction.

People can find souvenirs, such as T-shirts and CDs, at the tent or become members of the Celtic Arts Foundation.

And although those souvenirs don’t include kilts, there are other vendors at the festival selling com-plete sets of Scottish outfits.

ScottiSh Drummingcurriculum

offered at the

Seattle Drum School of musicwww.seattledrumschool.com

call 206.364.8815 and ask to talk to Steve Smith

Food & drink at the games Meat Pie, Whisky Tasting & More


Highland Games FiDDler’s competition

When it comes to Celtic music, most people think of the bagpipes and

drums.But for good, fun country danc-

ing, it’s all about the fiddles.A good fiddler can stir a crowd

and get feet tapping in a free-form way, in taverns or outside. It’s versa-tile and fun.

And fiddlers are a big part of the annual Skagit Valley Highland Games, said Ward Beebe, of Oak Harbor, who organizes the fiddling competitions and fiddle stage.

The games host the Northwest Regional Scottish Fiddling Cham-pionships from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in the fiddle tent.

About a dozen fiddlers from across Washington and Idaho will compete to qualify for a national fiddling competition held in Sep-tember.

The contestants compete in three classes: novice, junior — for ages 18 and younger — and an open divi-sion for anyone interested in com-peting.

The novice competitors play a march, a reel and a Scottish Strath-spey tune, while the other two classes add a slower tune called an “air.”

A judge — an accomplished fid-dler — will judge the competitors on timing, intonation, using the appropriate tempo, bowing, techni-cal command of the instrument and “expression.”

“Judges are looking for how much

traditional sound you get into the music — does it sound Scottish enough,” Beebe said.

As part of the musical offerings during the games Saturday and Sunday, several open music sessions will be offered on the fiddle stage, in which anyone with an instrument is welcome to come and play, Beebe said.

“It’s always fun to get around and play tunes with people,” Beebe said of the open music sessions. “I just enjoy the friendship and the cama-raderie of it. It’s a social event.”

And, of course, there will be workshops both days.

Skagit Valley highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010 | Skagit Publishing | goskagit.com1�

EVERYONE CAN JOIN THE FUN

Dancing with the Scots!

No Partners Needed! No Experience Necessary!Learn the social dancing of Scotland taught to irresistible, toe-tapping

music. Come-as-you-are: class attire is regular street clothes.

See us at the Highland Games!Welcome Ceilidh Dance for all: Saturday, September 25, 7:00 p.m.

Beginner Class: Monday,September 27, 7:00 p.m. at theDepot Arts Center, 611 R Ave., Anacortes. FIRST CLASS FREE!

For more info:360.293.2340 • Email: [email protected]

Celtic Culture Tent SCheDule

SATuRDAY, JulY 10

10:00 a.m Welsh folksongs:

Eric Bowen and His Guitar

11:00 a.m How to Research your Celtic Ancestry:

Laura Sparr and members of the Skagit

Genealogical Society

12:30 p.m Questions and answers about the Scottish

game of Shinty: Steve Aikison and Players

1:00 p.m. Bagpipes: What to Listen for: Skye Richendrfer

2:00 p.m. Histories and Traditions of Four Scottish Clans:

Campbell, MacKenzie, Munro and Sutherland

3:00 p.m. Open Tent time: Scottish History and Ancient

/ Modern Scottish Recipes

SunDAY, JulY 11

10:00 a.m The Beauty of Celtic Strings and Song:

Becky Fox

11:00 a.m How to Research Your Scottish Ancestry:

Laura Sparr and members of the Skagit

Genealogical Society

12:00 p.m Questions and answers about the Scottish

game of Shinty: Steve Aikinson and Players

1:00 p.m. Bagpipes: What to Listen for: Skye Richendrfer

2:00 p.m. You are invited to attend a Celtic wedding

behind the Clan Campbell tent

3:00 p.m. Open Tent time: Scottish History and Ancient

/ Modern Scottish Recipes


music oFFerinGs at the games

Aficionados of Highland games know that if they want the best Celtic music,

they need to hit the Main Stage of the Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Musicians are carefully selected, and not just by hearing their albums — oh, no.

Skye Richendrfer, Celtic Arts Foundation executive director, and Walt Enquist, who helps organized the music for the games, want to hear each group perform and watch them in front of a crowd.

“I really like personally hearing the groups,” Richendrfer said. “Just because they are good studio per-formers doesn’t mean they will be right for our crowds.”

Pleasing the crowds with the musical performance is one of the things that the Skagit Valley High-land Games is all about. That means appealing to lovers of traditional Scottish and Irish ballads and those looking to rock out to a modernized jig.

“The key for us is to try to find something that scratches that tradi-tional itch and bridges some of the different demographics,” Richen-drfer said.

Friday,July9• 7 p.m.: Tannahill Weavers, Celtic Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon. Free.

tannahillweaversThe Tannahill Weavers, Scot-

land’s best-known, longest touring band, will kick off the weekend Friday night with a free community outreach concert that the Celtic

Arts Foundation is offering as a gift to the community. Attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item that will go to Skagit County food banks.

Named for the Scottish poet and weaver Robert Tannahill, (a contemporary of Robert Burns), the Tannahill Weavers are among the musicians leading the current revival of traditional Celtic music, according to the New York Times.

The quartet’s repertoire includes mystical Highlander’s Celtic songs and the rollicking — even brawling — Lowland Anglo-Scots tunes.

saturday,July10• 12:30 to 2 p.m.: Molly’s Revenge, Main Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon. • 5:30 p.m. Celtic Legends Concert, featuring Molly’s Revenge, Main Stage

sunday,July11• 2 to 3 p.m.: Molly’s Revenge, Main Stage, Edgewater Park, Mount Vernon.

molly’srevengeKnown for its infectious onstage

enthusiasm, the acoustic Celtic band Molly’s Revenge uses hard-edged rhythms to accompany tra-

ditional Scottish and Irish jigs and reels played on bagpipes, whistle, fiddle and vocals that are accompa-nied by guitar, bouzouki or mandola.

It’s the nontraditional, edgy ar-rangements that get audiences mov-ing in their seats, Richendrfer said.

“Their piper is really good,” he said. “Their instrumentation is re-ally lively, not traditional at all. It’s a bit more like fusion.”

dowcotriumphstreetPipeBandOf the three featured perform-

ers, the Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band may be the most traditional. It’s also the first band outside of Scotland to win a major World Championship prize. In August, the 42-member pipe band will travel to Scotland to compete in the World Championship in hopes of doing Canada proud.

The band deftly merging of pip-ers and percussion well during its performances — a difficult task, Richendrfer said.

“It’s a medley of tunes and harmo-nies played and very full tones, add the percussion and various tempos, and it’s a spine tingling reaction that gets to most people,” he said.

Tannahill Weavers Molly’s Revenge


Growing up, Mount Vernon resident Jim Monroe would hear friends bragging about

their ancestory.“My grandparents were from

France.”“Mine were from Germany.”But it wasn’t until he was in

graduate school that Monroe made a connection to his Scottish roots.

And somehow, finding out more about his ancestors was like, well, coming home.

“All of the sudden, it was im-portant to me to have an identity,” said Monroe, secretary of the Celtic Arts Foundation Board of Directors and last year’s Chieftain of the 2009 Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Monroe will be joining other members of Clan Munro during the upcoming Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Organizers expect about 20 clans

to participate in this year’s weekend event at Edgewater Park. They’ll set up their own tents and offer infor-mation about the various Scottish clans.

Some of them are more involved than others, and bring historical memorabilia, old books, and some-times some surprises, like an old sword, Monroe said.

Celebrating the clans — large family groups or tribes with Scottish or Celtic ancestry — is a big part of the Skagit Highland games, Monroe said.

They’re honored during the Parade of Clans at Noon on Sat-urday and Sunday, June 10 and 11, in which the clans, decked out in their tartans, kilts and other tradi-tional Scottish garb and carrying their colors, stroll onto the grounds accompanied by the sounds of drums and bagpipes.

And the Chieftain of the Games for this year, Bill Toomey, will be officially introduced.

The term Clan comes from a Gaelic word, clann, meaning “fam-ily” or “offspring,” but also can refer to a group of people who may share similar lineage. They pulled to-gether in the old days for protection, Monroe said.

There are about 16,000 Scottish surnames associated with a major clan, Monroe explained, including the MacKenzies, the Fergussons, the MacLeans and, of course, the Munroes.

After years of research, Monroe discovered that his clan came to England long ago, but was driven

out to Ireland when the Romans conquered the area.

Monroe’s ancestors fought for King Malcolm of Scotland, who gave them an area of land in Scot-land as a reward for their efforts. They settled in that area for good.

One of his clan, Maj. Andrew Munro, was the first to come to America in 1649. He had fought against Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Preston in England, and Cromwell won. Andrew Munro was deported to the area that’s now Virginia.

Monroe said he enjoys what he learns from other clans at the games and the lively competitions and banter they share.

Sometimes they bring up ancient rivalries, and jab each other good-naturedly. That’s all part of the fun, Monroe said.

“If it wasn’t for the clans and the rich clan history, there just wouldn’t be a Highland Games,” Monroe said. “It would all become a carni-val.”

clans at the games


Bill Toomey is the chieftain for the 2010 Skagit Valley Highland Games. As a charter member of the Celtic Arts Foundation, Bill has witnessed the evolution of this uniquely Scottish event. He

remained on the Board of Directors of the Foundation until 2006 and is still actively involved with the organization and its mission.

Bill, a certified public accountant, and his wife, Julie, have been Mount Vernon residents for more than 20 years. This sometimes sul-len Irishman was graciously adopted by the Clan Munro in a spurious attempt to improve his Celtic pedigree. Bill is just one of the many volunteers who contribute to the success of this annual event.

We appreciate his efforts on behalf of the organization and congratu-late him on this special recognition.

Alba Lodge Seattle, WAClan Bailey Society, International Oregon City, ORClan Buchanan Lacey, WAClan Campbell Society of North American Mount Vernon, WAClan Donald USA Tacoma, WAClan Fergusson Ferndale, WAClan Gordon Everett, WAClan Gregor Tacoma, WAClan Gunn Bellingham, WAClan Hamilton Society Lynnwood, WAClan Johnston/e in America Renton, WAClan MacKay Anacortes, WAClan MacKenzie Society Bellingham, WA

Clan MacLaren Seattle, WAClan MacLean Assoc. Beaverton, ORClan Maclelland Mountlake Terrace, WAClan MacMillian Everett, WAClan Morrison Society Portland, ORClan Muir and Clan Lamont Seattle, WAClan Munro Mount Vernon, WAClan Shaw Society Surrey, BCClan Stewart Society in America Anderson Island, WAInnes Clan Society Concete, WANational Tartan Day Society Of Washington Tacoma, WAScottish American Military Society Silverdale, WASeattle Irish Heritage Club & Clans of Ireland Arlington, WA

list of clans

The Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor

& Restaurant

Sunday - Thursday 11am - 10pmFriday & Saturday 11am - 11pm

Owners James & Clara Kyleinvite you to try...

...“The Best Gourmet Burgersin Skagit County”

37 Flavors of Ice Cream!(360) 424-3558327 East College Way

cHieFtain of the games

interested in the celtic clans?

Don’t miss the Parade of Clans Anthems and Lament ceremony at noon Saturday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday dur-ing the Highland Games.


Alec McDougall General supportAmra Graham VIP hospitalityAnita Thornton Vendor assistantAri Shapiro Whisky-tastingBill Toomey Accounting & financeBob Ham Athletic eventsBruce McBane Special setup operationsCandice Soine Gate SupervisorCate Melcher Children’s eventsChar Brayton Whisky tent supervisorCraig & Elizabeth Sjostrom Special setup operations/command centerDale Rutan ParkingDawn Pucci Sheepdog TrialsDeborah Brown Command CenterGary Brown PhotographerGeorge Foster Special setup operationsHeather Richendrfer Highland Dancing coordinatorHoward Anderson Electrical Isle Lindall Parking assistantJack Herring Scottish Country Dancing coordinator/ Special setup operationsJerry & Mary Bromberger First aid

Jennifer Moyer Gate supportJohn & Mary Mclean Grounds and facilities coordinator/ Beer Garden supervisorKelly Dodd Vendor coordinatorLisa Coder Celtic Farm & ParkingMairi Andrus General supportMelissa Maxwell Graphic art supportMichael King General supportNanette Hough General supportPam McNaughton Merchandise procurementPat McLatchey Educational venue coordinatorRob Campbell General supportSally Richendrfer ParkingShelly & Rick VanPelt First aid/music stageSkip Pass Grounds setupStacy DeLaO Volunteer tent coordinatorSue Gregg AthleticsTara Coder Celtic FarmTerry Hergesheimer Celtic Harp Walt Enquist Music stage coordinatorWard Beebe FiddlingWayne & Sue Norris Session music

nAMe VOlunTeeR AReA

Initially, the Celtic Arts Founda-tion was established as a fund-raising arm for the Skagit Valley

Highland Games.Thirteen years later, that foun-

dation is a leading international cultural nonprofit that’s contributed thousands of dollars to preserving Celtic culture and promoting educa-tion.

“We’ve really become world-class level,” said Skye Richendrfer, executive director of the foundation and founder of the Skagit Valley Highland Games. “We’re doing important things like bringing in top performers from Scotland for our Celtic Concert.”

Through the years, the founda-tion has grown leaps and bounds,

racking up a $400,000 annual budget and handing out $80,000 in grants and scholarships since it was founded.

In addition, the group managed to contribute almost $200,000 to-ward an outdoor stage at Edgewater Park in Mount Vernon. That stage is owned by the city.

It also has contributed to capital campaigns at both the historic Lin-coln Theatre in downtown Mount Vernon and McIntyre Hall on the Skagit Valley College campus.

Along with its financial con-tributions, the organization has established well-respected annual programs, including the Robert Burns Scottish Evening, the Mastery of Scottish Arts Winter School at

Seabeck, Wash., the annual Celtic Arts Foundation Highland Dancing Championship and, of course, the Skagit Valley Highland Games and Celtic Festival each July in Edgewa-ter Park.

“We really are committed to promoting and passing on our music and dance and culture for future generations,” Richendrfer said.

The foundation experienced a signficant boost a little more than a year-and-a-half ago when it merged with the Seattle-based Mastery of Scottish Arts nonprofit. As a result, the foundation has added several large cultural events to its list of programs, including the Mastery of Scottish Arts Concert at Benaroya Hall in Seattle.

Celtic Arts Foundation

nAMe VOlunTeeR AReA

hIGhlAnD GAMeS VOlunTeeRS


Bay City Ice Cream Bellingham, WA FoodEuropean Style Food Inc Woodinville, WA FoodFair Food & Bakery Snohomish, WA FoodFiamma di Mamma Wood Fired Pizza Anacortes, WA FoodJava Jo’s On The Go Mount Vernon, WA FoodKornman of Washington Renton, WA FoodLindas Concessions Burlington, WA FoodMa & Pa Kettle Corn, LLC Marysville, WA FoodRollin Snack Bar Concessions Mount Vernon, WA FoodSlims Picken’s BAR B QUE Mount Vernon, WA FoodSugar N Spice Mini Donuts Ferndale, WA FoodSunblest Foods Arroyo Grande, CA FoodYou Found Us! Concessions Everson, WA FoodZieglers Bratwurst Haus Lynnwood, WA FoodAccademia Della Rosa Bianca Mount Vernon, WA MerchandiseAge of Chivalry Mariposa, CA MerchandiseBack to Bali Seattle, WA MerchandiseBagpipediscs.com Sammamish, WA MerchandiseCatriona MacRury’s Inc. “All Things Irish” Oak Harbor, WA MerchandiseCeltic Fantasy Eugene, OR MerchandiseCeltic Moonlighting & Elfen Design Port Angeles, WA MerchandiseCostco Wholesale Burlington, WA MerchandiseElfen Design Henna Tattooing Ferndale, WA MerchandiseElfstone Celtic Jewelry Snohomish, WA MerchandiseGold and Silver Mine Redmond, WA MerchandiseHistory of Names Rogue River, OR MerchandiseMemories Headwear Eastsound, WA MerchandiseMount Vernon Volunteer Firefighter Association Mount Vernon, WA MerchandiseNature’s Healing Arts Anacortes, WA MerchandiseNorthwest Junior Pipe Band Shoreline, WA MerchandiseScottish Sword and Shield Federal Way, WA MerchandiseSociety for Creative Anachronism Skagit County, WA MerchandiseSteelCraft/Legends of Camelot Bothell, WA MerchandiseTartan Thistle Freeland, WA MerchandiseThe Kilt & Thistle Salem, OR MerchandiseUnicornphobia Everett, WA MerchandiseWandering Angus Celtic Traders Port Townsend, WA MerchandiseWicked Things Alameda, CA MerchandiseWoolies Bellingham, WA MerchandiseYe Olde Quicksilversmith San Diego, CA Merchandise Anacortes, WA Merchandise

nAMe VOlunTeeR AReA

list of venDors

Does the Highland fling look a little too difficult? Sword dancing not your style? Try some tradi-tional Scottish country dancing on for size.

Almost anyone of any age can participate in this form of social dancing that started in the mid-1600s in Scotland and England. People would get together for an evening of socializing and drinking, and often throw in a little dancing as a way to blow off steam during the cold, wet fall and winter months.

Unlike Highland dancing, which has transformed over time into more of a sport, country dancing is purely recreational and doesn’t require a special uni-form, kilt, tartan or prop — just a desire to step to the music.

Dancers can learn the various reels, jigs and strath-speys and either dance with a partner or alone.

Potential country dancers can try their hand — feet, really — at Scottish country dancing during the 16th annual Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Country dancing will be presented and open to participation at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, July 10; and 10 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. Sunday, July 11 at the north end of Edgewater Park.

ScottishCountry Dancing

IndIvIduals makIngcontrIbutIons In support of

the games:

$5000Anonymous

$1000+Mrs. Betty Black

Ms. Ruth Marie Flucke & Mr. Rod MacKenzieJudge John M. & Mrs. Susan Meyer

Mr. Brad A. RobinsonMr. & Mrs. Jim & Mary Scott

$500-$999Mr. & Ms. Walter & Linda Briggs

Mr. Steve ChandlerMr. & Mrs. Ron & Delores CookMr. & Mrs. Chuck & Jan Gould

Mr. & Mrs. Tyrone & Rachel HeadeDr. Jason & Mrs. Jill Hilde

Capt. Brian McGuiness USNR (Ret.)Mr. Ron Wohl & Dr. Darcie Morris

Mr. Scott PetersonMr. & Mrs. Skye K. & Sally C. Richendrfer

Ms. Joan Penney & Mr. David RybergDr. Mark & Mrs. Diane StudleyMr. & Ms. Jeff & Megan Vogel

Mr. John MacKinnon & Ms. Melanie Youhanna

$250-$499Dr. Gary & Mrs. Susan L. Brown, MD

Ms. Elinor CurryMr. & Mrs. Neil & Susan Hall

Mr. & Mrs. Marty & Shelly LehrMr. & Mrs. Cory & Elizabeth McCarty

Ms. Marilyn McLeanMr. Howard Anderson & Ms. Cate MelcherMs. Alisoun C. Skjei & Mr. Rob Messman

Mr. & Mrs. Dale & Susan RaganMr. Curtis D. Sweatt

corporate sponsors ($2000+)

hIghland games event sponsors ($1000-$1999)

SKAGITPUBLISHING

Diageo North America

Grandy Lake Forest Associates

thanks to these many generous

busInesses for theIrIn-kInd suppport

Anacortes TelescopeBlade Chevrolet

Costco WholesaleEaglemont Golf Course

Fisher & SonsHawthorne Funeral Home

Holland Health Services, Inc.Mount Vernon Auto Repair & Towing

Northwest Handspun Yarns Skagit Gardens

Walgreens-OptionCare

Thank You to the 2010 Skagit ValleyHighland Games Sponsors!

Documents

Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival | July 2010