A weekend of caber tossing, royal watching and Highland dancing at the Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival came to a glorious end Sunday.
Attendance for the two-day games and festival at Topaz Park was 25,000 — an all-time record, said organizers.
“I’m afraid all good things must come to an end,” said His Royal Highness, Duke of York, Sunday afternoon. More commonly known as Prince Andrew, the 53-year-old second son and third child of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh presided over the event celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture.
During the closing ceremonies Sunday, Prince Andrew thanked everyone involved, on and off the field, for contributing to “such a tremendous day.”
With a final salute concluded, the prince asked the massed piped bands to “play us out to end the games.”
They did not disappoint. About 4:30 p.m., as thousands of people of all ages looked on, the massed bands played resounding renditions of Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave. Afterward, Prince Andrew, in a dark suit, returned to Government House.
Andrew was expected to leave British Columbia Sunday night. He left Victoria having made a powerful impression on participants and volunteers who referred to him Sunday as inquisitive, friendly, approachable and fun.
Victoria Highland Games Association president Jim Maxwell described a “very touching” scene as Prince Andrew talked to about 75 of the young Highland dancers competing Sunday.
“It was unscripted and very appreciated ... all of the children were smiling,” Maxwell said. “He made a point of talking to each and every one of them.”
Games spokesman Doug Blackie said the prince talked to competitors in all areas and was seen asking multiple questions of competitors in the “heavy events” — which involves throwing massive stones, a ball and chain, a hammer, weights and a caber (which looks like a telephone pole).
Whether because of the blue skies or blue blood present Sunday, this year crowds were treated to an exceptional caber-toss event.
The object is not the distance of the throw, but instead to have the caber fall directly away from the thrower after landing. A perfect throw ends with the top end nearest to the thrower and the bottom end pointing away.
Andy Vincent of the U.S. tossed two cabers forward, while England’s Scott Rider turned over one. The first time Rider turned the caber was 2010, and he is only the second man competing in the Victoria Highland Games to have ever done so.
With each toss in the men’s event, the crowd would cheer enthusiastically, groan in disappointment or gasp as a few of the cabers stood straight in the air before falling to the side.
Graham Wilson, 51, who moved to Victoria three years ago from the Scottish town of Dunfermline, Fife, said he’s been to Highland Games in Scotland but that the Victoria event was much bigger.
Enjoying the sunshine Sunday, he was one of many in the heavy events crowd unconsciously bowing and bending as the caber was tossed by men — all of whom were a minimum of six feet tall and close to if not more than 300 pounds.
Lucie Mussell, five, watched the caber toss with her mother, Heather, and step-dad, James Stephaniuk. In a gathering where the dress ranged from casual summer wear to kilts and competition dress, Lucie stood out in her princess gown, meant to represent Merida, the princess from the Disney-Pixar movie Brave, set in the Scottish Highlands.
Colm Condon, 38, took in some of the competitions Sunday with his sons Desmond, four, and Calum, one. The young boys couldn’t have been happier than they were checking out the activities in the children’s area of the park — especially the display of medieval weapons.
Among the winners from competitions Sunday:
• The professional men’s overall top three winners in the heavy events, respectively, were: American brothers Matt and Andy Vincent and Canada’s Matt Doherty.
• The top three overall elite women winners in the heavy events were, in order: Adrienne Wilson, Kristy Scott and Kate Burton, all of the U.S.
• The pipe band competition winners were: Simon Fraser University (Grade 1 band contest); Greighlan Crossing (Grade 3 band contest); Kamloops Pipe Band (Grade 4 band contest).
• The professional drum major winner was Kevin Conquest.
• Highland dancers overall winners: beginner 7 and under, Sadie Leckie, Calgary; beginner 8 years, Brook Wesner, Calgary; beginner 10 and under, Ariane Prescott, Burnaby; beginner 11 and over, Annika Tinis, Victoria; novice 10 and under, Alyssa Watson, Victoria; novice 11 and over, Angelina Graham, Surrey.
• Highland dancer overall winners in the afternoon competition: intermediate 12 and under, was a tie between Julia Brockley and Karissa Birch, both of Duncan; intermediate 13 and over, Gabrielle Colonna, Nanaimo; premier 11 and under, Julia Szarka, Fort Langley; premier 12 years, Cameron Kearns, Courtenay; premier 13 years, Andrena Hilder, Coquitlam; premier 15 and under, Alexandra MacPhail, Maple Ridge; premier 16 and over, Breanna Watt, Coquitlam; premier adult, 21 and over, Fiona Lee, Coquitlam.
