New Highland Games to be "bigger and better"
Apr. 10—OXFORD — Buck Buchanan, organizer of Oxford's annual Highland Games, says the second one is going to be "a little bit bigger and better."
"We got great athletes, four pipe bands instead of three, more food coming out, more vendors, more clans, more people, I hope," said Buchanan. They've added more classes to the athletic events to include women's opens, pros, masters and lightweight, he said.
"It feels great that we did it last year," Buchanan said, "and that it was good enough that we could do it again.
"The thing that makes me feel the best is that we raised over $8,000 last year for the [Central Children's Home of North Carolina.] We're hoping this year that we can raise $25,000. We can go to Highland Games anytime... but because this one is helping the home and the children, this one makes me feel a whole lot better."
Buchanan himself competed in Highland Games for around eighteen years. A new generation is coming into Scottish-style athletic tossing — twenty-five of the athletes this year are young people competing alongside old hands.
"We've got some athletes that are coming out for their first or second time ever throwing; we've got some that have been throwing for twenty years," Buchanan said.
The tradition stays alive!
"It's a good thing that we continue the traditions," said Buchanan. "Most people here in America know what the traditions in other countries are really like... we get a small glimpse of what things are like when we go to a Cinco de Mayo or something like that. What we're giving is a little bit more than a few drinks and a sombrero. What we're giving is true history.
"When we look at the Highland Games, they were developed because we were, the Scottish, were under the rule of England and weren't allowed to have weapons. And so, the only way we could train was with farm implements. So, that's how we proved our strength and whatnot."
New athletes in training get to learn a bit of the history behind what they're tossing, Buchanan said.
The organizer himself is part of a clan named Buchanan. Members of a clan are a part of the direct lineage or part of a sept, a family that is under the protection of the clan. Some other members are honorary.
Clan Buchanan has annual meetings in the U.S. at Grandfather Mountain as well as international meetings. It's been around for over a thousand years, Buchanan said.
Tickets are $20 for those 16 and older. Those 15 and younger get in free. All proceeds will go to the Central Children's Home of North Carolina. The grounds are located at 211 W. Antioch Drive in Oxford.
