Waimate’s fun family friendly day returns for more laughter
Waimate’s 145th annual Caledonian Games on Saturday are being promoted as a family friendly fun day out in the sun.
Waimate Caledonian Society treasurer Bernie Blackgrove said a variety of activities would be on offer with free entry to the event.
The popular gumboot throw, quirky caber toss and heavy ball throwing will again feature this year.
Blackgrove said about 200 events were on the programme.
‘‘It’s a great day out for the family, it’s a fun family friendly day in the sun.’’
The day starts at 9.30am with 108 children’s (aged 5 to 14) athletics events, followed by 24 highland dancing events, 10 solo bagpipe events, 34 track cycling events, 18 men’s and women’s athletics events, 12 children’s roadster cycling events, 15 speed skating events, a 5 kilometre road running race, heavy ball throw and the caber toss – all held at Victoria Park.
The caber toss is a traditional Scottish athletic event and involves competitors tossing a large tapered pole in a nod to Scottish ancestry while gumboot throwing involves competitors aiming for the longest gumboot throw.
Blackgrove said while entry was free to the event, entry to the 108 children’s events was also free of charge.
That included the 60 and 100-metre races, shot put, long jump and the gumboot throw, she said.
The children’s athletics will be followed by the highland dancing events which get under way at 10am, the cycling and skating at 10.30am, the 5km road running race at noon, senior athletics at 1pm, solo bagpipes at 1.30pm, caber toss at 2pm, then the heavy ball throw.
Blackgrove said there was big community involvement and a lot of support from local business.
In 2017, admission was made free in the hope families and locals would support the event.
At the time, Blackgrove said it worked a treat, with numbers increasing by at least ‘‘a couple of hundred’’ compared to 2016.
If wet, the event will be held on Sunday.