Don yer kilts for Amanzimtoti highland games
The games take place at Amanzimtoti Rugby Club on Saturday, 5 October from 9am.
Don yer kilts and get ready to toss yer cabers! The Highland Games are practiced all over the world and Amanzimtoti Rugby Club has teamed up with Lodge Fort Jameson to re-introduce these games to Toti.
“The Highland Games were part of the Highland Gathering many years ago and part of a business festival held at Hutchison Park about 20 years ago, but sadly they disappeared,” said Bob Skippings of Lodge Fort Jameson. The Upper South Coast Highland Games will now be a separate event taking place at Amanzimtoti Rugby Club on Saturday, 5 October from 9am. It is hoped that with success, it can grow into an annual fundraiser for Lodge Fort Jameson and the rugby club.
All the equipment will come from the lodge in Nottingham Road in the Midlands, where the games are still prevalent, and it is hoped a contingent from there will travel to enter a team at Toti. “Entrance is free and there will be stalls selling a variety of goods as well as food and the junior rugby club will manage a children’s entertainment area, which will include jumping castles.
We also hope to have craft beer and gin on sale for the mums and dads. There will be plenty of food on offer and Jabulani will sell pancakes while Amanzimtoti Lodge will do boerewors rolls. There will also be lucky draws throughout the day. This should make it a fun day for the whole family.”
READ ALSO: Founder member continues with invaluable contributions
The games will consist of six events – the caber toss, the weighted walk, shot put, hammer throw, kilted mile and tug O’ war. Teams must consist of eight members and a manager. Different members will participate in individual events, but each has to participate in a minimum of two. All eight have to run the mile, which is a 2.4km route around Amanzimtoti Sports Centre, and only once the last team member has crossed the finish line will the team be awarded a placing. The teams will then test their combined strength in the tug O’ war.
Organisers appeal to schools (over 18s only), businesses and sports clubs to enter teams. The entry cost per team is R900 and prizes and floating trophies will be awarded for individual prowess, medals to the top three in each event as well as to the winning team. All funds raised go towards the lodge and rugby club.
Lodge Fort Jameson hosts the Toti seniors for a Christmas lunch at Amanzimtoti Civic Centre every year, which has been named after one of its founders, Tony Beard. The lodge was started in 1952 when it came down from Fort Jameson in Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). It underwent a respond in 1972.
Toti has three lodges – Fort Jameson (Scottish), Amanzimtoti (English) and Grantleigh (Scottish). As with most civic or service clubs, membership is constantly dwindling and Fort Jameson and Amanzimtoti each only boast nine members.
READ ALSO: Toti rugby club celebrates waves of success
“We think the reintroduction of the games will be very good for Toti. With its vast Scottish heritage and the successful of the Highland Gathering, we hope the games will be well received and part of the proceeds can help us continue the legacy of hosting our seniors’ Christmas lunch,” said Bob.
Teams and stall holders are invited to participate and organisers are looking for prizes and sponsors. To book your stall or for more information, call Dwayne Viljoen on 079-497-9787, Thomas Rohde on 081-332-9167 or Bob on 082-326-3170.
DID YOU KNOW?
Click on the words highlighted in red to read more on this and related topics.
To receive news links via WhatsApp or Telegram, send an invite to 061 694 6047
The South Coast Sun is also on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest – why not join us there?
Do you have more information pertaining to this story?
Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.
To receive our free newsletter click here
(Comments posted on this issue may be used for publication in the Sun)
