Scott Wallace

62nd Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Posted on by Scott Wallace

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (NC) was held on July 6,7,8,9, 2017.  Rainy Friday to start off the weekend but the sun did come out to greet the eighty clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Also at the games are Scottish Tartan Museum, Council of Scottish Clans and Associations and Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of Upper South Carolina and the Society of William Wallace.  Russ and Marcia Harper along with Larry and Judy Slight hosted the Clan Wallace tents.

These games are held at MacRae meadow on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina.   Thursday night Russ did the calling of, the Clan.  Wallaces cheered as he yelled FREEDOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lots of Wallaces attended this weekend actives, Wes and Raine Wallace and son Adam Wallace and family, William Wallace, Mark Clifford, John and Sally Wallace, Randy Dedrickson, Mary Wallace, Judy Wallace Moore, Larry and Judy Slight, Bill and Betsy Wallace, Terry and Kelly Wallace alone with many more.

We had a special guest at the Games this year, Actor Cesar Domboy currently of “Outlander” fame, as the adult Fergus.

 The 2017 Bear Run, part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, started in Linville Thursday night and concluded at the top of Grandfather Mountain. Over 800 runners started the race and ranged in age from 7 to 77.

For the 3rd year at Grandfather Mountain, we had women athletes competing in the games. Amy Jenkins proudly wears the Wallace green when she competes. Go Amy!!!!

Our thanks to all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us. Without YOU there is no Clan Wallace. Can’t wait to see you all next year!

 

Courtesy of Marcia Harper

Scott Wallace

San Diego Highland Games 2017

Posted on by Scott Wallace

The air was filled with the sound of bagpipes at the 44th Annual San Diego Scottish Highland Games and Gathering of the Clans the weekend of June 24-25. Located in the quaint hills of Vista, California. One of the smaller events in southern California, it provides a friends and family venue that can’t be beat.

Scottish culture filled the park during the two day festival, which featured a variety of activities and entertainment for guests of all ages: Sheepdog trials, Highland dancing, Scottish vendors, cuisine and beverages, bagpipe and drumming competitions, clan heritage tents, and hands-on children’s activities.

The festival’s popular beer garden–recognized by San Diego Magazine as the Best Beer Garden in North County–was a gathering place for attendees to sample flavorful beer varieties, while mingling with friends old and new.

Convened by Greg Wallace (right) and Kevin Michaels (left).

Some highlights of the festival…

  • Over 10,000 visitors
  • Over forty clan booths.
  • Athletic competition managed by the Scottish American Athletic Association, SAAA, with two world record attempts.
  • Popular Celtic bands Wicked Tinkers, Highland Way, and Banshee in the Kitchen performed on two festival stages.
  • United States Scottish Fiddle Champion, Mari Black.
  • United State Western Highland Dance Champion, Beret Dernbach.
  • Two 1-day USBCHA sanctioned Sheepdog Trials — Open & Nursery.
  • Over 50 vendors.

The Clan Wallace Booth

The booth was visited by Wallace families from as far as Omaha, Nebraska and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Twelve signed the registry with two visitors interested in becoming involved with the Clan Wallace Society.

 

 

Contributed by Greg Wallace

Scott Wallace

24th Annual Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival

Posted on by Scott Wallace
Clan President Russ Harper and Amy Jenkins

The Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival (NC) was held on April 8-9, 2017.  Spring has sprung, pollen fills the air, cold mornings and clear skies greeted the sixty two clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Other participants included the SAMS (Scottish American Military Society), Council of Scottish Clans and Societies, Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of North Carolina, and the Scottish Society of Wilmington, North Carolina.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.  Frank Randall, Jean and Jeffrey Reece joined us for the Saturday.  Sunday we were joined by Craig and Therese Wallace.   Council member Amy Jenkins competed all weekend in the Women’s athletics. Amy will be competing in the Masters in Iceland this year.

These games are held at Rural Hill Farms in Huntersville, North Carolina.  Rural Hill, the homestead of Revolutionary War patriots Major John and Violet Wilson Davidson is located in the Catawba River Valley in northwest Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Davidson family is representative of the thousands of Scots and Scots-Irish who contributed to the growth of the Carolinas and put a unique cultural stamp on the American South.

The entertainment included, Ed Miller, SYR, Scooter Muse, Father Son and Friends, and John Taylor.   Eleven pipe bands took the field in piping completion.  The Games included heavy athletics, Border Collies, Highland Wrestling, Historical Folk Life Encampment, Scottish Dancing and Children events.

Saturday events included a Flag Retirement Ceremony which SAMS (Scottish American Military Society) performed.

Russ and I would like to thank all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us.  We had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you at other games.

 

Contributed by Marcia Harper

Scott Wallace

2nd Annual Myrtle Beach Highland Games

Posted on by Scott Wallace
Clan President Russ Harper with wife Marcia

The Inaugural Myrtle Beach Highland Games (SC) was held on March 25, 2017.  These games are held at Market Commons in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.   Overcast day created the twenty three clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the St. Andrews Pipes and Drum, Myrtle Beach Regional Pipe and Drum, Cross Creek Pipe and Drum, and the Coastal Shields Pipe and Drum, SYR and Tuatha Dea.  The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, and Border Collie Demonstration.  The vendors at the games included, Near and Far, Timeless Irish Treasures, The Gaelic Shop, Metals & Pieces, Collegiate Tartan, The Celtic Knot, The Heelan Hound.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper