  We’re deep in the heart of the southern hemisphere summer Highland Games season, with Agricultural and Pastoral shows abounding, often with dancing competitions and Scottish sports days attached, or standalone events such as the recent 152nd Waipu Highland Games, held at on new date 31 December 2024. https://www.waipuhighlandgames.co.nz/the-games. Whenever we’re at these events, we should give a thought to the people who give their time freely to make these events happen year after year. One of them is our own Scotdance New Zealand President Mark Forshaw of Whangarei. Mark was awarded the Waipu games’ Assynt Quaich: A special annual award of the Waipu Caledonian Society New Zealand to a deserving person who supports the society’s main ideas and constitutional objectives to maintain the preservation of Waipu’s Scottish and Nova Scotian traditions and heritage. https://www.waipuhighlandgames.co.nz/quaich. PHOTO: Mark receiving Assynt Quaich award from Waipu Highland Games Chief Ted Hart. PHOTO: Mark with the award that recognises his contribution to the Games over many decades. The award gets its name from its place of origin – Assynt, a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland lying north of Ullapool on the West Coast of Scotland, and Quaich, which means cup or bowl. - Scotdance NZ writer Mary-Jo Tohill had a chat to Mark about his association with the Games and the Highland Dancing competitions. *** Mark and his sister Sheree started competing at the Waipu Highland Games in the late 1960s-early 70s. “We learnt Highland Dancing in Waipu along with lots of other Waipu children - it was the thing to do in those days! “My father Russell was asked by the late Alan McGregor to be a board steward at the Highland Dancing, and it was around this time that our family involvement with the Waipu Caledonian Society began.” Mr Forshaw senior was the chief dancing steward until the early 1990s. The Forshaw family roots go deep in Waipu’s history: The trees down the ‘Avenue’ were planted by him. “When you have competed in so many Waipu Highland Games, it’s difficult to reflect on which was the most memorable. I do remember the first time that I won the Hector MacDonald Memorial Trophy. I think it was 1978. This Cup is probably one of the oldest Highland Dancing trophies in New Zealand. “I guess the 1971 Games was also memorable - it was the 100th Centennial Games. I would have been 9-years-old. The Games were held over two days - Saturday and Monday. This was the tradition in those days and probably something to do with the preaching of the Reverend Norman McLeod (Sunday being the Sabbath). I remember that year, the Waipu Caledonian Society awarded real Gold medals for the major championships and a young Northland Dancer Margaret Fleming, aged 12 won the New Zealand Championship Highland Fling Under 16 years! “There were so many good dancers of the time competing at the Games that year. At the end of the competition, there was an event for ex-dancers, parents etc and I remember watching Coila Richardson from Wellington dance a Seann Triubhas like nothing we had ever seen before, and I understand that it was in a style that used to be danced. Tui Downie danced an amazing Sailors Hornpipe and Johanna Lees danced the Highland Fling - absolutely beautiful!” Mark competed continuously at every Highland Games except for the years when he was in Scotland in the mid 1980s, winning many championship titles and trophies. His final Waipu Highland Games was 1 January 1995 before retiring at the age of 34, having achieved three times New Zealand Champion of Champions and the prestigious Solo Seal examination in 1994. Following on in his father’s footsteps, the following year he started as a board steward, and apart from one year when he was away, has been involved with the Highland Dancing at the Games in an organising role since ever since. Highlights since then have included: 2002 - facilitated then SOBHD World Champion, Colleen Rintamaki from Canada to attend the games and demonstrate and later on at the evening Ceilidh. “An amazing experience for the many local Highland Dancers and public alike to see one of the most outstanding Highland Dancers of all time.” 2003 - as part of a three-day celebration, organised the New Zealand 18 years and over Highland Dancing Championships at Waipu. “This was the first time this national event had ever been held at the Waipu Highland Games, despite many sceptics that believed this could not be done!” On the third day of the celebrations, the first ever Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing Competition was held, again putting the Waipu Caledonian Society in the historical records as being the first organisation to hold an SOBHD (now Royal Scottish Official Board) competition in New Zealand. “This also opened the door for international competitors to come and compete at the Games, something that was never possible before. We have had Highland Dancing Competitors from Australia, Canada and Scotland compete at the Waipu Highland Games, making it a truly International event.” Mark has been organising this competition at the Games ever since and last year’s event was the 22nd competition.  PHOTO: Mark, with pupils from left, Maria Cullen (holding small trophy), Alexis Lord (holding cup); front Lulu Cullen and Kelsi Hogan.
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