We had a beautiful day  for this year's barbeque with approximately 60 people attending.   The barbeque was a great chance to reconnect with our dancing friends - old and new.

Our heartfelt thanks to May Loudon for hosting us once again. Her gardens were beautiful. Special thanks also to Helene and Douglas for organizing the event and to all those helped make it a success. The barbeque team of Robert, Paul, and Ann did an exceptional job and deserve a special mention. 

Here are some of the barbeque highlights. 

LIVE AUCTION

Auctioneer Simon did a masterful job and the auction raised $1,600 for club funds.  Congratulations to the successful bidders - Heather Fawkes (Whistler weekend),  Keith Errington (Boat Cruise), Jeff Peterson   (Dinner and Fireworks), and Susan Haug (Scotch tasting and Dinner). The club thanks everyone who donated the auction items – Ursel, Frankie, Douglas and Helene, Drum and Pat..  

JOHN FREELAND MEMORIAL SPORTS TOURNAMENT 

Norm Haug organized and managed our first Bocce Ball competition this year.  Jeff Peterson and Gillian Muir emerged victorious from the 4 round team knock out team competition. Their names inscribed on the impressive Freeland cup.  

We had a great deal of fun performing De'il Amang the Tailors, White Cockade, and Reel of the Royal Scots at the Bridge Festival Dance stage in Ambleside Park. The weather was perfect - and there were lots of spectators watching.   

Thanks to all of the dancers who participated. Susan Haug and Simon Scott deserve special mention for getting us organized for this event.   Thanks also to Helene Nelson who took care of the music and Norma Errington who videoed the dances. 

The Heather Ball was a great success again this year. 

Mike Nichols and Mary Murray did a splendid job as dinner and dance MC and the music was spot on. The Ball was well attended and there were over 40 out of town guests. 

We all had a great time. Thanks to everyone who brought food and to Simon for selecting just the right Valentine inspired dances 

The 2019 Burns Supper was highly enjoyable. Special thanks to Jennifer Shearman and her team for orchestrating the event. Drum Cavers (dinner MC) and Mary Murray (dance MC) did an outstanding job and the speeches were excellent. The demonstration team, led by Kay Sutherland, provided superb entertainment before the dancing commenced and at the break. 

The Gleneagles fall dance was once again a memorable and highly enjoyable event. This was the first time we’ve had an afternoon tea dance and it was very well attended – in spite of the beautiful weather outside. Thanks to everyone for coming out with special mention to Pat Johnson’s youth group, and to our new club members Negar and Nickey for braving the dance floor with such enthusiasm.

A succesful event like this doesn’t happen without a good deal of hard work. Heather and her team did a masterful job and made it look almost easy. Thanks to everyone who contributed by bringing  food, organizing the kitchen, selling tickets, setting up the sound system, tables and chairs, printing the beautiful program posters and of course dancing. A photographer  from the North Shore News attended the event this year (thank you Susan) so look for pictures in an upcoming issue.

As always, the great work that Simon and Louise do in briefing the dances is much appreciated.  

We had an excellent turnout on Welcome night.  The 9 newcomers were very enthusiastic and showed great aptitude for Scottish Country Dancing. Thanks to Louise  for providing  excellent instruction and to all the experienced dancers who came out to help kick off our dance season.    

Rose was inspired to devise this dance by her trip to the Zillertal (a region in the Austrian Tirol) last August. The Zillertal begins at village Strass and ends at the village Mayrhofen with the Glorious Hintertüx.  There is a promenade that goes from village to village. Rose's dance captures the hiking, jogging, cycling and social activity that the Zillertal is famous for.  

The 2018 Burns Supper was highly enjoyable. Special thanks to Sally and Sandy Marshall for masterminding the event. 

Several Gleneagles members played important roles in the evenings success  including Simon (dinner MC), Rose (greeter) and Drum (posters and colour party). The demonstration team, led by Kay Sutherland, provided superb entertainment before the dancing commenced and at the break. You can watch Helene, Louise and Mike in the 'Canada 150' dance video below.  

Lady Aberdeen, as she became in 1877, when marrying Lord Aberdeen, the 6th Earl and 1st Marquess of Aberdeen, was certainly a most significant figure of her time.