HISTORY OF BCHDA TROPHIES
Trophies for the Highland Games
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The first competition of the BC Highland Dance Association
was held in the Scots Auditorium on April 21st, 1934. In the Professional Class, which was 16 & over, prizes were $5, $3.50, and $2.50. A
trophy was donated by the Honorable Ian Mackenzie, but no trophy by that name
is around today.
In 1941, the 8th annual competition was held on July 19,1941 at Central Park Oval in Burnaby as it had been decided the previous year to
move the competition to the summer months. The Doig Trophy was presented to
the highest aggregate winner between the 12 & under and the under 16 class
– both classes did the fling, sean truibhas, reel, and hornpipe. 66
competitors danced and two platforms were used for the first time. Mr. Doig
was the Treasurer of the BC Highland Dancing Association for at least 11 years
starting in 1938, and was one of the founding members of BCHDA. Mrs. Doig
served on the executive for at least the same length of time. The Doig Trophy is
now presented to the 15 & under Champion.
In 1945, the competition was held at the Douglas Road School
Grounds in Burnaby in conjunction with the school’s country fair. As the
number of competitors had increased, the decision was made to sub-divide any
class with more than 20 competitors, so that 10 classes were provided. A
Challenge Trophy was presented by Mr. Allan J. McDonell for professional
dancing – this trophy might have replaced the original trophy for this class
presented in 1934. The McDonell trophy is currently presented to the 18 &
over Champion.
In 1946, the competition was moved back to Central Park and
137 contestants danced. A new trophy presented was from the Canadian
Scottish Vets from Shaughnessy Hospital for the 8 & under class. The veterans in
the hospital had enjoyed young dancers who came to entertain them and wanted to
acknowledge their appreciation. The cigarette company, W.C.Macdonald Inc., donated
the British Consuls Trophy for the 10 & under class – both these trophies
have not been awarded in recent years. Also Mr. J. Howard Forester donated a
trophy for the 6 & under class – again, it is not around today. Mr. Flockhart, the secretary of BC Highland from 1939 to at least 1949, presented a
trophy in the 12 & under class, and this trophy is presented to the 13
& under Champion.
The Mary Isdale Trophy for the 11 & under Champion
honors Mary Isdale MacNab who came to Vancouver in 1907 from Glasgow and began
teaching Highland dancing in 1910 and continued to teach up until two months
before she passed away in November 1966. She founded the Vancouver Ladies Pipe
Band and she collected ancient Highland dances from researching historical
records and interviewing many people.
The Gallagher Trophy is presented to the top premier dancer
at the games with the highest overall points for the day. Ella Gallagher and
Harvey Gallagher were life members of BCHDA. Harvey was President of BCHDA for
23 years. Ella was the second dancer to be registered with BCHDA at the age of
16. Ella’s maiden name was Doig, whose father was on the executive for many
years – Harvey took his position of treasurer on the executive when he stepped
down in 1946. Ella taught dancing in the lower mainland for 60 years and was a
judge for many of those years. (Phyllis Murray (Thompson) was the first dancer
registered in BCHDA).
Three other trophies that are presented at the Highland
Games are the boy’s high point trophies. The Angus MacKenzie Premier Boys
Trophy for under 13, the MacGregor Memorial for under 16 and the Fridge Trophy
for over 16.
The Angus MacKenzie trophy was donated by Angus, a current
teacher and former world Champion.
The MacGregor Memorial trophy is in remembrance of the two
MacGregor brothers who danced prior to WWII. Unfortunately both boys were
killed serving in the airforce in and the trophy was donated by their family in
their memory. Both were pupils of Mary Isdale.
- P/O R.R. (Rob Roy) MacGregor, RCAF squadron 434/#53/H5/LK-953/WL-C. KIA (23-Nov-1943 – Operation Berlin)
- F/s G.F. (Gordon Fraser) MacGregor RCAF squadron 49/ / /ND695 /G. KIA (22-Jun-1944 – Operation Wesseling)
The Fridge Trophy was donated by the Fridge family – Frances was on the executive for many years.
The Laddie Challenge trophies were donated by the Nicholson
family in honour of Malcolm Nicholson, a long time piping teacher. He formed
the Highland Laddie Pipe Band, and also looked after the Vancouver Ladies Pipe
Band. He was Pipe Major of the Vancouver Police Pipe Band for many years prior
to his retirement from the Vancouver Police Force. The Triumph Street Pipe
Band was named after the street he lived on.
Other trophies currently presented at the City of Vancouver Championship are the:
- Coltart Trophy for the 9 & under Champion,this trophy was donated by Chuck and Mary Coltart.
Their daughter Sally was a dancer and her teacher was Mary Isdale. and the
- McIvor Trophy for the 17 & under Champion and the McKenzie and MacPherson trophy. This trophy
was donated by Moira McIvor's parents, as Moira was also a dancer and a pupil of Mary Isdale.
Other Trophies
BC Closed Championship Trophies
The Ritchie Shield
is presented to the 18 & over BC
Champion. Winnie and Jim Ritchie were very active in BCHDA for many years.
Winnie was the Secretary and Jim was the platform superintendent, both were
made life members of BCHDA. They were the parents of Marilyn Merry, who danced
from 1948 to 1962, and who has taught dance for many years.
Winter Competition Trophies
The Dorothy Christie Trophy is awarded to a dancer who wins
the 16 & over sword challenge at the last BCHDA winter competition. Dorothy
Christie was a well-respected and much loved dance teacher and judge who taught
many pupils the love of highland dance.
