Wee upset to start Highland Games event

Chinese giant Soso scored a shock upset when he beat national Highland heavyweight champion Pat Hellier in the opening round of the Waipu Highland Games yesterday.

The 21-year-old Asian athlete outmuscled his seven rivals to win the Highland Stone contest, which involves competitors throwing a 22lb (9.97kg) round stone.

Hellier, 40, was runner-up in the event, with young Auckland strongman Jono McFarlane in third.

The defeat of Hellier, who has had 15 consecutive wins in the New Zealand Highland heavyweight championship, sparked major interest among the estimated 6000 people attending the 141st annual games at Waipu's Caledonia Park.

Despite the early upset, Pat Hellier earned enough points overall to win his 16th consecutive title.

The crowd and Games organisers were fortunate yesterday was sunnier than New Year's Day on Sunday, when the Games are traditionally held. The event was switched to January 2 because the Scots who settled at Waipu in the 19th century frowned at sport on Sundays, when they went to church.

People enjoyed many attractions at the show, including the New Zealand dancing championships featuring traditional and Scottish Official Board competitions.

There was also fiddle-playing, demonstrations of Scottish country dancing and the Tartan in the Park fashion design competition.

Youngsters also competed in running races, but most spectators interested in athletics were watching the heavyweights, anxious to see how Hellier fared.

It was Soso's first time in a Highland Games competition and he lacked the technical expertise needed to maintain his early lead.