PHOTO: Australasian Dance Champion Douglas McFarland will compete at his 11th World Highland Dancing Championship at the end of August this year.

www.downunderthekilt.com can confirm that the VLSHD's Champion dancer, Douglas McFarland, is leaving Sydney bound for Scotland to compete in the World Highland Dancing Championships.

"I have been training all year for this and god willing this year I will compete for the 11th time in the World Highland Dancing Championships" McFarland told dutk.com.au this morning.

He has been missed from Australian competition this year, being one of Australia's most decorated Adult dancers. Having completed all the major goals, winning the Australasian, Australian Commonwealth, British Overseas and State/ Territory Championships in NSW, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, qualifying for World Championship finals and winning World Championship medals, Dougie is the only Australian to have competed in and placed in all of the following major international championships: Australian Champion of Champions, North American, Canadian Rockies, All African, United Kingdom, British Open, British Overseas and European.

Dougie's absence in competition this year has been to focus on his student; Kyle Marston's, results. "Kyle could never have competed to the success he did had I been competing. I had an opportunity to train this young lad to great heights, my focus had to be on his success. I have been training along side him all year and believe it is that focus that has led to him winning the top Aussie majors this year."

He is of course referring to Kyle's success as Australian Medalist at Champion of Champions, The Australasian Championships and most recently the Internationals on the Central Coast. Dougie was present at all of these, but did not compete in the groups. He has been working hard off the stage as host of the International Championships, attended this year by International Judges from Scotland, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the host nation Australia.

Dougie's last competitive event was the Canberra City Championships in October 2007 which he won with 12 straight firsts. He won his two home soil championships prior to that in 2007. In fact he has been unbeaten since returning from the European Championships in April 2007, in which he placed 5th.

His entry to the World Championships comes on the back of great International success over a number of years, including a 6 month stay in Dundee in 2006, placing in all championships he competed in.

When Dougie hits the stage at Cowal this year it will be a great achievement in itself. At 26 he is Australia's most Internationally experienced dancer and it will be this experience that brings his best to the stage.

"I am dancing now with a sophistication I have never had. Whilst the young ones have peak fitness at their advantage, Highland is a technical sport, and I believe right now I am at my technical best. Physically I am feeling stronger than ever before, and it has been great to go six months training without injury. I am smarter now than I have ever been and believe this year's Worlds is a great opportunity to prove the value of that experience."

Whatever happens we know Dougie will give his absolute best, he is regarded Internationally as one of the hardest training dancers competing today. He is renowned for his technique and physical ability. It is exciting to see Australia represented by one of its best.

Dougie leaves Australia with VLSHD's team led by his mother Veronica McFarland, Kyle Marston, Lauren Baldacchino and Hannah Polo. They arrive in Edinburgh on Monday the 11th August and will compete in the World, British Overseas, British Open and Commonwealth Championships.