Scottish Highland Games

The Stone Throw is similar to the shotput. The stone weighs between 16-22 pounds for men, depending on their division, and 8 to 12 pounds for women. The stone must be "put" from the shoulder. There are two techniques used when throwing the stone. The "Glide" is when the athlete faces the opposite direction from the throw and "scoots" up to the trig before throwing. The trig is a straight piece of wood that marks the boundry where the athlete throws from. The "spin" is when an athlete spins 360 degrees to gain momentum when throwing. A box measuring about 7'6" long is laid out as parameters in which the athlete must stay in during the throw.

The Braemar Stone is a larger stone weighing around 22 pounds and must be thrown from a standing position. No scooting or spinning is allowed.

For the Heavy Weight for Distance, the A and B divisions throw a 56 pound weight with a handle and measure the longest distance each athlete throws. Athletes usually take 1 to 2 spins to gain momentum for the throw. Each athlete gets 3 tries at this event. The longest throw is recorded as the final score. The women's division uses a 28 pound weight and masters uses a 42 pound weight for this event.

The Light Weight for Distance is conducted in the same manner, except the weight used is 28 pounds for A and B divisions, and 14 pounds for the women's division.

A Caber is a log weighing anywhere between 90 to 130 pounds and 18 to 24 feet long. The size and weight vary by division. The object of the event is to flip the log so that it lands at a 12:00 angle (Looking at a clock) from where the athlete is standing at the time of the throw. The perfect score is 12:00. A score of 11:00, 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 can be given for a flipped caber. If the athlete does not flip the log, they are given a score based on the angle the log reached before falling, such as 60, 70, 80 or 90 degrees. Each athlete gets 3 tries at this event. The best throw is counted for their score.

Using a 56 pound weight with a handle, athletes stand below a bar and throw the weight over the bar. This event is a process of elimination. Each athlete gets three tries to make it over the bar. If they cannot make it, they are eliminated and the bar is raised by a foot. They continue until all but one athlete is eliminated. If no one can make the highest height, the win goes to the athlete who made the previous throw with the least amount of attempts.

The heavy hammer weighs not more then 22 pounds for men and 16 pounds for women and masters. The length of the hammer is approximated 4'2". The athlete stands at the trig and throws the hammer by swinging it around and around (gaining momentum) and then releasing it behind them. They are allowed to wear shoes or boots with spikes to anchor them in the ground and keep them from falling over. Athletes are given 3 turns for this event and the longest throw is recorded for their points.

The light hammer weighs 16 pounds for men and 12 pounds for the women.

The sheaf toss is another favorite of the audience. With the use of a 3 tyne pitch fork, athletes toss a 16 to 20 pound "sheaf" over a bar. Each athlete gets 3 tries per height. If an athlete doesn't make it over the bar after three tries, they are eliminated and the bar is raised 2 feet higher. The process continues until all but one athlete is eliminated. If the remaining athletes can't make the highest height, the win goes to the athlete that made the previous height in the lesser amount of turns.

Each winner of each event usually receives a metal. At the end of all the events, for each division, their is an award won for athlete of the day. All the athletes strive to win this award at every game. But, even if they don't achieve Athlete of the day for their division, they strive to beat a personal best. I have only won one Athlete of the day award for a division in the 1 year that I have participated, but love the challenge I put upon myself to beat my personal best. My first athlete of the day award was this sword.