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HIGHLAND GAMES HEAVY EVENTS!
The Heavy Events are among the oldest contested sports in the world encompassing a series of 9 feats of strength events performed over one or two days.
Many of the events are derived from the Scottish military weapons of war, while others came directly from every day life. The modern day Olympics are directly descended from the Scottish Games, not from the ancient Greek tradition.
Event Descriptions
The events can be divided into three categories: Distance, Height & Caber. In the Distance events (Stone, Weights for distance & Hammer) the athlete has three throws, only the best throw being counted. In the Height events (Weight for Height/Weight over Bar & Sheaf) the athlete has three attempts to clear the height of the bar. The Caber is an event of accuracy. The caber must be thrown end-over-end, with the caber falling away from the athlete. The Caber is scored on a clock face. Imagine that the thrower is standing on the 6:00 mark on a watch, the caber must break the vertical plane between 9:00 and 3:00, if the caber breaks the plane, then the judge will score the caber bases on where is hits the ground in direct relation to the throwers shoulders, 12:00 is a perfect toss; However if the caber fails to break the vertical plane then the caber will be judged based on the degrees it traveled to the vertical plane.
The weights used in the Heavy Events are usually based on two things, the Scottish stone weight (14 lbs.) and the Scottish standard for cannon shot (16 & 22 lbs.). The Women's light hammer is 12 lbs, probably derived from the 12 lbs. sledge hammer.
Stone Putt
The Stone Putt can be contested in two different ways, Braemar style or Open style. The Olympic Stone Putt is the direct descendant of the Scottish Braemar Stone Putt. The thrower must "putt" (derived from the Gaelic word "thrust") the stone from the shoulder area not letting the elbow lead the wrist.
- The Braemar Stone Putt is a standing Putt that does not allow any approach on the Trig (Toe Board). The weight of the stone generally ranges from 22 to 26 lbs. for men and 12 to 15 lbs. for women.
- The Open Stone Putt was modified from the Braemar style to allow an approach upon the trig in hopes of achieving greater distances. The Athlete must keep one foot inside of a 4'6"x 7'6" box during the approach and may not go past or step on the trig. The stone is also lighter making it more comparable to the Olympic Shot Putt; the weight of the stone should range from 15 to 17 lbs. for men and 10 to 12 lbs. for women.
Weight for Distance Throws
The weight for distance throws consist of a "light" weight and a "heavy" weight event. The men's Light weight is 28 lbs. while the women's is 14 lbs. There are three different heavy weights, the men's 56 lbs., men's masters (40 years old +) is 42 lbs. and the women's is 28 lbs. The weights have a handle attached with a chain. The weight must be thrown with one hand and the athlete must keep one foot inside of a throwing area of 4'6"x9' at all times. The most common method of throwing the weight is to use a double spin similar to what is used by most discus throwers.
Scottish Hammer Toss
This event is the ancestor of the modern day Olympic hammer. The "hammer" is a weight on the end of a 50" piece of rattan or PVC. The original version of this was likely a wagon wheel spoke with the wheel hub attached. The name "hammer" and the weights were added when clansmen used a blacksmith's hammer (sledge hammer), to see who could throw it the farthest. There is a Heavy Hammer and a Light Hammer. Men throw 22 lbs. heavy hammer and a 16 lbs light hammer. Women throw a 12 lbs. light hammer and a 16 lbs. heavy hammer. The athlete must throw the hammer without moving his feet; he cannot touch the top or cross the trig.
Weight for Height/Weight Over Bar
This is one of two height events. The Men throw a 56 lbs. "scale weight" (masters 42 lbs. and Women use 28 lbs.) with one arm over a bar. The weight must go over the bar in order to be counted.
Sheaf Toss
This second height event has its origins in the farm country during harvest time. The object is to take a simulated sheaf (bale) of wheat or hay and toss it over a bar with a pitchfork. The sheaves weigh between 10 and 20 pounds (Men use either a 16 or 20 lbs. sheaf, the Women use a 10 lbs. sheaf)
The Caber Toss
This is probably the best known event, having been described as "men in skirts throwing power poles". A caber is from 15 to 23 feet long and between 70 and 130 pounds. The caber is stood up for the thrower with the large end up, the thrower then hoists the caber up and cups the small end in his hands. After a small run, he will attempt to "turn" the caber by throwing the caber so the large end hits the ground and the small end falls away from the thrower.
The caber is then scored for accuracy as though the thrower is facing the 12:00 position on a clock face. 12:00 is considered a perfect toss.
Here is a History of the Sisterhood of the Travelling Kilt "Birth of a new Scottish Highland Tradition"
The Scottish Highland games Heavy Events have a long and great history all over the world but has long been a male dominated sporting event. In April 2007, we held the First Annual Women's throwing Clinic in St. Louis, MO USA. We had over 20 women from Canada and the USA in attendance and the clinic was a huge success. It was during this weekend, the concept for the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Kilt" was born. We wanted a new Highland Sporting tradition that would bring a higher profile to women competitors within the Scottish Highland games Heavy Events.
We decided that the Kilt would travel to different Highland Games, meeting with people coast to coast and all over the world.
Founding Members of the Travelling Kilt
Karyn Dallimore - British Columbia Canada
Holly Goldthorp - Ontario Canada
Laura Reusser - Alberta Canada
Denise Houseman - New Hampshire USA
Cherie Childs - Oklahoma USA
Nancy Baker Fowler- Massachusetts USA
The Kilt is made of Nova Scotia Canadian District Tartan and the home base of the Kilt is in New Westminster BC Canada and it's home games are BC Highland Games in Coquitlam, BC Canada.
Every city, town, province, state, district and country the kilt visits, but put a lapel pin on the Kilt from that location. Even places such as the Grand Canyon, the Kilt has a pin from there also.
The Kilt has been all over USA, Canada and made it over the Pond as they say to Scotland. It was in Scotland at the Mey Highland Games where the Kilt was presented to TRH Prince Charles of Wales and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall. The stated that, "The Kilt was a wonderful idea for women athletes and spreading the idea of friendship around the world".
We are working on a website for the Kilt at www.travellingkilt.com , hope to have it up and running summer of 2009. Also look for information on throwing and the travelling kilt at our local website www.pnsa.ca
Drop by the Heavy Events area at the BC Highland Games, Coquitlam BC and meet our athletes, get your picture taken with the Kilt and view the "Travelling Kilt" book.
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