Northern California Scottish American Athletic Association
(Magni Corps)
Last Updated 02/01/2012
The origin of the Scottish
Highland Heavy Games lies in the charter given to the people of Ceres to hold
Heavy games by Robert Bruce in 1314 in recognition of the villagers' support at
the Battle of Bannockburn. The
origin of human games and sports predates recorded history. An example of a
possible early games venue is at Fetteresso, although that location is
technically a few miles south of the Scottish Highlands.
It is reported in numerous
books and Highland games programs, that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the
11th century, summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig
Choinnich (overlooking Braemar). King Malcolm created this foot race in order to
find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger. Some have seen in
this apocryphal event the origin of today's modern Highland games
FFrom the oldest free games at
Ceres, till now there are dozens of events held across Scotland and the USA and
other countries.
Stone Putts
Probably the oldest of the
heavyweight sports and the easiest for young lads to take-up - all they needed
was a smooth stone from the river bed.
Each different Gathering had its own such stone which might vary in weight
between 13lbs as at Tomintoul, and 28lbs as at Glen Isla and Braemar.
This made comparison of
distance records between the various Highland games, very difficult indeed.
Nowadays the old stones tend
to have been replaced at most gatherings by a standardized iron sphere weighing
either 16lbs or 22lbs .
The weight or shot is thrown
with one hand only from in front of the shoulders. A run not exceeding 7’ 6” is
allowed up to the trig which is a length of wood 4’ 6” long and 6” high.
Throwing the weight is divided
into two different events: /span>
throwing it for distance and throwing it for height.
For Distance
Said to be one of the most
graceful of heavyweight events. There are two standard weights - the commonest
being 28lbs. The weight consists of a 28lb ball, chain and handle, the overall
length of which must not exceed 16 inches.
In simple terms the thrower
grasps the weight in one hand, spins round and throws it as far as possible.
More accurately, the thrower has a distance of 9’
between a peg and a trig. Grasping the weight and facing the trig, he
stands beside that peg and swings the weight to the side and then round behind
him. He's now ready to start his throw which consists of three waltzing turns,
gathering momentum on each. On the third pirouette and at exactly the right
moment, he heaves the weight as far as he can.
A protective cage extends
around the sides and rear of the thrower to safeguard the public!
In some amateur games,
throwers will use both hands to hold the weight but that is the method used for
the Olympic hammer and not the Scots 28lb weight.
For Height
For this event the commonest
weight is a standard commercial 56Ib box weight with a ring attached. As in the
high jump, a bar is raised between two posts and each contestant has up to three
attempts at each height to which the bar is raised.
Many heavyweights seem to
pride themselves in the apparently nonchalant way that they approach this event:
frequently the entrant will saunter up to the weight - which is lying underneath
the bar - and without even a glance upwards will suddenly heave the weight up
with one hand where it soars through the air and thuds back down into the ground
only inches from the thrower.
The air of nonchalance is very
deceptive however since the strength and skill needed are enormous. Past
heavyweight competitor Charlie Allan compares the feat to that of throwing a
seven-year old boy over a double-decker bus - with one hand! You will notice
that the stewards for this event always have a plentiful supply of bars - they
are frequently snapped when the weight falls back down onto them
Hammer Throw
The origins of throwing the
hammer have never been in doubt. Wherever hammers were used - blacksmiths,
quarries or farms - a diversionary pastime would be throwing the utilitarian
wooden shafted Forging Sledgehammer.
Throwers used to gain great
momentum - and distance - by turning the body rapidly to build up speed before
releasing the hammer. Instances were very common of throwers losing their grip
on the shaft or of releasing it a little too late with the hammer flying over
or, even worse into the crowds. This soon brought about a ban on that method and
a cage surrounding the Hammer area implemented!
The old hammer has been
replaced by an iron sphere on a rattan bamboo shaft or in recent development a
PVC tubing measuring 50” and weighting either 16lbs or 22lbs.
The thrower stands with his
back to the trig (the throwing mark), swings the hammer round his head to gather
momentum and then releases it over his shoulder.
The event certainly needs
excellent timing and whilst the conventional image of a hammer thrower is of a
Herculean figure, some past record breakers have been short and slight which
proves that knack is very much a secret of success
Cabar Toss
Tossing the caber is easily
the most recognizable trademark of Scottish Highland games and is one of the
most spectacular of the heavy events.
The origins of caber tossing
are unknown although it has been suggested that it was developed by foresters
for throwing tree trunks into the river. It would be difficult to devise a more
physically demanding method of moving felled timber and the more likely
explanation is that it was a sport amongst foresters that became part of the
traditional Highland Gathering events.
The dimensions of a caber - or
cabar in Gaelic - can vary enormously but the norm weighs about 150lbs is
18’ long and about 9” thick at one end, tapering to about 5” at the other
The caber used at some
Highland games weighs over 150lbs
and is 17’ 4” long. The Braemar caber is only 132lbs in weight but is 19’ 9” in
length. The largest caber recorded in the Guinness Book of records is 25’ and
280lbs.
Game organizers strive for
consistency in the weight of their caber and because timber dries out and
becomes lighter, they will often soak the caber in a convenient loch for some
days before their annual games or, bore holes in it and fill them with molten
lead!
Contrary to popular belief,
the caber is not thrown for distance but for style. The games officials will set
the caber on its end with the thickest portion in the air. The athlete rests the
caber against his shoulder and, clasping his arms around it, performs the
difficult task of lifting it up off the ground whilst keeping it perfectly
balanced. When he's achieved that, he will give it a quick flick up and move his
hands under the narrow end. He's now ready to throw it.
The competition is judged with
the aid of an imaginary clock-face on the ground spread out flat in front of the
thrower with him facing the 12 o'clock position. That invisible clock-face keeps
pace with him as he runs and when he has reached the desired speed he will stop
abruptly at what becomes the 6 o' clock position and heave the caber up so that
its heavy end lands in the middle of the clock and the whole caber turns right
over, ending up with the narrow end pointing exactly towards the 12 o'clock
position.
Quite frequently none of the
competitors will achieve the exact 12 o'clock position and the prizes will be
given for the throw that is nearest to the ideal. In some games, if the caber
was not thrown, an old-fashioned two-handed, crosscut saw would be brought on
and the heavies would saw an inch off the caber until one of them threw it.
Sheaf Toss
Although technically not a
heavy athletic event, the sheaf toss has been incorporated into many Highland
Games. This traditional agricultural event was originally contested at country
fairs in Scotland and in the Basque region of France. Using a pitchfork, farmers
would hurl a burlap bag stuffed with 20lbs worth of straw over a horizontal bar
above their heads. Similar to the weight toss, each competitor has three chances
to toss the sheaf cleanly go over the bar without touching it. The bar is raised
after each round. This continues until all but one athlete is eliminated