|
|
|||||||||||||
 |
Scottish Athletics are believed to have started well before the
1700's. Called the Heavy Events, the clan chieftains would
measure their clansmen's strength by testing their ability to lift
or throw certain stones, know as Stones of Strength. Throwing
the Hammer is another highland pastime that has made the transition
to modern day athletics. The most traditional of all Scottish events is by far the Caber Toss. No other athletic event in history is more closely linked to a culture. When one speaks of Tossing the Caber, the image of an enormous mountain of a man, donned in kilted attire, running and throwing a tree immediately comes to mind. Believed to have started as a means for which highland lumberjacks would pitch a downed tree into the river, the Caber Toss has become the most recognized event in Scottish Athletics. In today's festivals, the events competed in can vary depending on which games you are competing in. The thrower must compete in all the events in a particular competition. At the Westerly games, the following events are competed in by Scotsmen, Scotsladies and Masters (age 40 and up.) The following is a brief description of our events: |
||||||||||||
|
Open Stone Put |
Similar to the shot put, except a stone is
used that weighs usually between 16 and 22 pounds |
 |
|||||||||||
|
56lb Weight for Distance |
The Weight can be either block or spherical shaped with links and a handle. The Weight is thrown with one hand | ||||||||||||
|
28lb Weight for Distance |
Same as the 56lb Weight for distance | ||||||||||||
| 22lb Hammer Throw | The Hammer has a lead or steel head with a bamboo or rattan handle affixed through a hole in the head. The athlete's feet must remain in a fixed position until the hammer is released. Boots with blades attached to the front of them are usually worn to keep the feet on the ground in a fixed position | ||||||||||||
| 56lb Weight for Height | The Weight is the same as used for distance except shorter. The weight is tossed over a crossbar with one hand. Three attempts are allowed at each height | ||||||||||||
| Caber Toss | The Caber is a tree that has been cut and trimmed down so one end is slightly wider than the other. It can vary in length from 16 to 22 feet and between 100 and 180 pounds. The smaller end is rounded so it can be cupped in the thrower's hands. The Caber is stood up for the throw with the large end up. The thrower hoists the Caber and cups the small end in his hands. He then takes a short run with the Caber, stops and pulls the caber so that the large end hits the ground and the small end flips over and faces away from the thrower. | ||||||||||||
| Sheaf Toss | The Sheaf is a 16 pound burlap bag stuffed with chapped rope, straw or mulch. The sheaf is tossed over a cross bar with a pitch fork. Three attempts are allowed at each height. If the thrower misses all three tries at one height, he is out of the competition. | ||||||||||||
| PRIZES | A pewter quaich will be awarded to the champion in each event | ||||||||||||
| 2008 Competition Winners |
|
||||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||||
| Click here for Heavy Athletic Events Registration form and waiver | |||||||||||||